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| The Crystal in the 1940s (photo courtesy of Cinema Treasures) |
A long-gone Art Deco mini-palace servicing the Filipino (and initially Spanish-speaking) diaspora AND the raincoat brigade, the Crystal Theatre at 137 Main St began life in the early 1900s as a live theatre before sound came in and its exterior was given its distinctive shell in 1936.
Of the handful of cinemas in Salinas, the Crystal spent the least on advertising. As such, there are months at a time when the movies aren't even listed.
April 24 – Papa Loves Mambo
May 1 – Mister Dupong
May 8 – Hiwaga Ng Balete Drive
May 15 – Ito Ang Aming Daigdig
May 19 - Takas [special midnight screening]
May 22 – May Bakas Ang Lumipas
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1957
February 11 – “All Filipino Movie Monday Nite”
February 25 – “All Filipino Movie Monday Nite”
March 4 – “All Filipino Movie Every Monday Nite”
March 11 – “All Filipino Movie Every Monday Nite”
March 18 – “All Filipino Movie Every Monday Nite”
March 25 - Tatay Na Si Bondying
April 1 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
April 8 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
April 15 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
April 22 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
April 29 – no listing
May 6 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
May 13 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
May 20 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
May 27 – “Filipino Movie Nite”
June 3 – “All Filipino Show Tonight”
June 10 – “All Filipino Show Tonight”
June 17 – “All Filipino Show Tonight”
June 24 – “All Filipino Show Tonight”
July 1 – “Filipino Movie”
July 8 – “Filipino Movie”
July 15 – “Filipino Movie”
July 22 – “Filipino Movie”
July 29 – “Filipino Movie”
August 5 – “Filipino Movie”
August 12 – Nasaan Ka Giliw
August 19 – Guwapo
August 26 – Banga Ni Zimadar
September 2 – [no listing]
September 9 – 1-2-3
September 16 – Agua Bendita
September 25 [Filipino screenings moved from Mondays to Wednesdays] - Pag-Asa
October 2 – Satur
October 9 – [no listing]
October 16 – Yolanda
October 23 – Walang Panginoon
October 30 – “Filipino Night”
November 6 – Minera
November 13 – “Filipino Night”
November 20 – “Filipino Night”
November 27 – “Filipino Night”
December 4 – “Filipino Movie”
December 11 – “Filipino Movie”
December 18 – “Filipino Movie”
December 25 – “Filipino Movie”
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1958
Crystal Theatre increases its Filipino screenings to Monday and Wednesday nights before ending its newspaper listings in March 1958
January 6 – Malulos
January 8 – Maryang Sinukuan
January 13 – Boys Town
January 15 – Viva Las Senoritas
January 20 – Sarsu Welista
January 22 – Haring Tulisan
January 27 – Dahong Palay
January 29 – Higit Sa Lahat
February 3 – Basahang Ginto
February 5 – Tin-Edyer
February 10 – Awa Ng Birhen Sa Baclaran
February 12 – [Mexican film]
February 17 – Punglo At Pagibig
February 19 – Luneta
February 24 – Berdugo Ng Mga Anghel
February 26 – Carlos Trece
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1962
A newspaper article dated March 1962 announces the Crystal Theatre screens Filipino pictures twice a week, although newspaper listings for Tuesday “Filipino Hit” screenings don’t appear until July. [The Californian, 30th March 1962, p.81]
July 10 – Walang Patawad
July 17 – Ipinagbili Kami Ng Aming Tatay
July 24 – Veinte Ocho de Mayo
July 31 – Prinsesa Naranja
August 7 – Bawat Patak Ng Dugo
August 14 – Kilabot Sa Makiling
August 21 – Drus Na Daan
August 28 – Linda Mora
September 4 – Doon Po Sa Amin
September 11 – Amy, Susy & Tessie
September 18 – Luis Latigo
September 25 – Ang Sampaan Natin
October 2 – Love At First Sight
October 9 – Puatang Ng Langit
October 16 – My Serenade
October 23 - Pakiusap
October 30 – Unas Sa Loat
November 6 – Kilabot Sa Barilan
November 13 – Ang Magkakapit Buhay
November 20 – Tatlong Kumando
November 27 - Minerva
December 4 – Insinikadal Ko Ang Aling Ama
December 11 – Kung Akoy Mahal Mo
December 18 – Duke de Borgona
December 25 – Mga Birhing Walang Langit
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1963
January 9 [screenings change from Tuesdays to Wednesdays] - Hanggang Ng Daigdig
January 16 – Bale Todo
January 23 - Triplets
January 30 – Salbabaw Ng Aking Bangkay
February 6 – Walang Pangalan
February 13 – Kung Hindi Makuha Sa Santong Dasalan
February 20 - Dahlia
February 27 - Serenata
March 6 – Kapitan Lilita Limbas
March 13 – Pitong Sagisag
March 20 – Prinsipe Diomedes At Ang Mahiwagang Gitara
March 27 – Awat Na Adiang
April 3 – Walang Susuko
April 10 – Wen Manang
April 17 – The Flash Elorde Story
April 24 – Bakit Ka Nagtampo
May 1 – Mga Tigreng Taga Bukid
May 8 – Kasal Muna Bago Ligaw
May 15 – Pitong Gabi Sa Paris
May 22 – Pasong Diablo
May 29 – 7 Amores
June 5 – Viva Caballeras
June 12 – Walang Sisihan
June 19 – Sa Libis Ng Nayon
June 26 – Konsiterto Ng Kamatayan
July 3 – Eca Babagot
July 10 – Karugtong Ng Kahapon
July 17 – Ganyan Ka Pala
July 24 – Ay Pepita
July 31 – Apollo Robles
August 7 – Kahapon Lamang
August 14 – Mga Leon Sa Lannsangang
August 21 – Sa Linggo Ang Bola
August 28 – Bangkay Kay Kaming Hahakbangan
September 4 – Joey Eddie And Lito
September 11 – Tatlong Panata
September 18 - Tirador
September 25 – Dobol Trobol
October 2 – Hinihamon Kita
October 9 - Hinihamon Kita
October 16 – Sa Ilalim Ng Dalawang Bandila
October 23 - Krusaldo
October 30 – Hani-Hani-Mun
November 6 – Nagbabang Lupa
November 13 - “Filipino Comedy...starring Nida Blanca”
November 20 – Sikit Na Siga Pa
November 27 – Presinto 13
December 4 – Lutong Makaw + Dugo Sa Aking Kamay
December 11 – Laliban Kami
December 18 - NBI
December 25 - [no Filipino film]
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1964
From the beginning of January 1964 the Crystal became increasingly daring in its programming, from nudies and exploitation films to sensationalist horrors. Filipino films started to fade from the listings in mid-1964 because – well, smut sells! The Crystal's advertising of those films was as threadbare as the performers, but to be honest the titles would have sold themselves.
January 1 - [no Filipino film]
January 8 – Kapag Buhay Ang Inutang
January 15 – Lo' Waist Gang
January 22 – Lovingly Yours
January 29 – Wala Kang Paki
February 5 – Puro Labis Puro Kulang
February 12 - Vengartino
February 19 – Vatros Vientos
February 26 – Los Lacuacheros
March 4 – Gulo Kung Gulo
March 11 - Panginoon
March 18 - Katislaloy
March 25 – Phone Pal
April 8 – Lelong Mong Pantot
April 15 – Ginintuang Tinig
April 22 – Magtiis Ka Darling
April 29 – Maturan At Lagman
May 6 – Hawaiian Boy
May 13 – Bulung Bulungan
May 20 - [no Filipino film]
May 27 – Bakya Mo Neneng
June 3 – Tugtuing Bukid
June 10 - Tulisan
June 17 – Bon Voyage
[no listings from June 24th to July 20th]
July 22 – Baguio Fever
July 29 – Fil-American Girl
August 5 – Lo' Waist Gang At Si Og Sa Mindoro
August 12 – Habagat Sa Tag-Araw
August 19 – Nag Salali Tang Kalansay
August 26 - [no listings]
September 2 – Ang Kanyang Kamahalan
September 9 – Navy Blues
September 16 – Salamat Po Doktor
September 23 – Materiales Fuertes
September 30 – Golden Guitar
October 7 – Botica Sa Baryo
October 14 – Villa Milagrosa
October 21 – Puro Utos Puro Utos [“Last For Season”]
The Crystal Theatre goes dark for a while.
November 20 to 22, 1970 – Pacifica Falayfay
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1971
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1972
CRYSTAL THEATRE SCREENINGS 1973
The Californian was still mentioning Filipino screenings in February 1974 [1st February, p.76]. The same newspaper then reports the property has been purchased by the Plaza (and soon after the Fox) owner Joseph Friedrich, who has plans to extensively remodel the theatre into a community centre, or demolish the building entirely. The theatre never reopened and was eventually bulldozed late 2003 to make way for a new multiplex cinema.
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| The Crystal in 2002 (photo courtesy of Cinema Treasures) |
THE OBSCENITY TRIAL 1966
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| The Californian, 14th January 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 12th February 1966, p.15 |
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| The Californian, 17th February 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 18th February 1966, p.1 |
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| The Californian, 18th February 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 19th February 1966, p.1 |
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| The Californian, 19th February 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 21st February 1966, p.1 |
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| The Californian, 21st February 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 4th March 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 21st March 1966, p.1 |
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| The Californian, 21st March 1966, p.2 |
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| The Californian, 25th March 1966, p.9 |
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| The Californian, 26th March 1966, p.12 |
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