5384 Long Beach Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90805 | map |
Opened: 1924 as the Oriental Theatre, soon known as Murray's Theatre and Murray's Oriental. In this c.1926 Winstead photo the side of the stagehouse says
"Murray's Theatre - Pictures - Vaudeville - Attractions." "Murray's Big Revue"
is on the marquee. On the front of the stagehouse the signage touts the
"Oriental Theatre Stock Players." It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
In the 1924 city directory its address is given as "Oriental Theatre
Long Beach Blvd. at Market, Virginia City." In the 1925 through 1929 editions the Oriental is listed with the 5384 Long Beach
Blvd. address.
Architects: The building's original architect isn't known. Charles L. Haynes was the architect for the 1933 repairs and redecoration. An item in the April 21, 1933 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor:
"Theater repairs -- George E. Bartlett...has the contract for repairing the theater building at 5384 Long Beach Blvd. for Mrs. George M. La Shell. Plans were prepared by Francis H. Gentry, engineer and Charles L. Haynes, architect...Rebuild rear end of stage and scenery house of brick and concrete...painting and decorating."
Seating: 450 in later years.
An ad that appeared in the Long Beach Daily Telegram on April 27, 1924. Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing it.
"New faces and new scenery..." It's a July 1925 article about a stage show produced by Robert M. Connell called "Captain Applejack." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for including the article in a thread about the theatre on the
Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.
By November 1925 Bill Murray had taken over the theatre. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this "Ten Commandments" ad.
They were running talkies in December 1929. Thanks to Ken for locating the article.
The theatre got a deco remodel as a result of the 1933 earthquake and emerged as the La Shell Theatre, named for its owner at the time, Laura La Shell. As the La Shell it ended up without a stagehouse. In the 1933 city directory it's listed as the La Shell.
A May 1947 ad spotted by Ken McIntyre.
"The Wake of the Red Witch" playing in May 1949.
The theatre evidently stopped running films around 1955.
The theatre used as a church in 1955.
The church era ended in 1958. It had another chapter as a theatre as the La Shell Playhouse beginning in May 1959. Doug Sarvis notes that as a legit venue it only had 275 seats.
The La Shell Playhouse was still running their initial production "A View From The Bridge" in August 1959. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad.
A review of the theatre's October 1959 production of "Jayhawker" by Sinclair and Lloyd Lewis. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this.
"7 Nuns At Las Vegas" was a production running in March 1960. Thanks to Ken for locating the ad.
Closing: The theatre's legit era ended sometime around 1960. Afterward it was turned into a furniture store.
Status: It's currently used as a store called Furniture Warehouse.
More exterior views:
1947 - A look at the La Shell from the
Los Angeles Public Library collection. "The Trouble With Women" with Teresa Wright and Ray Milland was a June release. "Cry Wolf" with Erroll Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck was out in August.
2007 - Thanks to Ken McIntyre for this look at what was once the theatre's entrance.
2010 - A view south across the facade. Photo: Michelle Gerdes
2010 - A detail of the colored concrete at the entrance. Photo: Michelle Gerdes. Thanks! These two photos are included in her wonderful
Theatres - California album on Flickr.
2011 - Looking south toward what had been the entrance of the La Shell Theatre. Photo: Google Maps
2018 - A view south on Long Beach Blvd. That's Market St. on the left. Photo: Google Maps
2019 - The former theatre entrance. Photo: Google Maps
2025 - Another drive-by. Photo: Bill Counter
2025 - The Market St. side of the building. We're looking west toward Long Beach Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the La Shell for many comments. The Cinema Tour page on the La Shell has several 2008 exterior views by Ron Pierce.
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