Technically, the first documented dedicated movie theater in the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor area was the Fox Theater which opened up in the Rossmoor Business Center in July 1964.
I did, however, find that in 1919 the “Commercial Club” contracted to rent movies to show in the Los Alamitos Sugar Factory clubhouse — which was located where Green Street Interiors and the Brew kitchen SAle House are currently located. The building originally built to house unmarried factory workers but which evolved into a community room of sorts, until it was purchased by a Long Beach doctor and operated as the Los Alamitos Sanitarium. But prior to that, the Commercial club not only rented the silent films to show to the community, but they bought a piano to accompany the films, and even bought some extra seats in anticipation of large crowds. The first film shown was apparently movies taken of the Mexican Revolution.
Anyway, let’s now return to the Rossmoor Fox in July 1964. It was in the building now occupied by the F&M Bank and was the first of three different theater operations to call the Rossmoor Business Center home.
The original Fox was operated by 20th Century-Fox’s film distribution arm, National Cinema. It opened the theater in 1964. The first film showed there was “For Those Who Think Young” starring James Darren and Pamela Tiffin.
A few years later, the Mann Theater Corporation took over the operation. At that time, Mann also operated the Plitt Theaters in Century City and the Mann’s Chinese Theater — formerly Graumann’s Chinese Theater.” In 1976 Mann converted the Fox to a triple screen.
Four years later, in 1980, the theater shut down and was converted to a bank.
By 1989, a new theater opened in Rossmoor, the Syufy chain’s Super Saver 7 Cinema opened –a seven plex featuring almost recently-released films and budget prices
My friends and I would go to the Fox Rossmoor (now F&M Bank) in the late 1960’s early 1970’s on Saturday for a matinee. Someone’s parent would drop us off, another would pick us up. The theatre was full of kids and I remember Mattel taking advantage of the opportunity to poll us on commercials featuring their toys (Hot Wheels, Barbie, etc.). Ladies who looked like typical suburban moms would go down the aisles with shopping carts handing out tablets and pencils for us to respond to questions about the toys shown on the screen. We didn’t mind the market research as it was fun. The projectionist at the time was named “Smitty’, and a theatre employee would stand by the screen and asked us all in unison to yell “Smitty start the show!”. Of course, being 9 or 10 year old boys we would alter his name as you can imagine and crack ourselves up.
My friends and I would go to the Fox Rossmoor (now F&M Bank) in the late 1960’s early 1970’s on Saturday for a matinee. Someone’s parent would drop us off, another would pick us up. The theatre was full of kids and I remember Mattel taking advantage of the opportunity to poll us on commercials featuring their toys (Hot Wheels, Barbie, etc.). Ladies who looked like typical suburban moms would go down the aisles with shopping carts handing out tablets and pencils for us to respond to questions about the toys shown on the screen. We didn’t mind the market research as it was fun. The projectionist at the time was named “Smitty’, and a theatre employee would stand by the screen and asked us all in unison to yell “Smitty start the show!”. Of course, being 9 or 10 year old boys we would alter his name as you can imagine and crack ourselves up.
Can anyone tell me the name of the anchor store in Rossmoor Center in the 70’s& 80’s? I shopped there as a child but the name escapes me!
Are we thinking about the Boston Store? That closed late 90’s and was replaced by Stats — which closed in 2010 and was converted into three stores: Staples, Ulta and PetSmart. recently
Are we thinking about the Boston Store? That closed late 90’s and was replaced by Stats — which closed in 2010 and was converted into three stores: Staples, Ulta and PetSmart. recentlky
You’re probably thinking of the Boston Store which closed in the mid 1990’s and re-opened as Stats, a patio and floral displays store. That closed around 2009 and was converted to three stores: Staples, Ulta and PetSmart.
Can anyone tell me the name of the anchor store in Rossmoor Center in the 70’s& 80’s? I shopped there as a child but the name escapes me!
Are we thinking about the Boston Store? That closed late 90’s and was replaced by Stats — which closed in 2010 and was converted into three stores: Staples, Ulta and PetSmart. recently
You’re probably thinking of the Boston Store which closed in the mid 1990’s and re-opened as Stats, a patio and floral displays store. That closed around 2009 and was converted to three stores: Staples, Ulta and PetSmart.
I spent many a Saturday watching the double feature matinee at the Fox Theatre in Rossmoor. There was great excitement among the kids in Rossmoor when it opened, because we no longer had to have our moms or older siblings drive us to Long Beach (and stay with us in the theatre) to see a movie!