Los Angeles Theatres: Star Theatre

217 N. Citrus Ave. Covina, CA 91723 | map |

Opening: November 13, 1911 as the Isis Theatre. It was on the west side of the street just north of College St. This was the second location for the Isis owners. The first had been on Badillo St. This new Isis was just south of the Empress Theatre, a venue that had opened in September 1911. The Isis got renamed the Star Theatre in 1915.

Thanks to Granola for locating the photo for a post on Cinema Treasures. The sign on the crate is announcing "Tonight's Prize." It appears you could have won a chicken. As far as a date for the photo there seem to be two possibilities. A World Series with the Athletics vs. the Giants had been played in October 1911. They could be running the year-old films in October 1912. The two teams played again in October 1913. The next months with Wednesdays and Thursdays as the 23rd and 24th were either September or December 1914.

Thanks to Ron Pierce for researching the theatre. His 2009 report:

"The Covina Argus archives say that the Merwin brothers opened the Star Theatre under its first name, the Isis Theatre, on November 13, 1911, moving from their previous Isis Theatre location on Badillo Avenue, which was said to have a flat floor and straight-back chairs for seating. The new building was specially constructed with a slanted floor, stage and dressing rooms. There was also competition next door from the Empress Theatre, which had opened in September.

"The Argus-Citizen said in 1954, that for a few years the competition between the two theaters was intense but the Isis Theatre eventually prevailed and the Empress Theatre closed. The Merwins sold the theater in November of 1915 to Lulu Dietz, who renamed it the Star Theatre. In 1919, Dietz sold her interests to J. Lisy who then sold it to George Leonardy in 1920. Leonardy then begin plans to build the Covina Theatre, which was block away and on the opposite side of the street of the Star Theatre.

"The Star Theatre closed when the Covina Theatre opened in December of 1921. In 1922 it was remodeled into a Ford car and tractor agency. In 1932 Cornet’s five and dime, which later became a large West Coast chain, moved into the location. Cornet stores occupied the location until the middle 1960’s. In 2009 the building was still occupied by retail stores."

Closing: December 15, 1921 was the final day of operation. The new house for George Leonardy and his partner Earl Sink that opened the next day was the Covina Theatre, a block farther south at 104 N. Citrus Ave.

An ad in the Covina Argus for the Star's final programs, December 9 through 15. Many thanks to J. Scott Shannon for locating this for "Covina Theatre Opens, 1921," a 2020 post on his blog Covina Past.

Status: The building survives as restaurant and office space.

Looking south toward College St. The Empress Theatre was in the skinny building on the right that, downstairs, is the north bay of the Ola Restobar. The north bay of the building in the center, now the restaurant entrance, once housed the Isis/Star Theatre. The two buildings have been combined. They use a 211 address now for the restaurant while the upstairs offices use 213 to 219 N. Citrus addresses. Photo: Google Maps - 2019

A view south in the alley. The newer concrete block building on the left is at 221. The first older building was once the home of the Empress. The bay closest to us of the next building was once home to the Isis/Star Theatre. Photo: Google Maps - 2019

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the Star Theatre.

Here on this site see the pages about the Empress Theatre and the Covina Theatre.

Los Angeles Theatres

Star Theatre

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