Whittier Village Cinemas
The Whittier Village Cinemas, on Greenleaf Avenue in the historic downtown district of Whittier, opened as the Wardman Theatre in 1932. Local architect David S. Bushnell designed the Art Deco style single-screen theater for Aubrey Wardman with the expectation that it would be leased to Fox West Coast. Construction had started when Fox went into receivership and defaulted on their lease. Wardman went ahead to finish the building and operate the theater with Bushnell acting as the theatre manager. Over time, it was owned and/or operated by chains including Bruen, Pacific and Century. Vincent Miranda’s Pussycat Theatres chain bought the theatre in 1977. The City sought to shut down the X-rated theater, but the 1987 Whittier-Narrows earthquake did the job. It reopened in 1990. Now, with an addition, it’s an 8 screen multiplex operated by Starlight Cinemas.
Whittier, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt