Picture Of The Day

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clusc_8_1_00061564a_j[1].jpg
This is a picture taken outside the Sports Arena in 1961. The woman is picketing an ``anti-communism'' school featuring Roy Rogers, Ronald Reagan and Pat Boone. But that's not why we posted the picture.
We're fascinated by the huge sign in the background that says ``Figueroa Theatre.'' Any L.A. history buffs or residents who remember this structure and its purpose, feel free to comment.

3 Comments

TrojanEncore said:

Scott,

I remember that sign. I grew up in the neighborhood. I lived 5 blocks from there. My family 1st moved there in 1954. As a matter of fact I attended the Sports Arena 1st day opening.

That sign is from the old Figueroa Theatre. I saw a number of movies there. It sat just south of then Santa Barbara Ave. (now called Martin Luther King Blvd) and Figueroa. It was one of 3 Movie Houses within a 2 mile radius that we would go to as kids. I remember paying 50 cents to go there on Saturdays to see 2 movies and 5 cartoons. It went by the wayside I believe in the early 70s along with many other neighborhood theatres.

As a matter of fact Murray's Drug Store sat in that same complex. You may be able to see it in the photo on the corner. I remember David Adelman and his brother Jerry selling tickets at a premium from behind the counter there to Coliseum and Sports Arena events. They later formed Murray's Tickets. Which went on to be the largest Sport Ticket business in America with locations nationwide.

That whole complex has been torn down however. There is a Broadway Federal Savings and parking lot now on that corner.

You can see the old Sports Arena Marquee that advertised coming events on the right side of the picture.

To the left side (South East corner) of the street was a trade school called National Trade School. You can barely see it however.

There was a pretty good size old hotel on the diagnal side (North East corner) of the Street. It's name evades me.

I love these old pictures Scott. They bring back memories. Heck I guess I'm getting old.

Fight On

kptrojans said:

Great information TrojanEncore. Don't feel like you are getting old, just feel like you have more knowledge than others. Good job on your part, and good job to SW for providing a heck of a topic. Fight On!

mikeburk Author Profile Page said:

Here's another link to property as a movie house... http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2043/

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About Inside USC

Scott Wolf has covered USC for the Daily News since 1996. A USC graduate, he covered his first Trojan game in 1984 for the Daily Trojan. Scott is known as the "scourge of the Internet message boards," according to radio host Petros Papadakis. Despite this moniker, there's no truth to the rumor he takes pleasure in antagonizing the "Internet geeks."

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