Pussycat Theaters
The Pussycat Theaters were a chain of adult movie theaters, operating between the 1960s and the 1980s. Pussycat Theaters had 30 locations in California and were known for their cat-girl logo. The last one closed in 2022.
History
David F. Friedman and Dan Sonney[1] founded Pussycat Theaters. Dan Sonney invented the name, based on Woody Allen film What's New Pussycat. Friedman has also cited the Pink Pussycat burlesque club on Santa Monica Boulevard as having previously established the word "pussycat" in relation to "pink" porn, since the early 1960s. The first Pussycat Theater opened in March 1966 on 444 South Hill Street, Los Angeles. Within two years, there were almost a dozen locations, from San Diego to San Francisco.[2][3][4][5] In 1968, Vince Miranda[6] bought a 50% share of the company. Miranda was unable to prevent those outside California from using the Pussycat name. Miranda spent $1 million to improve the decor of the theaters. They were known for being cleaner and fancier than other such places. The interiors featured red and gold carpeting, velveteen fixtures, beveled glass, mirror walls, chandeliers, oil paintings, murals, and merchandise bearing the Pussycat logo. Some Pussycat theaters sold popcorn from the box office to pedestrians on the sidewalk, with no obligation to buy a ticket.[7][8][9] Vince Miranda and George Tate (who were lovers) shared ownership of Walnut Properties, the company that owned the Pussycat Theaters. Miranda may have had exclusive California license to show Deep Throat, a hugely lucrative film. His main competitors were the Mitchell brothers in San Francisco.[10] By 1990, fewer than 20 California Pussycats remained, and by 1992, only a dozen were still open. In 1994, Walnut Properties filed for bankruptcy, claiming liabilities of $17.7 million. George Tate spent all the money and died the same year. Jonathan Cota inherited Walnut and its debts.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
References
- ↑ Communications, Emmis (1 May 2002). "Los Angeles Magazine". Emmis Communications. Retrieved 28 April 2018 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Wayne, Gary. "Lethal Weapon Filming Locations - Part 3". www.seeing-stars.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "NEW-VIEW THEATRE 1970 photo 6656 HOLLYWOOD BLVD original still DONALD SUTHERLAND - eBay". eBay. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Hollywood Historic Photos - News-View Theatre 1944". hollywoodhistoricphotos.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Ritz Theatre". losangelestheatres.blogspot.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ FOLKART, BURT A. (5 June 1985). "Pussycat Theater Founder Miranda Dies". Retrieved 28 April 2018 – via LA Times.
- ↑ "The Pussycat Theater". gettyimages.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ Sounes, Howard (1 December 2007). Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life. Grove/Atlantic, Inc. ISBN 9780802199300. Retrieved 28 April 2018 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Lakewood Theatre - [more] Los Angeles Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Filmmaker Gregory Dark, his "Fallen Angels," and the other side of Hollywood". nightflight.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Del Mar Theatre in Fontana, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Studs at the Pussycat Theatre in West Hollywood, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Hologram USA Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Ritz San Jose in San Jose, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Whittier Village Cinemas in Whittier, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Esquire IMAX Theatre in Sacramento, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Miracle Theatre in Inglewood, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Star Theatre in Oceanside, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Cinema L'Amour in Montreal, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Plaza Playhouse Theater in Carpinteria, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Sunshine Brooks Theater in Oceanside, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Lido Theatre in Riverside, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "San Fernando Valley Theatres - [more] L.A. Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Guild Theatre in Los Angeles, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Theatres Along The Coast - [more] L.A. Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Wardman Theatre / Whittier Village Cinemas - [more] L.A. Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Theatres North of Downtown - [more] L.A. Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "South, South Central and Southeast Theatres - [more] L.A. Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "San Gabriel Valley, Pomona, and Whittier Theatres - [more] L.A. Movie Palaces". sites.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ Palaces, Jerry's Brokendown (14 December 2011). "Jerry's Brokendown Palaces: California Theater, 1122 Fourth and C St., San Diego, CA". jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Gaiety Burlesk in New York, NY - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "Pussycat 2 Cinema in New York, NY - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ↑ "When Porn Theaters Invaded Connecticut – a detailed history of 1970s-1980s east coast porn empires". whenporntheatersinvadedconnecticut.blogspot.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
External links
- Pussycat Theater History 2008 - San Diego Reader
- Pussycat Theater History 2010 by Jay Allen Sanford - San Diego Reader
- Pussycat Theaters - the Inside Story Part One
- Parts Two-Fifteen, 2014