Located at 5176 East Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, the Golden Gate Theater was built in 1927, designed by William and Clifford A. Balch, whose other notable contributions include the El Rey Theater on Wilshire Boulevard and the Fox Theater in Pomona. The Golden Gate Theater was designed as a playhouse and movie theater and was built in the Spanish Baroque Revival Churrigueresque-style replicating the entrance to the University of Salamanca in Spain. 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. Damage from the 1987 Whittier earthquake caused the Vega Building to be deemed unsafe and later demolished, and left the 1,500 seat Golden Gate Theater vacant. Many battles followed over the preservation and re-development of the historic site. It is one of a few neighborhood movie palaces left in Southern California and is the only building in East Los Angeles listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2012, the building was re-opened and adapted for use as a CVS retail pharmacy. View of the Spanish style Golden Gate Theater as seen from the intersection at Whittier Blvd. The marquee is promoting two films, "D Day 6th of June" and "Toy Tiger" starring Robert Taylor. Neighboring businesses include: Bradbury Employment Agency (left) and Golden Gate Pharmacy (center).
Golden Gate Theater (East Los Angeles, Calif.) Golden Gate Pharmacy (East Los Angeles, Calif.) Bradbury Employment Agency Toy tiger (Motion picture) D-Day 6th of June (Motion picture) Motion picture theaters--California--East Los Angeles Marquees--California--East Los Angeles Streets--California--East Los Angeles Signs and signboards--California--East Los Angeles Automobiles--California--East Los Angeles Drugstores--California--East Los Angeles Stores & shops--California--East Los Angeles Architecture--California--East Los Angeles--Spanish influences Balch, Clifford A Balch, William Whittier Boulevard (East Los Angeles, Calif.) East Los Angeles (Calif.)
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