Vine Theatre
6321 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6321 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
21 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 97 of 97 comments
Terry, your story cracked me up. Yeah, I should bring some fun friends and cause chaos. Actually, here is something funny — I was looking for a venue to screen my short film and I called up this manager. What a nut — he wanted to charge me $700.00 to show my film on a Thursday night AFTER 9:30. Catering, of course, would be extra but he “could arrange that.” No way in hell was I going to have my peeps come to this crappy part of Hollywood on a Thursday night and find dubious parking to watch my film after 9:30 (and be out by 11, I think he said). The guy is a real ripoff.
Yes I was down in Hollywood just a few weeks ago on a HOT Sat afternoon for my bad/good time at the Hollywood Vine Theatre. I suggest going with some fun friends and going by the Frolic Room for some tropical drinks then hit the Vine for some fun. Check this Grindhouse out. It is so bad you will have fun. Don’t anger the candy/manager he will ask you to leave. Wait till you hear the projector grinding away from the booth with no glass hole. The bad hum and pop sounds on the Dolby system they have is worth the $7 to get in! The place even has surround sound. Watch out for dark filmed scenes in the movie you go to see; you won’t see much on the dirty screen at 30% light level. Check it out Shatter and let me know what you think. Watch your wallet! Don’t go on a hot day. Good place to hit on a rainy weekend. If it ever rains in Hollywood go visit the Vine. One of the only Theatres still showing second run double bills. Next time I am bringing 6 friends from Northern CA around Xmass time; they can’t believe the stories I tell them about this place. It may be bad but for some reason It has a dumpy charm. Enjoy It why you can; the night club people will be moving in soon! Then only three movie theatres will be left on Hollywood Blvd.
Woa – sorry — I was mixed up —– thinking of the Vogue. the vine still shows double features, right? Yeah, I was there a few years ago and it was a true grindhouse — smelly and with crazy people in the audience…
Terry Wade,
re your August 8th account — I didn’t realize the Vine was showing films lately. When did you go and what film(s) did you see? Was this a regular film screening or a special film fest or what? Just curious because I was in the area a few months ago and saw the place looking like no one had opened it in months if not years.
Here is a photo, circa 1994:
http://tinyurl.com/2fwpcg
Went in a few weeks ago. A real mess. The old projection guy was living in the projection booth. He is no longer the projection guy. The sound is the worst in any theatre. They advertise Dolby Stereo but it is so bad with a hum and scrathy sound. The light on the screen is about 30%. A long wire hangs from the uper left part of the screen. The same guy has been in the little boxoffice booth for years. The manager is very bad news. I complained about the sound and screen. He told me it was his theatre and if I didn’t like it I can leave. To bad with a little clean up and screen cleaning and some color lights they can make this into a tourist grindhouse and show films from the 50’s and 60’s. They don’t even light the neon stars under the marquee any more. The worst thing when you go in on the right ramp you are greated with a mop and bucket with Clorox smell. Mr Tarintino needs to by this place, as he goes to the Vine from time to time. Clean it up and bring back the action, horror Grindhouse only with a clean picture and sound. This theatres days are numbered. It will be another night club with no parking. Like what is going into the Fox Hollywood and they tried to put into the Vogue Hollywood. The film people need to check this place out before they book the second run prints. The movie is so dim you can’t tell anything on a dark scene. Enter at your own risk. Check it out and see all what goes on before it is closed. Behind the candy counter (drinks are all carbon) you will see the old boat wheel from the Admiral days long gone. All this going on near The Broadway Hollywood fancy new condos about to open. PS If it’s hot outside in Hollywood wait till you feel the heat at the Vine. The air is not working or they won’t turn on. Take a look at the big curtains above the screen. Looked great at one time when they worked, they are the waterfall type. Now covered in so mutch dust. Go and check it out and have some fun. You won’t find another place like it in California.
theater for lease $42.00 ft
Here are a few items from the LA Times. Thanks ken mc for directing me to the right page for this theater.
(May 14, 1940)
“His Majesty’s Mistress,” starring Danielle Darrieux and John Loder, will open Thursday night at the Admiral Theater in Hollywood. This is the film version of Princess Bibesco’s story, “Katia.”
(Nov. 23, 1966)
Chaplin understood whims and restaurants. He had been walking one night when he discovered a delicatessen where the owner didn’t have enough money for proper refrigeration. So he built a restaurant for him-Henry’s, where the Admiral Theater now is.
(Oct. 2, 1968)
The Vine Theater, at 6321 Hollywood Blvd., will be Hollywood’s newest showplace. The Vine will feature new seating, carpeting, refrigerated air-conditioning, the latest projection and sound systems and a modern building. The Vine occupies the site of the old Admiral Theater.
Here’s an aerial view of the Vine Theater:
View link
Visited the Vine for a documentary screening over the weekend – decent enough, considering its condition. Sign at the boxoffice says it is rentable for $200 per screening.
Here’s a picture of the old Admiral Theater:
http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/001/02/m0010201.jpg
And a postcard (circa 1939-40):
http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/001/02/m0010202.jpg
I have posted a photo of Hollywood Boulevard taken around 1947 of the Vine Street Theater (then called THE ADMIRAL). The view looks like it was taken from an upper floor of the Pacific 1,2,3 (then the Warners Theater) building just to the west and looking down towards Hollywood and Vine Streets…
http://www.rchristiananderson.com/hollyvine.jpg
The movies on the marquee of the Admiral are “The Razors Edge” with Tyrone Power (1946) and “Housekeepers Daughter” with Joan Bennett and Adolph Menjou (made a few years earlier in 1939).
I am curious about the mirror-like sign at the far left that contains three letters (“P”, “U” and “I”) in reverse. Can anyone take a guess at that?
Ken:
The only information on the Admiral Theater in the LAPL regional history database is a card referencing a January 19th, 1940, issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor. The abstract says that the owner of the theater was Julius Stern, that Henry Aurbach had been awarded the construction contract, and that S. Charles Lee was the architect. The building was to be built of brick and reinforced concrete, would have 700 seats, and would cost $21,280. Given the low costs of construction in the pre-war period, that seems like an entirely new building, rather than a remodeling job. It’s possible that there was an earlier theater on the same site which was demolished to make way for the Admiral, though. I’m sure that central Hollywood had no vacant lots at that late date.
That would be kewl. S. CA’s climate is one reason I will be there. I will be in LA from 12th Jan until 30th Jan and San Francisco from 31st Jan until 7th Feb.
e-mail me (link on my profile) if interested in meeting up anyone?
Hey, Ken – is there going to be some kind of Cinema Treasures meet-up at some point when you do visit? Southern California’s a lot more clement than England this time of year!
Thanks br91975;
I know for sure it was closed on one of my visits in the mid 1990’s and was open again on my next visit in 1998. Maybe it closed in 1994 and had re-opened by March 1996.
It is still currently operating, and I hope to go see a movie there when I visit LA in a couple of weeks time (depending whats on offer, that is!).
During a visit to L.A. in March of ‘96, the Vine was open for business, showing double features at a $5 admission rate, and has been, according to the listings published in L.A. Weekly, as I recall, open since.
This opened as the Admiral Theater pre 1939 (anyone know when?) It was re-modelled by architect S. Charles Lee in 1939-40 for the owner Julius Stern.
Pacific Theatres were operating the Vine Theater as a 2 movies for $2 admission policy before closing it in about 1994. It re-opened in 1998 showing recent movies in double bills and has a current seating capacity of 600.
In 1969, Trans-Beacon remodeled the Vine Theatre for the cost of $200,000. In this cost they redesigned the exterior which included a new lower facade, marquee, signature sign and box office. The auditorium was redesigned to eliminate previous ramps and increasing seating to 603 people and improved sightlines.
Currently this theater shows double features at a reduced rate. The inside is easily the dirtiest theater I have ever been in. Smelly and disgusting. Would be wonderful if someone would revive this poor place.
Another example in the Streamline Moderne style by noted theater architect S. Charles Lee, opened in 1940.
This theatre opened around the mid-40’s as the “Admiral” theatre. It is about ½ block from the Pantages Theatre at Hollywood & Vine. The theatre was remodeled in the late 70’s by Pacific theatres. It spent the early 80’s as a spanish house. Later Pacific ran The Vine as a 2 dollar theatre. Before Pacific dropped the house.