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Cabart Theatre

2342 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 | map |

Opened: October 15, 1936 with "Swing Time" and "Adventure in Manhattan." The location was on the south side of the street four blocks east of Cherry Ave. This Press Telegram photo of the opening night crowd, along with a view of the "lavishly furnished foyer," appeared in their October 16 issue under the headline "Long Beach's New, Ultra-Modern Playhouse." They noted that "The crowd shown is only a part of that gathered at the gala opening..." Thanks to William Miller for locating the article. 

Architect: Unknown

Seating: 924

The name derives from those of the theatre circuit's owners, C.A. Caballero and Milton K. Arthur. Evidently there was also some involvement by Fanchon & Marco. At the time, the Cabart Corp. also operated the State Theatre. Later they would add the Rivoli Theatre, the Towne Theatre and others in the Long Beach area. William Miller comments: 

"Caballero was supposedly the brains behind buying, selling and leasing real estate and Arthur was the brains behind running theaters."

The project had been announced in the article "Work is Started on Movie House Costing $75,00," a July 12, 1936 story in the Press Telegram:

"Anaheim Street Structure Leased to Cabart Firm For Fitteen Years - Work has started on the Cabart Theater, a commercial building of modern architecture that will house storerooms as well as one of the most modern Class A playhouses, at the corner of Anaheim Street and Junipero Avenue. The total investment will be approximately $75,000. The theater will occupy a site 100 by 123 feet. It will have a capacity of 1000 seats. The latest developments in Western Electric sound equipment will be installed. A Carrier refrigeration cooling system, the first in Long Beach, and an electric heating plant are being installed. 

"The interior of the structure will be decorated in keeping with the modern exterior. The building is being constructed by Fred Hoffman, owner of the site, on which the Cabart Theater Company, headed by Milt Arthur of long Beach, has taken a fifteen year lease. This company operates the State Theater and a number of other Class A houses in California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Missouri and New York. This theater is the first to bear the company's name. The deal was arranged by [unreadable] Campbell, City Councilman and real estate broker, who a few weeks ago negotiated a similar arrangement for a theater for the same company on American Avenue near Fifth Street." 
 
That theatre on American the article refers to was the Rivoli. Thanks to William Miller for the article.  
 


A big spread that appeared in the October 5, 1936 issue of the Long Beach Sun. Many thanks to William Miller for locating it. 
 
 


 
Closer looks at the October 5 illustrations in the Sun. Thanks, William!  He comments: 

"The Cabart apparently did a lot of remodeling after 1936 and well before the end in 1961. The auditorium did not resemble the drawing. Yes, two aisles but all seats facing forward, not on a curve on the outside seating areas. 924 seats, not 1,000 as stated. I know nothing (honest, I don't) about the mezzanine area for the ladies restroom and cosmetic salon. I of course know about the men's restroom but certainly not a smoking room. The foyer shows no sign of a snack bar. The snack bar was located on the left side of the drawing where it resembles a long couch. There was two entries into the auditorium and on the right hand side you see the beginning of the stairway upstairs to the restrooms."
 

A pre-opening ad. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures.

The Press Telegram ran a story headed "Cabart Theater Opening Marks New Advance of Anaheim Street" on opening day, October 15:

"Vast Residential Area Served by Lavish Playhouse - Project costing $100,000 Has Electric Refrigeration and Heating System. Anaheim Street, the second largest retail business area in Long Beach, assumes a new importance with the completion of the Cabart Theatre, newest and most modern playhouse in the city, which opens tonight at the southwest corner of Anaheim and Junipero. Serving closer to home a vast residential area which borders Anaheim on either side of the new $100,000 project will enhance the prestige of the street, already built up with retail and industrial establishments through virtually the entire five-mile distance across the city from east to west.

"Attraction of city-wide theatregoers to this playhouse, which will feature the latest pictures, will serve to stimulate Anaheim Street business generally and to encourage the further development of retailing along the thoroughfare. The Cabart Theatre, modern in architecture, is equipped with the latest in air conditioning, sound reproduction and seating comfort. 'Mirrophonic' sound will be provided, a name adopted by the Western Electric for its sound equipment that reproduces the realism of a stage show and picks up every note of the human voice and the heretofore blurred notes of bands and string orchestras. 

"Unusually large and comfortable chairs have been installed with deep spring backs. Ample room is provided between rows. Careful attention has been given to the color of the upholstering. Electric refrigeration and electric heating equipment, through both ceiling and floor, provides for uniform temperature at all times. Air conditioning is coupled with refrigeration and heating to provide comfort at all times. Construction of the Cabart Theatre has been personally supervised by Milt Arthur and his associates to insure every convenience of patrons and to provide a playhouse second to none in the city..."

Thanks to William Miller for locating the article.  
 

An opening day ad in one of the local papers. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures

"Throngs Greet Cabart Theater Dedication" was the article by Harry Modisett in the Press Telegram on October 16:

"Assembling in line more than an hour before the doors of the theater were opened, and crowding the area so much that traffic officers were pressed into service, the public last night paid an enthusiastic tribute to Long Beach's new motion picture palace, the Cabart, on Anaheim Street, east of Cherry at Junipero. In many respects the event was not unmindful of the gay premieres of Hollywood, with everyone in the play-spirit mood. What a contrast was the occasion  with the day of the silent 'flickers,' when the public went furtively into the nickelodeons to see outlandish 'horse operas.' Two better pictures could not have been chosen for the opening: 'Swing Time,' co-starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers -- a delightful symphony of music, dancing and romance in gorgeous stage settings, punctuated with surprising novelties; and 'Adventure in Manhattan,' with such a well-matched pair as Joel McCrea and Jean Arthur in a suspense-filled mystery drama involving a mysterious, modern Mr. Hyde....

"It is difficult to convey a photographic impression of the interior of the theater except to say that its untra-modern appointments, its light tan walls and silvery ceiling, its heavily upholstered, wide seats designed to give the maximum of comfort, and the heavily-rugged floors instantly give one a feeling of relaxation. The auditorium is acoustically faultless as well as the Mirrophonic sound equipment, which is the latest achievement of technicians who have devoted years to scientific study of the subject. Moreover, the screen is free of all distortions, and any seat in the theater provides a perfect view of the pictures. 

"New Epoch - The opening of this beautiful new theater was more than that. It marked a new epoch in the development of Anaheim Street, one of the main arteries of local traffic and a street of many shops and businesses. Since 1933 Anaheim Street has been steadily coming into its own. New structures have replaced old buildings; the modern trend in architecture is indicated in some of the new buildings, and the last word in theater designs and construction in Long Beach is represented by the Cabart. The City Council plans to resurface Anaheim Street, and that means a greater volume of traffic when the job is finished and a corresponding increase in retail business along the thoroughfare. The Cabart Theater will serve a large residential section of the city, which has always shown a willingness to pay for the worthwhile entertainment.

"Councilman Speaks - Councilman Carl Fletcher touched on the civic importance of the opening of the Cabart, paying tribute to the vision of Milt Arthur and his associates in selecting a site for their new playhouse. Mr. Arthur knows Long Beach by heart. He has lived here long enough to understand the people and respond to their desires in the matter of motion picture entertainment. He selected Anaheim Street for the location of his new theater after careful study and analysis of the situation. Cabart represents an investment, not a speculation. Moving quietly among his patrons, house attaches and guests last night, he heard nothing but praise for his beautiful theater. Outside, hundreds of persons waited for the second show, and from early afternoon until long after 10 P.M. floral offerings continued to arrive. Among them were tokens from motion picture studios. The opening day was auspicious in every way. 

"Carillo Aids Dedication - Leo Carrillo, native Californian and screen and stage star, added the finishing touch to a dedication that will long be remembered by those who were privileged to be present. As master of ceremonies, Mr. Carrillo praised the management for having built such a beautiful and comfortable theater and said that he much preferred an opportunity to appear before the public in the intimacy of a theater like the Cabart than in some great auditorium where he seemed so far from every one. He told humorous yarns about his home in the Santa Monica hills, and the perplexities of making a speech before the Miami (Florida) Chamber of Commerce. Then he introduced Councilman Fletcher. In the course of his talk Councilman Fletcher reminded that Mr. Carrillo once rode a horse over the very site of the Cabart! George King, an associate of the Arthur Theaters, is manager of the Cabart. William Gleason is city manager of the State, the Cabart, and the new theater of the organization, now nearing completion on American Avenue, between Fifth and Sixth Streets."

 Thanks to William Miller for finding the article.
 
The listing for Cabart Theatres in the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook shows how entangled the company was with both Fox West Coast as well as the Southside Theatres circuit of Fanchon and Marco. They list the president as M.B. Arthur and the Secretary as H.C. Arthur Sr. The theatres:
 
Anaheim: Anaheim, Fox
Fullerton: Fox
Hollywood: Paramount
Long Beach: Brayton, Cabart, Lee, Rivoli, State
Los Angeles: Alto, Balboa, Manchester, Mayfair, Paramount
Santa Ana: Broadway, West Coast
 
Several of these, such as the Fox Fullerton, Fox Anaheim and the West Coast in Santa Ana, are obviously houses in the Fox circuit that Cabart evidently was managing for them. The Balboa and Manchester were Fox houses that had been turned over to Fanchon and Marco to run. The Hollywood and Downtown L.A. Paramounts were Fanchon and Marco operations. It could be that either Fox or the Cabart operation was handling bookings or ads. 
 
 

A 1946 ad in the Long Beach Independent located by Mark Goodrich for Cinema Treasures.

 

A December 31, 1950 ad in the L.A. Times for the Cabart and other theatres in the circuit. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it.

Closing: The last day of operation was Sunday November 12, 1961, according to research by William Miller. At the time the theatre was only running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The last program to play was "Onionhead" and "Perfect Furlough." 

Status: The building still stands, though now remodeled and made into part of a large community center, retail and office complex. 

Interior views:

A Press Telegram photo of "a portion of the women's attractive lounge room" that appeared in their October 16, 1936 issue. 

 An atrium carved into what had been the middle of the auditorium. Photo: Ken McIntyre - 2007
 
 
More exterior views: 
 

1936 - A summer view as construction begins on the $150,000 project. Thanks to Dallas Movie theaters for locating the photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.  


1954 - An uncredited photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1983 - The building, sans marquee, repurposed as the Centro De La Raza. Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for the photo. 
 
 

1980s - The panoramic view. Note the cooling tower on the screen end of the building. It's a photo included in the 2024 Historical Society of Long Beach exhibit "Centro de La Raza: John A. Taboada Legacy Photo Collection 1970-1985."
 

2007 - The augmented facade. Photo: Ken McIntyre
 

2007 - The booth end of the building. Photo: Ken McIntyre
 


2019 - A view east toward the former theatre. Photo: Google Maps.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Cabart. Thanks to Ron Pierce for researching Milt Arthur, Charles A. Caballero and the Cabart circuit. This material is from a 2021 comment on the Cabart page: 

"The Cabart name was derived from combining partners Charles A. CABallero and Milton ARThur. Milton Arthur came to Long Beach in 1930 and leased the Capitol, later named the Tracy Theatre. His brother, Harry Arthur, ran several East Coast theaters, in the 1930s, most notably the Fox New England Circuit and was listed as a stockholder in New York’s Roxy. Mr. Caballero partnered in 1947 with William Forman to form United Drive-In Theatres, later known as Pacific Drive-In Theatres.

"As early as April 1932, Mr. Arthur was mentioned in the Santa Ana Register as division manager of Fox West Coast Theaters. A story appearing in Variety on February 26, 1936, reported Milton Arthur was banned from the Fox West Coast home office because of a feud with Charles Skouras. At the time Arthur was FWC district manager of five Orange County theaters and the feud may have had something to do with a contract for the Broadway and West Coast Theaters to share revenues. Milton’s father, Harry C. Arthur Sr., managed the Fox West Coast in Anaheim for 18 years before his death in 1945.

"Film Daily Year Book 1940 lists Cabart Theatres with 15 Southern California locations. Cabart’s Long Beach houses at one time or another were the Atlantic, Brayton, Dale, Cabart, Art, Ritz, Rivoli, Tracy, and State. By 1950, with offices at 4425 Atlantic Blvd. in the Towne Theatre, the La Shell and Santa Fe were added to now 21 locations. As for the Art Theatre it was Mr. Arthur’s idea in January 1949 to change the name of the Lee Theatre to the Art Theatre, that name being more descriptive for at the time the theater was playing Laurence Olivier’s 'Henry V.'

"Other theaters mentioned as Milton having an interest in were the Southside Theatres and Alto Theatre, Los Angeles, Fanchon & Marco theatres and the Temple Theatre in San Bernardino. In 1949 Cabart purchased the State, Walkers, Yost, and Princess in Santa Ana and would later operate the Paulo Drive-In, Costa Mesa. Cabart theatres weren’t without problems. In December 1947 the Ebell Theatre filed suit against Arthur and 15 distributors for violation of the anti-trust law. In October 1952 Milton assumed the lease of the Ebell for $750 a month. In August 1950 a similar suit by Eulah and Ivan Hanson of the Atlantic Theatre against Cabart was dismissed. Mr. Hanson had passed away the previous April and in 1958 the Atlantic came under the Cabart Theatres banner.

The most devastating hit to Cabart Theatres was the February 25, 1952, $500,000 fire of the Broadway Theatre in Santa Ana. Managed by a Cabart officer George King (Milt’s brother in-law), the theater had just undergone a $250,000 refurbishment. The Broadway was rebuilt, reopening in 1955, with mid-century minimalist architecture, in contrast to the ‘Skourasized’ Fox West Coast, Santa Ana. Mr. Arthur began planning the Los Altos Drive-in Theatre in 1953. When it opened on June 3, 1955, the Long Beach Independent noted it was jointly owned by Cabart Theatres and Pacific Drive-In Theatres. In 1960 the Cabart, Rivoli, State, and Towne, became part of Pacific Theatres.

"As reported in the Los Angeles Times, Arthur for many years was chairman of the Los Angeles County Park and Recreation Commission and was a proponent to bring major league baseball to Los Angeles. At one time he, and brother Harry, was part owners of the St. Louis Browns baseball. In March of 1957 Milton was part of Mayor Norris Poulson’s entourage who met with with Walter O’Malley in Vero Beach to persuade him to bring the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Before meeting with O’Malley, Arthur said he had already researched Chavez Ravine as a possible site.

"Mr. Arthur led a colorful life prior to becoming a theater magnate. The Press-Telegram noted he was born in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and was a bat boy for the Yankees in 1913-14 under Frank Chance. He came to Los Angeles in 1921 as a film salesman and opened his first theater there in 1926. At the time of the October 1951 interview he made his home on Myrtle Avenue in Bixby Knolls. Mr. Arthur passed away in August 1973."

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