Cinema Theatre

This is where I first saw the original Frankenstein in the 1940's. It was a clean neighborhood theatre back then.

The Cinema was located at 1122 N. Western Ave..

The Cinema was indeed an art house in the 1950's-1960's. From 1963-1965 I was a frequent patron. The theater was unique among L.A.'s art houses at the time for not having the usual snack bar. Instead, there was a small self-service rack filled with imported candy and cigarettes, and a coffee urn. The theater had been recently remodeled, and the lobby had a very stylish, sophisticated look. I think the management was trying to create the atmosphere of a European theater. Almost all the movies shown in that period were European. The Cinema was in every way the equal of the Los Feliz or the Nu-Art at that time.

The last time I went to the Cinema was in the late 1960's, to see "Don't Look Back." I got the feeling that the people running the place had dropped acid. The tidy, European atmosphere was gone, and the subdued colors of lobby and ticket area had been replaced with a sloppy coat of lurid, day-glo orange paint. The place went rapidly downhill after that, and was showing x-rated movies within a couple of years.

This theatre was owned and operated by Louis Federici (1912-2005) from the early 1950's until he sold the property to the current church in the late 70's. I was one of his projectionists for a time along with Bob Evans (1921-2004). Around 1964 Louie hired a manager named Mike Getz who introduced a series on Saturday nights called "movies 'Round midnight" (offbeat stuff) and it was very successful. The booth was equiped with RCA/Brenkert BX 100's, Simplex 9030 soundheads and Peerless magnarc arclamps - also an RCA 16mm projector customized by Bob (he has a number around town).

When I went to LACC I frequented the Cinema quite a bit. It's where I saw Mudhoney and Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill (Russ Meyer), and The Balcony. I do remember the outrageous marathon showing of the original Batman serial circa 1966 or so.

The CinemaTheater brings back great memories. I was employed by the Art Theater Guild, they had over 50 theaters across the country. I worked at one of their theaters in Hollywood; I was at the Cinema for about two years 68-70. It was a hip place to be. I remember we ran the trl's for: I am Curious Yellow and the Stewartess' for over a year.
Manager was Ed Muckerman, some employees were jim babb, jack genero, sue liberwitz, rene, ronnie krich, oliver, bob evans. Great place to just hang out.
Gene Youngblood reviewed our Saturday Midnight program for the Free Press. His reviews packed the house to standing room only. Arthur Knight of Playboy Magazine, also gave us great reviews.
JackGen

I was the mgr. here from 11/67 to late 1968. Ed Muckerman was my replacement.

This is still a church.

Here are two photos from July 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/22nzj6
http://tinyurl.com/23ceof

Here is an early 70s ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/26e89v

This is a 1945 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2ecg7j

I posted this photo on one of the other pages. It's from a book of LA photos, circa 1994. The caption stated that the theater was on Western, but nothing other than that regarding the identity. The name started with S, obviously. Any ideas would be welcomed:
http://tinyurl.com/25jhk7

I see that there are four theatres named "Music Hall" listed in that 1945 ad. I wonder if they were all run by Walter Reade Theatres? I know that the Beverly Hills Music Hall was a Reade operation for a while, and they also ran the Music Hall Theatre in San Francisco, though that was in the 1960s.

According to a report from the L.A. city planning department's zoning information system, the building at 1122 N. Western Avenue was built in 1937.

Nobody ever got back to me on the "S" theater I mentioned on 8/12/07. I'm still curious.

If the caption is correct and the "S" theatre is (or was) on Western Avenue, I'm guessing that it must have been on South Western. I'm pretty sure there was never a theatre that looked like that north of Wilshire. The graffito "PIC 44" might be a gang sign indicating 44th Street. I can't recall which theatres were on Western in that area. It's possible that it's one that's still missing from the Cinema Treasures database.

OK, thanks.

Here is a November 1972 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/3vgapk

Here is a November 1969 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/3nfyfg

Here is an LA Times story dated 2/14/41:

Two men and a girl were taken into custody by police yesterday following the robbery of a theater at 1122 N. Western, Wednesday night. According to Detective Russell Smith, a 6-foot bandit held up Miss Dorothy Kemp, cashier, and escaped in a car driven by a girl.

Bob Calvert, 20, usher, chased the bandit car to Santa Monica Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, where the bandit assertedly threatened him with a gun. The bandit then fled from the automobile.

A short time later, police arrested Miss Verna Barber, 21, in a gas station at 3426 Beverly Boulevard. She was taken to the Central Robbery Bureau and questioned. From information supplied by the girl, police took Fred Freeman, 30, into custody at 1100 E. 68th Street. Freeman confessed to robbing the theater and also admitted holding up three other theaters during the last few weeks.

Freeman then implicated Jack Greenwell, 31, who was taken into custody at 30th Street and Western Avenue. Greenwell denied any part in the holdups.

Joe Vogel, there was a Strand Theater in the 4400 block of South Broadway some years ago. That may be a candidate for my 8/12/07 photo, although the theater would have to had lasted until the 1990s. I'll keep looking.

Thanks for that information.

Here's an item from the June 3, 1939, issue of Boxoffice Magazine, which may or may not be about this theater: "Lou Berkoff opened his new Cinema Arts Theatre in Hollywood with 'Ballerina,' a French production, as his first attraction. The de luxe theatre will play foreign 'art' films."

The County Assessor's office gives 1937 as the construction date for this building, but "Cinema Arts" isn't listed as an aka for any theater in Hollywood or Los Angeles, so maybe this was it. Perhaps the house failed as a neighborhood operation and Berkhoff took over a year or so after it opened? I suppose the Assessor's office could have gotten the construction date wrong, too.

Regarding the mysterious "S" theatre on Western, it could well be the Sunset, located a few doors above Sunset Blvd. In its last years
the Sunset was one of the last venues of the Pussycat chain. If I
recall correctly, it was a purveyor of 'nudie cuties' in the 60's,
well before Pussycat took it over.

Thanks. I will post the photo over on that page.

Here's a brief item from Boxoffice Magazine, May 28, 1962:

"Approximately $75,000 was expended to give the Cinema Theatre a complete facelift in time for the Pacific Coast premier of 'Through a Glass Darkly.' Remodeling included a new lobby, marquee, carpets, drapes, and an elaborate mezzanine art gallery."

My first visit to the Cinema must have been fairly soon after this. I don't remember ever seeing the old marquee, or being in the theatre before the art gallery (not so elaborate, really) was installed.

I met Louis Federici when I was a doorman at the Apollo Theater. He Wused to stop by after he left the Cinema theater. We would talk until I closed and then we would go out and he would buy me a hamburger. I think he was just curious to see how much business we were doing. Years later, I would manage the State theater in Pasadena, that he was leasing. He was old now and couldn't properly take care of business properly. Through him I met a wonderful person, who was a retired projectionist, Conrad Button. If I had any problems with the theater projectors, he would drive over and help me out. He was a wonderful, kind, person who died of a heart attack a few years ago. I miss him still today. Federici is also gone now.

The above was posted by William Dakota, not Federici. I goofed!

This is Friday the 13th. Federici is watching me goof with his name. I used to like to hear him talk about the celebrities who came into his theater. Nick Adams came with Natalie Wood, without any money. Nick said he would pay Federici later, but he didn't. Nick had rented an apartment from Federici and James Dean used to visit Nick on several occasions.

These Independent persons who always helped Federici and other Independent operators, never got the respect that is owed to them. If Conrad Button hadn't always been there, when I needed him, the State theater in Pasadena, would have been in bad trouble. He worked with a few others who would always be available when a theater was in trouble. They would have and sell, very reasonably, parts for old projectors that would often break down. Most of them have now passed on. They did it because the theater operations were in their blood. They were never really retired. I don't remember all of their names because Conrad was my main helper. A candy bar would be his reward, even though he was diabetic. From the beginning when I first met him, we were close friends.

Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cfqdj4

I think this was a Pussycat Theatre when I lived there in 1981.

From Boxoffice magazine in March 1949:

An extensive remodeling job is underway at the Cinema Theater, Hollywood showcase recently acquired by Joe Moritz.