Tower Theatre
802 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
802 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
38 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 154 comments
Architect’s sketch:
http://tinyurl.com/37un46v
Some exploitation films can be seen on the marquee in this 1974 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/297z82z
Nice looking theatre.
Here is a photo taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/yfzzzv6
For the record:
The Long Beach earthquake happened on March 10, 1933.
The San Fernando (aka Sylmar) earthquake happened on February 9, 1971.
The Northridge earthquake happened on January 17, 1994.
As you know, SoCal, the Orpheum has been profitable for a while now. Technically the other theaters have not been abandoned, since they are earning their owners some money as filming locations, churches, etc. And there is movement behind the scenes right now, that if it pans out, could mean a second chance at life for some of these places.
Love the link to the 1951 photo academy133 posted. Its unfortunate all these amazing theaters are abandoned on Broadway downtown. With the recent opening of the megaplex a few blocks away, there really is no future for any of these old cinemas to show movies again, or even to become live performance venues. There’s many of those in the area already. I suppose they’ll just remain relics to tour of a time in movie history that is long gone.
I just heard from Ed Kelsey, who gives the history presentations for the LAHTF’s “All About” tours. He said he has a 1967 photo of the theater which shows the tower intact; he believes it was removed in the early 1970s as a result of the San Fernando quake. If he finds a more precise date in his files, I will post it here.
Just took another look at that Wikipedia page. As well as giving an incorrect date for the removal of the tower top, it repeats that business about the Tower being the location of a sneak preview of “The Jazz Singer,” which others here have given evidence as being untrue.
Good question, DB. The top is also visible in the (circa) 1942 shot at the top of the page, and the 1938 shot posted on 2/3/07.
If the top of the tower was removed after an earthquake in 1932, why is it still there in the 1951 photo?
academy133 that 1951 shot is good but it’s the same one ken mc posted from his Dec. 30, 2008 post.
See a great new Wikipedia article about this theatre: View link
Here is an amazing photo of the Tower Theater from 1951, when it was called the Newsreel Theater.
View link
Here are some photos taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/rxwtay
http://tinyurl.com/q48pfl
http://tinyurl.com/qsbsv7
Somebody is a fan of the Tower Theatre. Here is one example:
View link
There are about twenty excellent images in all. Use the index to view the rest.
Looks like it was taken from the Olympic theatre’s marquee.
Tower is the Newsreel in this 1958 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c2v5sp
Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c5o4ec
Here is a night view from 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/dcwyo7
From the LAHTF’s email flyer:
Contact: Hillsman Wright – 310 403-0865
For immediate release â€" 4/7/09
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation www.lahtf.org
Invites You & Your Friends to Attend
All About the Tower/Rialto/Olympic (Bardâ€\s 8th St.)
Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am â€" Doors open at 10:00 am
Tower Theatre * 802 S. Broadway * Downtown Los Angeles
Special thanks to the Delijani family
FREE ADMISSION
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) takes its popular All About… series to three theatres near the intersection of Broadway and 8th Street, the Tower (1927), Rialto (1917), and Olympic (Bardâ€\s Eighth Street Theatre, 1927) on Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am. The public is invited to attend.
Show & Tell
Theatre historian Ed Kelsey will present a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation on the storied past of these three very different theatres and relate fascinating tales about the out-sized impresarios â€" Gumbiner, Quinn, Bard, Grauman, Corwin â€" who built and operated them.
Tours
Tours will explore the far reaches of the theatresâ€\ public areas, support spaces, and stages to provide attendees with an insiderâ€\s, behind-the-scenes look at three of Broadwayâ€\s smaller theatres.
Engage
LAHTF volunteers will explain how you can get hands-on experience saving, restoring and programming great theatres in Los Angeles by becoming actively involved with the LAHTF. There will be announcements of a series of exciting events coming to historic theatres on Broadway soon.
Make it a day Downtown.
Join us at Cliftonâ€\s Cafeteria immediately following the event to continue the discussion.
Shop for bargains in the nearby Garment District, Broadwayâ€\s shops and Grand Central Market.
COMING ATTRACTIONS: Save the Dates: May 16, June 13 & 20.
Many people are fascinated by the architecture of fantasy so beautifully on display in Southern Californiaâ€\s great historic theatres. People are also curious about how the theatres work. What does it look like backstage? What do the performers see when they look out across the footlights? Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation’s “All About” series gives the public an insider’s look at these wonderful theatres and share parts of their histories – good and bad – as a way to encourage people to become actively involved in protecting and ensuring their futures.
The LAHTF is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, restoring and supporting the operation of Southern Californiaâ€\s historic theatres. For more information visit www.lahtf.org
Here is a photo taken around midnight on Friday:
http://tinyurl.com/dmayv4
Ken, did you take that photo on Saturday the 31st, or right around then? I was inside on the 31st and there were many Edward Gorey drawings decorating the interior. I am assuming it was for this “Edwardian Ball”.
Here is a February 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cr2gud
Two photographs I took in January 2009:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/3211354170/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/3211355814/
Take a look at this photo I posted in July 07. You can still see the Newsreel ads which are visible in the 1951 photo.
http://tinyurl.com/2y6cuj