Alhambra / Superba / United Theatre

101 E. Main St. Alhambra, CA 91801 | map |

Opened: 1912 as the Alhambra Theatre. The location was the northeast corner of Main and Stoneman Ave.

Seating: 450, according to research by Kelli Shapiro.  

It was renamed the Superba sometime before May 1915. 

In 1917 the Alhambra name surfaced again with a new theatre at 130 W. Main using it. After several other name changes, that house ended up as the Capri. Just to keep things interesting, there was a third theatre called the Alhambra, opening in 1924 at 702 W. Main.

 

In this 1920 photo we're looking east toward Stoneman. Thanks to Joe Vogel for finding this in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. He notes that the two story building just beyond the intersection was the home of the theatre and adds that the little building with the peaked roof this side of Stoneman was Alhambra's Pacific Electric station. 

 

 

A detail from the Library's photo with the Superba's building seen in the center.

 

 

  

A 1921 flyer for the Superba. The Temple Theatre advertised in the center panel is the theatre at 335 W. Main that ended up as the El Rey. Thanks to Kelli Shapiro for locating this in the Homestead Museum collection. She includes it on page 84 of her fine 2024 Arcadia Publishing book "Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley Movie Theatres."

 

Kelli notes that the Superba became the United Theatre in 1922. In the 1923 city directory the listing read United Theatres. They were a local chain that also had theatres branded as United in Anaheim, Eagle Rock (later called the Sierra), South L.A. (later named the Maynard) and on Catalina Island (the New Strand / Riviera). 

 

An April 14, 1923 ad that appeared in a Pasadena paper. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a post on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook page.

Closing: Perhaps the late 20s. Kelli Shapiro notes that it was running as the United until at least 1928.   

Status: The building was demolished in the early 30s. Joe notes that the building currently on the site dates from 1934.

A more recent view east on Main. That deco-ish building across Stoneman is on the site of the Superba. Photo: Google Maps - 2019  Kelli Shapiro notes that it dates from 1934. Thanks for the research! 

More Information: Visit the Cinema Treasures page on the Superba for Joe Vogel's fine research. Thanks, Joe!

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