Valley Guild Theatre

5161 Lankershim Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 91601

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres, Mann Theatres, National General Theatres, Pussycat Theatres

Architects: Simeon Charles Lee

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Valley Theatre

Nearby Theaters

1967 Photo of courtesy of the Decaying Hollywood Mansions Facebook page.

Locared in the Valley Village district, just to the south of North Hollywood. The Valley Theatre opened in 1938. On April 19, 1955 it was renamed Valley Guild Theatre. It was a District 2 Fox West Coast Theatres house that served as move-over theatre for the nearby El Portal Theatre.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 17 comments)

moviebear1
moviebear1 on March 25, 2006 at 9:49 pm

I once worked here showing the film Shampoo

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 7, 2007 at 10:58 pm

This letter to the LA Times was written by a Mr. R.A. Simon on 7/24/77. It does not appear that Mr. Simon was a patron of the Pussycat Theater:

“This is part of a letter written to Councilman Joel Wachs. Certain tragic circumstances have come to my notice that the old El Portal Theater is being sold and is to be razed shortly and the Guild Theater is to be to become a porno house.

It would appear that the filth-peddlers, being forced out of Hollywood proper, are spreading their disease to the suburbs. Since the only other theater in North Hollywood (the old Lankershim Theater) is also porno, perhaps the City Council should consider making this a “red-light district” and bring to the residents the crime, pimping and prostitution that go hand-in-hand.

It seems to me that the theater owners are determined to sell to any get-rich-quick artist who doesn’t give a damn for the residents."

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 22, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Here is part of an LA Times article dated 4/19/55:

In typical filmland style, Fox West Coast Theaters tonight will open the newly remodeled Valley Guild Theater in North Hollywood.

Refurbished at a cost of $35,000, the deluxe showcase, located at Lankershim & Magnolia, will feature many of the latest engineering techniques, including the newly developed “eye-intensity” curved screen, adapted for conventional pictures as well as Cinemascope.

Jacques Tati’s “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” and “The Little Kidnappers” wil be the opening program.

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on June 18, 2010 at 5:42 pm

There’s a giant high-rise on the site now.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 11, 2014 at 12:15 pm

I added a 1967 photo courtesy of the Decaying Hollywood Mansions Facebook page.

ChasSmith
ChasSmith on July 13, 2015 at 12:51 pm

Just caught a quick passing shot of this in one of the first season episodes of ADAM-12, with “Reflections in a Golden Eye” showing on the marquee. I think there was a Bob’s Big Boy across the street.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 23, 2017 at 10:11 pm

1954 photo as the Valley added courtesy of Kenneth McIntyre.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 19, 2019 at 3:19 pm

Major correction: Opened on April 19th, 1955, not February 1st, 1945.

Guild theatre openingGuild theatre opening Tue, Apr 19, 1955 – 17 · () · Newspapers.com

The 1945 opening refers to the Guild theatre in Hollywood.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 19, 2019 at 3:26 pm

Opened with “Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot”

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