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La Petite Theatre

236 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 | map |

Opened: 1907 on the east side of the street in the middle of the block between 2nd and 3rd, just north of the Masonic Temple. It was across the street from the Lyceum at 233 Pine. 

This was an operation of Southwest Amusement, a firm with C.M. Bockoven and Billy Clune as principals, that had many theatres all over the L.A. area. Their other Long Beach venue was the Palace of Pictures on The Pike.  

In 1900 the Tabernacle had been the location for the first film showings in town. The La Petite gets the nod as the first establishment opened in Long Beach exclusively for showing movies, according to the Cal State Long Beach page about the theatre.

Another Cal State page titled "Early Long Beach Theatres and Cinemas: the Burgeoning 'Hollywood,' The Pike and Theatre by the Sea" cites research by Claudine Burnett, former Head of literature and history at the Long Beach Public Library:

"Burnett states that patrons could see a movie at La Petite for 10 cents, to view Edison’s latest productions: 'The Bell-Ringer’s Daughter,' 'The Flexible Man,' and 'The Fairy of the Spring.' The program was changed Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. In addition, Burnett states that the manager of La Petite, Mr. Erwin, attempted to have only the most recent films, yet, despite his efforts to make La Petite a great success, his enterprise failed to make enough profit, and the theatre closed in 1908." 

Closed: 1908. Southwest Amusement Co. was being dissolved and the partners went their separate ways. The firm's theatres were either sold off to other operators or closed. There's more about Billy Clune and Southwest Amusement down at the bottom of the page about L.A.'s Cameo Theatre.

There seems to be no trace of the La Petite or its manager, Mr. Erwin, in the 1905-06, 1907 or 1908 city directories. The 1908 Sanborn insurance map from the site Historic Map Works shows the building north of the Masonic Temple as subdivided for retail tenants in front and a furniture warehouse in back. Thanks to Ron Mahan for the research.

Status: Unknown. The retail building on the site may be the one that once housed the La Petite.
 

The La Petite entrance was once where we see the middle bay of the building in the center of the image. On the far right is part of the 1903 Masonic Temple, now retail and offices. We're looking north toward 3rd St. Photo: Google Maps - 2019 

More Information: There isn't any at the moment.

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