Westlake Theatre
638 S. Alvarado Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90057
638 S. Alvarado Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90057
16 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 107 comments
Nice photos…..they really show that there is something here to save.
That’s alright. I just hope it doesn’t get demolished.
Not surprising. Looks like it will be a swap meet for a while.
Uh oh….this looks bad:
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Here is a photo taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/mk5sf7
Great photos ken mc. I had wanted to stop inside that theater when driving by a few times, but just never had the time to stop. It’s such a diamond in the rough, and almost waiting to be restored.
It reminds me a bit of a theater in Richmond Hill, NY, the RKO Keiths Richmond Hill Theater…used as a flea market/Bingo hall. When I first went into that theater in the early 80’s, it still had all it’s original gold leaf paint and colorful ceiling, etc. It’s since been repainted with plain beige paint, but still seems like a diamond in the rough like this one.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cq9gdy
I took these photos today. Walking around inside, you get a feel for how immense this place is. There is certainly no sign of redevelopment, just the usual swap meet chaos.
http://tinyurl.com/dgj9xk
http://tinyurl.com/c4mzps
http://tinyurl.com/de29rc
http://tinyurl.com/c55wda
http://tinyurl.com/d88bt8
http://tinyurl.com/cxfhyw
http://tinyurl.com/d6ahjc
http://tinyurl.com/cz6trh
http://tinyurl.com/cehksz
http://tinyurl.com/c34vqy
http://tinyurl.com/cffkuh
Here is a 1983 view of the Westlake:
http://tinyurl.com/db2us5
The CRA discussion was last August. Is there anything new on this one?
Socal09, I am shocked by your comment! When I had the opportunity to visit the Westlake I was amazed at the condition of the interior of the building, the murals, the box office, facade, and rooftop neon. Consider the building empty, the vendors and temporary walls removed, those bright flood lights in the auditorium replaced by soft house lights. Regardless of one’s definition of “worthiness”, the Westlake gives no indication that it is not an ideal contender for restoration. If the fire riddled, rotted away by the elements for decades New Granada theatre in Pittsburgh can be slated for restoration, surely the Westlake “deserves” it.
Please do not read this passionate comment as aggressive, I simply did not expect a comment like yours in regard to a theatre with such life left in it as the Westlake.
When all of the vendor fixtures, merchandise, and junk are removed I’m sure the situation will look much different. Luckily, there are only opinions on this site and your ‘not worthy’ proclamation is only an opinion. You should see how Grey Gardens looks now….who would have imagined?
This theatre is a dump. Not worthy of restoration.
You’re a peach.
Go to www.issuu.com and put boxoffice in the search engine.
Nice…where do you access that magazine? Did you go to the library or is it online somewhere?
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine in January 1960:
LOS ANGELES-N.P. “Red” Jacobs, president of Favorite Films of California and operator of the local Lake Theater, has purchased the Westlake Theater and building at Alvarado and Wilshire. He assumed active operation as of December 30.
Jacobs acquired the Westlake from Fox West Coast Theaters. The circuit had operated the 1,900-seat fim house for many years.
im sure it can be restored no matter what.and you gotta see it from a “big picture” point of view,like it or not that area is coming up,i call it “the white flight of the yuppies”,10 15 years ago melrose was the place to live,now everyone is getting smart and moving south and east because its more affordable.now with parking..who needs cars when you have the subway a few short steps away….this would be the first step in getting that area to cater to more people and not just latinos.just wait and see this is a big step for a great lil community
Yes, this was a real theater, and I did work here.
This was my Sunday relief work in the late 70s. It was a nice place to relax and enjoy the little lake across the street. I gotta watch the video above again. I never saw the concession stand in it when I watched it before. Hmmm, okay, let’s watch it again…
Having visited the Westlake theater today, I can’t say there’s much left to save and the neighborhood is a nighmare. Who is going to come to this renovated theater in this poor Latino neighborhood? No one is going to park in this area at night, if you can even find parking. The concrete floor that was poured seems to have destroyed much of the decoration on the side walls of the theater below the small curved balconies shown in Neonrocks photo above. I can’t say I was too impressed by the decor that was left. It was rather garrish and cheap looking. I’m all for saving old theaters but this doesn’t seem like one worth concentrating a lot of effort on. I’d rather see the Pacific in Hollywood or the Tower, Roxie or Warner downtown restored. The Westlake might work as a Latin American Cultural/Community Center but not as a film venue.
Here is a photo from the adult film days, circa 1985:
http://tinyurl.com/3hxyf5
Here is the LA Times story in the paper today:
http://tinyurl.com/5c5txr
Six recent photos of the Westlake can be seen at my Flickr page:
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I visited the Westlake Theater this past weekend and took a video of the interior. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyX8ZcBUDpA
Also, the CRA has come up with some redevelopment plans for the theater and its environs that are, well, rather hideous:
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I think we should start making some phone calls to LA City Council and the LA Conservancy. These plans do not match the other historic architecture of the area. What an eyesore this restoration might turn out to be!!
P.S.
I found a picture of the old neon lit up!:
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Also, here’s how the interior used to look when it was still intact:
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