Paradise Theatre

9100 S. Sepulveda Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90045

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Showing 26 - 38 of 38 comments

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 9, 2007 at 11:39 pm

Here’s another photo, smaller, but without the intrusive utility wires.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 9, 2007 at 11:15 pm

Here’s a slightly wider version of the photo at the top of this page. The Paradise was built in 1950, a few years before the various wide-screen processes of the era were developed, so its exceptional width was not intended to accommodate them (unless architect Ted Rogvoy was presciently anticipating their development.) The building was a splendid example of Midcentury Modern design, and maybe the best theatre in that style in the Los Angeles area.

MichaelHyatt
MichaelHyatt on August 7, 2007 at 11:16 am

I saw “Day of the Triffids” there in 1963. What a wonderful place; the auditorium was wide, the product of (apparently) the post-‘50’s wide-screen boom. The Cinemascope was really spectacular, and the sound was tremendous. The front of the theater had an unusual spacious, snaking corridor. One entered in front, but it actually lead to the right. Once inside, the auditorium was on the left. And it was big! As I recall the entryway added to the mysterioso of the place, and as a kid of thirteen I had no idea what to expect. I’m glad someone mentioned the crying room. Although I grew up in Hollywood and saw most of the theaters in the area, I don’t recall having seen another (but some, like the Chinese, must have had them). The room was empty at the time, and I suppose the spacious use of real estate was impractical for most cinemas. Certainly, the lazy, open nature of the whole place lent it an air of the movie scene of the fifties, and if one asked I would have said the theater was the perfect example of Southern California at the time, seen on a postcard with a smiling, cartoon sun sipping a mai tai, and wearing dark glasses. It should be mentioned that the theater was located just north of LAX, and the wide unencumbered street of Sepulveda Blvd. with its modern stores then gave it a comfortable jet-setter feel. In spite of the ghost-nature all of us get when we think of our lost favorites, I’m grateful that the front still exists, as well the front of the lovely Loyola Theater just north of there. For those interested, the building should be seen on Google Street Search. Although the photo above is much appreciated, the image is way too narrow to appreciate its wide, sweeping nature, and the power lines create an uncharacteristic quaintness to the place. Imagine a photo double-wided toward the left, and plenty of greenery on either side.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 14, 2007 at 8:24 pm

I have to check that out. Thanks for the info.

William
William on May 2, 2007 at 11:28 am

It’s on the east side of the street. The same side as the former Loyola Theatre just two blocks or so North. The marquee and vertical sign and box office are missing, but the Best Picture metal display in the forecourt area was still there.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 2, 2007 at 9:25 am

It’s odd that I’ve driven up and down Sepulveda for twenty years and have not taken notice of this building. Did the remodel strip some of the features? Also, is it on the east or west side of Sepulveda?

dennis906
dennis906 on April 3, 2006 at 7:03 am

I was sent there in either late ‘75 or early '76 to run Disney’s Blackbeard’s Ghost while the projectionist took the week off. I’ll never forget that Academy Awards wall that went from the lobby to the auditorium. I had never been in that theatre before and I only saw the auditorium through the booth ports. There was a door that led directly to a portion of the roof outside from the booth. During intermissions I would step out onto the roof and watch jetliners land at the Los Angeles airport.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 26, 2005 at 9:33 am

Here is an expanded view of the photo at the top of the page, from 1950:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036955.jpg

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on October 1, 2004 at 10:54 pm

The address of this theatre is 9100 South Sepulveda Boulevard.

ArmandV101
ArmandV101 on May 11, 2004 at 9:31 pm

This was one great theater! I saw “Patton” there twice and “Airport.” I wonder if the time capsules are still buried in front of the building?

William
William on December 18, 2003 at 2:20 pm

The Paradise Theatre opened on August 23rd, 1950 with a seating capacity 1314 people. It is located on S. Sepulveda Blvd. at W. 89 Street.
The front is of fieldstone , brick and glass in the modern California style. Live plants under the canopy give this area an outdoor patio effect. After passing through a mirrored and planted lobby with a curved refreshment stand and a manager’s office at one side, the patron enters a magnificent foyer with pastel walls trimmed in redwood and aquamarine carpeting studded with yellow and beige stars. Special features on the auditorium include a rear crying room and Telesonic Theatrephone Hearing aids for the hear of hearing patrons. Also in the foyer was a special section entitled the “Wall of Fame” containing a pictoral history of the Academy Awards since 1927.

William
William on December 17, 2003 at 3:48 pm

The architect of the Paradise Theatre was Theodore Rogvoy of Detroit, Michigan.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long on November 13, 2002 at 10:39 pm

Yes, I too, remember having my “Day in Paradise”. The Paradise was third only to the Academy and the Loyola for being the most beautifully designed picture palace in the Inglewood – Westchester area of Los Angeles. It was located not far from Morningside High School and the Imperial Theater, (which I would rate about 4th in the area, excluding of course the grand old dame, Carthay Circle Theater, a bit farther away). I saw Elvis Presley’s “BLUE HAWAII” there in 1961, and it was terrific. The Pacific Theaters chain always did a first-class job with their theaters, including the drive-ins.

It’s such a shame these fine cinema exhibitors (Pacific) are no longer in business, and top-flight theaters like the Paradise are closed. Thank God the exterior has been preserved!!!