Letter to the Editor: Memories of Downey's old theaters

Dear Editor:

I grew up in Downey and loved going to the Meralta Theater for Saturday matinees. While the theater was not opulent in its looks, it belonged to Downey and people loved it. It was part of our history.

The theater made it a point to show good decent movies that everyone liked. I never once saw the theater dirty, the floor slippery or sticky. It was always kept clean.

My first job was working at the Meralta Theater, I was the happiest teenager in the world. I worked at the theater for a number of years, even after graduating from Downey High, I worked another six years.

I loved working at the old beautiful (to me) theater so much so that I juggled two jobs to do it. When you ordered popcorn with butter, you got real popped corn and real butter. How do I know this? Because I was one of the employees who made it.

Once I got to go in the back of the theater and to my surprise found old Vaudeville Items as well as a couple of doors that had a faded star on it and on one the name “Buster Keaton”.

I can not count how many times I cleaned all the glass inside and out of the theater, how many times the employees cleaned the inside of the theater with only a few minutes to spare before the evening shows began.

I loved both those old theaters, the Meralta and Avenue, and cried when I saw the Meralta be demolished, knowing a part of Downey history was gone forever.

I no longer live in Downey. I moved to Utah several years ago but will always consider Downey my home and never forget the theaters I loved.

Carolyn Arzac
Midvale, Utah