Los Angeles Theatres: Art Theatre

2025 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 | map |

Opened: January 22, 1925 as the Carter Theatre with a Spanish exterior and a somewhat Oriental themed interior. The owner was a Mr. J. W. Carter. It's on the north side of the street just east of Cherry Ave. Thanks to Mark Peacock for the 2010 photo on Flickr. See the Vintage Theatres photo set for more of his great work.

Website: ArtTheatreLongBeach.org | on Facebook Phone: 562-438-5435

Seating: 636 originally.

Architects: It was designed by Robert C. Aldrich. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Dallas Movie Theaters for the research. They note that in 1924 or 1925 Aldrich described the venue as a Spanish style house with a sloped floor with six feet of pitch for clear viewing angles.

This item appeared in the August 22, 1924 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor:

"C. H. Bigelow...has the contract to erect a $35,000, 1-story brick store and picture theatre building at 2025-2029 East 4th St., Long Beach...for J.W. Carter."

An ad for the new theatre appearing January 21, 1925, the day before the opening. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it.

A January 22, 1925 opening day photo with the theatre playing "The Siren of Seville" starring Priscilla Dean. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating the photo for a post on Cinema Treasures. They note that the theatre's Style D Wurlitzer organ was said to be the biggest in town.

The Long Beach architectural firm of Schilling & Schilling did a deco style remodel after the 1933 earthquake. Upon reopening, it was called the Lee Theatre after the the owner E.H. Lee. This item had appeared in the April 14, 1933 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor:

"Theater repairs-- Architect & Engineer Schilling & Schilling...are taking bids...for repairing theater building at 2025 E. 4th St. for E.H. Lee. Repair brick front wall, new fire wall and decorating, marquise..."

Remodel work in 1947 designed by Hugh Gibbs included a new marquee. Joe Vogel found a mention of the project in the May 16, 1947 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor. The owner at the time was Milton Arthur of Cabart Theatres.

It became the Art Theatre in 1949. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating this January 15 ad. He notes that this is the earliest one he could locate with the theatre's new name.

A May 1950 Boxoffice article located by Ken McIntyre noted that that the theatre was then owned by another Art, Art J. Thomas. He had recently purchased the house.

Howard and Florence Linn took over the theatre beginning in the 70s and ran it until 2008. Kristie Archibald, a granddaughter of the Linns, comments:

"My grandparents owned the Art Theater from the 1970s to 2008. When they had the Theater up for sale it was in the process of being sold, the people that were going to buy had the stage demolished and they pulled out of the sale so it was sold without the stage. Not sure if the 'new' owners built a stage or not."

Status: It's alive and well. It's an independently owned theatre running art house type fare. The Art Theatre is the only historic theatre still operating in Long Beach. It had a $1 million dollar makeover by new owners in 2008 which included the addition of a coffee bar and wine bar in the lobby. The work was done with reference to 1933 blueprints and included exterior restoration, new signage and an upgrade of projection and sound systems.

Interior views:

The auditorium in 1969 after a bit of a fire. It's a photo on the website of Cal State Dominguez Hills from the Long Beach Firemen's Historical Museum Photographs Collection. Also see a photo of the charred booth front wall after the event.

A look in from the back of the house after the restoration project. It's a photo by John Hough that appeared on the Art Theatre website in 2008. John also posted it on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page in 2021. Visit John's website for photos of many more theatres he's explored: www.ornatetheatres.com

A closer look at the proscenium. Photo: Art website - 2008

In the booth in 2009, back in the days of film. It's a photo from Long Beach Meetup that was included in their "Waltz with Bashir @ Art Theatre" album. Also in the set: a lobby view | another lobby view | auditorium seating |

Making way for a new post-virus seating configuration. The photo by Kirsten Kansteiner appeared with "Hospitality as we know it will be vastly different...." an April 2020 article by Brian Addison for the Long Beach Post.

More exterior views:

c.1925 - A look at the original facade of the building when it was still the Carter Theatre. Super sleuth Michelle Gerdes found this one on eBay. A Gloria Swanson film is playing.

1947 - It was called the Lee Theatre in 1947 when this photo was taken. They were running "Desire Me" with Greer Garson and Robert Mitchum. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1969 - A bit of a fire during the run of "A Man and a Woman" and "Interlude." The photo is on the website of Cal State Dominguez Hills from the Long Beach Firemen's Historical Museum Photographs Collection. Also in the collection from this event: firemen on the roof | another street view |

1973 - A nice view looking west that was posted by Loren Sauer on the now-defunct platform Webshots.

1981 - The Art with "One Eyed Jacks" and "The Missouri Breaks." Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for the photo.

1983 - A fine look at the boxoffice from American Classic Images.

1986 - The shoot for "In The Mood" (Kings Road/Lorimar, 1987). The Art was standing in for a theatre somewhere in Nevada. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for more about the film. Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing the photo. Ron included this shot, along with many other great ones from his collection, in "Why I Love Long Beach," a video that he posted on Facebook to help the "Long Beach Gives" fundraising campaign for the Historical Society of Long Beach.

c.2005 - A view from the now-vanished website for Midnight Insanity, a group that used to present "Rocky Horror" at the Art Theatre.

2005 - A nice view of the vertical once posted by K. Safer on the now-defunct platform Webshots.

2007 - An artily canted view of the old neon on the Art vertical in an LAist story by Elise Thompson: "The Real Punk Lives of Orange County," a tale about filming a documentary at the theatre.

2007 - Before the restoration project. "December Boys" was playing. Photo: Bill Counter

2008 - A look into the ticket lobby before restoration. Thanks to Debra Jane Seltzer for her photo, one appearing on page 7 of the California Theatres section of her delightful site Roadside Architecture.

2008 - A vertical sign detail. Photo: Debra Jane Seltzer - Roadside Architecture. Head to her site for additional 2008 and 2013 photos of the theatre.

2008 - The new sign being installed by Michan Sign Co. The photo by Jeff Gritchen appeared on a post called "Artsy Fartsy." for Long Beach Seen, the blog he was doing while working as a staff photographer for the Long Beach Press Telegram. Jeff's blog posts continue, now with a wider focus than just Long Beach, as So Cal Seen.

2008 - The theatre's formal portrait on the occasion of the completion of the restoration project. It's a photo that once appeared on the theatre's website.

2009 - A view from the west after the restoration work. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2009 - A signage detail. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2009 - Another look at the vertical. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2009 - The restored boxoffice. Photo: Michelle Gerdes. Thanks, Michelle! This and other Art photos are part of her "Theatres - California" set on Flicker. Also see her "Theatre" page on Flickr for a listing of other sets documenting here many explorations.

2009 - Thanks to Viajante for sharing this view on Flickr. Also see a 2008 daytime view.

2010 - Thanks to Ralph Combs for this shot. He has it on Flickr.

2018 - Thanks to John Hough for sharing this photo he took on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page. Visit his website: www.ornatetheatres.com

2020 - Thanks to Rudy Serrano for this marquee shot. it was a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

2020 - A view west on 4th. It was a post on the Art Theatre Facebook page.

The Art Theatre in the Movies:

The Art stands in for a theatre in Nevada in Phil Alden Robinson's film "In The Mood" (Kings Road/Lorimar, 1987). The film stars Patrick Dempsey, Talia Balsam, Beverly D'Angelo, Michael Constantine, Betty Jinnette, Kathleen Freeman, Peter Hobbs and Kim Myers in the story of a teenager eloping with two adult women. It's also known as "The Woo Woo Kid." As they say, "based on a true story." The cinematography was by John Lindley.

They did a lovely front for "And So They Were Married" with Robert Mitchum and Simone Simon. That was a reissue title for "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore," a 1944 Monogram release. That title was originally used for a 1936 film with Melvyn Douglas and Mary Astor. Thanks to Dennis Morawski for identifying the theatre. Once we go inside, we're at the Warner Grand in San Pedro, also seen earlier in the film. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post about "In the Mood" for more theatre shots including three more shots outside the Art as Patrick Dempsey comes out with the usherette who woke him up.

More Information: Cinema Tour has 24 exterior and lobby photos from Ron Pierce and Bob Meza on their page devoted to the theatre.

See the Cinema Treasures page for many stories as well as links to additional photos. Joe Vogel has done his usual impressive research work tracking the theatre's name changes and ownership.

Check out the 6 minute 2008 video "Art Theatre of Long Beach" featuring Jan Van Dijs, one of the developers of the project, discussing the renovation. It's on YouTube.

See the page here on this site about Long Beach's earlier venue on The Pike named the Art Theatre.

Los Angeles Theatres

Art Theatre

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