Los Angeles Theatres: American Theatre

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

Opened: Perhaps 1912. It's listed in the 1913-14 through 1922 city directories with an address of 115 E. Seaside.

The Cal State Long Beach page about the American notes that the building's facade had an enormous electric American flag sign. They add:

"Not only was Long Beach producing Edison films, but the city was also the fashionable place where movie fans could see some of the newest releases before anyone else in the country. For example, one of the last movies produced by Edison in Long Beach, 'The Dances of the Ages,' premièred at the American Theatre, a film considered quite original for its special effects, 'The most spectacular ever turned out at the local studio.' The Long Beach newspaper called it 'poignant' and 'delightfully' executed (Daily Telegram, Apr. 12, 1913)."

Seating: 450, according to the Cal State page.

The proprietors, Helen and A.C. Frist, had such success here, they later opened the Fairyland Theatre, in the next block east on Seaside.

The American is indicated as "Moving Pictures" at 113-115 in the left hand pink building in this detail from image 29 of a 1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map in the Library of Congress collection. The addresses in the building for the two long and skinny storefronts were 117 and 119. That's the Fairyland Theatre on the far right with its auditorium backing up to Collins Way. In the lower left it's a corner of the Municipal Auditorium.

"Everybody is going at least three times!" The American was one of the theatres participating in the "Go To The Theatre Week." The ad from the February 11, 1922 issue of the Daily Telegram is from the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Thanks, Ron!

They did a bit of renumbering on the block. In the 1923 through 1926 plus the 1930 and 1932 directories the American is given a 145 E. Seaside address. Claude Scott was listed as manager in 1930.

Closing: It appears that 1932 was it. There's nothing at the theatre's address in the 1933 or 1937 city directories.

This detail from image 29 of the 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map that's in the Library of Congress collection shows how the 100 block of Seaside was renumbered. What had earlier been the theatre's location as 113-115 is seen here as 143-145. That's a bit of the Jergins Trust Building / State Theatre on the left.

Status: The building the theatre was in got demolished sometime after 1961. There's now a parking garage on the site.

1916 - The American is seen just east of the 1905 Municipal Auditorium in this photo from the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Also on view are the Wigwam/Victor and Fairyland in the 200 block of Seaside, the Liberty/Roxy on Ocean Blvd., the Palace under construction on Pine, the Theatorium/Rialto on Board Walk, and the framing going up for the State. Thanks, Ron.

1916 - A detail from the previous Mahan Collection image showing the four buildings on the 100 block of Seaside. The American was in the second from the right.

1928 - The American is seen on the far left, the Victor is in the center and, on the far right, there's part of the Tracy in this look at the beauties in their paddle boats for the Pacific Southwest Exposition. The large building behind is the Breakers Hotel. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. They note that each of the ladies has her name on a flag at the front of her boat.

1932 - The Jergins Trust Building / State Theatre is hogging the center of this image. But on the left note the triangular roof sign on the screen end of the American Theatre as well as the newly constructed Municipal Auditorium beyond. The sign on the American isn't for the theatre but rather for the Benjamin-Irving Co., "The House of Diamonds," next door at 137-141 Seaside. On the far right is a sliver of the old Auditorium, soon to be demolished. It's a Winstead photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1932 - The triangular roof sign for the Benjamin-Irving Co. points to the American in this view of the back of the four buildings in the 100 block. On the right it's the State Theatre and the Municipal Auditorium. It's a detail from a much larger image from the California Historical Society that appears on the USC Digital Library website.

1932 - The beach on Labor Day, after demolition of the Municipal Auditorium. On the right edge of the image note the American with a sign sticking out from the facade. It's an Inman photo in the Long Beach Public Library collection.

c.1934 - A view in from the Rainbow pier with the American's building on the far right. 1932 was evidently the theatre's last year of operation. It's the State in the center and the Ocean Center Building, dating from 1929, on the left. It's a card on Card Cow.

c.1936 - A fine view with the many windows of the building the American was formerly in at the center. Thanks to Carolyn Comings for this photo taken from the Rainbow Pier that was in a scrapbook of her mother. On the far right is the Tracy Theatre with the Breakers hotel behind. The photo appears on the "Long Beach Municipal Auditorium and Rainbow Pier" page of the delightful site The Pike that's curated by Paul Prosise.

1938 - The former American Theatre is seen down in the next block in this Frasher postcard from the Michelle Gerdes collection. The Pomona Public Library also has a copy. The peaked roof of the Victor is just to the left of the 15 cents sign on the Tracy, where Gene Autry is starring in one of their features. The State Theatre was in the large building in the center of the image. The Library has hundreds of photos from all over Southern California in their Frasher Foto Postcard Collection.

1938 - A detail from Michelle's Frasher card. The building that had been home to the American, with a flagpole and a sign for something or other across the facade, is off to the left. It's the Victor in the center and part of the Tracy on the right. Thanks, Michelle!

c.1940 - A view along Seaside Way on the beach side of the Jergins Trust Building. This beach was later paved for a parking lot. The photo is in the Works Progress Administration collection of the Los Angeles Public Library.

That first passage to the right is Pier Place. The third building down had been the home of the American, long closed by the time of this photo. The next street down is Locust. Just beyond, on the far right edge of the image, is a bit of the peaked side wall at the front of the Victor Theatre at 207 E. Seaside.

1951 - A slide from the Ronald W. Mahan Collection looking toward the bright lights of Seaside Way and Ocean Blvd. The building that was formerly the American Theatre is on the left with the vertical sign of the United Artists on Ocean Blvd. behind it. At the left of the bandstand is a very thin slice of the Victor Theatre. To the right of the bandstand is the arched facade of the Tracy Theatre with the roof sign of the West Coast Theatre beyond.

1961 - A forlorn look east from Pine Ave. That first little passage is Pier Pl. The former home of the American is a bit left of center. It's an Automobile Club of Southern California photo appearing on the USC Digital Library website.

1961 - A detail from the Automobile Club's photo with the former theatre building the third one in. That's Locust Ave. just beyond the "Hotel" sign in the center of the image. The Victor had been on the second lot on the other side of the intersection but it had been demolished before this photo was taken. Collins Way is down beyond the Tracy.

2019 - Looking west on Seaside toward Pine Ave. The theatre was once over on the right. Photo: Google Maps

Los Angeles Theatres

American Theatre

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