Pacific 1-2-3

Theatre opened around 1926, as Warner Bros. Hollywood, Later it became Warner Cinerama. (Before the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Blvd.). Before it closed, It was called "The Hollywood Pacific" tri-plex. The main theatre was about 1200 seats and upstairs the twin were about 500 seats each. The main house & #3 could run 70mm. I was one of the last projectionists for that theatre before it closed.

If you stand across the street from the theatre and look up at the towers above. Look behind the sign that spells out P A C I F I C, you will see the backs of one of the old signs for the theatre W A R N E R S . In the mid 50's they added in neon the word C I N E R A M A . This theatre was Cinerama Theatre #3, in the conversion to Cinerama the theatre organ in the pit, was covered up by a concrete slab. When you go back stage you can see how they cut a large curve to fit the curved Cinerama screen. Other than the Pantages down the street, this is the next best lobby in Hollywood. That is the second marquee for this theatre. This marquee goes back to around late 1939. The Hollywood Pacific was tri-plexed early in 1978, the last film to play the theatre as a single screen was "The Gauntlet" in late December 1977. In the main house, everything was covered by curtains. The Pacific also had a screening room in the building. This theatre has been closed since the mid 90's. But it is currently being used as a site for testing digital projection.

The Shubert Group is considering taking the old Warners/Pacific and turning it into a stage house to replace their Shubert Theatre in Century City which will be closing soon. Otherwise they won't have a home in Los Angeles for their traveling Broadway shows. This would be a great venue!

For this year's film festival, the AFI is using the Pacific for a few screenings, including the big centerpiece gala which took place on the 5th. According to a flyer distributed in the lobby, the two upstairs screens have been deemed unsafe for use since the 1994 Northridge quake.

Somehow, architect G. Albert Lansburgh combined Renaissance, Rococo, Moorish, and Art Deco ornamentation to produce a very effective piece of architecture. 0pened on April 26,1928.

The downstairs auditorium now holds the Entertainment Technology Center, a highly respected testing ground for the upcoming (?) digital projection revolution.

Two other successful engagements were "This is Cinerama" in 1952 and "2001" in 1969.

In 1979 I saw "Moonracker" here in one of the converted balconies. I remember the pich of the seats toward the screen was drastic. I returned in 1994 to see "Sirens" just before the theater closed. Even as a child in 1979, and especially as an adult in 1994, I noticed the opulence of the downstairs restrooms that harkened to an older era in Hollywood.

Hey, Knat - before the board ate your comment, it was:
"Knatcal > May 10, 2003 4:40 PM EDT
In 1980, I saw "Moonraker" in one of the converted balcony theatres. The pitch of the theatre was steep. It was not a great place to see a movie. In the mid-1990s, I returned to the theatre to see some Sam Neil and Elle MacPherson movie I don't remember just to see the theatre again. This was right before the theatre's closing. The balcony conversion theatres had alreay been closed. I still remember the grandeur of the downstairs restrooms and lounge area and the lobby. Let's hope that the Schubert Organiztion does revitalize this venue as it is definately worth perserving."

In 1967 I saw "Thorouly Modern Millie" in its road show engagement. The last film I saw at the Pacific was "Back to the Future 111". I wish Warner Bros would do with this house what Disney did with the El Capitan. This would give Warners a prestige showcase in a revitalized Hollywood Blvd. It would also be a tribute to the Warner Bros who built the theatre. brucec

Carol Burnett's First Job - "Usher at Warner Bros. Movie Theatre (later Pacific) on Hollywood Boulevard making 65 cents an hour."
(Age - 17 )
Most important thing learned:
"I wanted to make more money so I went across the street to the Iris Theatre and got a box office job for 75 cents an hour.
Her Hollywood Walk of Fame star is now in front of the Warner Bros. Theatre.

New World Pictures "ANGEL" premiered at this house in the early 80's.
Reduced to exploitation titles, this palace of yesteryear still survived and turned in exceptional grosses. I certainly hope that one day it can be returned to its origanal grandeur and become a treasure for all of us to enjoy once again.

Any updates on this theatre?

The Hollywood Pacific Theatre is still being used by Entertainment Technology Center for digital projection.

During the "2001" engagement at the Warner Cinerama Theatre (aka: Pacific 1,2,3) the seating was reduced to 1256 seats the main floor and the lower balcony area. The upper balcony was draped over.

Is the damage upstairs from the earthquake fixable?

Yes, the earthquake damage is fixable. But at the time that Pacific Theatres was operating the Hollywood Pacific. Two other things were happening, besides the earthquake damage. The MTA tunneling flooded the basement and Pacific had been looking for someone to buy the building (At the time the asking price was 14 million). William R. Forman owned a lot of Hollywood property. At one time the Hollywood Museum was to have been located in the upper floors of the building.

Having worked a few years at that theatre and being the last projectionist before it closed. I've been in it when the city had an earthquake. Most of the damage is some fallen plaster and ceiling tile in the balcony. The theatre is solid it goes down 3 flights below ground. Since the theatre and surrounding area was on a decline. Many of the many single screen theatres closed. Pacific Theatres operated the most. (Cinerama Dome, Hollywood Pacific 3, Pantages, Pix, Vine, New View, World). Mann Theatres operated only 6 screens and UA only had 3 screens and Loew's 2 screens. Pacific did not want to put more money into the building. But since the Pantages and some of the area is coming back. They can make a killing on the last of the major palaces. The Hollywood Pacific Theatre can be a major player along with the Pantages. I've been all over the building back stage, in the basement. And it has the second best lobby in Hollywood after the Pantages.

With a prayer and an angel - maybe William the PACIFIC will rise again above the ashes of its current Hollywood location. I remember when the PACIFIC was the home of all NEW WORLD PICTURES early 1980
releases! I believe the film "ANGEL" premiered to a $20,000 opening week! "High School Student By Day, Hollywood Hooker By Night"
was the catchline. I know, because I worked for that studio!

The Pacific could become a premiere house for the studios because of its capacity. Due to zoning and other problems Westwood will be hosting fewer premieres and the Pacific could become a glamorous screen again to host these events in Hollywood. Currently only the Cinerama Dome, El Capitan and Chinese host these events in Hollywood.The Pacific is the only unrestored major film palace in Hollywood.Maybe the redeveopment agency would help fund it to help revitalize this part of Hollywood Blvd.brucec

THis could easily once again become a grand picture palace. Hollywood Boulevard is quickly improving and there will soon be a great market for a new old theater. I would see a profit in it for people would pay for tickets to a movie just to see the interior. This theater could once again hold glamorous premieres. I see this as a great opportunity for a profit and for the revitilization of Hollywood. Hopefully a company will have the brevity ot invest in it and preserve this gorgeous theater.

Pacific Theatres has been trying to sell this theatre and building for the last decade. Remember the tri-plexing was done in the early half of 1978. When it was done fast without a lot of care for the ceiling area. Yes, it would make a wonderful premiere showcase. But if it ever gets to be restored, it would be better used like the Pantages Theatre for live Broadway type shows. Maybe with the lost of the Schubert Theatre in Century City. The Pacific Theatre may rise from the ashesof Hollywood Blvd.

Definitely time to reopen this theatre as a legitimate theatre (preferably a digital projection theatre since they've been testing the technology here) and encourage the redevelopment of Hollywood Blvd which is still a tacky mess. Since it's LA, I suppose parking is a big issue for any potential investors.
Do any interior photos exist of this theatre?

This is a great theater, the front is no longer boarded up so you can see the lobby. This movie palace is the Queen of the Hollywood Theaters. It looks as though she is being presserved, if at least maintained.

As noted above, the Hollywood Pacific theater is in daily use for special testing of the future Digital Cinema technologies. It is the site of the "Digital Cinema Laboratory" of the Entertainment Technology Center a research group of the University of Southern California. The projection systems are all "state of the art" and have been viewed by many Hollywood insiders. Occasionally, the Entertainment Technology Center hosts Digital Cinema screenings for industry people and there have been a number of special events and film festivals hosted there. For more information go to: www.etcenter.org

You can read about the Digital Symposium and see pictures of the theater interior here:

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2004/lfca/digital_symposium.htm

It was a pleasure to see the theater where "2001" played in Hollywood for well over a year.

Dreamworks will be hosting a screening of the Tom Cruise movie, Collateral, at the Pacific in late July. I think this is the first time a major studio is holding a screening there. Hopefully it will go smoothly and the theater will be seen as a viable place for premieres, and restoration will follow.

The "Collateral" screenings are not open to the public; they are for the press and for the Cast & Crew of the movie.

Actually, we've been holding special studio screenings for a number of years but we are not open to the public. We've had thousands of people enjoy the latest in Digital Cinema projection here since that is our speciality.

Restoration is really not an option unless someone comes along with "very deep pockets". It would cost in excess of $40 million just to bring it up to acceptable conditions. We know of no one willing to spend that kind of money for what may be a very low return.

I worked as an usher at the Hollywood Pacific from 1979 to 1980. It was one of the best times of my life. Restore it!!! It was, and still is, a treasure. Whatever happened to the magnificent chandeliers?
RDS

The restoration of the Pacific doesn't have to cost $40 Million. The Pacific is in very good shape and not on its last leg like the New Amsterdam in New York was before Disney spent $30 Million to restore it and turn it into a state of the art broadway house. I think it would take between $8-12Million to restore the theatre and turn it into a single screen. To turn the Pacific into a broadway house would be between $20-30Million. I would love to see the origianl name Warner back on the theatre. I would even settle for Pacific Warner. I even think the Nederlanders could make better use of the Pacific than the Wilshire in Beverly Hills for broadway shows. I have always felt that Hollywood and Downtown should be the legit districts. The Fox-Wilshire would make a great house for movie premieres like the old days.brucec

FYI--The Hollywood Pacific exterior makes an appearance in the Tim Burton film "Ed Wood." The scene where Bela Lugosi gives his little "speech" on the sidewalk and the passersby applaud him was filmed outside the west auditorium exit running along Wilcox ave.

As a boy, my Dad took our family to see every one of the Cineramas at the Warner Hollywood. Working as a sound engineer for Westrex in Hollywood, he had a deep appreciation of the Cineramas. The last film I remember seeing at the Warner was "How the West Was Won", a 1964 epic with an all-star cast, and the last of the original type 3-camera Cineramas. By this point, huge red drapes covered what had once been magnificent romanesque columns. It seems sad that such a great organization as Cinema Treasures should be refering to the Warner Hollywood as the "Pacific 1-2-3"--for this was a true motion picture palace.

I saw a screening of "A Clockwork Orange" at the Pacific in December of 1971. The theater was still single screen at that time, and the place was packed for either a Friday or Saturday evening performance. I recall the crowd was a bit rowdy. We sat in the balcony. The lobby seemed small for the auditorium which was huge. Somewhere on the web is a site with black and white photos of the marquis and lobby for that "Clockwork Orange" run. I'll try to find it again. "A Clockwork Orange" was a rather violent film for that era. Heck, it would still be violent. I've never seen it again. The first viewing was vivid enough. Emerging from the theater after the film, I looked up at the radio towers on the building looming in the darkness. It all had a noirish quality.

The El Capitan, Hollywood Pantages, Grauman's Chinese, Music Box, all have been restored to their glory days of yesteryear. Still waiting for the last of the grand movie palaces of Hollywood Boulevard to reclaim its past as well.

This theatre is not closed and is being used on a regular basis for digital movie industry screenings. The Pacific is being used a movie theatre by people who love movies.Daily Variety lists the Pacific as one of the major screenings venues for the industry.brucec

'The Incredibles' and 'The Polar Express' were both recently presented digitally at the Pacific.

When I was in second grade, at Monterey Vista School in suburban Monterey Park, the highlight of the year was a school field trip to see the original Cinerama production, "This is Cinerama" at the Warner Hollywood Theatre. I had already attended many of the big Downtown Los Angeles movie palaces, but I was still amazed by the Warner. Some of my classmates had never seen any theaters other than our small, suburban neighborhood movie houses, and could scarcely believe that such a place as the Warner even existed.

Our seats were on the main floor, near the front, just to the side of the central projection booth for which a section of seats had been removed. The Cinerama screen was awe inspiring, and I remember becoming a bit dizzy from the roller coaster scene. All the girls screamed. We had a great time, even though the chaperones wouldn't allow us to visit the concession stand.

After the movie, the theater opened the side exits from the lobby to the side street where the curb space had been reserved for school buses. Leaving the theater was like being expelled from a magical world, and more than a few of us looked back through the doors for a last glimpse of the splendid lobby as we boarded the bus for the long ride back home through the everyday world. I've had a special fondness for the Warner ever since, and hope that it can be saved to delight future generations.

Does the front look better then the picture above? I guess the narrative should be changed since the theatre is now a screening facility, and is not closed.

I found the web address with pictures of the Pacific as it looked in 1971 for the "Clockwork Orange" run:
[url=http://alexdlg.tripod.com/aco/pressbook.html] I got the address from a link ("Pressbook") on this Malcolm McDowell site: [url=http://malcolmmcdowell.net/] It can also be addressed with this: [url=http://www.geocities.com/malcolmtribute/] I've bookmarked these sites and saved the web pages and image files. You never know how long these things will last on the net. It's an interesting page in cinema history. As the web site says, they put this level of promotion into one theater for one film. I can't believe I was actually there for the event. I rarely get to L.A. and just happened to be there for a few days visiting friends just after Christmas in 1971.

Maybe we can make those sites clickable

http://alexdlg.tripod.com/aco/pressbook.htm

http://malcolmmcdowell.net/

http://www.geocities.com/malcolmtribute/

Ack. Let me try that Tripod site again. That's the direct link

http://alexdlg.tripod.com/aco/pressbook.html

An unusual element of the layout of this theater is the way the auditorium is set at an oblique angle to the street entrance on Hollywood Boulevard. The auditorium is horseshoe-shaped, and the lobby forms a grand, semi-circular, chandeliered promenade around its perimeter.

Years later in 1968, I saw the west coast premiere gala on television of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and a few days later actually saw the film in this theater. I understand that they wanted to use the newly constructed dome on Sunset Blvd, but it was unavailable, so it was shown here. Nearly all the walls were draped over in the theater, but it was clean and the film looked beautiful on the screen.

In 1971 I saw "The Andromeda Strain" here, again, only a few days after the premiere and the ticket takers and ushers wore sterile white clothes and keys around their necks to "unlock" the detonation device shown in the movie. Again, the theater looked very nice and was still one screen. During those years it was known as the Pacific CinermaTheater.

I cannot imagine anyone thinking this theater would cost 40 million to restore. There are great theaters being restored now, including the huge "California Theater" in downtown San Diego. This building has a great history and was quite beautiful in it's day and deserves to be restored.

If you wanted to see Errol Flynn and Bette Davis in their new releases this where you would go. I saw The Adventures of Robin Hood
in 1938 The sea Hawk 1940. Last time I went there as the Warner Bros
was in 1949 saw the Hasty Heart. Is it a good investmet to restore. how are dealing with vandals in the other theatres on the Blvd.

From what I am told, the negative element on the boulevard that reached a peak in the 1980s, has improved every year. My strong feeling is that when you have a building or business in good repair or maintain an area, it shows you care.... and people naturally respect it for the most part. If something is boarded up and left to decay, graffiti and vandalism generally follow and it goes downhill from there.

The boulevard has a built in reputation as historically being the capital of motion pictures, and for years tourists have come and been disappointed. That is now changing, thank goodness. The apparent success of the new Hollywood Highland Center and El Capitan, Chinese Theater and Pantages restorations have caught the attention of intelligent big business who are now looking to develop and partially restore the "old Hollywood" that is left. They see these renewed areas are not being vandalized or trashed, but enjoyed and attracting a lot of attention, and money. Tourism dollars will potentially be a huge payoff if they play their cards right. Those of us who care about our history and culture can only benefit by seeing some of the glamour return to the area to be enjoyed at last on some level once more.

I found a great picture postcard of the theater from 1956 and posted it on the following link ...

http://www.rchristiananderson.com/hollywoodhistory/HollywoodBlvd3.jpg

Notice the Hollywood FOX theater, then called THE IRIS Theater to the right...... It was later remodelled in the late 1960s, so it looks nothing like that today and now sits boarded up and used as a warehouse, unfortunately.

Went to Hollywood High. Great memories of this place. Sat thru "Cotton Club" 3 times in a row here.

My July '04 comment about the restoration costing $40 million was a semi-educated guess which includes the following considerations:

- A major asbestos removal project
- Major structural repairs
- A hazardous waste removal project over and above the asbestos
- Undoing the multiplexing of the balcony into two separate
theaters
- Restoring the dome ceiling
- Replacing all electrical wiring
- Replacing all plumbing
- Replacing all heating and air conditioning
- Rebuilding the stage infrastructure
- Flying a new projection screen with baffle wall
- Providing handicap access facilities per ADA
- Building a multi-story parking structure
- Reroofing the building
- Doing a complete acoustical redesign while not destroying the
historic appearance

All of these repairs and upgrades must conform with Los Angeles Conservancy practices which will require consideration of the historic nature of the facility.

And those are just the most obvious issues. While other theaters may be "restored" for less money, they may have had monies invested in them over the years. This facility, however, has had little, if any, work other than the demising into a multiplex in 1979.

I'm figuring the asbestos abatement alone at $5 million and that has to be the very first thing to be done. There are three huge steam boilers and hundreds of feet of asbestos covered piping running throughout the building. You've got to remember that in addition to the theater itself, there is a four story office building and a number of small stores within the outside walls of the building, all of which will require attention.

It is certainly doubtful that after such a restoration of a 2500+ seat facility, with both stage and screen, you could effectively recover the costs of renovation. I'm sure that's why it had been dormant all those years.

We are using it for our purposes of testing and research and occasional special screenings without having to go into the infrastructure. Someone else that wants to reopen it, won't have that freedom.

Pacific Theatres has owned the building since around 1968, when they bought the Stanley Warner's Southern California Theatres. As pmiller posted it will cost a pretty penny to restore. Pacific Theatres has been wanting to sell the building for over 15 years now. One problem is it was the only theatre in Hollywood that was multiplex or cutup. The job was done in the first half of 1978. The other three major theatre remodels were the Chinese Theatre in the mid 50's for CinemaScope, El Capitian in early 40's tobe remodeled into the Paramount and the Egyptian Todd-AO in the mid 50's & again in 1969 for D-150 install. The Hollywood Pacific's original auditorium has been hidden for the last 27 years. If you stand on stage behind the screen you can see the cutout on the front of the stage lip that they did for Cinerama.
I was one of the last projectionists to work that theatre before Pacific Theatres closed it down. I still have a few momentos from the Warner Cinerama Theatre days from the booth. And when they converted the upper lobby original light fixtures to vandal proof fixtures.

pmiller... one question please. I understand the numerous items that are required to update the theater and make it safe and habitable. I did not know a parking structure was part of that upgrade. Is that required by the local government, or can the theater dispense with that kind of expense. There are SO MANY parking lots where classic buildings used to be, and now with the subway running under the boulevard, can't we dispense with turning every other block into a lot? The Brown Derby, Al Levy's Tavern, The Hitching Post Theater and even my grandmothers old house at Gower and Selma are all parking lots now.

Hi William, great info! Wonder if you have any memoribilia from when the theater showed the west coast premier of "2001: A Space Odyssey." There were custom made glass panels with back-lit scenes from the movie which were in the showcases in the area around the box office. They were so striking. Would love to know where they are today.

Also wonder if you found any "KEYS" from the "Andromeda Strain" premier in 1971... the ticket people and ushers wore them on chains around their necks like the "single male" character in the film. Gosh, that's when you remembered a movie opening!

Sorry, that last comment was intended for pmiller.

My comment about the parking structure was based on a couple of issues and assumptions.

First: There is a parking lot directly behind the building which could accommodate maybe seventy cars if they had no other business. At best during a normal day there would be perhaps 10-20 spaces available should the theater fully reopen. And on Tuesday through Saturday evenings, that same lot is packed and, in fact, also uses a valet service to handle all the cars for a night club that adjoins the property. There is also a small lot directly across the street which holds even fewer cars that will ultimately be made into a private lot for an apartment building that is being restored.

Second: Yes, I'd assume Hollywood/L.A. government would require additional parking spaces be made available on this same block for a project of this magnitude. I'm further assuming that the "grandfathered" parking requirements from the original 1928 construction will be looked at with a fresh eye.

Third: I'm sure ADA access requirements will make some kind of parking structure pretty much a requirement to permit obstacle-free access.

There are, in fact, several moderately sized lots within a 4-6 block radius. If you assume that the reopened Pacific would have 2500 seats, and 2.5 people per car travel here, that's still another 1000 cars coming to Hollywood that haven't done so in the not-so-distant past. When the Hollywood and Highland complex got rebuilt which includes the Chinese theater, parking was included; when the Cinerama Dome was rebuilt and turned into the Arclight Complex a parking structure replaced a large piece of flat land.

I just don't think that whoever takes this place over and brings it up to contemporary standards can get away without doing something about the parking.

pmiller.... thanks for the insight. When these great theaters were built, we did not have television and these showplaces were a central feature to entertain the masses. In my opinion, we also had better mass transit in Hollywood. My mom did not have a car, but we were able to get everywhere on the red car line and streetcars. It was relatively safe and fun. When we went out, we always hired a nice taxicab. That was the way to go. Today we have huge home entertainment systems and classic films have become part of our domestic life as never before. So now I wonder what we can show in the great theaters that will bring the crowds back? Many of the cinemas that are still intact theaters have become cultural art centers, symphony halls, opera houses, churches and live stage venues. What other uses can we give them to save them? Your point that they have a practical use is quite valid.

To Christian:

I'm pretty sure that the "KEYS" from the "Andromeda Strain" premier in 1971 went home with the ticket people and the ushers.

This is all hypothetical but the L.A. Conservancy may well require the return of the theater to a full live stage with orchestra pit, etc., which moves the venue to something other than a strictly cinema theater. A performing stage has to look to different kinds of bookings and the success of the Pantages, for example, was predicated on shows like “The Lion King” to justify a major restoration. The Pantages is 4 blocks away. What comparable stage events or shows, can compete and draw audiences that aren’t being served right now.

On the other hand Arclight has 14 movie screens, the Chinese has 7, the El Capitan has one, and the Egyptian has 2 - all with a few blocks of here. There are additionally several other closed-up movie houses on the Boulevard. So movie screens are pretty saturated in this neighborhood.

That’s why I doubt the return on investment looks very attractive to potential buyers of the building. With Pantages so close, and Hollywood and Highland’s Kodak Theater a stone’s throw in the other direction, and the other movie screens nearby, what new shows will draw a crowd?

The Red Car doesn’t run here anymore, the subway is 4-7 blocks away in either direction, and everyone drives in L.A. Hence the parking problem.

What this town needs is another Paul Allen with a big heart for “theater” and “deep pockets” for changing and rebuilding. Until someone like that comes along, I’m afraid this place. will still be “the treasure that once laid within”.

Right pmiller! I saw the Lion King a couple of years ago at the Pantages and it was quite spectacular and the theater was packed the night I was there. There were many "ooohs and ahhs" by the hundreds of children in the theater during intermission, as well. I think the Pacific, with it's size, history, and proportion, seems like one of the few spectacular sized venues left for musicals or live performances in the area. I sure hope we get a benefactor to rescue it!

As far as what is left in Hollywood, please let's not forget the newly aquired live stage theater... the "Ricardo Montalban" (old Huntington Hartford) on Vine Street, which has dedicated it's future to the presentation of live theater by the group "Nosotros", which is specifically designed to present productions by and/or with Latin American actors, directors and performers. They have somewhat completed the facade restoration so the theater looks more like it's Beaux Arts roots of 1926 and the interior is presently being worked on to match. I am doing some historic research for the management on my own and have written the story of that theater at the following link. I continue to discover new details every week.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/9863/

Los Angeles is overrun with closed movie palaces; thankfully many of them have not been demolished. Probably the only way to get many of them operating again is either to have them run by a non-profit organziation, in the mold of the American Cinematheque, or converting them to host legitimate theatre productions, which generally take in a lot more money than film screenings ever do (except for the latest Star Wars installment possibly...) So, how about it? Someone step up to the plate and get an NPO together...

I found a great photo of this theater in 1961 when it was the site of the premier of BACK STREET with Susan Hayward, John Gavin and Vera Miles.

http://www.yesterdayla.com/Graphics/HollywoodBlvd6.jpg

Here is the marquee on April 18, 1935...

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036960.jpg

The picture in the link posted by Christian two messages back is great. (Also, the vertical of the Iris Theater is visible a block down on the opposite side of Hollywood Boulevard from the Warner.)

One thing surprises me, though. This shot is from 1961, which would have been during the Cinerama era at the Warner. I hadn't realized that "regular" movies were programmed in between runs of Cinerama films, and I would never have guessed that the neon letters on top of the marquee actually alternated between WARNER and CINERAMA to reflect this!

For example, Christian's post on Jan 2, 2005 at 6:44pm shows the marquee in 1956. Cinerama Holiday was playing; the marquee says CINERAMA. And I've seen a postcard, presumably from 1962, when "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" was playing. Again, the marquee says CINERAMA. Yet as the 1961 photo confirms, the marquee was reverted back to WARNER for Back Street.

Does anyone know more about the booking history of the Warner during this period?

re stevebob's observation: That is odd, and I hadn't noticed it. But the Susan Hayward remake of "Back Street" did indeed come out in 1961, and the cars in the photo are certainly of that era. I visited Hollywood Boulevard a few times in those days, but never noticed the change in the Warner's marquee. Maybe they had some sort of modular system, to make the changeout easier.

re stevebob: Looking closely it's visible that the "Cinerama Holiday" has the size of the "Warner" label (compare the bottom line of Holiday and Warner with the top line of the white front marquee on both of the photos you mentioned). So I'd say they didn't replace Warner with Cinerama, they simply put a wood sign announcing the movie Cinerama Holiday (and not the system Cinerama) over the Warner letters. After all, you can't announce Cinerama if not playing Cinerama movies.


I'm anything but an expert on Cinerama history, but looking at the mere 10 movies listed by the IMDb with the same film format (http://imdb.com/SearchTechnical?PFM:3%20x%2035%20mm%09(6%20perf.%20per%20frame) ), it's no surprise to me that they had other movies, too. If I got that right, the freshest Cinerama release in 1961 would have been South Seas Adventure from 1958..

Soenke, you are incorrect in your supposition that "wood letters" spelling Cinerama Holiday were placed over the Warner sign, and that they fit into that same space that "WARNER" otherwise occupied.

The letters that spelled CINERAMA were lighted, and were in the same exact position as the letters that spelled WARNER and that currently spell PACIFIC. In the Cinerama Holiday picture, the word "Holiday" is on the marquee proper, NOT above the marquee.

I digged up some more pictures at the LA Public Library (with some nice b/w of the interiour BTW: go to lapl.org, select the photo catalog and search for "hollywood warner theatre") and while noticing on jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014800.jpg that the "Studio Mens Shop" of 1943, right of the entrance, turned into the "Motherhood Maternity Shop" in 1961 (what a change..;), I also noticed that the top of the white marquees left/right is above the shop signs. "Holiday" ends clearly below these signs, so you're right, it's on the marquee.

Nevertheless, the whole point was that this is one sign just for this movie. The letters not only are just too similar, it's "Cinerama Holiday", one title, not something reading like "Presented in Cinerama:", the movie "Holiday", so they actually should look the same, making this one sign.
Because of this I came up with a flat wooden board (which may of course very well have neons or bulbs on it) placed in front of Warner and marquee (not instead of) to get both words on the same level with the same light - looks nice and no hazzle with dis-/mounting the Warner sign. (Am I talking like a marquee designer? Sorry :)

In short: It's not alternating between WARNER and CINERAMA, it's between WARNER and part of a Cinerama movie title announced big style. And the letters Warner are still there, they're just hidden by the Cinerama movie title sign.

What did it look like on the postcard you mentioned (and how did they get that title The Wonderfull..Grimm title on the marquee anyway?:), could you post that one?

Well during that time the Warner Hollywood Theatre was part of the Stanley Warner Management Corporation chain. But it was listed under their Stanley Warner Cinerama Corporation. So those were part of the original theatres that the Stanley Warner chain converted to Cinerama under the original deal. So the Warner Hollywood Thetare was the Warner Cinerama. In 1963, Pacific Theatres opened the Cinerama Dome. So at that time there was two Cinerama equipped theatres in Los Angeles, not including the Forum Theatre. That Cinerama lettering on the marquee was still up in 1971. At that time the verical blade sign said Pacific.

Found it! Here's the postcard that shows "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" at the Warner Cinerama:

http://cinerama.topcities.com/warner.htm

Nice picture. Is it possible that they put whole new marquees on the sides? On the Back Street picture there is standard black lettering on a backlit white panel, but the Grimm marquee seems to have red neon letters and the horizontal stripes that usually hold letters (as can be seen on the 1943 picture and at the top of this page) are gone. That'll also explain my doubts about (not) inconsistent "Cinerama" and "Holiday" signs.

PS: New street lights on Hollywood Blvd every decade :)

During that time in Los Angeles and NYC and other major markets. The studios would put special displays at the first run theatres. during this time theatres would use a lot of neon signage. Like the Pacific's marquees for "Bros. Grimm" and when Cinerama was on the towers above the theatre, one side said Warner and the other said Cinerama. Over at the Pantages the verical blade sign would have neon tubing saying the name of the feature that was playing. This type of advertising could be seen down Hollywood Blvd. for blocks. Some of the area theatres would also have a special neon tubing noticing that a preview was taking place that night on the vertical blade sign. Before the Egyptian Theatre remodeled the front 1950's front of the house. They used that for advertising the film playing, "Oklahoma" used neon for their signage and "The Poseidon Adventure" had the poster artwork painted on it. Those neon Cinerama letter were in storage on the stage of the theatre. When I worked there in the 90's.

Hi William and sonke ... Here is a photo of the marquee of the "Egyptian Theater" just down the block in 1955. As you can see, the movie "Oklahoma" was the feature, and, as William says, the film title is in NEON and looks almost permanent. Since this was expensive to do, it was reserved for features the studios and theaters thought were monumental and would play at the theater for a while.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014528.jpg

In the new film "The Aviator", there is a scene at the 1929 premier of "Hells Angels" and there are huge neon signs of the film title on the 2 sides at the entrance of Graumans Chinese. This is not fiction. There truly were huge signs made and installed just as shown at the entrance of the forecourt (By the way, the film "Hells Angels" is amazing for it's time and is well worth a look). Here is a photo of those signs...

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014682.jpg

I was living in Hollywood when the Warner's theater was showing "This is Cinerama' for the years 1953/56. After 56 or 57 they
started showing other pictures. Correct me.

I notice that somewhere along the line the name WARNERS dropped the "S" and became just WARNER. Perhaps this happened when the studios were no longer allowed to own theaters. Also, a very quick shot moving South on Hollywood Blvd can be seen in the biography of Gene Tierney in the latest DVD incarnation of "Laura". The footage is only a few seconds long, in color, and the Iris Theater can be seen on the right with the Warners with the s on the left. You really need to freeze it to appreciate the shot it is so short.

That is a great point, Manwithnoname!

I was fascinated by the marquee's alternation between WARNER and CINERAMA. I hadn't even realized that there was also a change from WARNERS to WARNER at some point.

In the 1961 "Back Street" picture at http://www.yesterdayla.com/Graphics/HollywoodBlvd6.jpg it's WARNER. Back in the 1940s http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014800.jpg it was WARNERS.

However, while this change was made on the marquee and the vertical (notice how on the 1961 vertical there's clearly a space that the final S formerly occupied), the radio towers on top of the building continued to say WARNERS.

And with respect to the Warner Bros. Downtown, didn't its blades say WARNERS right up to the time it was taken over by Metropolitan? I'm guessing that is so because afterward the letters were rearranged to spell WARRENS rather than WARREN.

I guess it's proof that I'm a true movie palace geek that I should be interested in such arcane details. But, obviously, the change from Warners to Warner on the Hollywood theater was intentional. It would be very interesting to know the reason behind it. Did the houses in Beverly Hills, San Pedro, Huntington Park or elsewhere nationwide change in the same way?

Well, in my last post I said the footage was traveling South on Hollywood Blvd. when I do believe that would be East. This is why I am not a Sea Captain, Pilot or Air Traffic Controller.

It's all very simple. If you go back to the page on my web site - http://cinerama.topcities.com/warner.htm, to the right of "3-strip dates", it says that 3-strip (requiring three projectors) Cinerama films were shown from 04/29/53 to 10/09/61. From 10/20/61 till 8/7/62, no Cinerama films (only one projector needed to show 70mm or 35mm films) were shown at the theatre so, they changed the name on the marquee back to Warner. From 8/7/62 till 12/17/64 they again showed 3-strip Cinerama films. So, they changed the name back to Cinerama. The marquee still had the name Cinerama on it when Clockwork Orange played there in 1974 - http://alexdlg.tripod.com/aco/press11-01.jpg

Warner Hollywood Theatre opened April 26, 1928. Film buffs can catch a glimpse or two of the interior in Al Jolson's "The Singing Fool."

For Cinerama the seating capacity was reduced from 2756 to 1512.
The Warner Hollywood starting showing "This Is Cinerama" April 29, 1953...the third house to show the process (following the Broadway in NYC and the Music Hall in Detroit).

I saw both HOW THE WEST WAS WON and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY here in their original roadshow engagement. I had a special connection to the film, as my junior high school English teacher, Clara Smith, was the mother of the choral director for the film. Clara taught at Lincoln Junior High in Santa Monica and talked endlessly about her son's accomplishments, which included playing Jesus at an annual production of the Last Supper or something like that held at a local theater. Her son, Academy Award winner Ken Darby, was a long-time collaborator and friend of the renowned composer Alfred Newman, and produced and directed the choral arrangements for THE ROBE, THE EGYPTIAN (I think, which was co-scored by Bernard Hermann), and THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD. Much of the fine choral arrangements and folk songs in HTWWW were the work of Darby, and Darby conducted and wrote much of the original music for the film in conjunction with Newman. Indeed, Darby had more to do with the score than Newman himself, who wrote only limited original themes.

Although I never met Ken Darby, his ghost in a sense has dogged me the rest of my life.

In any event, after recently viewing photographs of the interior of the Warner Hollywood I was struck with an instant flood of memories about the day I saw the show. I remember the exterior and interior of the theater, but not the lobby, although I vaguely recollect buying popcorn there. I believe I sat in the second or third row just left of center as you face the screen--a practice I repeated when I saw IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD and THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD at the Cinerama dome. This allowed for maximum stereo effect and for the giant curved screen to wrap almost as far around the viewer as the corner of their vision. This effect diminishes as you sit farther back in the theater, and when you reach the back seats the cinerama effect is nearly insignificant. At least that's what I thought when I was 11!

So what's the latest with the Pacific? I was just in Hollywood and scoping out the old theaters and missed this one somehow.

The Pacific is still leased to Entertainment Technology Center as a Digital Projection testing theatre.

Where is the Pacific in relation to the Egyptian and the Scientology building?

The Pacific Theatre is at Wilcox, across the street from the Fox Theatre. It's the one with the two tall radio towers.

It's about 4-5 blocks east of the Egyptian Theatre between Wilcox Ave. and Cahuenga Blvd. on the North side of the street.

When they did the original Cinerama installation back in 1952 for the opening of "This is Cinerama". The Stanley Warner Corp. cut 1250 seats from the then theatre capacity of 2760 seat for a total of 1510 seats.

I would LOVE to come back to LA and be a part of helping restore these wonderful Palaces of the Dark.
I lived in LA in 81, worked down the street at the HOLLY CINEMA, saw many movies at the PACIFIC, only I was not fond of the balcony theatres, small and the picture were not centered properly, but bottom, main theatre was a nice large screen. I always wanted to look under the red drapery, because the rest of the theatre was in its ornate state and wanted to see that main room.

"I was living in Hollywood when the Warner's theater was showing 'This is Cinerama' for the years 1953/56. After 56 or 57 they started showing other pictures. Correct me." (clvee)

"I hadn't realized that 'regular' movies were programmed in between runs of Cinerama films" (stevebob)
********************************

THE ORIGINAL 3-STRIP CINERAMA ENGAGEMENTS FOR THIS THEATRE

[Note that the films were not shown in the sequence in which they were produced and exhibited in their world premiere New York City engagements.]

This Is Cinerama ... 4/29/53 - 11/13/55 (133 weeks)
Cinerama Holiday ... 11/14/55 - 6/2/57 (81 weeks)
Seven Wonders Of The World ... 6/5/57 - 9/28/58 (69 weeks)
South Seas Adventure ... 10/1/58 - 2/7/60 (71 weeks)
Search For Paradise ... 2/11/60 - 10/30/60 (38 weeks)

RETURN ENGAGEMENTS (with premiere date and engagement duration)
This Is Cinerama ... 11/2/60 (22 weeks)
Cinerama Holiday ... 4/4/61 (7 weeks)
Seven Wonders Of The World ... 5/23/61 (16 weeks)

***NON-CINERAMA, NON-ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS SHOWN 9/11/61 - 8/6/62***

MORE 3-STRIP CINERAMA ENGAGEMENTS
The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm ... 8/7/62 (28 weeks)
How The West Was Won ... 2/20/63 (93 weeks)

70MM ENGAGEMENTS PROMOTED AS CINERAMA
Circus World ... 12/18/64 (16 weeks)
Mediterranean Holiday ... 4/9/65 (11 weeks)
The Hallelujah Trail ... 6/23/65 (26 weeks)
Cinerama's Russian Adventure ... 5/3/66 (13 weeks)
2001: A Space Odyssey ... 4/4/68 ... (80 weeks)

Re the name of the theatre. The building and its marquee has been covered in this discussion. As far as the newspaper advertisements, the theatre name varied, depending on the film and the ad, between "Warner Hollywood," "Warner Hollywood Cinerama," and "Warner Cinerama." During the course of the 18-month "2001: A Space Odyssey" engagement, ownership changed hands from Stanley-Warner to Pacific, and the name changed again to "Hollywood Pacific."

Sources:
Los Angeles Times
unpublished Cinerama history article
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/htwww_roadshow_engage.htm
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_los_angeles_main_page.htm

The Hollywood Pacific Theatre's drapery and seats are orange, not red.

Early 1962 the Warner Hollywood Theatre, long one of the nation's most celebrated theatres went though it's second to last remodel, the theatre was later tri-plexed in the early 1978. In this remodel the Stanley Warner chain removed basic forms of the theatres original outmoded superficial ornamentation. With the removal of the "gingerbread," the clear interior surfaces were painted a light beige, a "warm" color but not dominating. In keeping with this tone scheme, carpeting of special design with a white pattern on a gold ground, was laid throught the theatre. Included in this remodel was a new concessions stand, which was in use at the time the theatre closed in the 90's. Collaborating with this decor are chandeliers and sconces in oyster white with gold lamping. The
Warner has two general lounges, one on the main floor, one below, and these were similarly renovated. The ladies' lounge, however, has heliotrope carpeting, white and gold walls.
In the auditorium, the proscenium arch and adjoining walls have been obliterated by oyster white drapery from ceiling to floor, curving back to the screen opening, which has a contour curtain with a pattern in gold and orange on oyster white. The auditorium has been reseated with American seating chairs having spring backs on the main and mezzanine levels. The chairs were coverings are turquoise nylon. The entrance on Hollywood Blvd. was completely rebuilt, with an open outer lobby having walls of Italian marble. Doors are of glass in gold anodized aluminum frames, (formerly wooden doors)and display cases match these door frames. Remodeling of the Warner included the installation of Norelco 70/35MM projectors, a new six channel sound system and Ashcraft Super Cinex lamphouses.

William, you just copied text from a page on my web site - http://cinerama.topcities.com/warner.htm

Movies return to the former Warner Theatre next Wednesday 15th June 2005 for one night only when the Rita Hayworth movie "Cover Girl" is being screened as part of the LA Conservancy 'Best Remaining Seats' series of films 'Classic films in Classic Theatres'.

The screening will be held in the former orchestra level of the theatre (1,100 seats). The balcony was split into 2 screens and access to the public cannot be given to this area of the theatre. I believe all tickets are sold out.

It's great this place stays alive because of the digital test screenings. It keeps the building alive and hopefully someday a full restoration will be done.

"Early 1962 the Warner Hollywood Theatre, long one of the nation's most celebrated theatres went though it's second to last remodel...." (William)

"William, you just copied text from a page on my web site" (Roland)
********************************************

Actually, William's "text" has more typos than what appears on your site. :)

Seriously... Roland, very little of what appears on your website is original, so I don't think suggesting that someone "stole" from you is appropriate. Nonetheless, William -- and ALL Cinema Treasures members, for that matter -- should consider citing sources when making a post.

I was in the middle of a project when I wrote that post and forgot to write a source on it. The source of the original text was not even Roland's. It was from a copy of "MOTION PICTURE HERALD" issue March 14th. 1962, plus having worked the theatre and being the last projectionist assigned to it.

Man are you guys picky! :) OK, I didn't write the text. I guess what I should have said was "the text is from an article on the Warner Theatre that is in the March 14th, 1962 issue of Motion Picture Herald that I copied to a page on my web site - http://cinerama.topcities.com/warner.htm ." I added that article to the web site to help clarify a question some of you had about the name of the theatre during that time period between it was called a Cinerama theatre. There is also a link on my site - http://alexdlg.tripod.com/aco/pressbook.html to a web site that has pictures of the outside and inside of the theatre from a Clockwork Orange pressbook and another link to the CinemaTour web site http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=10476 that has more recent pictures of the theatre. I wish I lived near LA so I could visit the theatre for it special showing.

I DO live in L.A. and I cannot attend because it was sold out before I knew about it. Because other, more interesting films are not yet sold out I think that an opportunity to attend this theater again was irrisitable to many.

I walked by the theatre when I was in LA last month and was sad to see it still shut down some 10yrs later. The best film I saw here was "Scarface" in 1983.

From the LA Library:


http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014816.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014784.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014787.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014793.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014796.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014797.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014800.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014802.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014803.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014805.jpg

One more:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics17/00008112.jpg

An interesting photo from the Bruce Torrence collection:

http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/detail.asp?im=%2D1&cat=43&offset=184&ID=2156

This photo was taken in 1992, during the riots in April:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics47/00043429.jpg

Construction, circa 1925:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics03/00011253.jpg

Too much traffic on Hollywood Boulevard:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics16/00007616.jpg

Here is another photo of the Pacific Theater.

Just saw a digital screening of the "restored" South Pacific. It was so great to be sitting in the theater. I was surprised at how nice it was inside the auditorium. The lobby isn't so swell right now - it would be wonderful if it could be restored and used in the way Disney uses the El Capitan - obviously that renovation worked for Disney and certainly it wasn't cheap.

A little more of "my" history with this beautiful theater: First time I was ever in it was for Seven Wonders of the World (a revival showing a couple of years after its original run) and I was flabbergasted (and wrote about it at length in my novel Benjamin Kritzer, in which many LA theaters are fondly remembered). I saw How The West Was Won, Brothers Grimm, then, when it changed over after Cinerama, I saw Flower Drum Song and The Counterfeit Traitor, and Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Back Street and many, many others. After the screwed up the balcony by twinning upstairs, I stopped going regularly. I think the last film I saw there was Carrie, although I may be misremembering.

I saw many shows at the Pacific and later ran the last few years as the projectionist before it closed. I remember during one of the last summers at that theatre, we had a new manager. Pacific Theatres stopped paying the neon company to repair the radio towers. So one Saturday night I was in the upper booth. I found the timer for the east tower and reconnected the power to it. At that time the Pacific and the Vine theatre was tied together for the projectionist to run. So I set the timer to go on for a few hours at night. That night I was on my way to the Vine for their next show. Later the manager asked me how to turn the tower off, because Pacific did not want to keep running the neon. Pacific Theatres payed around $10,000 a year for service on that neon. Oh Well we had fun there.

The first public screening of a movie in the Pacific Theatre, Hollywood since it closed in 1992. A digital screening of Rita Hayworth in "Cover Girl" for 1 night only on 16th June 2005 organised by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Photo by Ken Roe.

http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/95511051/in/set-72057594052211832/

I think I remember seeing "Dressed to Kill" up in one of the converted balcony areas and my neck was all twisted as you had to turn to see the screen the way they cut the theater balcony in half and did not move the seats. What a mess.

In 1981 saw Maniac ,also Clash Of The Titans, in the main theatre. upstairs For Your Eyes Only, Escape From NY, Halloween 2, Cheech and Chongs Nice Dreams w/co fet. Next Movie. I would go alot, living only a couple blocks off the Boulevard.

Here is a closeup of the Pacific marquee.

Here is a photo of Warners/KFWB from the 1930s, via the LAPL:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics03/00011252.jpg

Here is an interesting "before" picture, probably from the teens. The home on the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard is the predecessor of the theater:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics03/00011251.jpg

From the Los Angeles Times, April 1968. "2001" was about to begin its very long run at the Warner Cinerama:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/2001/la2001.jpg

The screen at the Hollywood Pacific, site of the Digital Cinema Lab for the Entertainment Technology Center at USC, has gone dark. After 6 years of testing, demonstrations, and industry screenings the Laboratory is closed and will vacate the building by the end of this October.
It has been a wonderful run and I'm proud to have been a part of it since the beginning. In that time we've shown over 115 features and independent films, 99% in digital form; over 175 clips and shorts as part of demonstrations and special exhibitions; ands we played host to many diverse conferences and meetings.
There is some talk of the theater being renovated but that's between the owners and a new lessee.
Goodbye to all who have been our guests,
Paul Miller

It's so good to know that the Hollywood Pacific survived its boarded up phase!

As a former usherette during the theatre's transition from Warner to Pacific, I have many fond memories of working there.

Of course, the lobby was by far the most memorable part of the theatre with its wood carved stairways and ornamentation, as well as the elegant chorus line of chandeliers stretching out across the semi-circular lobby ceiling.

Then there was the joyful luxury of having our dressing room just off the lower lobby where we would take our breaks (between showings, of course) sitting in the Louis XV style chairs and other vintage furniture.

I once served popcorn and sodas in the small screening room downstairs for a group of Hollywood VIPs. The film was "Marnie". After spotting Tippi Hedren there, I furtively looked around in the dark for Sean Connery but I don't think he was there.

As an aspiring actress/college student, I can't imagine having had a better job. Some of the perks were getting to dress as a flapper for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and in metallic gold A-line mini dresses for "2001: A Space Odyssey". We got to meet, greet and seat the Who's Who of Hollywood since we were a hard ticket house - just like live theatre - and seats were pre-destined for loge, mezzanine or balcony.

There are just too many memories for a short blog entry. But I'm hopeful someone else will find this theatre a proper home for their new endeavor. Either way the Hollywood Pacific will live within me forever as a joyful, inspirational and magical beginning, as a memory that transcends time.

Kristi Koons

Kristi: Thanks for such a lovely reminiscence. Your post is a fine example of what Cinema Treasures is all about.

Carol Burnett was a movie usher in LA when she was in high school. I would be curious to know which theater, if anybody is a fan.

Hope this helps:

"Carol Burnett made 65¢ an hour at her first job as an usher at Warner Brothers Movie Theatre in Hollywood. She wanted more money so she went across the street and found a job making 75¢ an hour at the box office of the Iris Theatre".

I guess that this would have been the Warner Brothers theater and the Iris theater would have been the Fox Theater which is here.

Thanks.

That's the "Sunshine" version.

The way I heard it, when she was an usher at the Warners in 1947, she wouldn't let some customers in during the last few minutes of a Hitchcock film. Her boss, the manager, got so upset with her he fired her on the spot and tore the epaulettes off of her uniform.

Since that was the only job she was ever fired from, when she got her "Star" on the Walk of Fame, she had it put right in front of the Warner theater to snub her nose at the place.

BTW - the IRIS is now called the FOX

Hello, I was one of the managers of the Hollywood Pacific. I
basically grew-up in the theatre. I am surprised that know one has mentioned any of the ghost stories, the theatre made Entertainment
Magazine's top ten most haunted theatres a few years ago. One of the urban legends is that since Sam Warner died right before the completion of the theatre, the theatre will never stop changing.
One of my dreams and goals is to own the theatre one day and manage it again. If you came into the theatre back in the mid-seventies,
I was probley the cashier who sold you your ticket. I remember
one stormy night, when one the KFWB towers got struck by lightening and my hair stood on end, what an enormous skreeching noise! I also remember going to a Hollywood Chamber meeting
along with other theatre managers asking "What the hell is multi-plex? I have shared some of my pics with the digital people
in there now. I would love to make a movie based on true events,
any sponsors? My name is Diana Marks, But I was also known as
Diana Brennan back then. I also remember having a going away party thrown in the downstairs lobby by some west-end Hollywood Blvd.
managers, because I had to go run the World Theatre, (3 movies for $2.50) back in 1981. A couple of the managers had to peel me off
of one of the beautiful pillars while I was holding tight and crying. Maybe the movie would make the bank for restoring the theatre. DIANARMARKS@YAHOO.COM

Hi Diana, I remember you from the Pacific and the World. Because I was over at the Picwood at the time.

Hello William, great to read a voice from the old Hollywood past.
I believe that your theatre went back to stage productions and is now called the Henry Fonda. Is it still open?

The Henry Fonda used to be the Pix, not the World. I worked at the World for two weeks in 1967. Also worked at the Pantages for the entire run of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf.

Diana, The Picwood was Pacific's house in West Los Angeles at Pico and Westwood Blvds.

The world has become a stage for circus performers, email me at
my regular email address so I can talk with you live.

I worked the picwood in 1977 with Jack Tate for a short span.

William Haines was the DM for pacific and manager of the Dome,

Along with Don Immenchuh sp?

The Picwood was nextstore to the Picwood bowl, with a small bead shop at the corner, not far from an old May Company/mall.

I found a gorgeous photo of the theater in 1937...
http://digarc.usc.edu:8089/cispubsearch/jpgview.jsp?object_name=chs-m11715&ORN=CHS-43587

The American premiere of "How the West Was Won" attracted a spectacular turnout of movie stars. 12 of them were actually in the picture:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/htwwwwarner.jpg

What is the current status of this theater now that the Digital Cinema Lab has vacated the building??

See my comments for the last few years.
There is no screen, just a frame. All the speakers and projection equipment have been removed. The seats are all still there both downstairs and in the two upstairs auditoriums (the former balcony). The elevator has been "dead" since 1994.
There's working A/C in the booth and Jack Warner's old office but the main A/C is pretty inefficient and there's no heat in the main hall.
Right now, everything is gathering dust, but if one of two potential tenants comes to agreement with the owners the palace may just get renovated with help from the Hollywood Redevelopment Agency.
On their own, the owners, Robertson Properties Group, will not do anything about the building.

Paul Miller

Why isnt this theater listed under its original name (and for that matter, all theaters on this site?) If you didnt live in the area, you wouldnt have a clue on how to find it. It took me forever to find this theater listing. That being said, I hope this theater can be made to come alive again in its original form. Isnt this the last shuttered movie palace on Hollywood Blvd??

Robertson Properties Group has been waiting to find a buyer for a long time for the theatre. Robertson Properties Group is the real estate division for Pacific Theatres with Chris Forman as their President and CEO. Everything worked when I last ran the theatre as the closing projectionist before Pacific closed it.

Here's a link to a list of the Cinerama presentations at this theatre (and other Cinerama venues in Los Angeles).

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/cinerama_la.htm

A recent local newscast showed Carol Burnett being presented with one of the interior lobby doors as a gift, she being an usherette at the theater in her youth. Footage showed the once grand auditorium now dark and as stated above, just holes where the big screen once projected Hollywood magic. If left to the HRA, this property will surely be demolished.

Robertson Properties Group / Pacific Theatres which owns the property has been looking since they closed the house for a buyer. They were looking for around 14 million for the property at the time. They just need someone to restore the theatre from the 1978 tri-plexing.

William: With the recent addition of all the screens at the Arclight and the Chinese within walking distance, do you really think this property will become another theater? My guess is more luxury lofts like the old Broadway building. The tri-plexing could have worked, had it been done correctly. Was it just a rumor that the subway tunneling damaged the building???

As long as the Pantages Theatre is doing business, there is hope for the Pacific. But the cost to restore the theatre could be in the 30-40 million dollar area. pmiller posted that the building A/C was in poor shape, but for the most part the theatre was well taken care of by Pacific Theatre. When I closed the theatre the staff maintained the house till the end. Yes, the subway tunneling flooded the theatre's basements. And Pacific choose to closed the house. We were only running the main house at that time. The Northridge earthquake damaged the twin balcony theatres. Over the years we ran those houses a few days after a major earthquake. There was no problems up there and the building, only the cost of putting the fake ceiling tiles back in place. Around that time Hollywood Blvd. at that end was not the movie going place it once was. All the real business was down the street at the Chinese and El Capitan.

I'm always saddened when I walk under that huge marquee and see that one lonely light bulb lit inside the entrance. I loved going to see movies there... before the triplexing. That installation ruined the viewing line for anyone sitting in the rows at the back of the main auditorium. If it were to be taken over by a studio and restored to its former glory, balcony intact, or remove the tee-shirt stores and make the entire building a big theater complex with a main anchor big grand theater (like Arclight and the Dome), wouldn't it be a draw for the masses that are sick of the shoebox multiplex's? Couldn't it be another El Capitan success story?

I am not sure those masses are very big. I don't think most movie fans nowadays care very much about the fairyland aspect that drew people of city neighborhoods to the movie palaces back in the 20's. I have found that people who go to a movie palace in today's world will generally think it is amazing. But they don't care enough to go out of their way to find such a place. Also, to be fair, some of the multiplexes built today are pretty cool. Los Angeles already has a fair number of large vintage entertainment spaces. I think you would need good programming and a person with very dynamic marketing ability to make this place float without municipal support.

You're probably correct. The Arclight multiplexes, while having great picture and sound, are boring. It's no big event to walk into a big dark blue box. It is a big event (for me) to walk into the Dome and sit in the circular auditorium and just stare at the different shapes of the ceiling blocks. What can I say...I'm a product of my generation.

LAPL says this is 7th and Hill. I think not:
http://tinyurl.com/yohp3a

I think kenmc's broken link was to this picture, which definitely shows the Warner Hollywood, not the Warner Downtown as the picture's info page claims. LAPL seems to get about 1%-2% of their captions wrong, which I guess is pretty good for a collection of 60,000 pictures, but you do have to watch out for their errors.

When I worked for Pacific, the DM for Hollywood was the saintly Dick Mason - a vaudevillian who couldn't retire. I loved that man for his patience with a 22 year-old trying his hardest to do everything right.

At the Wiltern Theatre, I began working under Al Young - a card-carrying jerk. I'll probably "pay" for saying that, but I've waited 32-years to say it, and it feels good. Harold Citron was President of walk-ins, and he hired me in his office on the 3d floor of the Warner Building.

Has anyone here thought of having a reunion of Pacific managers? Oh, the stories! How about having it at the Warner? Would Mike Forman be willing to make an appearance? It would be great to see him again.

Here's an aerial view the Warner/Pacific. Notice how the theater is actually set up caddy-corner to the lot configuration, with the stage and auditorium set on a diagnal.

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pph9165455zs&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=6892024

In the photos linked above from March 2006, it appears that for the screening room it is now, all the theater is preserved, however, they covered it up with drapperies as it's probably not in great shape. Hopefully one day it will be restored to it's former glory....but at least it's being used...and is not abandoned any more.

Thank you for the link to the aerial photo. I can make out my car sitting in the back parking lot.

What you can't make out from the photo is that the auditorium is a roughly 100 foot diameter circle. And yes, it's canted at about 45 degrees to the front entrance which does make the stage box roughly triangular. Pacific/Robertson Properties Group did take some care over the years to protect some of the original features. They supposedly covered the Italian murals with sheet rock to protect them, so they should be able to be uncovered and restored. Most of the plaster castings are still intact behind the drapes.

But, unfortunately the theater is abandoned and awaits it's future. One thing is certain: only a lot of money and a love for the history of the building will save it. (also, a good respect for the ghost!)

Yeah, I went by there a few weeks ago, and it didn't look all that great from the outside....needs some love.

One of the things I admired most about the Warner was that it was a fully-featured movie palace. No other Hollywood house (perhaps even in all of LA) had a seating monitor.

And compared to other Hollywood houses, it had been kept extremely clean in the stage, basement, and dressingroom areas. Until the house was divided-up, it was always run with dignity and sense of showmanship.

When I was assistant to Jack Tate in the early 70s, Ernie DelPonte was our daytime doorman. He had befriended such daily boulevard walkers as Marjorie Maine, and many was the time I'd step out to the box office to find several such long-retired actors and acresses talking old times with Ernie. I think it was Ernie who bought the ornate brass and gilded wood lobby seating monitor before the theatre was broken-up into three.

Even though it's closed again, did they make it back into one theater for the short time the screenings were held there?

They only used the main house (1200 seat) downstairs. The balcony theatres have been closed since the Northridge earthquake. Before I closed the theatre, I only ran the downstairs till Pacific closed it up.

There was a seating monitor at the Los Angeles Theatre Downtown on Broadway.

Bway, still can't log in to see the aerial view. It gives me a What and Where to type in, tried several different combinations but doesn't work.

Tim, that's strange, because when I click that link, it brings you right to the Pacific/Warner building.
Strange, that link should bring you directly there.
In the enter city box, try typing: "6433 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA" (not Hollywood, as that always brings me to Hollywood Florida, even if I put "CA".

The link worked fine for me.

Question: Are there any pictures out there of the post-conversion balcony auditoriums? Just curious.

Mark:
I've got a half-dozen post-earthquake pics of upstairs and 2.2 Gigs of other recent and historic pics of the place (palace?). How can I get them to you?

Paul Miller

How interesting!

Wow Paul! I would love to see them. First, have you sent them into Cinematour? I know they would love to post them. Second, would you be happen to be a Mac person and know how to drop photos on an iDisk? I am also going to shoot you an email...

I'm an architecture student from Woodbury University working on a project adjacent to the Pacific Theatre. I was wondering if anyone had plans/blueprints/section.. any drawings at all. My e-mail address is LUstayn@aol.com, any help at all would be highly highly appreciated! :)

Large group of people coming out of this theater today and the lobby lights were on....anyone know what was going on?

It is now the home of Ecclesia Holywood a Non-denominational Church, which intends on perversing the integrity of the building while reaching out to the community and the area. Services are on Sundays at 11:00, even if you don't attend the service it is a chance to come and see one of the greatest pieces of architecture in this area. I would encourage and lover of architecture or lover of the Cinema to stiop by and take a look.

Do you mean persevering? That would be a good thing. Perversing not so good.

sorry typing too fast, shouldn't try to do this in my office, yes that is waht i meant, my deepest apology.

Location shooting yesterday at this grand old theater. It was a treat to see part of the marquee lit up again. Why were the radio tower lights turned off after being relit in 2002?:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPacificTheaterMay18200704Small.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPacificTheaterMay18200706Small.jpg

If you would like to know more about the group occupying the Theater on Sundays (Ecclesia Hollywood) you can check out their website, here's the link: http://www.ecclesiahollywood.com

They filmed this past week in only one corner of the lobby, not sure what the project was

From the LA Times, 4/22/28:

NEW WARNER, BROTHERS' THEATER READY TO OPEN DOORS TO THE PUBLIC
Brilliant Premiere of "Glorious Betsy" Will Inaugurate Distinguished Addition to Hollywood White Way

Sea blue--terra cotta--gold--a triune harmony of color. Warner Brothers Theater--a picture house of distinction, and elaborate simplicity. This new home of motion pictures, located at Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox avenue, will open Thursday evening, and from all indices of popular opinion will be the delight of the theatergoer.

Comfy chairs at the Warner:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015750.jpg

To Ken MC: Nice picture, but I've got news for you. That's not the Warners/Hollywood Pacific. There's no place in the building that looks like that. Must be some "other" Warner site.

It is definitely possible. My mistake.

Sure was. Just for the record, that photo is the mens lounge in the Hollywood Pantages Theater...

ken mc: the Comfy chair shot is from the Pantages Theatre (1929).

I used to come here in the 80s, saw goodmorning vietnam, short circuit, pretty woman, colors, and I think big business. Usually, I saw the movies in the upstairs balcony, (where you could hear the other movies playing too) but when you saw them at the 1st floor theatre, it really was fantastic. It was so beautiful, and I remember the downstairs lobby and the decrepit bathrooms. But I really loved the theatre, I was so sad when it closed. It's really was spectacular...

Hello again, I was thinking about returning to theatre management.
Any leads?

Why don't Pacific and the Nederlanders get together and restore this theare for Broadway shows to compliment the Pantagees down the street. Its larger than the Wilshire that the Nederlanders sold recently. When the Pantagees has long runs such as "Wicked" than can present the rest of the season in the Pacific Warner. Broadway is booming which will filter down to the road in key cities such as Los Angeles. The City needs three locations for Broadway shows. There is enough product for the Music Center,Pantagees and Pacific Warner. I always thought the Wilshire was the wrong location and size for the large scale musicals and the Pacific Warner the better choice and its within a theatre district on Hollwood Blvd.I am sure the City would kick in some funds for the restoration of an Historic structure and would help with the current revival of Hollywood Blvd.brucec

How large is the backstage area?

The stage is large but would need tobe enlarged, like the Wiltern. The theatre sits on an angle inside of the building. So the stage area would have tobe upgraded for a Broadway type show.

Enlarging the stage has become common practice across the country. How does the stage of the Pacific compare to the stage at the Wilshire? The Orpheum in San Francisco actually increased the stage by coming forward rather than backward because there was no
room where the Pacific has room to expand backward.I would think that this would be a win for the Redelopment Agency and the City but they would have to work out the small details. The central part of Hollywood Blvd needs a push in the right direction and the Pacific could be a key in its revival and meets the criteria for preserving Hollywood heritage at the same time.brucec

The Wilshire Theatre has a regular style stage house, while the Pacific's sit at an angle like the old Fox Figueroa Theatre. The Pacific's stage area is much larger, but the Figueroa shows the same angle.

This shot is what ken mc posted from USC's site.

http://tinyurl.com/2s6q8x

Clearly the Warner would be great for Broadway shows. It's restoration would fill in that gap on Hollywood Blvd between the Chinese et al at the west end and the Pantages in the east.

The Nederlander group was in the theater about two years ago. They did an extensive engineering evaluation of the building and either came to the conclusion that it wouldn't work, or perhaps couldn't come to agreement with the Pacific's owners.
There's still the issues of: asbestos, no heat, poor air conditioning, opening the balcony again, the elevator(s), handicapped access, parking, all new wiring, etc.
If you add in modifying the trapezoidal stage, jackhammering the orchestra pit and current booth space, refurbishing the "cast" rooms, new seating, and generally bringing the place up to contemporary standards it would cost a fortune that even assistance from the Hollywood Redevelopment agency couldn't support.

It still would be cheaper than building a new theatre. The Pacific is in a lot better shape than a lot of theatres before restoration even starts. There is a need for another Broadway house in LA with the demolition of the Shubert and the sale of the Wilshire. The Pacific is the most logical choice. A new stagehouse had to be built for the Oriental in Chicago before it was restored for Broadway shows as well as the Opera House (BF Keith) in Boston.The Golden Gate in San Francisco which is in a worse neighberhood was undivided and brought back for Broadway shows. The Pacific has the perfect capacity,a wonderful lobby and elevator. Every theatre that has been restored for Broadway shows has to do many of the things that is mentioned in the above comments. When the theatre is dark they could use it for special film events and premieres becuase the theatre is lucky to be located in Hollywood.brucec

I saw "Kindergarten Cop" here in the early 90s. Interesting to explore the theater, which at that time was shabby but still showed the details from the glory days.

There is such robust redevelopment in this area that it would be foolish not to restore the Pacific. It would be a great link between the Hollywood Highland area and the Pantages.

All it takes is a lot of money for that house. It's just restoring the damage the tri-plexing did back in 1978. It would make for a nice second legit house for Hollywood. Pacific Theatres has been wanting to sell this building for years.

Don't ask me for any details, because I cannot give them, but I was at a meeting the other night and someone in the know tells me that it looks like things are finally in place for a restoration and for the Pacific's to become some sort of performing arts place.

That's Great news, Bruce. If it all pans out for the Pacific.

I was over the moon when I heard it.

Actually money wise, if Oakland can afford to restore the Fox, I would think L.A. could restore the Warner. And since as they say in real estate, location is evrything, well the Warner is in the heart of Hollywood.
Certainly issues such as asbestos, wiring, even enlarging the stage are faced by most theatre restoration projects.
Once the house is returned to the Warner name and original marquee, it would indeed be a competive venue for special film events, premieres and a location for commercials.
Money can buy a new theatre, but money can't buy the mystique that surrounds a legendary theatre like the Warner. To quote Bograt "it's the stuff that dreams are made of".

I spent a few years running the booth. It's a wonderful theatre to work in.

Sounds great. Let's all pray it doesn't end up like the Egyptian down the street.

I think the mandate is to restore it to its former glory, not totally make it look like a meat locker - I hate what those people did to the Egyptian.

The most of the problem with the Egyptian goes back to UA and the install of the D-150 screen. They jackhammered the whole front area of the auditorium for that install. Leaving alittle of the original decor.

William, the Egyptian looked much better in the 1980's which was after the D-150 and UA's lazy maintenance care, than it does today. They completely left out the wow factor created a blah screening room and a theatre half the size. If I had imput at the time I would have restored the main house and used the two small screens that UA used for programming art type films. Could you imagine if the Egyptian had been restored properly combined with there great film programming what a draw it would have been. Look at the Castro in San Francisco which has the wow factor and is a much bigger theatre and then look at the current state of the Egyptian. With all the money that they spent and what they did to the Egyptian why did they even bother they could have used the Vogue across the street.When they retore or renovate a great theatre such as Grauman's Egyptian people should walk in and go wow what a beatiful theatre and not what did they do to this theatre.I haven't been with anyone who likes what they did to this theatre. What makes this even worse is the fact that the restored/renovated Chinese,El Capitan and Pantages are on the same street to compare it. I thank god for the Disney company they not only helped Hollywood but helped Broadway. They seem to be the only movie studio left that has any clue about showmanship. Time Warner if they had any class should have taken the lead on the Pacific Warner a long time ago since its in there own backyard and Warner Bros built it.brucec

Bruce, where did the 2 small screens used to be at the Egyptian? I have been to the Cinematheque and for the the life of me can't figure out where they were.

The twins were on the Las Palmas side of the property. There were still there the last time I was there.

They're not there anymore - if memory serves the buildings were combined and it's now the Egyptian Arena Theater, a 99 seat waiver house.

If one looks at Google Earth or Google Maps in Satellite or Hybrid mode, is it the building to the immediate east of the main Egyptian auditorium and just north of the eastern side of the parking lot? (and then I will give this thread back to Pacific!!)

I would have thought that the front of the Egyptian auditorium would have been destoryed in 1955 when Todd-Ao was installed for "Oklahoma". D-150 didn't arrive until the end of the 1960s, so I'm a bit puzzeled. Iknow when I first went to the Egyptian in the 1980s, the wide screen was there. But I assumed it had been in place since '55.

Here's a picture I took in August 1998 of the Pacific: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/1040270874/in/set-72157594343161371/
Here's the postcard of the Warner showing Cinerama Holiday that has been mentioned before, with the Iris (Fox) on the right:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/149929575/in/set-72057594129975085/

Here is a 1928 photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/327b8n

Wow, there was no riff raff back then.

Kirk on some TODD-AO installs they placed the screen in front of the smaller stage openings. So that the original stage opening would not be destroyed if the format did not fly. In 1969 the UA Egyptian installed the D-150 screen. They tore out the whole front stage area to place that screen almost to the back wall of the stage house in that theatre. For Cinerama in the Warner Hollywood Theatre they covered the pit and cut the front lip of the stage for the curved screen. If you go behind the screen and look at the front half of the stage you can see the curved cut in the wood.

William, thanks for the info.

William, I would like to talk with you off line. Can you please email me at dm@digital-insight.tv with contact details?
Denny

Outside lobby and boxoffice:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdPacific123extlobbySept162007002.jpg

Here is a photo of the marquee, circa 1930s:
http://snipurl.com/1tc4b

Jezebel with Bette Davis and Henry Fonda was released in March of 1938.

Premiere, 1941:
http://tinyurl.com/35c76o

Meet John Doe with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck was released in May of 1941.

what book are you scanning from?

I'm curious myself. Someone should be getting credit for these photos.

"An Illustrated History of Hollywood", by Gregory Paul Williams. I don't have any more photos to scan.

Great !! Im looking for it now, hope to find one. I just ordered it from Amazon.com, looking forward to its arrival :) Thanks ken mc

This is an interesting photo from the USC archive. Paul deLongpre was one of Hollywood's early residents. Here is house is being demolished while the frame of the Warner theater rises in the background:
http://tinyurl.com/3y9pkv

Does anyone have a photo of interior of Pacific 1-2-3 in Hollywood from the early 50's showing the Cinerama set up.

Not 1950's, but as I don't see it above posted, wonderful photo set by Ken Roe of this theater:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=pacific%20hollywood&w=53257210%40N00

Great Photos

Howard, thanks for the photos, Rob Lessin

Does anyone have floor plans of Warner Pacific?

Response #1:
Yeah, what's it worth to you...

Response #2:
Yes, and if I show you, I'll have to kill you...

Response #3:
In the basement of the Robertson Properties Group on Robertson Blvd. in Beverly Hills, there's an office that has all the original Warner Hollywood blueprints.

How bad do you want them?

Hi all! I had the opportunity to walk through this great place a few months ago, and I was able to take some pictures. I thought I'd share them: http://www.flickr.com/gp/22721423@N04/H1C91y

The East mezzanine picture is 1/2 of the twinned balcony? Or is it the main auditorium? It seems cut off in the middle. The hallway pictures and ceiling fixtures look quite good. I suppose someone is maintaining the theater.

That's indeed half of the twinned balcony. Looks to be in pretty good shape too. How much damage is there?

Every time there is a earthquake the whole ceiling tile area gets banged up. When I worked for Pacific Theatres they maintained that theatre very well. That picture is of the right theatre in the complex.

I'm not sure if this is a "full time" church but services are held in this building on Sunday according to this website.

I might have to pop by. I wonder if other theatre geeks will as well. That's how I saw the inside of the of the Million Dollar Thatre. Wonder if the screen is still up and if the curtain will be opened or closed.

Ouch. We prefer "cinema enthusiasts".

Thats not to be confused with the Senator from Idaho which Jay Leno refers to as the "restroom enthusiast". Just wanted to clear that up. ;)

I have a wide stance too, I just don't advertise it.

In essence "restroom enthusiasts" and "cinema enthusiasts" are very similar: one has a "wide stance" and the other likes "wide screens". They also both spend a lot if time sitting in a place without enough legroom.

And, depending on the type of theater, the same type of activity may occur in both.

Moderator will probably ask us to stop soon. This is a family friendly site. And we are blogging regarding a theatre that is being used as a church...

I agree. Back to the theater discussion.

Where is the Warner in relation to the Pantages, Chinese and Egyptian on Hollywood Blvd?

The Warner is on the same side of Hollywood Boulevard as Pantages and the Chinese. It is located west of Pantages going towards the Chinese, but not as far west as the Egyptian on the south side of the Boulevard.

Does Pacific Theaters own or lease the building still?

Are the theaters far apart? (I know the El Capitain is across from the Chinese for instance). I know Hollywood Blvd. is a long street...

The Hollywood Pacific Theatre is owned by Pacific Theatre's parent company. It's been up for sale for over 10 years since I closed it.

Here is a recent photo that shows the church advertised on the marquee.

If you click on the "cineminklings" link on the church website, it looks they have a film group that goes to the Arclight. I guess it really is a church in Hollywood:
http://tinyurl.com/2jm67f

The question is, should the function be set to church?

If church services are being held in the theater, even on a part-time basis, I would say that church is the function.

Thanks. I agree with you. Once per week or seven days per week, its still a church. I tried once before to have the function set to church for Sunday only services for another theater and it didn't work. Maybe it will this time.

Where's Warren when we need him.

He only handles spelling errors. :)

Oh I forgot.

Look Howard changed the intro now. I like the way he used some of the comments I made for the theatre.

I liked the comments, William. Thank you!

This question is for William as I'm sure he will know. I was fortunate enough to see HOW THE WEST WAS WON when this theatre was part of the old Stanley Warner circuit back in 1963. When the picture first opened, I remember reading an article in one of the LA papers that showed a picture of the theatres CINERAMA screen giving the dimensions as 75w x 26h with a 146 degree curve on a louvered screen. This was the standard CINERAMA spects for screen size.
I must admit that this was the GREATEST presentation I have ever seen in a theatre and it continues to be today.
I recently saw the same picture at the Cinerama Dome and although the presentation was good, there was no comparsion with the old Warner. I read that the Dome has a CINERAMA screen size of 86h x 32h with a 126 degree curve. Maybe the degree curve made the difference. What are your thoughts?

I wandered into this theatre on Sunday at 1PM to take a peek after their 11AM church service. I got into the main auditorium and was promptly requested to leave by a security guard who said it was a "church today, not a tourist attraction. Shouldn't anyone be welcomed in a house of worship?? Oh well. Anyways the screen was missing and a cross was hung in front of the exposed speaker ports. There were some people milling about doing various post-service tasks. Ironically there was a small 6-foot screen strung up where the old massive screen used to me. I was fascinated by conversion from an old movie palace into a wide-screen 1960's palace (my favorite type of theatre), with everything in red. I'll try to visit again if/when I am back in LA on business with a free Sunday. Hopefully I can get some photos.

I had a similar experience. I went out taking pictures on a Sunday morning and wandered into several theater/churches to check out the interiors. About half the time I was questioned, although I was never asked to leave directly.

Maybe you weren't dressed appropriately or you just didn't look like a true worshipper. :)

I did fine at the Million Dollar Theatre a few years ago

I'm an atheist. Maybe it shows.

"This is a church, not a tourist attraction!" I knew that statement rang a bell, and I'd read it right on this site -- on the page for the Los Angeles Theater, attributed to Dr. Gene Scott's widow concerning the United Artists Theatre on Broadway.

Sheesh. Well, what about when a church is in fact a tourist attraction? What's wrong with that, and why can't it be accommodated? Magnificent houses of worship all over the world welcome tourists, sometimes even when religious services are being held. And yet the operators of churches within converted movie palaces seem peculiarly protective. I don't really understand why.

How about St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue in NYC? Or any of the 500 year old churches in Europe. Full of tourists with cameras.

I didn't even have my camera out (well...my iPhone was in my hand in Camera mode but nobody would have noticed).

I think most tourists in converted movie palaces are theatre architecture fans.

Some church proprietors might be averse to the theatre fan's mindset. I.E. "I hope someday these church guys will leave so that movies and live entertainment can prevail here again."

That is definitely the way I think every time I see a grand 1920's auditorium with a giant cross on the stage, and I'm sure that I am not alone.

If I were a church proprietor and heard someone make comments to this effect in my building I wouldn't be thrilled.

People who tour the churches of Europe are there to take in the atmosphere of an age-old religious site, possibly associated with their personal faith. So the same conflict does not exist.

Keep in mind that I am only offering a theory, and not defending anyone's actions.

If I were a church proprietor I would welcome anyone, theatre buff or no, and try to get them to join and tithe. We have to remember I ran into the security guard, not the propietor

If I were to keep a running count, I have been ejected from the Lincoln and the State, both in Los Angeles.

Perhaps the difference in hospitality is rooted in whether a building's original intended function was as a house of worship.

In a theater-cum-church, the architecture is overtly secular, after all. Maybe the operators think it's profane to admire "godless" decoration for its own sake in a place they now consider to be their sacred space.

In places like St. Pats, on the other hand, even camera-toting atheists are immersed in images and symbols of religious belief. Even if visitors don't share that faith, it's inescapable that the objects of their interest and admiration were inspired by religious devotion and embody it -- and this scenario is apparently far less threatening.

At the risk of being "stoned to death" by the rightous, let me say this: Churches like St Patricks in NYC or St Peter's in Rome are "real" churches. The "Dr" Gene Scott's of this world do not run real churches. Just watch the TV and send money. So it is no wonder they wanted you leave. Had you slipped them a $100, praise the Lord they would have taken you on a "soul saving tour" of the place.

I think the horse has been beaten enough. Back to the theater.

Perhaps you would be more cordially received if you first offer a contribution of $10 or so to the church in return for your being allowed to admire their facility. Churches usually operate on a shoe string budget, and, unless they are conducting human sacrifices I would think they would welcome a few more dollars in the collection plate in exchange for a peek at their place.

This 'church' is in the heart of Hollywood, in a Hollywood Movie Palace, what do they expect?, No tourists? They should move to Bakersfield to cut out the tourist traffic.
I have always been wry of these pop up churches anyway.
I bet the next time they will have you bite the head off a live chicken.:)
Long live the Warner Pacific.

Here is a 1963 photo from the LA Public Library:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics48/00073786.jpg

How the West Was Won was released in February of 1963 in the U.S.

This is a link to the same 1963 photo only this link points to the LAPL website where the photo is stored. The two photos look the same to me. It seems easy enough to link directly to the host site without copying their photo to a personal photo storage site. You be the judge.

OK, I'm judging. I linked directly to the LAPL site, as you did. Since we both posted the same link, I'd be curious to know what point you are trying to make.

The point is very simple. Why aren't all of the LAPL photos linked to instead of some of them being directly linked to and others being copied to a storage site.

I guess that's a general question. I've always linked directly to the LAPL site, as far as I recall. If there was an exception, there must have been some specific reason.

When I have some free time I can look for the photos that weren't linked directly to the LAPL if you want. I was just curious if there was a specific reason for doing it. Thanks for the reply.

Here are some March 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/22mww5
http://tinyurl.com/yt9f36
http://tinyurl.com/2gkzat
http://tinyurl.com/2edk4a
http://tinyurl.com/2y7m6p
http://tinyurl.com/2fr3np
http://tinyurl.com/237amj
http://tinyurl.com/276kl7
http://tinyurl.com/yquvep
http://tinyurl.com/yvmpuz
http://tinyurl.com/yv86gy

I know I only speak for myself, but really, those current photos turn my stomach. Can't anyone post photos from the glory days of the theater, instead of these pathetic gated delapitated pictures from now?

Not living in Hollywood any longer, I appreciate any (current, past) photos. Thank you !!

Most people would like to see more vintage photos of theaters including myself. Many times those photos are difficult to find. The photos that Ken MC posted are also important in my opinion. They show the current condition and use of the theater building. I appreciate the fact that Ken spends the time to photograph these buildings and that he posts them here for all of us to see. Without those photos we would have to guess at the buildings current status.

Thanks. I wasn't around in the glory days, so is the best I can do.

Thank you so much Ken for posting all these photos you did on all the theaters you did yesterday.

Although the main description of this theatre mentions that the radio towers have been relit, they remain dark at night. As I can see The Pacific from my balcony, the entire complex sits dark and abandoned. Sad. Love the interior pics Irwin Fletcher posted. You would never know that beautiful interior existed behind the derelict exterior. Hopefully someone will revive this gem someday.

One of the towers:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pacific123Apr11200801.jpg

Here is an interesting view from the LA Times site. The photo is from 2004:
http://tinyurl.com/5fg2ag

That's a beauty. Did Spiderman take that photo?

Does anyone have pictures of other places/offices in the building? The dressing rooms, Jack Warners office, screening rooms, the radio station (does this room/office still exist?), etc. Still hoping I could win the lottery and invest in the restoration of the theatre!!

From today:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pacific123Apr24200803.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pacific123Apr24200804.jpg

I know that civic and cultural groups responsible for local signage can't be expected to have expert knowledge of cinematic history or effective usage of punctuation. Nevertheless, the term "Warner Pacific Theatre" in the photos just posted by hollywood90038 strikes me as bizarre.

This venue has had several names over the years, but Warner Pacific wasn't one of them!

On This Date, April 26, 1928, 80 Years Ago Today, The Warner Bros. Hollywood Theater Opened Its Doors For Business.

Happy Birthday to the Warner Bros. Hollywood Theater, many happy returns, and let's hope she will be opened to the public again, eventually!

Here is another recent view.

There's those ridiculous trees in front of the marquee again! What were those tree plansters thinking!

LOL Maybe they were put there for Earth Day.

When I lived there in 1981, those nasty trees were all trimmed in a cone shape and well cared for, the whole length of the Boulevard, Graumans to the Pantages, and past to the east.
When I was there in 2001, they looked as if they had not seen a trim in 20 years, it was a sad look for the Boulevard. In fornt of the Pacific and Fox. Shabby and overgrown. The Vouge marquee was mostly hidden behind a large over growth.

When I ran the Hollywood Pacific and other theatres on Hollywood Boulevard all the trees were maintained well along the blvd. The last time I was there it looked so bad that they have let them get that bad.

How many recent views can you possible show?

Whilst I love trees, I believe the don't belong on Hollywood Blvd. I say cut out the trees. If you need something green on Blvd, put in plastic trees. Hey, this is Hollywood, not Yellstone!

I love trees, and think they look great on Hollywooed Blvd, rtrimmed or natural....but they don't belong pushed up against either side of a theater marquee!!

2 years ago, both north and south sides of Hollywood Blvd's trees from La Brea to Gower were all trimmed in one week. This year its hit and miss. I would guess it has to do with the poorly managed city budget and priorities. I can't second guess how and why this city does what it does anymore. I do remember that the trees that were trimmed into Christmas tree cones during the holidays were all replaced because the roots were destroying the sidewalks. They should have (in my opinion) left the tacky 3-bulb street light and planted all palm trees that don't require as much care.

With the 3 bulb street lights, you were supposed to see Hollywood Boulevard from space. I figured with the energy cost, that is the reason the 3 bulb lights were taken away. Too bad, they could of changed the bulbs and made them more efficient.

Yes, Palm, trees would make a lot more sense. Not only are they more "hollywood", they are also not as invasive to sidewalks, and if pushed up a marquee, it's leaves are above it, so they don't block!

I worked at the Hollywood Pacific about 1974 as a "candy girl" and usherette. Jack Tate was my manager. It was one of my very first jobs but I never forgot him or his name. He was dapper and professional. And a nice person. My uniform was I think was an orange and (blue?) dress made of that awful polyester stuff most uniforms were made of then. I worked with two ushers I remember; one a slender,lovely usher named Hal and a sweet guy named John McGuire.
Hal and I sneaked down to see the old organ which I remember being attached to a hydraulic pole that in the old days made it rise to the stage level. Does anyone know if it really did this? It was spooky down there, and also behind the stage where you could see all the ropes and pulleys still hanging. The whole theater was a little
spooky. "Jesus Christ Superstar" ran forever and ever, it seemed. Hal and I had all the songs memorized. "I don't know how to lo-ove him"... Hoo boy.

Yes, at one time the organ at the Warner would rise out of the pit. And yes the usherette uniforms were Orange and Blue at that time. Later they became orange and brown during the 80's. (In the 80's the men's were brown usher usher jackets with tan pants.) I remember Jack at the Hollywood Pacific, I think he was at the Picwood for a short time before the Hollywood Pacific.

I was hired by Walk-in General Manager Harold Citron an assistant manager to Jack Tate in 1972. I was also a long-term member of the American Theatre Organ Society (later, President). I too remember the 4-manual 28-rank Marr & Colton theatre pipe organ.

Do you remember doorman Ernie DelPonte? How about Marjorie Maine's daily noon chats by the box office?

Jack came to Pacific from Denver, CO sometime in the 1960s I believe. He and his partner Don Boxwell were both theatre managers - Don at the Academy in Pasadena. Jack spent time at the Pantages before moving on to the Picwood for its massive redecoration. He then assumed the position of Managing Director at the Hollywood Pacific (one of the last such positions). Jack and Don owned a wonderful Victorian in Pasadena they were restoring. I believe Jack left Pacific just before the triplexing to open an antique store in New Hampshire with Don. I corresponded with them for years, until they moved back to their native Denver, where I lost track of both.

Does anyone know where they are now?

Don't remember Marjorie Main but I also worked the very fancy tiny ticket office way out there almost on the sidewalk. When Jack came in to switch tills it was a little small in there. There was a regular ticket girl named Holly who usually worked the booth. Since the Pacific and Pantages were owned by the same company I had to walk down the street once or twice and fill in there, probably because of a big opening or something. Was Ernie short, portly and funny? I might remember him. The name is familiar. I'd like to find John McGuire. He was an aspiring actor. (of course) Nice to know about the organ. Pretty dramatic it must have been.

Marjorie may have mostly spoken with managers and the ubiquotous Erne DelPonte. Yes, Ernie was short, portly and could be funny in a campy sort of way. He was a huge movie minutia hound. When Pacific decided to triplex the house, they sold-off all the old lobby furniture - grand old items fit for a castle. Ernie got first pick. Yes, that box office was small - it was constructed for a "grind" policy where patrons came and went all day long. If you had to "sell" the house with the two windows it had... well, you couldn't. The safe was incredibly small, remember? Jack straightened every bill so that it took as little space as possible so he could get enough cash in there to go through the evening. Remember how the window air conditioner just above the safe used to clog with lint from paper currency? I remember Holly quite well. She was a lovely and competent young girl. I wish I remembered John. Did he work the door or snack bar?

Steve

What a great web site. It is great to read all of the memories from people who loved this theatre. Jack Tate here! Manager in the mid 70's. Steve, we (Don & I) are still in New Hampshire, New London to be exact. We are now connected to the New London Barn Playhouse (the oldest continuously operating summer stock theatre in New Hampshire) We never made it to Colorado, but still talk about moving there when we "retire".
Do you remember during the first "Rocky", Sylvester Stallone coming by the theatre to check on audience reaction. He had the studio make him a fake goatee (to match mine at the time) so that he could come and go and not be recognized?
I also remember the day we put Carol Burnett's star in the walk of fame and presented her with the "Bent Flashlight Award".
Those were all great times.

Jack

JACK!!! I do remember the goatee, the Bent Flashlight Award, and a lot more. I think I know how to reach you and Don by phone, and I'll try. My day is made! And once again, I can thank this theatre for another great life experience!

Here is a 1938 ad for "Swing Your Lady" with Humphrey Bogart.

The first sentence in the introduction needs to be corrected. The actor was Conrad Nagel (not Nagle). Among other things, Conrad Nagel was one of the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which still exists today.

Jack,
Great to hear from you. I was the manager of the LaMirada when you were at the Hollywood Pacific. I eventually became district manager for Hollywood. You mentioned Carol Burnett. Last year. we gave her one of the wooden hand painted auditorium doors for her home media room. Its the door she got fired in front of. The theatre is still in remarkably good shape although it would take a lot of money to bring it back. Great hearing from you. I think the only Pacific people left from your time are Jay Swerdlow and myself.
John Sittig

John

Although I trained with Jack at the Hollywood Pacific, it wasn't long before I was "committed" to the Wiltern shortly after Keith Devereaux and the nasty boiler fire. Al Young was District Manager. A number of years ago I was one of two candidates for Manager of the soon-to-open Disney El Capitan Theatre. During the interview process, I learned that the manager of the Lakewood Center (I've forgotten her name) during that time was still with Pacific in the home office. She opened the Lakewood right after it was divided - I remember working the opening. I think her first name was Terry.

Forgive me Jack for not calling you all summer long! I'll do it soon.

Her name is Teri Moore and later it became Teri Moore Alvarez, when she was my DM when I was at the Picwood Theatre. Hi John you were my DM when I was at the Hollywood Pacific.

Here are some October 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/4rb492
http://tinyurl.com/4pe725
http://tinyurl.com/4d5c3k
http://tinyurl.com/53qt4m
http://tinyurl.com/45jheu
http://tinyurl.com/43g7k7
http://tinyurl.com/4xd3hk

Excellent photos !! Ill take a small apartment on the second floor in the SW corner. I just have myself and my Yorkie, Motown. I always get 'home sick' when I see Hollywood photos. Long live the Warner Pacific Hollywood.

I think Pacific Theatres made a big mistake when they closed the theatre. It would have been easier to sell the building to an interested buyer had the theatre been open and not closed.Pacific with its booking clout could have sold the building and leased back the theatre for a period of time. They could have put some big films in the large theatre and moved over to the smaller Arclight screens.The longer the theatre remains empty the longer any buyer would be interested in buying the whole building in this part of Hollywood Boulevard. The building could be painted and made more attractive to a possible buyer. Have they ever heard of curb appeal.brucec

The theatre was on the sales block long before it closed in 1990's. Besides the earthquake damage in the twins upstairs and the MTA flooding the basement. Pacific leased the theatre to that USC Digital group for a while.

The photos posted by ken mc suggest that this was a fine theatre and hopefully someone may come along and revive it before the whole building is demolished through non use.
The restoration of the El Capitan some years back was a real boost for the area and it would be great to see the same here.

Ken's photos are always amazing weather they be those seen here in L.A or from any corner of the word in which he visits.
Keep 'em coming Ken! Many thanks!

Any time. Thanks for the encouragement.

I spend hours looking thru your collection and sometimes even find I've lost whole days!

I'll bet that the owners of most of those photos feel the same way. LOL

While looking at Ken's pictures, all I could think of was that "2001" played here for more than a year. Oh how the mighty have fallen :(

Ken we must have walked past this place around the same time. I was there having a look around on Oct 18th seeing '9 To 5 The Musical'

Here are two photos taken yesterday:
http://tinyurl.com/5uhgmt
http://tinyurl.com/5erjj3

One more:
http://tinyurl.com/67n9aw

Here is a 1980 photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/b94zqg

Here are several photos of the Pacific that I took last week:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/theseos/SDC10422.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/theseos/SDC10423.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/theseos/SDC10425.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/theseos/SDC10426.jpg

Great pics, always makes me a little homesick.

Great photos in all the Hollywood theaters sections. Thanks.

Is the Pacific a church now? It says churchinhollywood.com on the marquee.

ll

It is a church, Eclesia Hollywood, which is greek for called out assemby or church, they are a nondenomantional church a great place to worship and go on your journey with God

The church has a website here.

Here are some early 80s photos:
http://tinyurl.com/dxoawa
http://tinyurl.com/da2hd2

The year given for the first photo is 1980 and 1983 for the second photo.

Here is a late 1930s photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/dzfejs

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d7ekmv

Looks good in 1982.

Sad to walk by this place and see it slowly falling apart. The vertical sign is in really poor condition.

Here is the marquee in July 1942:
http://tinyurl.com/qebuep

Wow the place looked really great in the 80's with the movies on the marquee....

Photos taken last week (May '09):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakeight/3574333717/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakeight/3575143824/

There are some nice shots of the Warner and Grauman's about a minute into this film. Don't bother watching the rest as they head off in a different direction.
http://tinyurl.com/oqjhrb

Here is an interior photo circa 1930s:
http://tinyurl.com/l9gfne

Does anyone know if the Pacific's marquee lights are ever illuminated?

They did when a special event was being done there.

Here are two June 2009 photographs I took of the Pacific:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenery/3706816533/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenery/3707609723/

From the LA Times in January 1982. Morgan Fairchild was hot, back in the day:
http://tinyurl.com/maqef2

If it wasn't so fuzzy she would probably be even hotter.

I finally figured out that this was the theatre with KFWB's towers on top (still there). There was a smaller building connected/next to the theatre (now a parking lot) that was the actual KFWB studios in the 60's. Also, Aldo's Restaurant was under the KFWB building and a big hangout for music industry types in the 60's (Aldo's is where Sonny Bono and Cher met in early '63). I had been there as a child but just could not remember where it was (as the KFWB building is gone).

I only saw one movie here: Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" on opening day (which was the same night as my prom). Place was GINORMOUS! It's a shame I never returned here when it was operating...then again that ain't exactly my fault. The theatre switched to 2nd run double features during my years in college when I came home for summer vacation.

Function should be changed to church. Yesterday I drove by and the word "Pacific" on both sides of the marquee were lit up. It was broad daylight so I could not tell if anything else was on.

Check out the newly revised Wikipedia article on this theatre, especially the part about Carol Burnett's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Pacific_Theatre