Long Beach's Historic Lofts - The Ebell Theatre
The Ebell Club
Bringing the Magic of the Roaring 20s Into the 2020s
By H. K. Wilson
When you step through the elaborate sculptural facade of the historic Ebell Club and Theatre located at 1100 East Third Street in Long Beach, it is like stepping through a portal to the last century. The interior courtyard soars to a stenciled ceiling illuminated by skylights and crystal orb chandeliers, bathing the Spanish tile and stunning plasterwork in radiant light. Ocean breezes float softly through the archways and porticos, carrying the remnant tapping of footsteps that once echoed here.
In 1924, this beautiful downtown building housed the Long Beach Ebell Club, a women’s cultural society established in 1896 and named for Adrian John Bell, a respected natural scientist and medical doctor. Constructed with a film and live stage theater, meeting rooms, kitchen and library, the state-of-the-art facility was a distinguished addition to the booming city.
1100 E. 3rd Street #206 was sold by The Whipple Group in 2020!
Constructed by architect Clark Philip and builder Charles T. McGrew, this Spanish Revival masterpiece is a splendid example of the California Churrigueresque revival style, native to California and created by architects Bertram Goodhue and Carleton Winslow Sr. for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The style is extrapolated from that of Spanish architect Jose Churriguera (1650-1723), whose profuse cement ornamentation style emphasizes the play of light and shade. Two more excellent examples of this architectural style in Metropolitan Los Angeles are the St. Vincent de Paul Church and Beverly Hills City Hall.
The Ebell Club has been an enduring presence in Long Beach, despite both an earthquake and a fire that nearly destroyed it. In its lifetime, it has been known by several names, including Hoyt’s Ebell and, later, the Metro Ebell. The venue operated as a movie theatre until the 1950s and was used for musical events and film screenings into the 1990s.
In the early 2000s, developer/preservationist Jan van Dijs bought the building and reimagined it as a condominium/loft space with 11 residential units. He restored the building’s striking exterior and renovated its 25,000 square feet of event space, revealing the wood beams and enclosing the formerly open courtyard. He also secured the Ebell’s designation as a historical building by the City of Long Beach.
In 2015, the building was purchased by Alan Dunn, owner of Tres L.A. Catering.
The Ebell Today
In 2020, the building is a mixed-use venue featuring event space for up to 500 guests together with luxury residences. Homeowners don’t have to worry about noise, since there is a 12-foot firewall between the venue and the lofts.
Ebell residents enjoy a distinctive urban lifestyle, where relics of the past coexist harmoniously alongside the modern amenities of the new millennium. Eleven unique loft condominiums range in size from 1,200 to more than 2,200 square feet and boast features that reflect the building’s origins. The centerpiece of one tri-level loft is the former theater’s proscenium arch.
Unit 206 is currently listed for sale by The Whipple Group. This tri-level penthouse loft was the theater’s projection booth and showcases the original projector openings in the wall that adjoins the living room and elevated master suite. The master suite is further distinguished by a triptych of original keyhole windows/screens and a luxurious bath. Exposed brick in the dining room is another throwback to the building’s past. Elemental wood, granite and stainless finishes adorn the gourmet kitchen, while a soaring 20’ ceiling reveals exposed ductwork and metal and wood beams. The upstairs loft offers a cozy locale for a second bedroom or home office, and motorized skylights bring cooling breezes in from the nearby sea. Every unit in the building has a private balcony, and upper floor residents enjoy a nice view of the treetops and historic area residences. Larger lofts include two parking spaces. Extra storage space is also available.
More than ever before, home has become a place of safety, serenity and self-expression. Finding the right dwelling with the precise elements for happiness is crucial to people who are now living, working and playing at home, and the Ebell offers something extraordinary. In fact, these residences rarely come up for sale, as owners cherish the unequaled lifestyle in the heart of the city.
Once inside the Ebell, you can’t help but linger for a moment to imagine the comings and goings of former generations while listening for the voices of the past.
