Whittier Theatre, 11602-11612 East Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, Los Angeles County, CA

Significance: The Whittier Theatre was the largest and most elaborate movie theater complex in Whittier. It was significant as an example of a local architect's interpretation both of the prevailing trend toward grand-scale movie palace construction and of the enormous popularity of the Spanish colonial architectural style in Southern California in the early 20th century. It was one of few motion picture theaters to have incorporated "atmospheric" effects in the auditorium lighting to simulate sunset, moving clouds, and a starlit sky. Its tower was a local landmark, visible even from the Interstate 605 freeway, more than a mile to the west. For decades, the theater and its adjacent shops were part of the cultural life not only of Whittier but of the adjoining local communities as well. Throughout its history, the theater reflected national trends in family entertainment. Built during the era of the transition from vaudeville and silent films to "talkies," the theater experienced its golden years in the decades of the 1930s and 1940s, declining with the growing popularity of television and video rentals.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-146
Survey number: HABS CA-2291