Our
Memories Of Days Past
God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. ~J.M. Barrie
The Meralta Theater
The theater occupied the main floor, with the city offices above, where the early trustees met. When Harry Culver built his Hotel Hunt (now the Culver Hotel) in 1924, the city moved down the street to Van Buren Place. The theater moved into a new structure in the 9600 block of Culver Boulevard and was known as the Meralta.
"Meralta" was derived from owners' Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta's surnames. They lived above the new plush theater.
The Culver Theatre began construction in 1945. It was built
in the late Modern style, and like the Meralta, was a source
of jobs for local youth. The theatre received Historic Landmark
status from the city. As the need for single theaters and ushers
with flashlights declined, the Principal Theater was sold and
reconfigured into a triplex. The Culver underwent changes of
ownership, as the Mann chain purchased the theater in the early
1970s, and later Great Western Theatres, Inc., and NCC Theatre
Corp. In 1985, the Culver City Redevelopment Agency bought the
theatre. The Culver ceased operations in 1989. Some might remember
Ad Chamberlain's print shop located in the back of the theater
as well.
The scariest movies in town came to this theater and Buster Crab rode rockets all over the galaxy right inside this building.
What We Saw
