Monterey Theatre
2312 Whittier Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90023
2312 Whittier Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90023
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Firms: Barcune & King
Styles: Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Teatro Blanquita
Nearby Theaters
The Monterey Theatre is one of the last neighborhood houses that still line the streets of Los Angeles. It was opened in 1939. In the 1980’s and into the 1990’s, it housed a nightclub, and then became a church until they moved out in 2009.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Ed Wood filmed most of his classics in the Los Angeles area, so it’s a good possibility that the scene was filmed in the Monterey. He probably finagled the use of the theater from someone as a favor.
hdtv: I’ve never seen Jail Bait myself, but William Gabel says that the scene you mention was shot in the Monterey Theatre in Monterey Park. I’ve been keeping an eye on the cable channels in hope that the movie will show up on one of them and I can see for myself. If any of the shots show the back of the house (the screen end of the room was rather nondescript), I’d probably recognize it, as I went to that Monterey many times. It was one of that handful of older theatres that had a section of stadium seating at the back of the auditorium. I never attended the Whittier Boulevard Monterey, but if, as listed above, its style was Spanish Renaissance, then it was probably more ornate than the Monterey in Monterey Park.
The Monterey is currently a church.
Here is a 1979 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics06/00002723.jpg
Here are some photos from June 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/2tdelr
http://tinyurl.com/2rqzej
http://tinyurl.com/2jdc2q
The church has decamped, and the building is for sale.
http://snipurl.com/ii0dk
http://snipurl.com/ii0ii
http://snipurl.com/ii0n0
http://snipurl.com/ii0qi
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/24kgteb
One more from the same date:
http://tinyurl.com/289ovac
Any one know who to contact about renting this place?
In pulling the original building permits what I found is that it was designed by Barcune & King in 1939. [It replaced earlier homes]. The contractor was Floyd R. Fisher. The marquee was by Blaine Noice and the marquee contractor was the Tru-Ad Neon Sign Co. The interior tiles were by the Diato Flooring Co which also did magnisite floors.
On another note, I do know the owners and will give that information to the person who wants to know how to rent it if you contact me and if it is not already rented.