Follies Theatre

The Follies Theatre was located at 327 N. Main Street.

The correct address of this theater was 337 SOUTH Main Street. It was almost directly across Main Street from the Adolphus Theater (later known as the Hippodrome.) The Follies was originally the Belasco, and only became the Follies when David Belasco moved his company into his new theater on Hill Street in the 1920s. The first Belasco was built either in 1901 or 1904 (I've read conflicting reports) and was demolished in 1974. I don't know if this was the same Follies Theater which was remodeled by S. Charles Lee sometime in the 1930s.

While viewing a bizarre film compilation on video, I glimpsed the theater and was able to identify it as The Follies from this site.

The film short was made in 1963 or '64 and the Follies clearly was a strip venue by that time, with "VIV VIDD/JULIE CAESAR/I WANT TO STRIP" on the marquee.

Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 and 1943 list this as the Folly Theatre (this of course could be a misprint/spelling error). By the 1950 edition and beyond the listing has disappeared so it could have gone over to live strip venue use.

Ken:

I remember this theater being called the New Follies in the early 1960s, and I believe it was a live burlesque house at the time, like the Burbank. The bus I took home from downtown ran up Main Street, so I passed the theater hundreds of times, but never went there.

Joe, do you recall seeing a burlesque theater on Main called the "Galway"?

In fact I do remember the name Galway, but I don't recall the location, and I can't picture the theater in my mind. I hadn't thought of that place in years. I have a vague recollection of having seen it listed in the newspaper theater guides, though. I think it may have been one of several houses on Main Street that ran what were then called "nudie cutie" movies.

Photographs of the Follies Theatre http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/servlet/SCLeeServlet

Architect S. Charles Lee did some modernisations on the building in the 1930's. Two projects listed in the Appendix in Maggie Valentine's book "The Show Starts on the Sidewalk" have un-named Los Angeles theatres that could have had work executed by Charles Lee in 1936 for an un-named client and another for client Alex Pavlov in 1937-40.

Looking at the photos on the link I give here, the interior work carried out by Lee appears to be minimal, but the exterior photo above seems to have a more 'modern' look, especially the blade sign and marquee.

The Belasco Theatre was known briefly as the Republic Theatre before becoming the Follies Theatre in 1919 when it bagan its long life as a major burlesque house.

It was demolished in May 1974

Sorry that link didn't work for some reason, try this one:-
http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/

Scroll down on the 'Search by Title' (alphabetically listed) until you come to Follies Theatre. Highlight and Submit

There are several pictures of this theater in the LA Library online database.

Here are two pictures, both from the early 1970s, courtesy of the LA Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014086.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014100.jpg

Here is a picture of the orginal Belasco, circa 1920, courtesy of the LA Library. You can see that is the same building as the Follies, obviously before some major renovation.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015226.jpg

Front entrance, 1933:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015295.jpg

The Follies Theater is at the bottom left hand side of the picture. The photo was taken in 1919 and is on the LA Library website:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014095.jpg

Upon further review, it appears that I am contradicting myself as the earlier picture shows the Belasco in 1920. The Library must have the wrong date for the picture directly above.

I suspect the picture dated circa 1920 to be in error. One of the store fronts bears the words "...Liquor Company" on its awning, and prohibition was already in effect in 1920. Also, the building looks too new, and the street to tidy to depict a 1920 scene. This shot is probably a bit earlier- probably pre-WWI.

The 1919 date for the other picture raises some questions, too. David Belasco opened his new theatre on Hill Street in 1926, and yet this picture shows a blade sign on the old theatre that reads "Follies." If this picture is from 1919, then Belsaco must have abandoned this theatre before his new one was built, or must have renamed the theatre himself while still operating it.

I see no evidence of construction around the site of the City Hall farther up Main Street, and I believe that clearance of those blocks had begun by 1926 (the building having been completed by April of 1928.) Also, the cars parked along the street don't look like mid-late 1920's models. The 1919 date for this photograph is probably correct.

This article mentions the Follies and also confirms Joe's correct address. Plus, it gave me a good laugh. I would give my left arm to have been in that courtroom that day. I want to meet Ili Ili!

(Oct. 29, 1927)
HOT MAMMA CHORUS HAS COURT SKIT

Institution of a campaign to sweep Main street clear of questionable shows brought forty-six persons into Municipal Court yesterday on charges of violating city ordinances.

Among the congregation which thronged the courtrooms were twenty-seven girls of the 'Hot Mamma' chorus, somewhat more completely clad than when they were arrested Thursday night by Sergt. Sweetnam in the Follies Theater at 337 South Main street, twelve chorus men, arrested at the same time, four tattooed women, wearing their working clothes, and last, but not least, Ili Ili, and untamed tree-climbing South African pygmy. The last group was arrested late yesterday at 530 South Main street on a charge of advertising on the street, by Chief Investigator Vail of the City Prosecutor's office.

The group arrested at the Follies Theater on a charge of giving an indecent exhibition, including Dorothy Walton, leading-woman, and T.B. Dalton, manager, all pleaded not guilty when arraigned before Municipal Judge Georgia Bullock and demanded a jury trial. They were ordered to appear monday at 10 a.m. before Municipal Judge Blake to have a date set for trial, and were released on $50 bail each.

The four tattooed women, appearing before Judge Bullock, and the barkers and Ili Ili, appearing before Municipal Judge Wilson, also pleaded not guilty. Their trial will be set next week. The defendants were represented by Attorneys R. Lee Heath and Charles B. Hazelhurst.

Woo, the Hot Mamma Chorus! That must have been quite a show! I'm sorry I missed it. And I wonder whatever became of Ili Ili?

Was Ili Ili an actual human being? I guess so if he/she was arrested, but the 'untamed' part makes me nervous.

This photo is supposedly from 1920, but as the Belasco photo above is also supposed to be a 1920 shot, you have to assume that the Follies shot was sometime later in the 20s:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015292.jpg

ken mc: My guess would be that the Belasco photo you linked to on September 19 is the one that the library mis-dated. It looks earlier than 1920. For one thing, everything looks too tidy for Main Street in 1920.

This USC photo is dated, rather vaguely, 1910-1919. I posted a smaller version from the LA library last September, but this picture shows more detail:
http://tinyurl.com/jmcnp

You can see the Follies on the left in this 1924 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/rroxy

The theater has been replaced by the Ronald Reagan SOB:
http://tinyurl.com/ycn6jn

The LA city directory lists the Wonderland Theater at 315 S. Main. Have we placed any theaters on the west side of Main between 3rd and 4th other than the Follies? If not I will add the Wonderland.

I should have added that the directory listing was in 1939.

I think you found a new theater ken mc....I guess there was a Wonderland on Broadway first and then Main:

June 08, 1908
AUCTION
430-432-434 So. Broadway
(Old Wonderland Theater)

December 26, 1909
The following items are from the Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer. A.C. Martin is preparing plans for a one-story brick
theater building 32x120 feet, to be erected for the owners of the Wonderland Theater on South Main street. It will have a stamped metal front, marble lobby with tile floor, and cement floors in auditorium. The cost will be about $20,000.

September 09, 1921
FIRE IN THEATER
'Crowd in Near Panic as Flames Burn Cinema Operator'
While attempting to smother a blazing roll of film which caught fire from the heat of a projector in the operating room at the Wonderland Theater, at 315 South Main street early last evening, Milton Guion, age 23 years, the operator, was severly burned on the arms and face. A near panic was caused in the theater when the flames spread from the projector to the interior of the operating room. Many persons rushed to the street. Chemicals quickly subdued the blaze. The fire damage was nominal, but the crowd blocked traffic for more than twenty minutes.

Ken mc: The Wonderland is listed at Cinema Treasures under its later name, the Jade Theatre which, according to the comments, lasted into the 1970s at least. I have no memory of it at all, though I passed along that block hundreds of times over earlier years.

Thanks Joe...I'll put the Wonderland items on the Jade page.

If you have a magnifying glass, you may be able to see the first Belasco in this 1903 photo, unless it was in the process of being demolished. It would have been at the very top of the photo:
http://tinyurl.com/29y727

Al's Men's Shop on the far left is part of the theater building in this 1954 photo. It's unknown if the Follies Village store had anything to do with the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/24j6ys

ken, in that photo of the van nuys building, do you know what that place that is now the Farmer's Merchant's Bank says? Mehesey's Free Museum?

Correct.

Here's something only indirectly related to L.A.'s movie theatres, but I found it fascinating. From long ago I recall people mentioning a popular Main Street restaurant called Goodfellows Grotto, which closed in the 1950s. I believe Matt Weinstock wrote about it in his column from time to time. Goodfellows was located just south of the Belasco/Follies and was a favorite of various theatrical folk.

So, I looked it up on the Internet and found this interesting page which has a brief article about the restaurant and its founder, Matteo Dujmovich. It mentions several of the theatres in the neighborhood and provides a vivid thumbnail sketch of what life on Main Street was like during the first half of the 20th century.

I have a book of columns by Matt Weinstock - I know he mentioned the Grotto a few times. If you look at the picture I posted on 12/2/05, you can see the top of the Grotto at 341.

Here is the Grotto in 1918:
http://tinyurl.com/mla2o

The LA Times reported the demolition of the Follies on May 31, 1974.

The Grotto closed its doors forever on December 28, 1953.

In the film "Uptown Saturday Night" a few of the theatres located on Main Street make small cameos. The theatre seen in the film are the Follies, Burbank, Optic and the Regent theatre.

Here is a letter to the LA Times dated 11/16/67. Both the Follies and the Burbank are now gone, of course:

"A few days ago I read with interest a Times article reporting the possible consideration of the official dedication of the Follies and Burbank theaters on Main Street as historical landmarks. At this time when Los Angeles is growing in national importance as a theater center the proposal has merit"

The writer, Ralph Freud of UCLA's Theater Arts department, goes on to list some of the famous plays and players that performed live at the two theaters. I guess the landmark argument didn't make too much of an impression on the powers that be.

This 1935 ad promises 80 people on stage, "mostly girls". I would hope so:
http://tinyurl.com/26bgfk

Here is a 1944 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2mcsm3

Here is a February 1935 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/26nyfo

Are you sure the year was 1935? Gunga Din with Cary Grant was released in January of 1939 in Los Angeles.

My mistake. February 1939. Thanks for picking that up.

Going back to the Grotto at 341 S. Main, if I can digress briefly, this photo was on the LA Times "Daily Mirror" site. The photo was taken shortly before the Grotto closed in 1953. The Follies would be the building on the right:
http://tinyurl.com/6p6naq

There is a drawing on this page which shows Main Street and the Belasco:
http://tinyurl.com/56bd85

Thats a beauty,

Here is a link to an ad for a burlesque show at the New Follies that appeared in the Los Angeles Times on July 30, 1938. I always enjoy the ballyhoo that goes into the selling of any show. In this ad, Betty Rowland is billed as "the Red Headed Ball of Fire". Enjoy.

[url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2008/07/july-30-1938.html]

Jeff, I had a little trouble with that link, so I copied it here. Hope you don't mind:
http://tinyurl.com/6nz4cr

That site takes too long to load. I like the direct link better.

OOPS! That was my very, VERY first attempt at making a comment on CinemaTreasures.org ... I think something went askew with copying and pasting the URL. Sorry about that. Try the one immediately below. I just know the world is waiting with baited breath to see the blurb for burlesque babes "Betty Rowland, the Red Headed Ball of Fire" and "Carrie Finnell the Great" in the show at the New Follies starting on July 30, 1938, "She Had To Give Up". I won't give up on copying and pasting my first URL into a CinemaTreasures.org comment until the world has the chance to see this gem. Click this link to try to see it:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/30/1938_0730_burleq.jpg

P.S. - Ken Mc, for some reason, the direct link you copied and pasted ...

http://tinyurl.com/6nz4cr

... leads to an ad for a double feature of "Marihuana - Weed With Roots in Hell" and "How to Undress In Front of Your Husband". That's not what I intended to link. Now how in the devil did THAT happen?!? Do you think the spirits of those burlesque queens are having a little fun with me on my first comment on CinemaTreasures.org?!? Are those burlesque queens currently in the hereafter smoking joints and bending double laughing about that little prank they just pulled? After all, if anyone should know how to undress ... and the tag line in the ad for that Carrie Finnell says "She's a riot!" I'll just BET she is. :)

I might wait with "bated" breath. "Baited" breath would be someone with worms in their mouth.

I finally uploaded the posters I created for Mainly Main. You can download the original file if you want to see the details, but you can probably see them pretty good if you just hit the 'original' button on each individual map page. I believe the Follies is on map 4.

Here's the link:

http://flickr.com/photos/vokoban/sets/72157606483869414/

I forgot to say that if you want to access the large detailed views of the images you have to first hit the 'All Sizes' button on each map page. It will then give you a choice of many sizes to view the image.

Welcome back! I was in front of the Regent during the quake the other day. Thanks for the maps.

Hi...did you get to see inside? I wonder if they've done anything yet in there.

No, I was too busy fleeing for cover.

Here is a screen shot from "Uptown Saturday Night" (1974):
http://tinyurl.com/5hbw3f

Betty Rowland appeared at the Follies in April 1942, according to this LA Times ad:
http://tinyurl.com/3xubse

Here is part of an April 1940 article from the LA Times:

Theater Case Vote Deferred
Police Board Postpones Action on Follies Pending
Resurrection of Ordinance

Deferring action on the application of the Follies Theater, 337 S. Main St., for transfer of its permit to Marvin Lee Harrison from Charles A. King, the Police Commission yesterday directed that an investigation be made to find out what the Council has done with the proposed ordinance giving it more power to regulate such shows.

King took over the theater after it had been closed as the result of arrests more than six months ago. "I'd like to know what became of that ordinance, which was going to give us the right to regulate such shows", said President Harry Bodkin. "I recall that there was a great outcry against it, that it would give the Board power to set up a 'censorship' of all shows, including motion pictures."

"It seems to me that Councilman Nelson was going to help put the measure through the Council. Its only purpose was to allow us to stop lewd performances and use of bootleg and indecent film without requiring convictions before we could do anything."

And later on, in June 1942:

Follies Theater, Famed Maker of Stars, Closes
Main St. Burlesque House, Los Angeles Landmark,
Loses Fight to Hold City License

The whistling and shouting stopped last night at 337 S. Main St. The funny men took one last wallop at each other with their rubber bladders and stretched their ridiculous baggy pants in a final futile gesture. The girls wriggled from left to writhe across the runway and dropped their undermost veil with a farewell air. When the curtain dropped, the bald heads in the front row filed solemnly out, and the place was empty once more.

Backstage the dressing rooms were full of 80 burlesque people-80. The cheeks of scant-clad chorus girls were tear-streaked with mascara. "Well, it's been 17 years", said T.V. Dalton, the operator. On these same boards-when it was the Belasco-trod many a star-to-be. Lewis Stone, Marjorie Rambeau, W.C. Fields, Hobart Bosworth, Henry B. Walthall, Edmunde Breese, Paderewski, even, and Schumann-Heink.

And then burlesque and slapstick comedy and strip-tease. But last Friday in Superior Court, Dalton was denied an appeal from an order of the Police Commission suspending his license, and was given until last night to end his show. So last night they closed the Follies Theater, for good.

Here is the Belasco, circa 1920s:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015222.jpg

Here is a 1939 photo from USC:
http://tinyurl.com/davxxl

Here is the same view today:
http://tinyurl.com/cnoeb7

Here is a November 1966 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/qo8z4g

Here is a March 1911 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/pmg78a

Here is part of an article about the demolition dated 5/31/74:

The end, when it came this weekend, was mercifully swift. A few well-aimed wrecking balls and the tottering old Follies Theater at 327 S. Main St. fell in upon itself like the collapsing star it was.

Built originally as the Belasco Theater and opened in 1904 as the Los Angeles home of the celebrated Belasco Stock Co., the landmark managed to cling to an aura of respectability only for little more than a decade. But as the theater district moved south, the Belasco name was withdrawn to be used on another theater in the 900 block of S. Hill St. and the Main St. house became forever more a home of burlesque.

From World War II on, it was a downhill slide for the musty old theater, as burlesque went the way of vaudeville and both were replaced with cheap skin flicks. The Follies was raided, closed and then reopened half a dozen times before it was finally abandoned to the bulldozers. The old Follies, the last burlesque house in Los Angeles, will fulfill its destiny as just another parking lot.

Here is the USC photo from the teens that I posted a while ago:
http://tinyurl.com/ycdswbb

Reposting dead links? How thoughtful of you.

Thank you for this information! I am working on a biography of Dixie Evans, The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque. The Follies Theatre was the first burlesque theatre she performed at (around 1952) and she discusses some of the acts that were there. Seeing images helps me contextualize her stories. Thanks again!