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Lincoln Theatre

Los Angeles, CA
2300 South Central Avenue
, Los Angeles, CA 90011 United States
(map)
Status: Closed
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Moorish
Function: Church
Seats: 1960
Chain: Unknown
Architect: John Paxton Perrine
Firm: Unknown
Lincoln Theatre
Vintage exterior view of the Lincoln Theatre
Photo courtesy of William Gabel
Originally opened in 1927, this South Central theater is now a 1,960-seat church. The Lincoln Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Contributed by William Gabel


YOUR COMMENTS

 
Opened on October 7, 1927 at 23rd and Central Avenue, it was the crown jewel of the street. The architect was John Paxton Perrine. Above the grand staircase is a mural of Abraham Lincoln.
posted by BillH on Aug 27, 2002 at 6:30pm
The Lincoln Theatre is located at 2300 S. Central Ave.
posted by William on Oct 17, 2003 at 9:24am
Over the history of film exhibition. There were theatres that were called negro theatres. That served the Afro-American population in this country. At one time this theatre was listed as one of them.
posted by William on May 14, 2004 at 12:21pm
A more current photo of the exterior of the former Lincoln Theatre can be seen here.
posted by Bryan Krefft on Dec 24, 2004 at 10:12am
Here is a link:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/25948.html
posted by ken mc on Jan 14, 2006 at 1:04pm
Why so many links to Cinema Tour?
posted by Chuck1231 on Jan 14, 2006 at 1:49pm
I was inside this theater today. It looks about the same as in the pictures above, except Lincoln has lost his place on the staircase. I took some pictures which I will post when I get them on a disk.
posted by ken mc on Jun 10, 2007 at 7:15pm
Here is an article about the theater's opening on 10/5/27. Maybe pretentious had a different meaning then than it does now:

NEW LINCOLN THEATER WILL OPEN FRIDAY

Los Angeles will add another pretentious motion picture house to its roster this week when the Lincoln Theater, located at Central Avenue and Twenty Third Street, opens this Friday. The edifice represents an investment of approximately $500,000. It is of Moorish design. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 2100. A weekly change of program will mark its policy.

Friday’s dedicatory program is scheduled to start at 5 o’clock. The principal address of the occasion will be delivered by attorney Willis Taylor. Farina, of “Our Gang” fame, will make a personal appearance. The stage presentation will be decidedly colorful, not only Friday but for the rest of the week. “The Chocolate Scandals” together with Curtis Mosby’s Dixieland Blue Blowers, will entertain behind the footlights. On the screen will be “Rose of the Golden West”, a First National Production starring Mary Astor and Gilbert Roland.

One of the distinct features of the Lincoln will be a midnight show every Saturday night commencing at 11:30 o’clock. A program of nearly three hours is planned for each of the midnight shows, the first of which will be given this week.
posted by ken mc on Jun 11, 2007 at 6:53pm
ANYONE ELSE NOT GETTING THE HOME PAGE????????????????????????????????????????????
posted by longislandmovies on Jun 11, 2007 at 6:57pm
Brief in the LA Times dated 6/22/26:

A picture theater for negroes only to be as elaborately beautiful as any theater in the city and to seat 1700 persons will be built by Adolph Ramish, according to the announcement of that enterprising citizen yesterday. The new theater will be situated at Twenty Third and Central Streets, and the architect will be John Paxton Pirenne.

All the entertainers who surround the picture bill will be negroes as also will be all attaches and attendants of the house. Films of first quality will be shown, as is done in other first-class neighborhood houses.
posted by ken mc on Jul 7, 2007 at 6:34pm
Here is a 2004 aerial photo:
http://tinyurl.com/287myz
posted by ken mc on Jul 20, 2007 at 11:21am
Looks like they got rid of the vertical sign from the facade of the theatre now.
posted by William on Jul 20, 2007 at 11:39am
I think the current church took it off. It was there a few years ago.
posted by ken mc on Jul 20, 2007 at 11:49am
Thank you so much for posting those recent pictures! I haven't seen the inside of this place since I was a small child growing up in Southern California in the 1980s. My parents used to take us there for worship services held there by the area's diocese of our denomination (Church of God In Christ). They purchased it in 1962(?) and held services there through the late 80s/early 90s(?). I'm unsure if they moved because they outgrew the building or because of the dramatic increase in crime in the area. Anyway, during their occupancy the building was renamed "Crouch Temple Church of God In Christ" after the Bishop (Samuel Crouch) who presided over the diocese when it was purchased. This is what the vertical marquee read. Here's a link to a story from Time Magazine in March 1969 about a revival held there: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839798-1,00.html

Please post or email if you ever get a chance to take any more pictures. I'd love to see some of the lower levels. Thanks again.
posted by sebcash on Aug 17, 2007 at 11:42am
They were not very receptive when I was walking around with my camera. I think an arrangement would have to be made before I go back there again.
posted by ken mc on Aug 17, 2007 at 11:47am
Here is a December 1928 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2r3mwj
posted by ken mc on Oct 30, 2007 at 7:25am
This is the registration form for the National Register of Historic Places.

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 24, 2009 at 7:06pm
Scroll down to the Lincoln Theater section on this site. They posted my CT photos from 2007, also linked to my photobucket account. I'm famous.
http://tinyurl.com/cvfgob
posted by ken mc on Apr 16, 2009 at 3:42pm
Here are 1983 and 1984 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/oulyyj
http://tinyurl.com/q7xp33
posted by ken mc on May 10, 2009 at 11:28pm
Here is another 1984 photo.

posted by Lost Memory on May 15, 2009 at 6:20pm
This is a recent photo and here is a website for the church.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 12, 2009 at 10:40am
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