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Fairyland Theatre

 225 E. Seaside Way Long Beach, CA 90802 | map |

Opened: 1912. The image is a detail from a 1914 G. Haven Bishop photo in the Huntington Library collection. We're looking east on Seaside toward Collins Way with the beach off to the right. Behind the photographer were the Wigwam Theatre (on a site later occupied by Scott's/Victor Theatre), the American Theatre in the 100 block, and the 1905 version of the Municipal Auditorium.

The theatre is listed in the 1913-14 through 1924 city directories. The Fairyland opened around Christmas 1912, according to the Cal State Long Beach page about the theatre. Long Beach historian Claudine Burnett is cited on the page as noting that at the time it was the most elaborate theatre in town. The proprietors, Helen B. and Archie C. Frist, had earlier opened the American Theatre. Here at the Fairyland, noted for its "medieval terra cotta designs," they featured both films and vaudeville.

Seating: 600, according to the Cal State research.   
 
 

A 1913 ad in the Long Beach Telegram. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. 
 
 

The Fairyland is seen as "Moving Pictures" on the right side of this detail from image 29 of a 1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map in the Library of Congress collection. The auditorium was parallel to Seaside with the stage backing up to Collins Way. The theatre seen in the block to the left at 113-115 is the American. In the lower left that's a corner of the Municipal Auditorium.

By the time the 1913-1914 city directory was compiled the Frists still had the American but the Fairyland was being run by C.A. Raymond.

The Fairyland was included in a September 6, 1920 Daily Telegram ad for Paramount Week. They were also listed in a September 5, 1921 Daily Telegram ad for Paramount Week that year where it was announced "Long Beach joins in the national demonstration of the better motion pictures." The Fairyland also participated in the "First Annual Go To Theatre Week." See the February 11, 1922 Daily Telegram ad announcing that event that encouraged patrons to "Go At Least Three Times!" Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing these ads.  

Closed: 1924

Status: It was demolished for construction of the Ritz Theatre on the site, opening in 1925. That house, after soon being renamed the Capitol, became the Tracy Theatre in 1934.
 

 
1914 - The full G. Haven Bishop photo that the detail at the top of the page was taken from. It's in the Huntington Library collection. We're looking east on Seaside Ave. The Wigwam is on the left with the Fairyland down the block. The photo was taken in conjunction with the Long Beach Steam Station project.
 
 

1916 - A photo from the Ronald W. Mahan collection with the Wigwam on the left and the Fairyland Theatre on the far right.
 

 
1916 - The Fairyland is on the far right in this annotated view from the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Note the theatre's neighbors on Seaside the Wigwam and the American. On the left, behind the Auditorium, the framing was going up for the Markwell Building that would house the State Theatre. Thanks, Ron.  
 
 
 
1924 - A remodel going on to turn the Wigwam into Scott's Theatre. We're looking east on Seaside with the Fairyland still down the block, but not for long. It's an image of a postcard from the California Historical Society appearing on the USC Digital Library website. The card also appears on the Cal State Long Beach page about the Fairyland Theatre, where it's credited to the Historical Society of Long Beach. 
 
 
 
1924 - A detail from the USC photo.  


1925 - A view west from Collins Way at the theatre that replaced the Fairyland. Here it's the Ritz. It would soon be the Capitol and end up as the Tracy. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library

 
 
2019 - At the corner of Seaside and Collins Way, looking west to the spot where the Fairyland and, later, the Tracy, once were. Photo: Google Maps.

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