Los Angeles Theatre
615 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
615 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
66 people
favorited this theater
Showing 276 - 300 of 328 comments
I hope the program will be picked up by some Cable network here. Let us know. I’d love to see the interior of this theater.
Dear all,
Further to my previous post, we will be basing our television show “Dead Famous… LIVE!” in the Los Angeles Theatre for 3 days in November.
This is going to be a very exciting programme and a unique look in to arguably one of the most glamourous of the downtown movie palaces. We are going to be investigating the life of Charlie Chaplin, who’s film “City Lights” premiered there and venturing in to many other areas of Hollywood history. As I mentioned before, an element of the show is that investigate reports of spirits living on in places. The Los Angeles will be the first of several places we investigate over the 3 days to find out if it is haunted.
We are very keen to talk to anyone who may have worked in, visited or has any ties to the theatre. This is both for research purposes and with a view to them coming on the show. If you saw a movie at the Los Angeles when you were a kid or worked as an usher there as a teenager, we’d love to hear from you. And if you’d just love to have to opportunity to come and be part of the studio audience for the show then please get in touch. We’re going to be dealing with some fascinating subjects and interviewing some amazing people.
If you feel you can help in any way then do not hesitate to contact me at:
.uk
Thanks again,
George
Like, duh!!
I think it is a historic district.
The Downtown theatres seemed to do well into the mid 1950’s and then started to decline with Metropolitan theatres taking over most of the leases by the 1960’s. Downtown LA had to compete with Hollywood Blvd and many films such as “A Star is Born” would play an exclusive engagements Downtown LA and Hollywood. The theatres thrived during the 1960’s playing more and more to hispanic audiences who became the major patron by the 1960’s.The City of Los Angeles has the largest hispanic population oustide of Mexico City.It is the hispanic population that saved most of the downtown movie palace’s and lack of investment on Broadway and Spring Street. If the old Downtown had been redeveloped like many cities across the US most of the theatres would have been torn down which happened in one downtown after another.The Broadway district of Downtown should be restored as an historic district.brucec
I think this sign is still in the alley:
(Courtesy of the LA Library)
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015042.jpg
UKuser: Two theatres that you might look into in the Hollywood area are the Pacific 1,2,3 (aka: Warner Hollywood Theatre) and the Vogue Theatre. Both have had paranormal activity. The Vogue Theatre was subleased by a group doing paranormal research. They say a former long time projectionist (of the Vogue) and a stage hand from the Chinese and two or three children have been studied there. Over at the Pacific, former long time employees said Sam Warner roams the theatre. I’ve worked both theatres over the years and there is something. The old GCC Sherman Oaks 3-5 Theatre also had a former projectionist roam the theatre after his death.
To “UKuser”: You don’t give any contact information in your post or on your Profile page, so this will have to do.
The LOS ANGELES is one of the most lavish theatres remaining in the country and is even well documented in one of the ANNUALS of the Theatre Historical Society of America (www.historictheatres.org) and you would find it a very fine location.
However, you mention it in regard to the “paranormal” and if your quest is sincere and not merely a location for Halloween time special effects, then you are starting on a dangerous quest that could sooner or later cause you and yours injury! I have commented at length on this elsewhere here (can’t find the link) and elsewhere, so won’t repeat here, but do contact me via private Email if you want the gory details, by clicking on my name below in blue and noting the Contact data on my Profile Page to which you will be taken. I can likely save you horrors that you have no accurate knowledge of, and will dearly wish you had never encountered.
If you merely seek to do a real magazine piece on American movie palaces, then do contact the L.A. as well as the Society listed above, and they will be willing and able to assist you greatly. Best Wishes. Jim Rankin, member THSA since 1976
Hi. We’re thinking of coming to film our UK television show at the LA Theater. This is a programme all about Hollywood history and the paranormal.
I’m looking for any interesting stories to do with the history of the theater and wondered if any of you chaps might be able to help. I’ve read all about the theater’s history on the official website but am interested in anything else you might know.
Was “City Lights” the only film ever to premiere there? Did it decline from then on? Are there any famous stories associated with the theater that you know of?
Would appreciate the help!
Regards.
I saw “Some Like It Hot” also, back in 2004. I don’t think the Conservancy has shown a film at the Los Angeles in a while. This year’s films were all at the Orpheum. Speaking of Broadway, I often appear at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board on the 9th floor of the original Broadway building on 4th street. I would be interested in any links that would show the interior of the store in its heyday. There are plenty of exterior shots on the LAPL database.
With regard to the last comment: The photo taken by TC was likely taken in 1970(maybe late 1969). Both the Cleopatra and the Romeo and Juliet film(full title: Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet) were Harry Novak-produced titles that played first at the Pussycat theater chain(Romeo was a 1969 release and Cleopatra came out in 1970). Some of the more popular films would get released outside of the Pussycat chain and play other theaters and even drive-ins as this time period X-rated fare was doing good business. (Trader Hornee and the later Erotic Adventures of Zorro were the two biggest crossover titles.) Also, it was not unusual for downtown theaters, with their declining attendance, to turn to “adults only” fare for a period of time.
The pic TC’s link shows has the Los Angeles sporting The Notorious Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet (probably not the Zefferelli version) on it’s marquee. Were softcore films regularly shown here? Most recently the marquee announced “AFIs 100 Years 100 Quotes” starring Pierce Brosnan. Does anyone know if the special was taped there?
In early 1969 Russ Meyers classic soft core epic “Vixen” opened here at the Los Angeles. The three other locations were Loews Picfair, Loews Century and Loews Cine.
Late 1906s(?) photo:
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If you had read the previous comments you would have seen mine of May 2004 wherein I list the source of a large booklet crammed with large photos of the LOS ANGELES.
I think the marquee was charged out in the late 30’s. And you can find photos of interior and exterior of the theatre at the Los Angeles Public Library site.
Hey,
Two questions. 1)Anyone know what year the Marquee was changed, and 2) Anyone know where their might be Historic photo’s, from its earlier years. (both interior and exterior shots?) if so please inform me with any information.
Thank you,
Ashley Paradiso
Thanks Jim & MagicLantern—that grand staircase is really unmistakable when you see it and thought for sure that it had to have been shot at this theatre. (Plus I think Megan is terrific, even in a candy commercial!)
Washington Mutual Savings has a commercial that is currently being shown that uses the lobby of the Los Angeles Theatre. On newly released DVD of “NEW YORK, NEW YORK”, you can see the lower lounge area in the theatre.
Yes, it was the unmistakeable LOS ANGELES, with the image computer colored to immitate the tints of the M&Ms. The scene following it was also shot in one of the lounges there, it too being tinted and dressed to further the theme of the commercial. It appears that the theatre is largely surviving on commercials these days, but then where else can they go for such a sweeping stairway shot? The FOX in San Francisco is gone, as is the MARBRO in Chicago, and their wonderful UPTOWN is not in any photographic condition. Thank goodness location scouts are aware of the LOS ANGELES and other movie palaces around the nation (and of course, it IS in their ‘back yard’ so moving and location expenses are much lower than going elsewhere)! The Theatre Historical Society once started a file of theatres used as film/commercial/video locations, but I don’t know if it is any longer maintained. Contact them via their web site: www.HistoricTheatres.org
I thought it was, Bryan. Sure looked like it to me.
Does anyone know if part of the M & M’s commercial with Megan Mullally (Karen on “Will & Grace”) where she’s singing on a grand staircase (I think it’s the scene with the Red M & M) was shot at the Los Angeles Theatre? It looked a lot like the photos I’ve seen of it and it’s appearences in a couple of music videos.
Today a crew was busy cleaning the marquee.
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Here is a night shot
Look how incredible this place looks
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