Studs Theatre

Theatre also known as the Tomkat theatre after Pussycat left the building.

The hand and footprints of Linda Lovelace, John Holmes, Marilyn Chambers, Harry Reems, etc. still adorn the entrance.

After the Pussycat sign was removed, the old "Monica" lettering was visible for a few weeks until the new sign was installed. The theater appears VERY briefly in the drag race scene in the AIP flick "Hot Rod Gang" (freeze framing helps).

The Monica Theatre is located at 7734 Santa Monica Blvd..

During the early-mid 1970's, this theater(along with the Pussycat in Buena Park aka the Grand) was Pussycat's premiere showhouse. Porn films for the Los Angeles area would premier here and play at this theater(and Buena Park) first before filtering through to the rest of the Pussycat chain. Unusual (for porn theater standards) was that during this period, there were also no double bills. Also, the films often would have multiple month runs instead of weekly changeovers. Other notable porn films that premiered here: Devil in Miss Jones, Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann, Naked Came the Stranger, Opening of Misty Beethoven

This would largely change in 1977, when business dropped due largely to the LA Times new policy of no longer carrying advertisements for X-rated films. Pussycat had spent over $1 million a year advertising in the LA Times alone. Business dipped by over 10% as a result. Both this theater and Buena Park would become like most any Pussycat theater, showing double bills. It had lost its "uniqueness".

Oh man I've some some interesting times at this theater.

I've HAD some interesting times at this theater, that is.

I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE SOME OF YOU FOR MY RESEARCH PAPER ...WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT OK WITH THIS?

THANKS

They've just uncovered the painted-over Pussycat Girl above their marquee - it makes the whole building stand out now. Someone at the front desk also indicated there would be renovations in future.

Is the policy going 'straight' again instead of 'gay'? I can see no reason to reveal the Pussycat Girl to the current clientel, unless they are planning to swing the other way and screen 'lesbian' movies.

I am planning to attend the Tomkat while I am in W. Hollywood and will invertigate further.

That would be different at least. I have never heard of a lesbian theater.

I think it was a zoning thing - they indicated that the signage wouldn't change. Maybe they fibbed?

I've seen some pretty explicit titles on that marquee from time to time and there is a Pleasure Chest toy store across the street. Might as well flash the Pussycat!

Thanks for that MagicLantern, I will still investigate further!

The exterior of the Tomkat has always looked pretty smart and it looks even better at night, outlined in purple neon.

In the auditorium there isn't too much in the way of architectural detail to be seen as it's painted black (nowadays it has video projection so it's much darker than in the days of carbon arc projection). The ramp in the center orchestra stalls off the stage (used for 'live' shows when it was a Pussycat) is still in place.

It's a notorious gay cruising spot - as much so as the Palm in San Mateo or (lately) the Tiki in Los Angeles. John Holmes' hand- and footprints are still enshrined in cement out front - something Hustler Hollywood (a sex shop on Sunset which has similar monuments to the porn industry) cannot match!

Hello from Colorado!

Vincent Miranda was my God Father and the owner of the Pussycat chain. I have been putting a collection together of ANYTHING Pussycat befor all is lost. I would really like to locate one of the old marquees....you know..the oval w/ the Ms. Pussycat and "It's a Pussycat Theatre" Even an old matchbook would make my day. I have been researching for old photos as well...as of today I have only found pics of The New View (Hollywood cat) and the Tiki.(Tomcat)Please..if you have any information...let me know.

Thanks!
Tim david
tbdavid@msn.com
970.309.3991

Was this ever a "normal" theater showing regular movies? It seems like the ultimate humiliation for a theater to have to become a porn theater.
I confused this theater with Hollywood Blvd (in a post in some theater on Hollywood Blvd I posted I thought I remembered driving by a gay theater on Hollywood Blvd, but it was definitely Santa Monica Blvd now that it comes back a little), for some reason I thought this theater was on Hollywood Blvd, instead of Santa Monica when I drove by. I did so much driving in the two and a half weeks I was there, that it all blends together now. At the time, it seemed like I would remember but, now all the theaters are a blur.
Anyway, the place looked well kept on the exterior, but I wasn't about to find out what the interior looked like considering the venue it is - and forget about the condition the seats must be in! Yuck! (And I wouldn't feel any different about the condition of the seats if it was a regular porn theater either - Yuck again!).

This opened as the Monica Theatre in the late 1930's with a seating capacity of 638 on one level (no balcony). It was a regular local neighborhood movie theatre to begin with, screening general release movies. During the 1960's it went over to 'art house' programming.

When this failed it was taken over by the Pussycat chain and became a straight porn theatre in the 1970's and was re-named Pussycat Theatre. With the demise of the Pussycat chain it went over to showing gay male porn, being re-named Tomkat Theatre. It has served the gay community of the City of West Hollywood very well for over 20 years now.

I was recently staying with a friend in West Hollwood and went along a couple of times to check out the Tomkat. As you state the exterior is very well kept and looks very smart at night outlined in purple neon. Check out my previous post of Jan 6, 2005 for furthur details of the condition of interior. Entry is gained through a turnstyle in the foyer. It still remains the same, ok, maybe dirty conditions prevail due to it's non-stop 24/7 opening policy (the house lights never came on to see the interior properly). The chairs are rockers which must date from the 1970's and can recline quite a way back. DVD is the presentation format now and not VHS video or even 35mm film. There must have been an average of 100 guys in there during the couple of hours I spent there on a Friday evening, but no more than 25 on a Tuesday evening. It seems to be doing good business though.

Why someone don't call health department to do inspection on this theatre. No one should risk there health to see a movie.

What isn't often admitted is that churches and pornography - ironically working together on this one - have kept little neighborhood theatres from being destroyed for many years. They're just "keeping the seat warm", as it were.

PUSSYCAT THEATRES began in Los Angles in the late 1960s. Vincent Miranda proved that a business that carried a nasty reputation could be ran with style and honesty. These 47 California theatres were beautifully renovated, decorated in rich velvets, and adorned with gold chandeliers. The lobbies shared the worlds largest collection of nude oil paintings. The theatres were kept impeccably clean and in perfect working order.
The groundbreaking "DEEP THROAT" ran at the "Hollywood Cat" for 8 years! These movie houses are a thing of the past now. The chain died in 1985 when Vince died of lung cancer, We can thank Vince Miranda and the Pussycat Theatres for fighting for our rights to view whatever we want, whenever we want. They helped to make it okay, and LEGAL to view an x-rated film.
I disagree that a Theatre recieved the "ultimate humiliation" when it became a porn house. Not all porn houses were of the same cloth!I am proud of the houses that my family were able to save from the wrecking ball. Not all are still here but, they are responsible for saving , renovating and breathing life back into many theatres that could have become a McD's or a parking lot.

An interesting fact unveiled in the documentary "Inside Deep Throat" (2005) was that, by 1990, the amount of porn theatres in America had dwindled from 1500 to 250.

I'd be curious to know how many porn theatres are in operation in the U.S. today. I suspect the number is somewhere around 100-125, 150 at the most.

The day the porn drive-ins in Texas close will be a sad day indeed.

None remain in Boston. The last one, the [url Pilgrim,]http://www.cinematreasures.com/theater/6624/]Pilgrim[/url],[/url] closed in 1995 and was demolished the following year.

tbdavid, I do agree with what you have said. There are many theaters in New York City, especially Times Square, where in the 70's and 80's many of the old theaters went to porn. While many have been demolished with the renassaince that has taken place in New York and especially Times Square, many have now been restored. Porn did keep the some of theaters open, and at least minimally maintained while many were neglected and razed. Now there is not much porn around anymore (especially after fomrer Mayor Guiliani), but a few theaters were spared neglect and demolition because they were kept open in the 70's and 80's.
I do agree with some people's account of the current porn theater market. I see it continuing to decline. In this day and age, the majority of the patrons of porn theaters, especially porn, are probably looking for the sex, not just the movie. Because what with the video, DVD, or computer options available, there is no real other reason to go to a unsanitary theater and risk disease to see porn when you can see it from the safety of one's own home (although I assume of course there are a few exceptions).

And someone mentioned churches. I believe churches are the best after theater use a theater building can get, if it can no longer be a theater. Churches are the least "damaging" to the integrity of a theater building, than any other use. While, there have been many tasteful conversions of theaters to other things that try to preserve as much as possible, such as the Meserole Theater to a drug store in Brooklyn (they even project sale slides on the old screen area!), with a church even the stage and the seats are preserved! I may not agree with some of preachings of these Evangelical churches, but in many cases, much effort and love has been put in to restoration of these theaters to churches. Sometimes even the Theater organ still remains!

I like very much what you wrote bway and I must agree with you. Nothing is better for a former theatre than a church.

I just saw the "Inside Deep Throat" documentary and here are a few interesting things about the film: First, if you want to see this theater's marquee during it's "Deep Throat" run complete with footage from the footprint ceremony it is here. The foot and hand prints of Linda Lovelace and Harry Reems are still there. Second, even though a documentary, I never thought I would see hard core footage in a Universal/Imagine release or any major studio release for that matter. Uncensored footage of Lovelace doing the title deed is there. Finally, most of the theater attention was on the World Theater and it's obscenity busts. I can remember no mention by the narrator at all of the Pussycat chain and the 10 year run of this film on Hollywood Blvd. I consider this a major oversight.

I saw this in the Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena in what is probably the smallest theater I have ever attended NOT showing porn. 10 rows with a seating capacity of 116. It was no where near full but felt like it. Don't go here if you have claustrophobia.

Correction to the other names used by this theater: the correct spelling is Tomkat.

ive been inside the tomkat and it isnt that great.they seem to be trying to restore the upper portion where the projection room use to be and where the bathrooms are.the staircase shows what they place use to look like.like other posters said,its dirty/sleazy.its all black inside with red seats,and the stage is in a t shape.when i went the lights were on,and in back of the theatre they made some kind of booth for the video projector.the lobby looks like Bobby Trendy from the anna nicole show furnished it.

Unihikid...

Your Bobby Trendy statement makes alot of sence! The current owner is alot like Bobby Trendy.

Next week, I will be traveling to Los Angeles where I plan to attend the Tomkat for the third time. Unlike my first two visits, though, I'm nervously hoping to leave behind the shyness I felt there before. This time, I plan on walking in wearing a tight-fitting (and very short) black lace dress, stockings, and five-inch heels. I'm sure I will feel tentative again once inside the theatre, but after enjoying the features for awhile, I hope to feel anything but shy as I move to the back of the theatre and begin enjoying the company of my fellow moviegoers as I allow them to begin enjoying me. I realize this is a risky fantasy to fulfill, which is why I've resisted until now, but I can't resist anymore.

If all goes well, I hope to attend again later in the week. Lucky are those who happen to be there! (I promise!)

uh ok

You guys seems to know a lot about adult theaters. I recall passing by a theater near the corner of La Brea and Pico with "XXX - In Back" above the door. I was about 15 at the time, and it intrigued me that adult films could be shown in a theater atmosphere.

Anyway, my question: what is the theater called? Going north on La Brea, one would make a left on west Pico and the white theater building is on the left side.

You can attribute the demise of adult theaters to home video. No one needs to go out and spend ten dollars to watch a porno movie anymore.

I saw my first adult film at the Beach Theater in Atlantic City. The theater was around the corner from my high school (no repressive zoning requirements then) and I was terrifed that some teacher would spot me, or worse, would be in the audience. I was fourteen years old. I remember that the ticket was five dollars, which was mucho dinero in 1975. When I walked into the auditorium, the first thing that I saw was a wide screen shoot of John Holmes unfolding the part of his anatomy which made him famous. I felt rather inadequate. The rest of the film was an anti-climax, if you will pardon the pun.

A lot of the fun of attending adult theaters was audience interaction but from what I've heard this place takes it to a new level!

A part of the lobby which formerly contained magazine racks has been walled off and a 14 seat screening room installed. The screening room shows straight porn on a widescreen TV and has been dubbed the Pussycat Theatre. The original Pussycat oval logo outside has been refurbished and is above the Tomkat marquee. Inside is either a replica or a refurbished original Pussycat wall oval complete with flashing lightbulbs around the outside. Posters for the straight films are outside but only the gay films on the marquee. As both theaters share the same restrooms all I can say is ya pays yer money and you takes yer chances!

Adult Theaters were fun, miss going. We as a couple enjoyed going the the Studio in Buena Park, up the street was a Pussycat that was run down an attracted more of a gay crowd. Also, Long Beach had one on Ocean that was fun. Does anyone know of a nice theater were couple go in OC or LA area? or even San Diego area?

There used to be an old neighborhood theatre on Hollywood Blvd a half-mile east of Western Ave that went to gay porn. They had live shows and used to sell out quite regularly. It was finally sold when the owner died, and destroyed. Anyone out there remember its name?

mujerado: You might be thinking of the Century Theatre.

To get back to the history of this theater instead of what goes on there now, here's a few listings from the LA Times; I didn't realize this theater showed such great movies at one time:

(Feb. 11, 1948)
John Garfield Lilli Palmer in
"Body and Soul"
Monica, Los Angeles
7734 Santa Monica Blvd., H1.0337

(Sept. 7, 1958)
Julien Duvivier's latest supspense hit, "Deadlier Than the Male," opens an exclusive Los Angeles engagement Friday at the Monica Theater. "Law and Disorder," a British crime thriller starring Michael Redgrave, Robert Morely, Ronald Squire and Lionel Jeffries, is the companion feature.

(Nov. 25, 1958)
As the result of a survey conducted among the patrons of Sunset and Monica Theaters a series of foreign films has been booked for preholiday showings. The opening program, starting tomorrow at both theaters, will be Gina Lollobrigida and Gerard Philipe, "Beauties of the Night," directed by Rene Clair, and "Fan Fan the Tulip," with Gerard Philipe in the title role.

(March 1, 1959)
The prize-winning Swedish film, "The Seventh Seal, has been held over at the Monica Theater and the opening of "Forbidden Fruit," starring Fernandel and Francoise Arnoul, has been postponed until Friday.

(March 1, 1965)
COURT RULES FILM NOT OBSCENE
BACHELOR TOM PEEPING
ADULTS ONLY
2nd Big Hit!
Brigitte Bardot
"Strip-Tease"
MONICA
7734 Santa Monica Blvd.

There is a movie clip of this theater back in a 1948 Short Subject which I think was released by RKO Pathe ( the opening credit is chopped off the print ). The print is available on line as a download which will play on Windows Media Player 10. It is free. You will need broadband connection to download it.
http://www.archive.org/details/LetsGoToTheM is the URL.
At that site right click on MPEG2 link in left hand side of frame and choose Save Target option to download it to your computer. This will take some time. Many other LA theaters are shown. You can freeze frames to stop action for viewing.

Two of the old ovular, flashing Pussycat logos have been rescued from storage and have been hung inside and outside the theatre, which now shows straight porn in addition to gay smut.

Here is a recent photo of a Tomkat theater. I hope that its this theater.

Here's an aerial view of the theater. The building backs right up to someone's home!

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=ppfjyz54359z&style=o&lvl=2&scene=3586099

It wasn't that big of a theater to begin with.

I worked at the Hollywood Pussycat theatre during the Heyday of Deep throat. There were 666 seats, I counted them, and they were numbered. Tickets then were $5 each. The movie was barely 63 minutes long. Quite a haul per show, considering we filled every seat for every show even to 4am when we eventually closed. There were lines around the block most days. Jim Lytell was the area manager and Malcolm Thomas/Malcolm Hardy (depending on when you asked him) was the manager. In the beginning, at least once a week, the police would come into the theater and cart the print off.. Malcom would convince the audience to stay in the theatre and within five or so mintues of the police leaving, someone would trot ‘round the corner with a new print and the show would go on. Once Linda Lovelace did make a promotional showing at the theater. She seemed nice. Then there was a scandal in which there was reputed to be a run of 100,000 duplicate tickets. We were all required to take lie detector tests. If they passed all those tickets at $5 a pop, (and I think they did) wow, someone made out! The place was lots of fun to work in, though it seemed like a circus sometimes. I have a one-sheet from Deep Throat that was used at the theatre, although it’s a bit sun bleached, I’ll cherish it forever. Anyone ever notice that Linda never bared her breasts in the film?? Occasionally Japanese tours would show up with about 50 people. The tour leader would purchase the tickets, they’d file in. sit for about 10 minutes and leave again. All in all, I loved working there.

Have any couples attended the striaght prono side of the theater? If so, can you give us the best day/time to meet other couples there?

I owned businesses surrounding the Pussycat Theater for years. This was dusing the 1970s when Deep Throat ran there exclusively. Every night a busload of Japanese tourists would be dropped off in front of the theater.
I owned "The Institute of Oral Love", just east of the Pussycat and "The Academy of Nude Wrestling", 2 doors west. Around the corner I owned "The Church of Spiritual Sexuality", "The Sybil Gland Institute", "The 69 Club for Sexual Gourmets", and "The Emerson School of Massage" where you could "Get Educated by massaging a nude girl to taperecorded instruction. They were fun times...I miss them.

In the main auditorium about half the seats have been removed from the left wall section and yet another screening room is being built. I'm told they will have 5 screens total so they will probably do the same to the right side. The TV was moved from the little screening room and placed in the lobby and still running DVDs. A projection system and a new seating configuration now grace the little room.

The theatre has been renamed and is now called the Studs Theatre. Tomkat is no longer on the marquee and instead of titles the marquee reads "XXX". The Pussycat oval sign has been cleaned up and hangs over the marquee.

Trouble in 1967:
http://tinyurl.com/33rlyh

From what I've heard about LA vice squad it's hard to believe any sexual activity, except what is shown on the monitors, happens within these walls.

Plenty of dirty, fun stuff happens within these hallowed walls, Oklahoma Cowboy. It happens during ever hour of every single day.

The theater isn't under LAPD vice jurisdiction. The Sherriff's Dept is the law enforcement in West Hollywood.

Thanks for the info, guys. Next time I'm in town the Tomkat will be included on my agenda.
By the way, my moniker is Oklahomo Cowyboy.

Typo, should read- Oklahomo Cowboy.
Playmate & Mujerado, hope to see you there!

I would love that, Oklahomo Cowboy!

Tomkat now Pussycat:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPussycatmar21200701.jpg

Vince Miranda is spinning in his grave. It is horrible what has become of this once very nice, and historic theatre.The present owner, whos name I will not mention... should be hung by his balls from the tallest tree in West Hollywood.I really do not think anyone could pick a uglier,less tasteful paint color. The "Monica Cat" has lived it's 9th life... and is now dead in my opinion.

It was the new paint job that caught my eye when I walked by today. If the oval Pussycat logo has been there all these years, I never noticed it until today. Tho I'm not quite sure why it says STUDS in smaller letters below Ms. Pussycat. I didn't have time to read what the signs, hanging where the posters used to be, said. Having not been inside this theater since the 70's, I have no memory of the interior.

From 1975:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdwhPussycat-1.jpg

LA Times was advertising another Tomkat theater at 9055 Santa Monica on 9/15/72. The theater on this page was still showing straight porn at that time, according to the info above. Does anyone recall a theater on CT listed at the 9055 address?

Advertised as the Left Bank Theater at 7734 Santa Monica in July 1969, per the LA Times. Featured were "Split-Level Lovers" and "Male Call".

There's a cover article in today's San Diego Reader, detailing the histories of all the downtown theaters once run by Vince Miranda, at one time co-owner of California's Pussycat Theatre chain. This is one of the theaters chronicled in the piece, which is built from a series of email interviews with Cinema Treasures contribs Dan Whitehead and Tim David (David is Miranda's godson). Unfortunately, the online version doesn't have any of the great photos and graphics seen in the printed version - I wrote the piece and will probably put scans of the graphics on my own webpage before much longer, after the next issue comes out. Here's a link to the article on the Reader site:

http://www.sdreader.com/php/cover.php?mode=article&showpg=1&id=20070621

This is our second major feature on southern CA theaters in about a year (the other, "Field Of Screens," is just on San Diego drive-ins and can be found on the Reader site with the search bar). If anyone here likes the article(s) and would like to encourage the publisher to greenlight more, feel free to leave your thoughts about the piece in the comment section after article. The paper really pays attention to reader comments!
http://www.sdreader.com/ed/cover/

Is the Tomkat Theater gay porn only, or straight porn, or both? Please let me know. Looking for new places to view or preview porn. Used to go to The Front Door in Long Beach til it closed! Found a video store in La Puente that has preview booths for $5.oo per hour.

I remember when the booths were a quarter on Times Square in the early eighties. I must be getting old.

done480--just went to the Tomkat (now Studs) a few days ago for the first time in 5 years. They are now showing both gay and straight porn. The main auditorium has been divided up into 3 small theatres and 1 large one. They all show gay porn.

The old lounge area has now been converted to a small room showing straight porn.

The place is a bit sleazier than I remember. In the few hours I was there, I saw a few guys who decided it was okay to just walk around the 4 gay auditoriums naked.

Is the theater clothing-optional?

Dont think it is...then again, there's no sign saying you can't be naked. I certainly wouldn't want to sit in any of those crusty seats with my bare butt (lol)

I went in recently after a two year absence. The place was so decrepit, sad and filthy 2 years ago (which attracted mostly decrepit, sad & filthy men), I swore I'd never return. But I was pleasantly surprised: I personally think the new owners have done a decent job with the renovation. It may never return to its "glory years", but I think it's a solid, well-kept porno theatre & cruising spot. While sex is discouraged (there are signs on the outside of the theatre with all of the rules & a mission statement where the movie posters used to be) and there isn't a specific "no shoes, no shirt, no service" policy, the new owners know what keeps the patrons coming back. They seem to turn a blind eye to the occassional nudity, and the action ranges from hand jobs in the seats to sex in the gated areas at the back of the main theatre and on the couches in one of the smaller rooms.

I have been told that Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are very busy there, and the two new straight bars one block east and west of the Pussycat-Studs-Tomkat Theatre are apparently bringing in new, curious patrons. I think we should all encourage the continued patronage of a dying business: the legal porno theatre, especially one in a landmark building with the kind of history this one has.

Here is a January 1958 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2n5wxg

Here is a May 1972 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/3xnwup

Here is a March 1970 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2k2s89

San Francisco Cowboy is dated at 1969 and Miniskirt Love is dated at 1967.

Mini-Skirt love is out on DVD through SWV.

Judinging from the March 1970 ad, it appears that the Monica became a Pussycat in late 1969 or early 1970.

I think it was the Monica first, then the Left Bank, then the Pussycat.

The tagline for Miniskirt Love: A Shocking Glimpse into the warped morals of the Mod world.

There is a dvd that includes Miniskirt Love and two other "gems" called Cool It Baby and Venus In Furs - Special Edition, all directed by Lou Campa. All three movies on one disc. What more could you ask for. LOL

All 3 of those films are quite good. Highly recommended DVD. (Note: There was another film called Venus in Furs, directed by Jess Franco, that came out around that time. It is on a different DVD by another company.)

Here is the description that I found for the dvd:

Three sexy, sick thrillers from the depraved mind of notorious director Lou Campa. In COOL IT BABY, Mistress Monica and her partner Herman think they have a good thing going with their kinky S & M routine: Monica tortures lovely models while Herman films the action. But when they're busted and the District Attorney puts them to work in his own demented sex operation, a whole new world of possibilities opens up to them! Torture, orgies, and wild sex rituals make this a skinfest you won't believe!

Then, in MINI-SKIRT LOVE, little Billy is left in the capable hands of his Aunt Janet when his mom kills his dad and is carted off to the asylum. She introduces him to a world of sensual delights, and the two are happily, if incestuously, engaged in an erotic affair for the next few years. Unfortunately, Mom comes home, and she's just as crazy as ever!

Finally, a shoe store worker is obsessed with Sacher-Masoch's novel VENUS IN FURS, and his fantasies are finally realized when he goes to spend the weekend at the beautiful but elusive Marna's country mansion.

The lowest price that I found for the dvd is $14.06 + free shipping. If you think these movies are worth viewing, I'll ask Santa to bring me a copy for Christmas.

Tomcat no more. This theater is now calling itself "Studs." The oval Pussycat sign remains, with the word Studs added.
There's also a large poster by the door welcoming you to "Studs Theatre," and recounting a bit of the theater's history and legend:

"For decades these doors have opened to Hollywood celebrities, moguls, their entourages as well as their worshippers. Inside you will experience the same cavernous darkness that shrouded their private indiscretions, and harbored secrets that remain, even today, an integral part of Hollywood lore."

Here's a 1969 view of the Left Bank Theatre. Note the standalone boxoffice on the sidewalk:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/leftbank69.jpg

Thanks for the photo of The Left Bank--Looks like the Monica went to "adults only" films prior to its conversion into a Pussycat. (I am guessing that Vince Miranda did not own the theater at that point in time.)

Screen-grab as the Pussycat:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pussycat.jpg
As Studs from Friday:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/StudsMay30200801CT.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/StudsMay30200803.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/StudsMay30200806.jpg

The Monica Theatre was built in 1940, according to the L.A. County Assessor's office.

Haha, this has "got" to be a "cinema treasure" with a name like "Studs Theater".

I remember passing this theater a few times when driving on Santa Monica Blvd when I was in the area. It had a different name though the last time I went by, and from what it sounds like from the comments above, it changed names this year.

Well, technically, last year. But yes, it is one of a dying breed...

There are several ironies in the television & VCR's having hastened the demise of movie theaters, premise.

One, that some theaters once claimed to having "had" to run porno in order to stay afloat, then closed anyway.
Two, that the porno film biz seemed to flourish from an industry in the shadows, into a multi-million dollar juggernaut. Once it came into video and now DVD itself.
Once the product could be purchased and brought into homes, and not sought out in theaters where interacting with others whether desirable or not, was a given.
The industry then got another giant boost, with the introduction of the internet. Then it's customer base needn't even leave their homes to buy the product.

I remember the day's of "Caligula" creating an uproar when it was first released. And it had name stars in it. It's probably multiplied it's sales many times over since then. Probably to it's own makers surprise.

Which theaters then video stores ran/carried the X version of "The Bad Lieutenant", was the last such controversy. Upon it's release, the popularity of owning your own copies of anything was on a fast uprise.

David, Other than responding to the "dying breed" description, what does your post have to do with this particular theater?

Greetings. I guess I was recollecting in general, some of what I remember discussing elsewhere on how the Triple X industry both impacted older theatres, and then took off on it's own after basically no longer needing them. Some theatres read as rebounding after Triple X, some don't.

I like to read all the posts when I link to an unfamiliar theatre. I guess the post from 2004 about the business & advertising/money end of the Pussycat Theater, had gotten my mind going in the direction it did.
As I read on, stream of thought went where it went.

Though my comments may not have been about this particular theatre, I thought they were somewhat relevant and might be of interest to some.
If my last reading of the Studs Theatre as a "dying breed" was an unconscious catalyst, my post might have shed some light on how/why the X industry seemed to fare elsewhere.

In Chicago, once home to many X rated theatres, I can think of only one still in existence, The Admiral. And that's really now more of the live stage show nature. With small video booths instead of a projector and mass seating as it once had. Also open 24/7.
It spent a lot of money during a remodel years back, and stayed around long after the rest of it's like theatres closed up. So I guess that would be the ultimate of the dying breed. That is in no danger of dying anytime soon.
Someone else reading this may now very well click to the Admiral page.

If I went off topic, I certainly apologize. But if some reading my posts have other memories triggered by them, I think that's what CT is all about. I sometimes read posts by some who have never even been in the theatres or cities they are located in. They merely post to praise any given theatre's architecture, history or past promotions as they come across them. Then they are maybe reminded about a different forgotten theatre, or tour like Cinerama. And they begin to search CT even more. I know I do.

Here are 1983 and 1973 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/dxotpu
http://tinyurl.com/cbf25c

Here is an April 1969 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/q25ut4

Was this always a porn theater or did it have at least a short life as a real theater?

It opened in 1940, so it had a long run as a regular theater before it switched to porn.

There is one set of hand/feetprints at the site I can't remember who they belong to (if I ever knew...). There's Linda Lovelace, John Holmes, Harry Reems, Marilyn Chambers, Georgina Spelvin, Eric Edwards, Kay Parker, and... Someone else. It seems like it's Jay something or other???? Does anyone know? Who is it and who was he/she? Thanks

Here is an August 1970 photo from Life magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/n4arf6

Here is a January 1977 ad from the LAT:
http://tinyurl.com/mhkn8j

the theater is trying very hard o woo couples and females to the theater..As of january 2010,Studs now has two straight porn viewing rooms and two gay rooms ..The staff is also more vigilant and fast acting when (if ) a female patron complains..Lesbian couples are starting to show up more and more since late November , usually in the early Saturday or Sunday hours...In December a well known soap -opera star was there (with his blonde girlfriend) doing "research"for a movie role..(i guess)The coffee/hot cocoa/teaand snacks are STILL only 25 cents and NO i do not work at this place , so if you are inclined to go, then go..if not well....

If you look up "theater" on the "casual encounters" section of the L.A. Craigslist, you'll see a rather varied cross-section of current patrons. Snurk.