A.K. Smiley Public Library invites you to relive historic movie theaters of the past with “From Picture Palace to Multiplex: Transformational Theatre Trends in Southern California’s Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley” on Saturday, June 29 at 11am in the Assembly Room and on Zoom. Presented by Dr. Kelli Shapiro, the program will be based on Dr. Shapiro’s recently published Images of America book, Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley Movie Theatres, which will available for purchase.
Showcasing the evolution and transformations of the region’s movie theaters, the program will discuss the wealth of movie theaters in San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire throughout the Twentieth Century. As Dr. Shapiro will demonstrate, entertainment options proliferated as people flocked to both areas, which were famed for their scenic citrus groves and vineyards, their position along Route 66, and their mountain and desert resorts. Residents and vacationers could enjoy films at nickelodeons, picture palaces, drive-ins, and other venues; some historic venues still operate. Due to the region’s proximity to Hollywood and its more rural and suburban settings, local cinemas frequently held studios’ test screenings (including for Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz); audiences there thus influenced what moviegoers elsewhere watched.
This event is free and open to the public. Check back for updates on Zoom link. Registration is not required. Registration is not required. Copies of Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley Movie Theatres will be available for $20 payable through a variety of payment methods.
If you have any questions, please contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 and heritage@akspl.org. Program subject to change.
About the Author…
Kelli Shapiro, PhD, is a public historian and historic preservationist who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and now lives in the Inland Empire. She holds a BA in American Studies from Pomona College and a Graduate Certificate in Public History from Texas State University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies and a PhD in American Civilization–both from Brown University. She has written two local history books for Arcadia Publishing; successful state landmark nominations; and entries for several encyclopedias. Over the years, she has been a volunteer, intern, student employee, and/or staff member at multiple public history and preservation organizations/institutions in several states.