"Operator.... Can you help me make this call? See, the number on the matchbook is old and faded." (Credit Jim Croce)
National blank Book building in the background, my Mother worked there as a teenager, also many friends, a lot of employment in the various factories in western Mass. at that tine. Thanks.
Crest Theater in Bixby Knolls @Sky Six Crest Theater in Bixby Knolls, is/was one of the largest theaters in the whole Long Beach area. Hello, A lot of communities in and around Long Beach had theaters. They were center pieces of neighborhood gatherings, socially or otherwise. Some times the large empty theaters were used for large gatherings or some sort of awards shows. But, in any case, each neighborhood had one. Our Westside of Long Beach neighborhood had the old Santa Fe Theater. It was three blocks from our Westside of Long Beach house. It was one of those places that a lot of kids and parents lined up on a Saturday morning for the weekly matinee showings and vast supply of cartoons we did not see on our small TV screens. But, during our teenage high school years, the Crest Theater in Bixby Knolls was “the” theater for dates. It was in the same neighborhood as our cruising grounds and the parents all knew it was a safe place for their daughters. Not that they spied on us, but the close by theater to their houses was a secure feeling. My friends that lived near the theater said they saw plenty of the same movies that we saw when we stood out in front the theater as young kids in our own neighborhood. If the question of “going to the movies” came up, it was usually the Crest in Bixby Knolls or a drive to Hollywood to see the first run movies. Jnaki Of all the places in Long Beach, the Crest Theater is gone. The Santa Fe Theater near our old house is also gone after being converted to a bowling alley. The old Santa Fe Theater But, the only old theater still in existence is in the downtown Long Beach section of “hipster” stores and shops. Downtown in the 4th Street funky neighborhood had the old Art theater, that is still there, today. refurbished. But, for dates and to be seen by all of the Bixby Knolls friends, one stood in line at the Crest Theater. No need to drive to downtown Long Beach where all of the bigger theaters were located. It was about a block from the hot rod/cruiser drive-in restaurant parking lot and diner location. Opened in 1947 and closed in the 70s. During our 20 something years, the Art Theater in the downtown area was considered a theater that showed foreign language movies. Not shown at any other theater other than some specialty ones in Hollywood/LA area. YRMV
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