Vidiots

This theatre opened as the Yosemite Theatre on May 3, 1929 with two days of vaudeville shows produced by local radio station KMTR. It began screening silent films two days later, from May 5, 1929. The theatre was built and operated as an independent by Mr J.T. Young and Mr H.E. Allen.

It closed down in July 1930 for improvements which included the installation of talking picture equipment and it re-opened under the management of Vox Theatres Inc. who also operated the nearby York Theatre and Eagle Rock Theatre. The re-opening took place on August 7, 1930 with the Bert Wheeler & Rob Woolsey comedy film “The Cuckoos”.

The Yosemite Theatre was described as being designed in a Mediterranean style in which architect Kenneth A. Gordon had designed an auditorium set in a patio garden. The proscenium arch exits and light niches forming openings in the high stucco wall with tile coping, back of which coloured lights give a restful and pleasing effect to the auditorium, while the azure ceiling resembles the sky. Back of the grilled openings on the sidewalls, landscapes depicting the mountains and scenery of California add another interesting feature to the interior.

The name was changed to New Eagle Theatre after an extensive re-modelling by its new owners Vinnicoff Theatres Circuit. The New Eagle Theatre re-opened on June 10, 1937 with Tyrone Power in “Lloyds of London” and Sally Eilers in “We Have Our Moments”. In 1940 it changed its name again, dropping the ‘New’ and becoming the Eagle Theatre.

From 1976 to 1979, it became part of the Pussycat chain of cinemas playing adult porn movies. In 1983 it was completely re-decorated, with new stage draperies, new seats and a Dolby sound system was installed and it became an Independent cinema, playing regular movies at a low admission price. Seating had been reduced to 800.

Sadly, it succumbed to the multiplex boom and closed in 2001. It became a church for the Brazilian based Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. They had moved out of the building by April 2019 and locals are hoping it will return to use as a movie theatre.

In September 2019 it was purchased by Videots Sets and is being renovated to become a 250-seat theatre screening classic movies and staging concerts, plus a video store, with an extra space in one of the former retail units to be used as a bar, meeting space and small performance space. It was announced on April 17, 2023 that it planned to open on June 1, 2023.

Recent comments (view all 45 comments)

CStefanic on May 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Does the Theatre still stand today?

DavidZornig on May 18, 2016 at 4:49 pm

Yes. It is The Universal Church today. Below is the Photos page from their Facebook page.

I also ganked one of the 2015 photos and will add it to the Photos section here as well.

https://www.facebook.com/universalchurcheaglerock/photos?ref=page_internal

Luholtz on November 7, 2017 at 11:10 am

I find it hard do believe that the theatre closed down in 2001. I thought it closed down in the late 80’s early 90’s years. Did the theatre play movies up until 2001?

Escott O. Norton on May 22, 2019 at 10:58 pm

I will be touring the Eagle with the listing agent tomorrow, and then will be moderating a community meeting on Thursday May 23 at 7:30pm at Eagle Rock City Hall to gauge community interest and see if we can bring the Eagle Theatre back to life. Anyone in the area is encouraged to come. If you are interested in getting involved, you can also email me at .
Thanks, Escott Norton, Executive Director Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation

academy133 on September 30, 2019 at 1:32 pm

Breaking news – 9/30/2019: Vidiots Sets L.A. Relaunch With Storefront And Independent Theater dlvr.it/RFCHtK

rivest266 on March 17, 2021 at 5:01 pm

Grand opening ad Yosemite Theatre opening Fri, May 3, 1929 – 13 · Eagle Rock Sentinel (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com

rivest266 on March 17, 2021 at 5:11 pm

Reopening as Eagle on June 10th, 1937

Eagle theatre opening Thu, Jun 10, 1937 – 15 · The Eagle Rock Advertiser (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com

DavidZornig on April 17, 2023 at 9:02 pm

Target reopening date of June 1, 2023. Article below.

https://www.indiewire.com/2023/04/vidiots-reopen-june-2023-1234829091/?fbclid=IwAR3cBknEdDObVnCwaIYIuQeoc72fe9YQWULzhchNlmGmr-v7bdGOkUvES0E

paulbjensen on October 13, 2023 at 1:27 pm

This can be changed from closed to open

m00se1111 on October 13, 2023 at 3:16 pm

Theatre is presently open & screening Halloween/Horror titles.

Schedule of titles here https://vidiotsfoundation.org/ Might count as theatre website…