Going to the Movies

For residents of CV from 1924 to 1987, going to the movies meant a trip down to Honolulu Avenue to the Montrose Theater. According to history, the building of the theater in 1924 was a community project with several Montrose businessmen pooling their money to create a draw for the Montrose shops and restaurants. The theater was situated right next to the Montrose Hotel (now Andersen’s Pets). It was built of “fire-proof” brick and tile in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, and had an amazing 600-seat capacity.

It was initially a silent movie house with a spot for an organ accompanist right up front. A small stage could accommodate the vaudeville performers, who often played along with the movies. After it was updated for “talkies” in 1929, it proved a very popular escape during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In 1945, it was sold to the fledgling Edwards Cinema chain. A steady stream of westerns and Disney movies kept the baby-boom kids entertained through the ’50s and ’60s. Fun fact: Future LA Mayor Sam Yorty worked there as a projectionist when he was in law school.

In the ’70s and ’80s the theater, now battling the big-box theaters, dabbled in surf movies and live rock shows. The proximity across the street of Here, There and After record store provided a ready audience for those kinds of shows.

In 1987, after a showing of “Crocodile Dundee,” the “fire-proof” theater mysteriously burned to the ground. The famous Glendale fireman-turned-arsonist John Orr was the first on the scene. He was later convicted of several arson fires in the area, which fueled speculation that he started the fire. However, a local electrician tells us he went on a service call to the theater and found the electrical system in dangerous condition. He warned the theater manager that it could start a fire, but his advice was not heeded.

Today when we stand in the parking lot of Andersen’s Pet Shop, we’re standing in the footprint of the Montrose Theater. It’s too bad it’s gone. It could have been a great feature for Montrose today.

We have opportunities to relive the early days of local movie theaters. This coming weekend the Alex Theatre will present a salute to old Glendale. “Thanks for the Memories” will recreate the early days of the multitude of movie theaters on Brand Boulevard, such as the Roxy, Capitol, Vogue and, of course, the Alex. Hosted by the hilarious Adam Felber (NPR’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me”), the show will start in the silent era with highlights of Valentino’s “Son of the Sheik,” “Robin Hood” and “Wings” starring Clara Bow (who visited CV’s Hillcrest Sanitarium to dry out).

We then move to the talkies – shots of Glendale High’s Marion Morrison (John Wayne) and clips of Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck, entertaining kids at Fremont Elementary (Nash owned Montrose’s Andersen’s Pets) plus comedy shorts of Laurel and Hardy, classic cartoons and a salute to the theaters of Brand Boulevard.

This fun event happens on Saturday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. It’s a benefit for The Glendale Historical Society and the Alex Film Society. Buy your tickets to great movie memories of the past at the Alex Theatre website: https://www.alextheatre.org/.

If that just whets your appetite, then travel further back in time to the silent movie era when the Historical Society of CV and LA County Parks put on their very popular annual Silent Movies in the Park. On Saturday, July 27 at 8 p.m., local celebrity Joe Rinaudo will hand-turn the crank of his 100-year-old projector. With accompaniment by a live musician, Joe will show some of his favorite classic silents on a warm summer night under the stars. It’s out on the lawn of Two Strike Park (5107 Rosemont Ave.), so bring a blanket or lawn chair. It’s very popular! Get there early and bring a picnic. Best of all, this event is free and family-friendly!

So there you are, two events that will allow you to step back in time to enjoy classic movie magic. In both cases you can pretend you’re at the good old Montrose Theater.

  mike lawler