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movie theaters in BB

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GWTWTOO

Thu Aug 06 2009, 11:41PM

Registered Member #1890
Joined: Thu Aug 06 2009, 10:23PM
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I, of course, know where the current theaters are in BB, but where was the Grizzly Theater located in relation to this theater? I also saw that another theater existed after the Grizzly that burned in 1968. Does anyone know where that was located and where might I find photos of that theater? Thanks so much!

bills grandson

Fri Aug 07 2009, 03:46AM

Registered Member #659
Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM
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Posts: 11730

welcome to the site mark I hope you keep up your intrest. especialy in the history section as it has been ignored recently.

There have been numerous theatres in the valley and just about all have been burned at one time or another

the one that is across the navajo was a bowling alley in the 60's before that it was the navajo ballroom.
The theare in the 60's (my era) was where the arcade is now to the west. (just west of jack in the box)
here is a picture of it the morning after. and a postcard in it's heyday

In this picture you can see the original bowling alley (6 lanes, with pinboys) and the current theatre when it was the navajo ballroom before it became a bowling alley (click to enlarge picture)
below it is the ballroom when it was open and after a little snow

this building was also a theater and latter became a Dr''s office. Sorry this is the most recent photo I have. It is located across the street and south of the other one (that is in the old western auto building) where joe's barber shop was
There was also a theater up in the old pine knot lodge area for awhile.

As for the grizzly theater I hesitate to locate it exactly. It is in this picture behind the sign that says cafe on the right side. It was west of the one I showed buring in the first picture
I suggest if you are just getting into the BB history you pick up a copy of Tom Core's first 100 years. It has some great pictures including the grizzly theater and some very good stories.
I would suggest that when reading of the Big Bear history you take everything with a grain of salt as there are many errors that have been made.
if you have questions I will try to help and ,ost things I say I have seen with my own eyes

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

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bills grandson

Fri Aug 07 2009, 03:52AM

Registered Member #659
Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM
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Posts: 11730

this picture didn't make it in but should have been the second to last joes barber shop was on the left portion of this building

JohnnyT (K7JNT)

Fri Aug 07 2009, 06:47AM

Joshua 24:15

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Joined: Sat Oct 28 2006, 07:34PM
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bills grandson wrote ...

As for the grizzly theater I hesitate to locate it exactly. It is in this picture behind the sign that says cafe on the right side.

Here is a more recent photo (note the large tree in front of the cafe was cut down) taken in 1932. From this perspective, you can see that the theater was directly across the street from Chads.

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. - Eccl 10:2
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bills grandson

Fri Aug 07 2009, 07:24AM

Registered Member #659
Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM
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I don't know why the pictures don't show but will if you click them open

the tree was nicknamed "old sam" it caught fire from a lightening strike one evening and my grandfather was tasked with felling it.
he managed to drop it without damaging any other buildings while flaming branches fell all around and were put out to prevent town from going up.
The stump remaind for quite awhile and would hang up a car from time to time.
I will post an account of this later
thanks for the pictures I hadn't seen the one If someone has Core's book there is a very good picture in it of the grizzly. my scanner is down.

GWTWTOO

Fri Aug 07 2009, 12:15PM

Registered Member #1890
Joined: Thu Aug 06 2009, 10:23PM
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Posts: 20

Thank you so much for your help! I have many of the BB photo and history books, but didn't seem to find much on the theater that followed the Grizzly. Does anyone have any memories of any of these theaters they could share? I would love to hear them. I would love to find some movie ads from the theaters. Thank you SO much and, again, if anyone has any additional photos, please post. I have seen quite a few of Grizzly, though none really of the inside.

bills grandson

Fri Aug 07 2009, 12:49PM

Registered Member #659
Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM
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It will be hard to find anyone that remembers anything before the first one that I showed the burning picture of. That goes back to at least the 50's. It was the first one I saw.
They also had films they played at the peter pan club upstairs but I never saw them.
the one in town had the ticket booth in the front in the middle. there were stores on either side and about a 20 foot mall that had glass cases with the coming attractions. There were 3 sets of doors and everyone entered in the center where the tickets were taken. if you got there late you might have your ticket torn at the candy counter that sat across from the doors. to the right there were two door one to an office and the other to the firls bathroom. To the left the boys bathroom and a broom closet. These 4 doors backed up to the stores on either side.
At the candy counter you could go to the right or the left as you climbed a rampto red curtains on either side.
The screen was to the back of the candy counter and as you went through the curtains you were about even with it. There were 2 aisles that went up hill to the back of the theater. And a fire exit at the end of each aisle at the back of the seating area.
a wide center area. and about 7 or 8 seats on the outside of each aisle.
The films booth satup high and was acessed from the outside.
There were certain areas were tradition had you sitting.most local guys sat all the way back preferbly up the left aisle on outside row.
Sometimes a couple would get there first and the guys would sit a few rows forward.
Couples would usually be on the outer aisles on either side.
the center back was for 20 to 30 year olds and families sat in the middle towards the front.
On your first date with a girl or if you were waiting for someone you sat near the fron outside row. As your dating progressed you moved steadily back.
most flatlanders sat on the right 1/2 of the show.
The movie would start as they drew back the red curtain and you would see it through the curtain. There was a newsreal then a cartoon sometimes two. then there were 2 shows usually with a brief intermission.
saturday night they had a later show after these where they would play a spookey movied.

The theater as well as the lake drive in and possibly the peter pan drive in were owned by Earl streebe. He also owned the one in arrowhead as well as many down the hill.
it was only open weekends unless it was during a busy season when it would be open during the weel.

My girl and I would usualy get their early and visit Monte across the street at the arcade. I would win an animal at skiball and then head across the street where we bought our ticket from pam, and once gave her an animal also. her boyfiend, later husband Gary Seaman ran the projector and his mom and dad did everything else.
Later it was managed by the dorfsmith(spelling) family when they ran it sometimes she would play an organ befor the show and during intermission.
Favorite drink suicide, favorite throwing candy ju ju be
favorite eating candy good and plenty also best for blowing through to make noise
Afterwards either to one of several parking spots or if time acrodd the street to chads for some french fries and gravy or down to halls where my boss would usually comp me and my date.
Usually my date had to be home right after the show so I would take her home and either hang out there or come back downtown and get an alternate date and hang out most of the night or cruise around and listen to wolfman jack.
thats about all I've got for a show night

Around The Lake

Fri Aug 07 2009, 09:11PM

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There is one theater that many may not remember but it was in the building that now has Blondies and the little mall with Wing's.

Todd C
A Smile Goes A Long Way To Making Somebodys Day Great

bills grandson

Fri Aug 07 2009, 09:31PM

Registered Member #659
Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM
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Posts: 11730

ATL
that is the one in the garage where joe's barber shop is/was
been to long since I have been up.

when I was little the ticket booth was in the little store on the south side. also had tickets. Wish I had grabbed a few.
That was when Dr. Beach had his office there and lived in the back.

GWTWTOO

Sat Aug 08 2009, 04:19PM

Registered Member #1890
Joined: Thu Aug 06 2009, 10:23PM
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Posts: 20

Hi, all. I spent several hours at the Grizzly paper yesterday and discovered the following in no specific order:

2/18/44: article "New Theater Plans! Theater to rebuild on site of original Grizzly Theater. Will seat 525 and cost around $25,000"

By 6/16/44, this theater was open and run by Charley and Ann Stillwell

5/18/45: The Cub Theater opens at this address:
1/2 mile W. from Center of Town on Main Highway in Masonic Lodge"

6/6/45: Peter Pan Theater advertises: in Peter Pan Club-they didn't seem to advertise for too long. I don't know whether it wasn't successful or what...

1934: Theater in San Bernardino: The West Coast Theater advertises in the paper

Another theater from SB, The Warner Bros. Ritz also advertises

1935: theater from Victorville, the Mesa Theater advertises in BB paper

June 1961: Lake Drive In advertising movie showings

*****

6/20/45: The second theater that was built following the original Grizzly Theater fire, was also called the Grizzly until this date when it became the Big Bear Theater (not a very original name!

)

6/20/45 Roy Rogers was in town filming "Don't Fence Me In"

1938: At this time, there was a theater in Lake Arrowhead called "The Village Theater"

July 1961: By this time, there was the Peter Pan Drive In in BB City

Does anyone remember the Cub Theater? Does any of this bring up any special memories? Thank you so much for your replies, everyone. I really appreciate it!

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