TODAY IN HISTORY: 1945 – Bay Theater Opens (as Beach Theatre)

After an almost two year ordeal in obtaining land and permits, Seal Beach got nits first real full-time theater when the Beach Theatre opened on Thanksgiving Night in 1945.

The theater was the project of Oscar Johnson, who had been involved with theaters in Southern california for many years.  He originally tried to obtain a hall around 208 Main Street as a theater in early 1944.  It had been a bingo and gambling hall in the 1930s, but when those operations were ended in the early 1940s it lay unused until it was leased as a storage facility. But this came to an end when it was pointed out Main Street was permitted only for retail businesses.  But then Johnson found out there was not enough space.  Seal Beach Mayor William Gauntner came to the rescue and made available the northernmost part of the land he had just purchased on the 300 block of Main Street.

The Beach operated for about six months until Johnson sold it to the Fox West Coast Theaters chain, which did many upgrades, including adding an extended marquee over the entrance, an improved sound system and ornate features over the restrooms and snack areas.