Golden Gate Theater ~ East Los Angeles

I hate hearing about historical buildings that should be restored and used for what they were intended for turned into blockbuster drug stores.  Instead of saying it's inevitable that a consumer corporate store will take over an empty historical spot of architectural importance (look at all the theaters on Broadway) maybe the city/politicians should try harder to preserve and beautify what's left of our history.

Here's a little excerpt from the LA Times:

"The Golden Gate Theater was built in 1927 and is known for its grand façade. Its entrance replicates the portal of the University of Salamanca in Spain, built in a Spanish-baroque style known as churrigueresque. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is one of the few examples of remaining neighborhood movie palaces built in the 1920s. Movies stopped playing there in 1986."

And what the politicians say:

"Supervisor Gloria Molina, whose district includes the theater, said that while the project would not restore the theater to its full glory, it was better than leaving the building vacant and dilapidated.

“The best we have is a compromise and at least leaving it in place and preserving it” as much as possible, said Molina, “At the end of the day, it has been an eyesore.”

I don't know if I see an eyesore.  Just because it's empty.  It looks grand with alot of history attached to it.  Now it's going to have a bright red 24/7 neon CVS sign.

LA Times article.