The marquee of the RKO Keith’s, Richmond Hill was restored by the filmakers of the 2002 comedy movie “The Guru”. It can be seen several times in the movie and also what appears to be what could have been the former manager’s office above the lobby which in the movie serves as the appartment Jimi Mistry moves into on his arrival in New York.
Later in the movie, you can see scenes that were shot in the lobby and auditorium of Loew’s 175th St.Theatre, Manhattan, NYC.
Joe;
We need that address to track down the Admiral Theatre. I have run out of options in my collection here. Anyone out there with any past Los Angeles newspaper with theatre listings over the years which has the S. Main St. Admiral Theatre, please let us know. Thanks
I have just posted up all missing theatres downtown on Main, Spring, Broadway and Hill Streets on this site that I know about.
Good detective work there Jeff. Looking at the building you would never belive it had ever been a theatre. I have passed it many times, knowing that it was the location of the Oriental/Granada, but never thought to go inside.
The header needs to be up-dated to : Status: Closed. Function: Retail
Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 have a seating capacity of 1,033. The F.D.Y. 1951 gives a seating capacity of 873 with the address at 720 Mattison Ave.
There is a new building on the site of the Town Theatre as viewed in January 2005. The MacDonald’s has gone and the new build is called Silver City. I’m not sure what it is though, maybe a casino or offices, hard to tell just looking at it?
The office building built on the site is the fabulous art deco styled William Fox Building, built in 1932 which was the base of the Fox movie theaters empire.
The address of the Palace Theater is 318 W. 7th St.
Joe;
You are correct, it is the building across the ally at the rear of the Loew’s State Theater. The brickwork on the ally side of the building does look very old and original. The building is currently in retail use as a GNC General Nutrition Center store. A false ceiling has been hung inside the building and there are no signs of its past use, but it is definately the original building.
The American Theatre was operating at this address in 1910 as a nickelodeon. Looking at the building in 2005 (in use as a L.A. Sports Shoe store), it appears the building could date from the 1920’s but could be earlier?
The Ritz Theatre, Tallahassee is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 with a seating capacity of 400. Same details are given in the F.D.Y, 1943 but with the information that it was being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc, under their subsidairy E. J. Sparks. In the 1950 F.D.Y. the seating capacity was 422.
The old tourist brochure (which seems to be from the 1920’s) shows the Athens Theatre (top left), the New Dreka Theatre with 710 seats (top right) and the interior of the New Dreka Theatre (center middle).
Film Daily Yearbooks 1940 and 1943 give a seating capacity of the Athens Theatre as 550 and it was operated by Paramount in 1943. The 1950 F.D.Y gives a seating capacity of 1,138. It could have been modernised or even re-built.
I spent 2 days walking up and down S. Main, Spring, Broadway and Hill Street, locating theatre sites and what’s there now (and loved every minute of it!). I still have to update listings on this site for Spring, Broadway and Hill St’s in downtown. Currently S. Main is pretty well up to date now>>>unless anyone knows more?
If you get stuck on solving any of the 50+ mystery theatre’s let me know, I may be able to help, besides I love solving mystery’s and will be back in LA in June.
Thanks MagicLantern, that puts it on the opposite side of the street of the block occupied by the Optic (#523) the Star (#529), the Gaiety (#533) and the Art (#551). It was on the same side of the street as the Morosco (Burbank) which was at #548.
That is 6 theatres in the 500 block of S. Main St.
Did the Galway Theater ever show movies? I have no record of a theatre of that name in the Film Daily Yearbooks, or on the database currently being set up by the Los Angeles Conservancy (theatre sub-committee).
No, sorry, the LA Conservancy Tours only cover the downtown Broadway theatres in LA (Tours every Saturday morning). San Pedro is several miles away south, closer to Long Beach.
This opened as the Monica Theatre in the late 1930’s with a seating capacity of 638 on one level (no balcony). It was a regular local neighborhood movie theatre to begin with, screening general release movies. During the 1960’s it went over to ‘art house’ programming.
When this failed it was taken over by the Pussycat chain and became a straight porn theatre in the 1970’s and was re-named Pussycat Theatre. With the demise of the Pussycat chain it went over to showing gay male porn, being re-named Tomkat Theatre. It has served the gay community of the City of West Hollywood very well for over 20 years now.
I was recently staying with a friend in West Hollwood and went along a couple of times to check out the Tomkat. As you state the exterior is very well kept and looks very smart at night outlined in purple neon. Check out my previous post of Jan 6, 2005 for furthur details of the condition of interior. Entry is gained through a turnstyle in the foyer. It still remains the same, ok, maybe dirty conditions prevail due to it’s non-stop 24/7 opening policy (the house lights never came on to see the interior properly). The chairs are rockers which must date from the 1970’s and can recline quite a way back. DVD is the presentation format now and not VHS video or even 35mm film. There must have been an average of 100 guys in there during the couple of hours I spent there on a Friday evening, but no more than 25 on a Tuesday evening. It seems to be doing good business though.
The building was being used as a shoe shop a couple of years ago. Currently it is a temporary home to the Christian Scientology sect who normally operate out the former Christie Hotel on Hollywood Blvd, which is currently being renovated. The former Holly theatre is called the Scientology Learning Centre!
Did the ‘Cinemiracle’ “Windjammer” ever play the New Fox (Music Box)? I thought it just played an exclusive 36 week run at Graumann’s Chinese Theater. Would the 900 seat New Fox be large enough, or even have a proscenium opening wide enough for the Cinemiracle screen?
The lobby and auditorium can be viewed in later scenes in the 2002 comedy movie “The Guru”.
Also earlier in that movie can be seen exteriors of the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill Theatre, to which the filmakers did a restoration of the marquee.
The marquee of the RKO Keith’s, Richmond Hill was restored by the filmakers of the 2002 comedy movie “The Guru”. It can be seen several times in the movie and also what appears to be what could have been the former manager’s office above the lobby which in the movie serves as the appartment Jimi Mistry moves into on his arrival in New York.
Later in the movie, you can see scenes that were shot in the lobby and auditorium of Loew’s 175th St.Theatre, Manhattan, NYC.
Joe;
We need that address to track down the Admiral Theatre. I have run out of options in my collection here. Anyone out there with any past Los Angeles newspaper with theatre listings over the years which has the S. Main St. Admiral Theatre, please let us know. Thanks
I have just posted up all missing theatres downtown on Main, Spring, Broadway and Hill Streets on this site that I know about.
MagicLantern;
My e-mail is on my profile.
Good detective work there Jeff. Looking at the building you would never belive it had ever been a theatre. I have passed it many times, knowing that it was the location of the Oriental/Granada, but never thought to go inside.
The header needs to be up-dated to : Status: Closed. Function: Retail
lostmemory…No addresses given in any of the F.D.Y.B. I have. Seating is still given as 550 in 1943 but it has risen to 600 in the 1950 edition!
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 gives a seating capacity of 550.
The header needs changing to: Function: Retail. aka: Chinatown Theatre.
There are still a few remains of the original decor to be seen inside the building.
The headers need to be changed for this theatre: Status: Open, Function: Live performances (Chinese)
Current Name: Great Star Theatre
I have a San Francisco Chronicle advert dated November 1976 for the Great Star screening “Oriental Playgirl”
Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 have a seating capacity of 1,033. The F.D.Y. 1951 gives a seating capacity of 873 with the address at 720 Mattison Ave.
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 gives a seating capacity of 355.
There is a new building on the site of the Town Theatre as viewed in January 2005. The MacDonald’s has gone and the new build is called Silver City. I’m not sure what it is though, maybe a casino or offices, hard to tell just looking at it?
The office building built on the site is the fabulous art deco styled William Fox Building, built in 1932 which was the base of the Fox movie theaters empire.
The address of the Palace Theater is 318 W. 7th St.
Joe;
You are correct, it is the building across the ally at the rear of the Loew’s State Theater. The brickwork on the ally side of the building does look very old and original. The building is currently in retail use as a GNC General Nutrition Center store. A false ceiling has been hung inside the building and there are no signs of its past use, but it is definately the original building.
The status of the Cozy needs to be changed to ‘Closed’. Function ‘Retail’. Other name ‘Astro’
The building appears to have been built in the 1920’s
The status of the Central needs to be changed to ‘Closed’. Function ‘Retail’
It still remains, although the All in Bridal & Tuxedo shop has now closed as seen in January 2005.
Joe;
You are correct, it is located almost next door to the historic Bradbury Building which has a #304 address.
The American Theatre was operating at this address in 1910 as a nickelodeon. Looking at the building in 2005 (in use as a L.A. Sports Shoe store), it appears the building could date from the 1920’s but could be earlier?
The Ritz Theatre, Tallahassee is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 with a seating capacity of 400. Same details are given in the F.D.Y, 1943 but with the information that it was being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc, under their subsidairy E. J. Sparks. In the 1950 F.D.Y. the seating capacity was 422.
The seating capacity given in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 is 800 seats.
The old tourist brochure (which seems to be from the 1920’s) shows the Athens Theatre (top left), the New Dreka Theatre with 710 seats (top right) and the interior of the New Dreka Theatre (center middle).
Film Daily Yearbooks 1940 and 1943 give a seating capacity of the Athens Theatre as 550 and it was operated by Paramount in 1943. The 1950 F.D.Y gives a seating capacity of 1,138. It could have been modernised or even re-built.
I spent 2 days walking up and down S. Main, Spring, Broadway and Hill Street, locating theatre sites and what’s there now (and loved every minute of it!). I still have to update listings on this site for Spring, Broadway and Hill St’s in downtown. Currently S. Main is pretty well up to date now>>>unless anyone knows more?
If you get stuck on solving any of the 50+ mystery theatre’s let me know, I may be able to help, besides I love solving mystery’s and will be back in LA in June.
Thanks MagicLantern, that puts it on the opposite side of the street of the block occupied by the Optic (#523) the Star (#529), the Gaiety (#533) and the Art (#551). It was on the same side of the street as the Morosco (Burbank) which was at #548.
That is 6 theatres in the 500 block of S. Main St.
Did the Galway Theater ever show movies? I have no record of a theatre of that name in the Film Daily Yearbooks, or on the database currently being set up by the Los Angeles Conservancy (theatre sub-committee).
No, sorry, the LA Conservancy Tours only cover the downtown Broadway theatres in LA (Tours every Saturday morning). San Pedro is several miles away south, closer to Long Beach.
This opened as the Monica Theatre in the late 1930’s with a seating capacity of 638 on one level (no balcony). It was a regular local neighborhood movie theatre to begin with, screening general release movies. During the 1960’s it went over to ‘art house’ programming.
When this failed it was taken over by the Pussycat chain and became a straight porn theatre in the 1970’s and was re-named Pussycat Theatre. With the demise of the Pussycat chain it went over to showing gay male porn, being re-named Tomkat Theatre. It has served the gay community of the City of West Hollywood very well for over 20 years now.
I was recently staying with a friend in West Hollwood and went along a couple of times to check out the Tomkat. As you state the exterior is very well kept and looks very smart at night outlined in purple neon. Check out my previous post of Jan 6, 2005 for furthur details of the condition of interior. Entry is gained through a turnstyle in the foyer. It still remains the same, ok, maybe dirty conditions prevail due to it’s non-stop 24/7 opening policy (the house lights never came on to see the interior properly). The chairs are rockers which must date from the 1970’s and can recline quite a way back. DVD is the presentation format now and not VHS video or even 35mm film. There must have been an average of 100 guys in there during the couple of hours I spent there on a Friday evening, but no more than 25 on a Tuesday evening. It seems to be doing good business though.
The building was being used as a shoe shop a couple of years ago. Currently it is a temporary home to the Christian Scientology sect who normally operate out the former Christie Hotel on Hollywood Blvd, which is currently being renovated. The former Holly theatre is called the Scientology Learning Centre!
Did the ‘Cinemiracle’ “Windjammer” ever play the New Fox (Music Box)? I thought it just played an exclusive 36 week run at Graumann’s Chinese Theater. Would the 900 seat New Fox be large enough, or even have a proscenium opening wide enough for the Cinemiracle screen?