El Miro Theatre

1441 3rd Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Century Theatres, General Cinema Corp., Loew's Theatres, Metropolitan Theatres

Architects: Norman W. Alpaugh

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Loew's on the Mall, Cinema on the Mall, Cine Latino, Cinema

Nearby Theaters

El Miro Interior

Opened in 1934, the only part of the old El Miro Theatre that is left is the facade. The theatre was razed in the late-1980’s and the newer Cineplex Broadway 4 Theatre is located on that site now.

From the 1960’s thru the 1980’s, the El Miro Theatre was part of many chains including Century, Loew’s, GCC, and Metropolitan Theatres (Metropolitan being the last).

Loew’s redressed the house in the early-1970’s with those purple and blue curtains of that era. That was the last time this theatre received a makeover before it was closed and demolished.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 24 comments)

BradE41
BradE41 on March 5, 2008 at 10:49 am

I used to love going to this theatre in the 70’s when it was the Cinema on the Mall. My strongest recollection was seeing “Airport 1975” when it opened wide from its Cinerama Dome engagement. My favorite thing about it was the walk up balcony. I also remember seeing “Tommy” and “What’s Up Tiger Lily?” double feature during the Summer of 1975.

William
William on March 5, 2008 at 11:26 am

In ken mc’s post for the theatre from Oct. 5 2007. That was during the time the theatre was part of the Loew’s chain. Before it was sold to GCC.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 25, 2008 at 6:34 pm

Here is a repost of the 1963 UCLA photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6jcgcf

meredithlee
meredithlee on January 17, 2009 at 12:02 pm

Wow, I hadn’t looked on this site for a few years, didn’t realize it had been so long, and it is so great to see these old pictures of the El Miro. I worked here when it was a much more dumpy place, the summer and fall of 1977, sitting in the box office of Cinema on the Mall. The walk up balcony was still there but I remember it so much smaller than the way it was when it was El Miro. On weekdays it was a much deserted walking mall but when we would open up for the dollar matinee there would suddenly be a long line, mostly of seniors. Not like the huge line though of the exterior of the El Miro posted above!

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on July 5, 2015 at 9:56 pm

El Miro at 15:14 in this 1963 “Leave It To Beaver” episode. Copy & paste to view.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM9vdEOQFqo

pnelson
pnelson on September 30, 2015 at 10:08 am

An art deco beauty. Love the ceiling decoration. Great.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 1, 2017 at 8:12 pm

El Miro photo in this article.

https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/how-santa-monicas-third-street-became-a-promenade?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=58e06932a167da000a98ca59&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

rivest266
rivest266 on November 5, 2019 at 3:46 pm

This became Loew’s on the Mall on January 26th, 1971 and Cinema on the Mall on January 12th, 1971 as General Cinemas took over Loew’s in the Southwest and Florida.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on February 27, 2023 at 6:35 pm

1938 photo in Santa Monica History Museum Facebook page link below.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=569754665156201&set=pb.100063650169166.-2207520000.&type=3

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