ORANGE, July 7 - Furthering the building boom surging through the city, the West Coast Theaters, Inc. operating a string of movie play houses throughout Southern California, announced through its realty representatives, plans for a theater project involving an expenditure of $225,000.

The theater building, which will probably be two-story, is to be located at the corner of Glassell street and Maple avenue on the property owned by Harry Z. Adams, local capitalist.

For years a horseshoe pitching grounds, then croquet [word unreadable, probably 'field'] - the property now will soon vanish as a famous landmark - giving place to a modern cinema palace in the onward march of progress.

A ten year lease on the property and also the building, which, according to the contract, will be built by Mr. Adams, has been negotiated by the theatrical concern.

Seating one thousand persons and embodying everything to be desired in modern theater appointments, the playhouse will be made one of the most magnificent in Orange county, according to plans of the West Coast people.

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With the arrival of the $17,000 pipe organ, work on the Eltiste theater, which has been leased to a motion picture chain, was rushed today in an effort to complete the playhouse within the next 60 days.

Arrival of the organ was announced by A. B. Crawford, who has been appointed manager by C. L. Langley, lessee. Crawford said the instrument will be stored until the organ loft is rushed to completion, probably late next week.

Work on the playhouse is progressing at an encouraging rate and Crawford predicted that the house would be ready for its grand opening within the next two months.

There is a possibility that the program may be delayed for the installation of vitaphone equipment, with which the local house is to be equipped.

Meanwhile, Crawford is laying plans for a gala opening, which will be featured by the personal appearance of film celebrities and the presentation of outstanding theatrical attractions.

With the arrival this morning of 1100 opera chairs, work of completing the Orange theater for its gala opening May 15 reached its final state, according to A. B. Crawford, resident manger.

The chairs arrived from an Illinois factory and are to be installed at the earliest possible date. All are leather cushioned to furnish the utmost in comfort for the theater patrons.

The decorative work is being rapidly pushed to completion by the Tiffany studios, Los Angeles. The Mediterranean motif is being employed in the decorative scheme.

Work of installing the lighting system is slated to start probably next week. Crawford stated a unique lighting effect would be used, which as far as he knows has not been tried in any theater in Southern California.

The stage equipment has already been ordered and the scenery is now being painted in a Los Angeles studio. An apple-green plush curtain will add to the attractiveness of the stage drapings.

The projection room, one of the largest in the county, has been finished and all that remains is the installation of the projection equipment.

Talking pictures are to be a feature of the local programs and tests have been conducted to determine the kind of sound equipment to be installed.

Orange Daily News (Orange, California)
May 18, 1929
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The Orange theater, Orange's new cinema playhouse, will present an all-talking program, including screen vaudeville, for its opening program next Wednesday evening, May 22, it was announced today by A. B. Crawford, resident manager.

The program is to be featured by a first-run, all-talking picture, "Molly and Me," starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown.

Screen vaudeville will include Smith and Dale in a burlesque, Ruth Etting, Ziegfeld follies star, and a screen prologue, "Hawaiian Love Call" in colortone.

Opening night prices will not be raised, but will remain the same as in the future, 1-c, 35c and 50c. Crawford announced the latter price is for loges, located in the lower section of the balcony.

Two performances are to be presented nightly, commencing at 7 and 9 o'clock. The doors for opening night will be opened at 6:15.

Arthur Cannon, former West Coast organist at Long Beach, will be at the console of the local theater organ. Cannon is recognized as one of the leading theater organists in this section of the country and for the past six years has been identified with West Coast theaters at Long Beach. He was lately at the Egyptian theater.

Cannon is well known in Orange, having been prominent in county musical circles a number of years ago when he resided at Anaheim.

Orange Daily News (Orange, California)
May 21, 1929
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The finishing touches were being rushed to the Orange "Circle" theater today in preparation for the grand opening ceremonies to be held tomorrow night.

Working late into the night in order to have the new cinema palace in readiness for its premier, workmen have been busily engaged in laying down the carpets, installing draperies, applying finishing decorative touches and the scores of other things that remain to be done at the last minute.

According to A. B. Crawford, resident manager, everything should be in readiness for the opening night performance, except perhaps for a few minor changes which are to be made later.

The sound equipment, which is said to be the finest, most complete outfit of its nature in Orange county, was installed last night and is awaiting its final test, scheduled for tonight.

The stage drapings have all been set in place, outstanding among them being a beautiful green plush curtain, designed with rich folds, gold braided rope and gold trappings.

The opening performance will be featured by a first-run, all talking picture, "Molly and Me," co-starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown. Screen vaudeville, singing and a colorful prologue will complete the attractive program.

Arthur Cannon, former West Coast organist at Long Beach, will be at the console of the organ, presenting a musical novelty for the opening program as well as tonal effects for silent pictures.

Crawford announced that no seats would be reserved for the premier or succeeding shows, although later, especially when road shows are presented, reservations would be in order.

"First come, first served will be the policy opening night as well as succeeding nights," Crawford said, urging those desiring choice seats to come early.

The doors open tomorrow night at 6:15, with the first performance starting promptly at 7 o'clock. The opening program will hold over until Thursday night.

A Program, presenting the feature picture, "The Donovan Affair," opens Friday night, continuing until Saturday.

Mary Pickford in "Coquette," her first all-talking attraction opens on Sunday with a, matinee.

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After months of hard work, which had been preceded by several years of court litigation, Orange's new cinema palace - the Orange "Circle" theater - was ready for its introductory bow tonight.

Out of a troubled sea, which developed storm signs five years ago shortly after construction was first launched, the theater project has been successfully steered through tribulation after tribulation by a former "dirt farmer"; M. Eltiste, who later turned business man, then industrial leader and now has ventured forth as a showman.

The theater, as it stands completed today, is not only a credit to the city, but is a monument to the enterprise, perseverance and progressiveness of Eltiste, his associates and others who contributed in some measure to the success of the showplace.

It was Eltiste who rescued the incompleted, structure from legal entanglements; who labored quietly, but assiduously to achieve its ultimate completion.

The grand opening tonight will be in the nature of a testimonial to his enterprise and to his contention, that "Orange will be satisfied only with a first-class showhouse, no more and no less."

Sharing credit with Eltiste will be C. L. Langley, the lessee, who with A. B. Crawford, resident manager, has equipped the theater with the finest equipment to be found in Orange county showplaces.

More than $40,000 has been expended on equipping the house, surpassing, it is claimed, the amount stipulated in the lease.

Crawford, an experienced theatrical man, has overseen all details and has constantly insisted that only the best be installed. The lighting effects, color blending, drapings and stage trappings were all devised by Crawford to attain the utmost in theater harmony.

To many, who have not seen the completed theater home,, a big surprise will be in store tonight, when its full resources are placed on display for the first time for the public approbation.

In order to permit the throngs to inspect the house, Crawford announced that the doors would be thrown open at 6:15. An effort will be made to start the first performance not later than 6:40 because of the length of the premier.

Opening ceremonies will include a brief address by Senator N. T. Edwards, who will introduce Crawford from the stage.

The show will start with the introduction of Arthur Cannon, organist in a musical specialty, followed by a banjo novelty by Joe Kozina, local musician, accompanied by the pipe organ.

Cannon for the past 6 years has been organist at West Coast theaters at Long Beach. Originally from Anaheim, Cannon is returning to Orange county after 12 years in other Southern California cities, during which he has arisen to a lofty position in the musical profession.

The opening screen program, which will also continue tomorrow night, will feature a first-run, all talking picture, "Molly and Me," co-starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown. Screen vaudeville, singing specialties and a screen prologue complete the attraction bill.

Final tests of the sound equipment were made last night by factory representatives of the General Electric company, manufacturers of the De Forest photophone equipment.

The local theater is said to be one of three showhouses west of Detroit to have the complete De Forest equipment, which includes both disc and film production.

Orange Daily News (Orange, California)
May 23, 1929
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Bright lights, lilting music, gorgeous drapings, beautiful color blendings, flowers and crowds, crowds, crowds -

These were the ingredients blended with a master's touch, that marked the grand opening of Orange's new cinema palace, the Orange theater last night.

Dedicated to the advancement of the cinema art in the Orange community, the motion picture temple stands as a credit to the city, the county and to its creators-M. Eltiste, the owner, C L Langley, lessee, and A. B Crawford, resident manager.

The finest equipment to be had from the projection room to backstage; from the basement dressing rooms to the dome fixtures and from the lobby to the orchestra rostrum-has been installed to give Orange a theatre which truly glorifies the celluloid drama and which compares with anything to be found outside much larger metropolitan centers.

It was fitting last night that two packed houses should greet the opening performances as theatergoers reveled in the gorgeous setting to be found inside: the soft tread of rugs, the comfortable seats, the harmonious colorings, the soft lights, and the rich trappings to be found on every side.

The cozy lounging room upstairs equipped with rich furnishings, hangings and subdued lights,: added its charm to the gorgeous setting.

Down stairs, the attractive lobby was banked lavishly with floral offerings, the tributes of Orange businessmen, citizens and all who had a part in the success of the theatre undertaking.

In a brief address, officially opening the playhouse, Senator N. T. Edwards expressed admiration of the wonderful enterprise shown in giving Orange such a splendid institution. He praised Eltiste, Langley, Crawford and their associates for their successful efforts in making the playhouse possible.

"Orange is indeed to be proud of its new theatre and it justly merits the loyalty of the entire community," he stated.

Crawford was introduced as resident manager and declared it would be the policy of the house to show only the best that could be obtained in screen and stage entertainment.

Arthur Cannon, theatre organist, then presented a musical novelty and made an auspicious debut as one of Orange county's leading theatre organists. Cannon comes to Orange after six years in West Coast houses in Long Beach. He is a former Anaheim man, who has risen to a lofty place in theatrical musical circles.

The program was featured by the first-run, all talking picture "Molly and Me," co-starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown. Screen vaudeville, featuring Ruth Etting, record star, added spice to the program.

A specialty banjo act was presented by Joe Kozina, popular local banjoist, who recently returned from a trip to Europe where he appeared in musical comedy.

The sound equipment won general approbation from the audience, comments being heard on all sides that it was the best to be heard outside the large cities.