_-_034.jpg) The theater's facade in 2022 | |
 | |
| Address | 1441Third Street Promenade Santa Monica, California United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°00′54″N118°29′41″W / 34.01496461375134°N 118.49482167908558°W /34.01496461375134; -118.49482167908558 |
| Screens | 4 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1934; 91 years ago (1934) |
| Closed | September 22, 2024 (2024-09-22) |
| Architect | Norman W. Alpaugh |
TheEl Miro Theater[a] is a partially historic formermovie theater on theThird Street Promenade inSanta Monica, California. Designed byNorman W. Alpaugh in theArt Deco style, it opened in 1934 as a single-screen, 900-seatmovie palace. It operated under several different chains in the 20th century and briefly operated on aSpanish language program in the 1980s. All of the original theater except its facade was demolished and then rebuilt as a four-screenmultiplex in 1989.AMC Theatres operated the venue until its closure in 2024.
In December 1933, Ira C. Copley, head of Southern California Newspapers Associated, commissioned the construction of a movie theater onThird Street inSanta Monica at the cost ofUS$32,000 ($777,000 in 2025).[1] Bernard J. Levitt operated the theater as a lessee. In July 1940, Levitt bought the building from Copley for over $75,000 ($1,683,000 in 2025).[2][3]
On April 24, 1963, the El Miro reopened following renovations. New provisions in the theater included an expanded lobby and concession stand, renovated restrooms, new seats, upgraded sound equipment, a new projector, and a larger screen. The reopening was marked by the West Coast premiere of theFrank Tashlin comedy filmThe Man from the Diners' Club that night. One of the film's co-stars,Telly Savalas, attended, as didStefanie Powers,Michael Callan,Cindy Carol, andNancy Kovack. Los Angeles radio personalityJohnny Grant served as themaster of ceremonies for the event.[4]
The theater operated as Cine Latino, a Spanish-language theater, in the 1980s until it was closed in 1987. Following its closure, the original facade was preserved while the single-screen theater was demolished and replaced by a four-screen multiplex. It reopened in 1989 under the management ofCineplex Odeon.[5]
In September 2024,AMC Theatres permanently closed the El Miro due to poor performance.[5]
Los Angeles architectNorman W. Alpaugh designed the theater in theArt Deco style. Upon its commission in 1933, theVenice Vanguard reported that the building would be one of the firstearthquake-proofed structures in Santa Monica. The building's originals dimensions included a 50 foot (15 m) frontage on Third Street and a 160 foot (49 m) deep interior to the back alley.[1]