Born in Alameda, California and adopted by the owner of a hardware store, Lippert became fascinated by the cinema at an early age. Young Lippert worked a variety of jobs in local theatres including projection and becoming an assistant manager. As a manager of a cinema during the Great Depression, Lippert encouraged regular attendance with promotions such as "Dish Night" and "Book Night." Lippert went from cinema manager to owning a chain of California cinemas in 1942 during the peak years of theatre attendance.