An August 2012 Eastsider story by C.J. So sad. Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection. The bar and the east stairs. According to Richard Carradine of GHOULA, "that the cremated remains of two adults and one child were found in a box in the basement level of the theater.". ; HABS documentation available at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3900/ca3948/data/ca3948data.pdf. For years, you could not buy a bottle of face wash or a box of Cheez-Its at East LA's beautiful Churrigueresque-style Golden Gate . [10], In 2003, the property was acquired by M&A Gabaee, an affiliate of the Charles Co. Nothing that big is ever benign. As beautiful as it once was. Hollywood Pacific Theater. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019, The front of the balcony house right. It has brought back so many great memories and make me realize just how blessed I was to have spent time there. 30 dollars for a couple of movie tickets before I even ordered popcorn. Images available for reproduction and use. Wed get all dressed up and walk down Atlantic to get to it and then back to our apartment by Belvedere Park. Architect: Clifford A. Balch and his brother William. "okeds.lpti'()'r.verees)(j.io(n'')\";x='';for(i=0;i<(kode.length-1);i+=2){x"+ [4] The Vega Building was known for its four-story octagon tower. Psychics have also picked up on animals still trapped inside of their cages, believed to have been kept in terrible condition when they were once living. The majority of its structural features, including its conformation, detailing and decorative elements, have been unaltered. The Los Angeles Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their identities have never been discovered . It was the first building inEast Los Angeles to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Upstairs backstage. The theater closed in 1986; the retail building built around it was damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake and demolished in 1992. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - March 2012, A house right detail. From Films to Pharmacy: Former East L.A. movie palace debuts in new role as drug store, East LA's Golden Gate Theater Cleared for CVS Conversion, Richard Neutras Jardinette Apartments are scheduled to sell at public auction, Big housing proposal for old Sunkist headquarters enters final stretch in Sherman Oaks, To save potential landmarks, LA wants more notice of demolitions, Demolition fears swirl as Corkys diner closes, Because of unauthorized demo, Eva Gabors former home too ruined to landmark, San Fernando Valleys last orange grove on its way to becoming a city landmark. east of Los Angeles, on October 31, 2018. . Its monstrous ugliness followed East Los Angeles like a storm cloud. It was beautifully restored by the Walt Disney Company and Pacific Theaters in 1989 and now hosts grand premieres of Disney films. Even though its no longer in operation, Im glad its still there so future generations will discover some of the gems in East L.A. Do you know of any others? The location was on the west side of the street a half block south of Sunset Blvd. I read your question to Bob regarding the four movie theatres in East Los Angeles and heres your answer. The institution can answer questions about this item, assit you with obtaining a hi-res copy, and gather additional information you may have about it. The elevators here also have a knack to go to floors that aren't selected (usually it's the 3rd floor). I miss those times. side and watch the endless parade of cars that filled the Blvd. Great to know it was more than just a place to watch a movie. East Los Angeles; Golden Gate Theatre; Golden Gate Theatre. Thanks Little Willie G! Two Mafiosos are also said to be here in the basement of this location. I think the Whittler Boulevard arch is another great architectural treasure. The remainder, which is the actual theatre building . OpenStreetMap (new tab) Google Map (new tab) Google Streetview (new tab) Architects Balch and Balch produced this design for a Spanish Colonial Revival style theatre that seated 1454 patrons; placed on the National Register of Historic Places; In 2003, the Golden Gate . That carved frame sounds interesting. Electrical equipment for sound and lights are commonly tampered with by unseen forces. 27 comments. There seemed to be more going on outside of the theater than in it! And if I can recall right movies use to be 25 cents on Mondays and Wednesdays. --California--East Los Angeles, Shells--California--East Los Angeles--Art, Historic American Buildings Survey Collection photographs, Heritage Documentation Programs Collection photographs, https://tessa.lapl.org/cdm/ref/collection/photos/id/177. Hope CVS keeps its promise to not do anything that cant be reversed, and hopefully clean things up a bit first. The building just sits there, waiting for something to happen. 2. Originally, the theater was accessed by entrances into the courtyard of the historic Vega Building, an L-shaped retail and apartment building, which surrounded the theater. [5] The remaining theater building was left sitting vacant in the middle of an otherwise empty lot. It's a 2011 Tim Zimmerman photo from the, A balcony soffit detail. The ghost who resides here is called Martin, and in life, he was a janitor at this park. It is unclear whether she now still lives in the apartments, but reports say she would roam the top floor of the hotel wearing her white nightgown. Perhaps Wilshire's finest example of Churrigueresque design by Stiles O. Clements. and our in the forties the stage had the most beautiful curtain that rose up in scallops. www.broadwaysf.com. 1, Boulevard Theatre was just east of Ford Blvd. Los Angeles: The Haunt | Ghost Hunting Tour in Chinatown. It's a 2011 Tomm Zimmerman photo in the, The new snackbar location The stairs up from the main floor got removed. Like many theaters during the 1920s and 1930s, it played silent films and filled the gaps with organ and orchestra music. [7] Demolition crews had already begun to dismantle the walls when Edelman, then Los Angeles City Councilwoman Gloria Molina, sheriff's deputies and more than 50 concerned community members showed up at the site to ensure the demolition work was halted. His second wife, Encarnacion, has also been seen in the master bedroom. It opened to the public again just recently, in late 2012, in the form of a CVS Pharmacy. I drove past the site yesterday. The remaining theater building was left vacant . on ; S-000-239 8x10; A-008-111 4x5 (Additional print) Item Description. Spanish Baroque, Spanish Colonial. The May 2010 Times story "L.A. County Supervisors back drugstore conversion" noted that the plan at the time was to preserve the exterior but the historic interior elements would be hidden behind new walls and a dropped ceiling. This historic residence is said to be the home of lingering spirits of those who were killed in the Chinese massacre. Thank you for this forum. The John Sowden House was the site of the murder of Black Dahlia, aka Elizabeth Short, found surgically cut in half and dumped on a lot. The remaining theater building was left vacant for . Photo: Chattel, Inc. - 2009, A proscenium view. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011. Ballet Broadway Cirque du Soleil Comedy Dance Family Theatre Las Vegas Theatre Musical/Play Off-Broadway . The building is absolutely gorgeous. Architects Balch and Balch produced this design for a Spanish Colonial Revival style theatre that seated 1454 patrons; placed on the National Register of Historic Places; In 2003, the Golden Gate property was sold to the Walgreens Drug Store chain; Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD) 2005-. Search this record. Would love to here from someone who had the same memories as a teenager., My mom took me and my sister to see The Ten Commandments back in 1958, there at the Golden Gate Theater:) I also remember the shops that used to be on both sides of the entrance. County inspectors declared the building unsafe for occupancy, and businesses operating in the building, including a jewelry store, a shoe repair shop, and a bowling alley, were evicted. I love producing photography and video for the Web. Learn more about the collections in Calisphere. Edelman blamed a "foul-up" in the Public Works Department for issuing the demolition permit and assured the gathered crowd that heads were going to roll and that he would "try and stop this damn demolition before it happens. 5170 East Whittier Boulevard. View source image Photo: Michelle Gerdes - July 2012. There will also be several apartment units. [4] From 1986-1988, a non-denominational Christian church named Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship occupied the building and held regular services with over 1,000 people. The floor has been leveled, the lobby stairs to the balcony removed and the stage filled in with a pharmacy. contributor's website. I studied English literature and multimedia journalism at UC Berkeley. Hotel Majestic. and Atlantic Blvd. On the second floor folks report noises and the feeling of being watched; on the third and fourth, an unseen presence follows you as A form of the vanishing hitchhiker story exists here involving an inebriated woman who demands people pull over at Evergreen Cemetery only for people to discover her grave. I wonder what happened to it? Built in 1927 at the prominent corner of Whittier and Atlantic Boulevards in unincorporated East Los Angeles, the former Golden Gate Theatre is one of a handful of neighborhood movie palaces remaining in Southern California. I remember getting my popcorn from the shell concession stand and going up to the balcony to watch the movie and older kids make out. Apparitions come up in photographs, but most notably are the claims of Rudolph Valentino wandering the streets of the city and usually stopping when he reaches his grave site. Note that the marquee on Atlantic was still Thanks, Michelle! After getting fitted you could see a movie or go bowling, have your publicity photos done, buy records at the Record Rack or go upstairs where Thee Midniters had offices and a rehearsal studio. The theater closed in 1986 the retail building built around it was damaged in Crystal clear waters surrounded by enormous boulders and towering, ancient trees make for one of the best places to visit in the USA in summer. In the 1960s it boasted a Cinerama screen, but by the early 1970s it had declined and was showing . (Submitted by Chris Berglund). Photo: Bill Counter - 2019, A proscenium plaster detail. By Downtown Los Angeles. Golden Gate Theater is a California Churrigueresque-style movie palace built in 1927 on Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, California.In 1982, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The theater closed in 1986; the retail building built around it was damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake and demolished in 1992. Golden Gate Theater is a California Churrigueresque-style movie palace built in 1927 on Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, California. Interior view of the Golden Gate Theater main entrance lobby looking south. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019, A ceiling chandelier detail. In this 1956 photo from the Los Angeles Public Library (Submitted by Callum Swift), Employees have claim to see black apparitions in the kitchen, lounge & dance floor. 1. The fog is believed to be a spiritual representation of King Richards Antique Center is housed in a structure that was built in 1903 and was once an old citrus packing house. Learn More >. Two spots at Occidental College are rumored to be haunted. I lived in Maravilla Projects at the time and money was tight. Gabriel Soto. After the show wed go grab seomthing to eat before jumping on the Kern bus home; and as long as I was home before dark I was allowed to go each weekend. Some witnesses have seen the apparition of a Mexican man in jeans, boots and a checkered shirt and felt cold spots. Those are the memories you never forget Nicholas! Look below the item for additional data you may want to include. The Golden Gate Theater, built in 1927, had in fact played a huge role in forming community in East Los Angeles. The theatre's new snackbar in 1947. East Los Angeles is home to one of the remaining artifacts of the glamorous movie houses of yesteryear. [6], The theater was originally located in the courtyard of the L-shaped Vega Building, a retail structure that wrapped around the theater. Please contact me regarding incorrect attributions or bad links. Each week a new staff member took the helm of our social media to chat with you directly and share a passion for a specific topicfrom museum education to Renaissance art to web development. Lights turn on and off and doors open A ghost nicknamed "La Consuela" walks the stairs and is sometimes seen on the balcony. Golden Gate Cathedral. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The blog has moved! Some say apparitions also have been seen entering the At the laser tag facility Ultrazone, employees say they have heard whistling and seen unexplained fog after closing time, when the fog machines have been shut off. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2012, The organ grille area house right before restoration work. The Center theatre was 50 cents. "[4], As of 2008, the proposed conversion of the theatre was still the subject of ongoing preservation efforts by the Los Angeles Conservancy. The hotel gives off an eerie feeling all around. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). 07 Jan 2023 19:46:00 The Vega Building was demolished in 1992 after officials determined it to be a hazard. Cobb Estate. It frightened me because I only ever noticed as soon as the movies were about to begin. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019, From house right, looking across what had been the lobby. along with "The Toy Tiger." Clifford A. Balch, Styles: It was a beautiful place that Ill always have fond memories of.. Steve Saldivar | May 17, 2013 | The theater was a project of developer Peter Snyder. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019, What's playing on the big stage? I really think East LA needs a movie theater like this again. collection they're running "D-Day the 6th of June" with Robert Taylor For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. In 1987 the pastors, Mike and Donna Neville were forced to move their church because, according to the owner, the building was condemned following the Whittier earthquake. (Submitted by Chris). We were just acting cool. Among them are a double murder/suicide that took place within a love triangle in a stockroom. The much-loved Delusion will task you with deprogramming cultists in a nearly 150-year-old . The theater closed in 1986; the retail building built around it was damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake and demolished in 1992. Thats great Iris! (Submitted by Chris Berglund). The house was featured on the TV show Ghost Adventures. PUBLISHED 5:57 AM PT Oct. 29, 2021 PUBLISHED 5:57 AM PDT Oct. 29, 2021. Browse thousands of photos from various archives. /* ]]> */, The ultimate web site about movie theaters, Contributed by "\\;)'':)1-htgnel.edok(tArahc.edok?htgnel.edok