Regent Showcase Theater

The Gordon Theater opened February 9, 1938 with Irene Dunne & Cary Grant in “The Awful Truth”. With its 899 seats, all on a single floor, it was designed by architect Clifford A. Balch for operator David Gordon. The murals on the auditorium walls were by interior designer Anthony Heinsbergen.

In 1985, it was renovated with the designs of architect David K. Mesbur, who won awards for his work on the theatre. Cineplex Odeon reopened it as the Showcase Cinema on October 11, 1985, with the movie “Colonal Redl”. Loew’s Cineplex stopped running the Showcase Cinema on January 13, 200o. It was taken over by Laemmle Theatres on May 26, 2000 and was renamed Regent Showcase Theater.

Sadly, the Regent Showcase Theater was closed on 29th May 2008 with the Yung Chang film “Up the Yangtze”. However, it soon re-opened and continued as an independent art house cinema until closing again in May 2009.

In 2013 it became part of the Artists Resource Center and was used as a church, renamed ARC Theater. The church moved out of the building in December 2015. By September 2016 another church was occupying the building and by 2023 it was available to be used for film shoots.

Recent comments (view all 65 comments)

CStefanic on May 18, 2016 at 7:05 pm

The listing now states that the Church has moved out of the building. What’s going on with it now?

rivest266 on August 7, 2016 at 3:58 pm

February 9th, 1938 and October 11, 1985 grand opening ads in the photo section.

Cineplex Odeon bought out many single-screen theatres in the 1980’s in Canada and named them Showcase.

ridgeley on September 6, 2016 at 1:58 am

CStefanic – I was past the theater this morning, and it’s being used by something called One Church International. At least nobody’s knocked it down, nor suggested it, as far as I know.

CStefanic on September 8, 2016 at 5:05 pm

That’s good to know. I drive by it often – and the fact that it still stands is reassuring.

Navan on September 8, 2017 at 12:55 am

Judging by the age and art deco interior, I would “hope” this is a landmark that can’t be torn down. Then again, this is L.A. I used to go here off and on from 1969 – 1983. Classic old theater. Hope it becomes one again.

DavidZornig on June 5, 2018 at 12:54 am

1956 photo as the Gordon Theater added via Mark MacDougal‎. The current Regent Showcase marquee appears to be the same, although updated.

rivest266 on November 30, 2019 at 11:27 pm

Reopening as Showcase

Cineplex Odeon Showcase opening Fri, Oct 11, 1985 – 125 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com

Other Showcase cinemas were built in Toronto and Calgary.

CStefanic on October 2, 2023 at 1:06 am

Does any body know how long the new cult, excuse me, ‘church’ has a lease on the Showcase for? Or who I might be able to speak to about this?

CTCrouch on October 2, 2023 at 9:43 am

The property is being handled by The Location Portal (thelocationportal.com) for film shoots. So, you could try contacting them for information.

ridethectrain on October 2, 2023 at 4:29 pm

Please update, on May 26, 2000 Laemmle Theatres took over theatre from Loews Cineplex which cease control on January 13, 2000. That when it was renamed Regent Shoawcase Thatre