Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired_in_Texas
The photo does indeed lead to questioning. However, "Sailors Three" was a WWII era British film released in 1940 leaving no logical explanation as to why the newest vehicle seen in the photo would appear to be of either 1935 or 1936 vintage. The claim of "World Premier" seen on the banner is a bit wrong given it premiered in England, and the size of the cast would almost make one believe it was a live performance. Not!
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If we assume for the moment that the banner is accurate, then the Sailors Three reference is to a one night [stage] show with a large cast at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium. As you note this would be an unlikely venue for the world premier of a British film. Not impossible, but improbable. Not to be unfair toward Long Beach but has it ever been known for World Premiers? IMDB indicates the US release of the British film was in '41.
The title of banner is no guarantee that it refers to the same '40 British film. This would be particularly true if the date of the photo and the show was in '33, as deduced by Dr. Hollywood Graham.
Anecdotally, the late Municipal Auditorium, pictured below, was far more than a '30s movie palace.
"The fill for the auditorium and the Rainbow Pier was begun October 1928 and completed in December 1930. Only then, could the $2.8 million Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, which was financed through a bond issue, be built.
It was completed in late 1931 and officially opened on March 6, 1932. It was mainly a convention center for tournaments, dog shows, tennis matches, fashion shows, auto shows, rabbit shows and American Legion conventions. The biggest crowds have been credited to Jehovah Witness meetings, which now are held in the newer convention center which replaced it.
In March 1947, famed show pianist Liberace supposedly made his stage debut a the Municipal Auditorium as a benefit for the White Shrine as is known as the 'Liberace world tour inaugural' complete with 500 custom pressings of “Warsaw Concerto” and “The Fire Dance,” which were autographed and sold as souvenirs." http://longbeachhistory.wordpress.co...gory/theaters/
Alas, I have been proven wrong in the past.
http://longbeachhistory.files.wordpr...umexterior.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014881.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5271/7...ff8b61fd_b.jpg