Tiffany Theater

The Tiffany Theatre is located 8534 Sunset Blvd.

Before the board ate his comments, moviemanforever said:
"moviemanforever > May 26, 2003 5:23 PM EDT
In the summer of 1971, the Tiffany adopted a policy of showing two films for 49 cents! I went here for the first time to see "Where's Poppa?" plus "Joe." A unique element of the Tiffany was the entrance to the auditorium. The entrance was located to the right side of the screen and in the middle of the auditorium. When someone entered the auditorium, there was a walkway that split the rows of seats in half, similar to a concourse in a larger venue. The Tiffany was closed for a number of years, then reopened in 1977 with a
revival policy similar to that of the Fox-Venice and Beverly Cinema. The opening features were "Auntie Mame" and "Gypsy." The Tiffany was also popular for its midnight showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which played for several years. I remember the theatre was very clean and the lobby resembled a classy storefront, with lots of glass and extensive lighting.

As of July 4, this theatre (which had been closed for several years), became the new home of the Actor's Studio. At least they didn't tear it down!

That's a pleasant - and mildly shocking - bit of news. Did all or only part of the redevelopment project which would have resulted in the demolition of the Tiffany fall through?

The words are up on the marquee announcing the play to be premiered there - I'm sure the L.A. Weekly or Times will have some kind of piece on it before long. I'd seen lights on and construction equipment for apparent renovation for the past few weeks but never stopped by to see what was going on. If the Actor's Studio (a reasonably big deal in the Beverly Hills community) is in there now (their offices are next door to the Tiffany), I doubt there's any plans for demolishing anything other than a few egos...

Developer Donates Temporary Use of Tiffany Theater
to the Legendary Actors Studio

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The legendary Actors Studio has opened a new performance space thanks to the generosity of Apollo Real Estate Advisors, developer of the proposed Sunset Millennium project.

Apollo is donating the temporary use of the Tiffany Theater, which is located on the proposed site of the mixed-use development, and has refurbished the interior and exterior of the building. The Actors Studio at Sunset Millennium opened on July 4 with a staged reading of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” starring Mark Rydell and Martin Landau.

“We are pleased to make it possible for the Actors Studio to use this space for a temporary period of time,” said Richard Ackerman, principal of Apollo Real Estate Advisors. “It will give them and their members the opportunity to demonstrate their skills to members of the community.”

The Actors Studio has lined up a full series of programs to celebrate the opening of the performance space, which will operate until the Sunset Millennium project is approved by the city and construction begins.

The first eight weeks will feature readings by other Actors Studio members such as Sally Field, Estelle Parsons, Diane Ladd, Shirley Knight, Tony Franciosa and Barbara Bain in plays to be announced. In addition, Tony Award nominee Calvin Levels will star as James Baldwin in “James Baldwin—Down from the Mountaintop” before taking the play to New York City.

Following that, on Labor Day weekend, award-winning playwright Lyle Kessler, author of “Orphans,” will present the West Coast premiere of his new play “Unlisted.” The next project will be “Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex and Sex,” the new play by Tony Award-winning playwright George Furth, author of “Company.”

Founded in 1947 in New York City by Elia Kazan, Lee Strasberg and Cheryl Crawford, the Actors Studio is a non-profit theater workshop for professional actors, directors and writers. The Actors Studio in New York is led by co-presidents Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel and Ellen Burstyn. Its West Coast branch has operated out of William S. Hart Park in West Hollywood since 1966 and is led by executive directors Martin Landau and Mark Rydell.

“We are deeply grateful that Apollo Real Estate Advisors is allowing us to use this wonderful space,” said Barbara Bain of the Actors Studio. “It is truly a gift not only to us, but also the people of West Hollywood.”

A pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development, the Sunset Millennium is proposed for three parcels located at the heart of the Sunset Strip. A prior version of the project that included office, hotel and retail space was approved by the West Hollywood City Council in late 1999. After construction of the first phase, which entailed the renovation of the former Playboy Building into Class A office space and construction of 107,000 square feet of retail space, Apollo reviewed the development in relation to traffic impact, the need for housing in West Hollywood, the real estate market and other factors and decided to build for-sale residential units in the place of office space. A draft environmental impact report on the Sunset Millennium will be released next month, and the City Council is expected to consider the project later this fall. If approved by the city, construction is anticipated to begin early next year.

Apollo Real Estate Advisors was formed in April 1993 as the real estate affiliate of the Apollo organization, a group of companies that has managed in excess of $16 billion in equity since its formation in 1990. Since inception, Apollo has overseen the investment of eight real estate funds, comprising over $4.5 billion of equity, which collectively have invested in more than 210 transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $20 billion.

For more information, call (310) 360-6936.

They still have performances scheduled through November.

The Tiffany has been refurbished as the Sunset Millenium and is currently occupied by the Actors Studio. A combination of readings and original productions are showing. Contributing artists have included Martin Landau, Mark Rydell, Charlie Robinson, Ralph Waite, Sandra Locke, William Devane, John Rubenstien, George Furth, Jeffery Hayden, Lyle Kessler, Virgina Newcomb, Danny Truxaw, etc.

How many people remember that 77 Sunset Strip opener with the door on the immediate left side of the theater being where Efram Zimabalist Jr would walk over to the driveway to Dino's?
The Tiffany. I had the opportunity to be a non-union projectionist there for such events as the American Film Market, showing such mega-hits as "Rotweiller" in 3D. Many 3D films played here because of the near-flat projection onto the screen, something valuable for really good 3D. Doing weapons checks during the runs of Rocky Horror Picture Show - a cherished memory. Having to stop the film (a ragged mess after years of cinematic abuse) whenever the audience got a bit too High School with their antics, which should be noted as the income that allowed this place to stay afloat for quite some time. Yes, stars would occasionaly come by to view - and complain vociferously over what? to owner Tom Cooper. New prints some times did arrive, like a spanking brand new copy of the The Robe. But sometimes, something like that caused a ruckus, like the arrival of "Treasure of the Four Crowns" during said Film Market - put into the projector wrong (and not by this hand), it made producer/star Gene Quitano understandably apoplectic, instantly sending the first reel back to a befuddled lab, which could only return the film wondering what the.... I put this same first reel on after the fact (to an empty house but for Mr Quitano, so he would be sure this was an ok print after all) and, Voila! - perfect 3D! After many years of working with the mentally challenged, I was barely ready for this job. It was wonderful.

I remember attending The Rocky Horror Picture Show from 81-83 and it has great memories for me growing up there.

I left New York and the Bleecker Street Cinema in 1977, and my first job in California was manager of the Tiffany Theatre. My first day was a late August Friday, with art films in the evening; and Rocky Horror at midnight and 2AM. I'd been feeling not great, but I put it down to nerves starting a new job.
Right at midnight, just as they were about to open the doors to the Rocky Horror crowd, I fainted in the middle of the lobby! It turns out that I had the flu, and some people from the Tiffany staff [bless you Jim Bennett and Mary Whiteley] took me to the ER.
They thought Rocky Horror was too much for me-- but I returned 2
days later, and managed the Tiffany til spring, 1980.
Rocky Horror was my life...

Sinclair: When Edd Byrnes (Kookie) of the TV show 77 Sunset Strip came to the Tiffany in the late '70s I asked him about shooting the recurring show opening using the Tiffany lobby door. He looked around, and said "yeah!" At the time, Dino's was named 'Chez Denis.'
I was manager 1978 - 1980. When did you work there?

I attended the Tiffany regulary for ROCLY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, and other features,got some good memories there,, sitting in the 3rd row CENTER, for A STAR IS BORN 76, it was right in my face, and the sound was wonderful. The Tiffany was my fav place away from Hollywood Blvd.

Were you at Rocky Horror when I was there '78-80?
What a party!

Hehe, I saw Rocky Horror in June 1982 for my b-day! Imagine a bunch of pre-teens standing on Sunset at midnight, throwing dry rice at passing by cars, lol.

Meryl! OMG, I worked with you at the Tiff (and with Mary at the Vag) - I just joined this site tonight and was about to write about this theater when I just saw your postings! I'm Meredith, (friend of Danny's still too) and in NYC! Remember me (and David)?

Yes, it was definitely a party, working the midnight and 2AM Rocky Horror screenings, and going to breakfast at Cantor's after...

Meredith, How great to hear from you--it's been LITTLE WHILE!
Isn't this site fun?
My email address is on my profile, let's be pen-pals!
I'm still friends with David!
I'm been in California the whole time since the Tif,
but I'm a New Yorker, and I'd love to hear what & who & where!
Love,
Meryl

I remember seeing a doubleheader of two Howard Huges classics that hadn't been show in years (like forever I thought at the time): SCARFACE & HELL'S ANGELS). PRISTINE PRINTS!

I attended other double features at the Tiffany, but preferred seeing movies at the Nuart, FOX Venice, and Vagabond. I was more of a 60's hard rocker in the late 70's & early 80's, so dealing with the gliiter crowd that seemed to attend the Tiffany on a regular basis was a tad much for me (especially when I attended a midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW). Everyone there seemed to have a good time though.

Boy, this is becoming a reunion! Meredith, how are you? I've still got a picture of you changing the marquee at the Vagabond.

Hiya, Meryl!

Remember the "Christmas Quarrels" George, Michael and I sang before Rocky Horror? Those were the days...

Whatever happened to Elvira?

- David

David, how is NC? Michael & I still sing your "Christmas Quarrels!"
Meredith, come visit L.A!

Meryl, North Carolina is beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen so many trees in my entire life. Two days ago it snowed, and Elizabeth and Naomi went outside to play in it. When they came back in, they both called for me to come to the kitchen. I got pelted with snowballs.

I lost my virginity in the alcove next to the screen during a performance of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Tiffany.

really? what year?

December 1980.

This Rocky Horror clip was partially filmed at the Tiffany in 1981:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw1Uoc18yYI

Enter At Your Own Risk

THANK YOU for the clip-- brought back lots of memories.
I was manager at the Tiffany 1978 - 1980.
Now my two teenagers go to see it at the Nuart, L.A.
It was my first job after moving here from NY.
Also, my first friends in Los Angeles. And they still are:
hi David, Meredith, Terri, Michael!
and Jim and Queen George, in Heaven.

Meryl,

I remember you.

!

The Tiffany had a Ronald Reagan film festival in September 1980, a couple of months before the election.

How about this double bill in Feb. 1980 - George Romero's "Martin" and the uncut version of Tod Browning's "Freaks". The Zep film "Song Remains the Same" followed the week after.

You can see a bit of the Tiffany and the Rocky Horror marquee in Valley Girl. It's when Nicolas Cage takes Deborah (don't remember her last name) into Hollywood for the first time. It's part of a montage.

"Vice Squad" was also filmed in front of the Tiffany.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au0cQGfTCYM

Is this theatre still open? If so, what name does it now have? I think this entry needs to be updated, based on the comments.

The Tiffany is closed, yet it is still standing and still named Tiffany.

so the new name 'Sunset Millennium' did not last?

Here is a July 1970 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2633zh

Tiffany Theater today:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdTiffanyOct132007004.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdTiffanyOct132007005.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdTiffanyOct132007007.jpg

The Tingel-Tangel was across the street in 1934. I think this was a playhouse:
http://tinyurl.com/267u2a

There's a scene in the first half hour or so of John Boorman's 'Point Blank' (1967) starring Lee Marvin with the Tiffany in the background. In one of the scenes when Marvin returns to LA to find his wife Keenan Wynn is standing against a car with the Tiffany clearly in the background. Pretty cool. I didn't know this theater existed until I saw the movie and then came here to CT and confirmed it. Wouldna been able to do that in the years before the internet!!

I remember all of you! David and his red hair. Living behing the church at Highland. Seeing ALIEN at the Egyptian at 4AM on opening night. I lived with Jim on sunset near the Tif. Remember Little Lisa and Big Lisa. Back Rubs in the lobby. and all those virgins in the stairway banging during rocky. Tommy Cooper did you do a cup count. Stale Bagged Popcorn, YUCK! Spelling out J A N E T on the screen during dammit janet.

OMG the memories

Jay Goldstein

Too many memories to put down, so I'll aim for the cherce ones... I was a projectionist at the Tiffany (and Vagabond) during the Golden Age (late 70s) when the beautiful Meryl Senatt was at the helm. She held us all together when Elvira Gulch blew in like some drunk Tasmanian Devil to wreak havoc on all of us. I was mercifully distanced from much of that by being in the projectionist booth, and when we all went out to Penny's at 4am after the RHPS screenings, we'd share backrubs, and omelettes, and watch the sun come up. And for awhile, there would be readings of the latest adventures of Elvira Gulch penned by me in the booth, which would have us in stitches.

One nice thing I'll say about TC was that he truly appreciated the experience of classic films and sought not just to show them, but to "present" them as an event. He took pleasure in giving films context, inviting film musical legends like Hermes Pan or Kathryn Grayson to the theatre for a screening of their movies. I was lucky to be a projectionist right at the end of an era, and over the years I met older professional projectionists who learned their craft from their dads. They had the knowledge and care for preservation, as well as the sensibility for the art of presentation that doesn't exist now in the era of multiplexes and automated screenings. There's nobody in the booth now, and if there is, they don't give a rat's ass about presentation. Oh well, there's Disney doing it's dog and pony show at the El Capitan, and while that evokes a time when movies were an event, it's a museum piece.

Let me tell you what I'm talking about with presentation. At the Tiffany, I'm showing "Dr. Zhivago". The film comes with an intermission, and at the beginning of part two, there's a musical interlude before the visuals start. I discovered after one screening that I had the opportunity to do the following: after the music concludes, there is darkness and a quiet except for a faint rumble. I lowered the house lights and timed the opening of the curtains to reveal a small white dot on the center of the screen that got bigger and bigger, with the curtains just ahead of it. The sound of the rumble got louder, and the white space was getting larger, and just as the curtains are fully open, we're blasting out of a dark tunnel in the Ural mountains and the track rumble crescendos as the whistle screams, and we're into the second part of the film. That's what I'm talking about.

I've got some wonderful Rocky Horror memories that I'll share in another post, as this one got too long with that unexpected tangent. But thanks Meryl for letting me know about this site! As an actor, I think it's so cool that the Actor's Studio had use of the space.

Sean Hannon
actor • animator • activist • ass • (and former projectionist of the Tiffany Theater!)

Many years ago, Sean, you told me to let you know if anything cataclysmic happened in my life. I think finding this site might be that moment. I just spoke to "Little Lisa" for the first time in 28 years yesterday. Lisa and I stole the J-A-N-E-T from the letter room at the final show of RHPS. I kept the N-- I left t eh T on Meryl's doorstep at 3am after the show- if I remember correctly, she came dressed as a Transylvanian and snuck in, but got thrown out by Tommy Cooper when she was spotted with David Bryant. This was the last time I saw anyone from that old group.

Many years later, I had the privilege of working with Richard O'Brien. To make matters entirely surreal, I met him for the first time Tiffany Theater, where we attended a revival of the Rocky Horror Show. the lobby smelled the same, I saw a lot of ghosts that night. -- Lisa (please! Never call me BIG Lisa!)

Lisa, sure; there are ghosts-- but right now they're all smiling & waving at us!

The April 11, 1966, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that Harold Goldman and Robert Lippert planned to have their new Tiffany Theatre operating by late May of that year. The first movie theater on the Sunset Strip, the new art house had 400 seats, arranged in the continental style. The interior of the theater was designed by Ben Mayer, and the new facade and marquee were designed by Heath & Company. The building itself dates from 1935, and had already undergone extensive alterations in 1955.

Good lord. Robert Lippert? I'm a serious B-movie freak, and had no idea that all those years ago we were working at a theater originally owned by the producer of "Rocketship X-M." Wow. Thanks for that info, Joe.

Sean, good to hear from you. I don't think I'll ever forget your Elvira stories as long as I live. Was it you or Michael that invented "Suck up the Drool?" Remember Ben Frank's across the street from the Tiff and how nasty the food was? It's referenced in several Tom Waits songs (he must have been hanging out there about the same time we were), and nobody today knows what he's talking about.

As for the story of Meryl getting tossed out of the last Rocky Horror Picture Show screening because Cooper spotted me with her, I don't have any real recollection of it, although it sounds vaguely familiar/plausible. Meryl, could you fill me in on it? Due to various chemical experiments I repeatedly performed on myself, my memories of that time are fragmentary. I do remember that he hated me with a passion, though; I suspect it may have had something something to do with the manner in which I resigned.

Hi, Lisa. I just spoke with you on the phone a few hours ago, along with Brett. I'm going to set up a private online gallery shortly for pictures of the whole gang from back in the day. I'll send out the details when it's ready. It's especially important if the Tiff is slated for the wrecking ball. Start scanning, Tiffany veterans!

Hi David, Meryl, Lisa, Sean - It's Meredith again - Have to admit I haven't been on this site for awhile, Meryl reminded me to check in.
David, let me know when you open that gallery, I have some snapshots I can probably scan to you, I'll get your email from Meryl. I really remember your songs, especially a Christmas song you made up that was hysterical although now I don't remember the words. I also have the Tommy Cooper record LP, him singing show tunes. David, you and Brett shared an apartment, right? I remember the Iggy Pop poster in the living room. I may be out in LA in Feb, I'll drive by the Tiff and see if it's still there.

Hi Meredith, Michael, Lisa, David, Sean, Brett, George, Paul--
wow-- that was fun!

I found my very first ticket from the first time I went to the Tiffany. It was $2.50. The fun never stops.

Here is a picture of Gerrit.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/sexbeatle/gerritgafford.jpg

I finally found some more information about the Tiffany. Boxoffice Magazine's issue of November 7, 1966, said that Robert Lippert and Harold Goldman had opened their new Tiffany Theatre on November 2, with an invitational event that included the American premier of the Greek film "Young Aphrodites." The architect was Jack Edwards. The stated seating capacity was 400.

The November 2 opening was somewhat later than the projected opening of late May, which had been announced in the April 11, 1966, issue of Boxoffice.

Rick and I used to go to the Tiffany all the time. We saw the 3-D festival there with the rare Three Stooges film. We also saw Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney there for the opening of (was it "Words and Music?). We also frequented the Vagabond, the Beverly, the Nu Art, and the Sherman. I met Bette Midler at the Sherman. She came to see "Some like it hot." One night the cast of "Carrie" (William Katt, Sissy Spacek and others) showed up when we had a double feature for something. That was way too long ago. The Tiffany was the coolest of the revival theaters. Rick was probably their biggest supporter. He used to know everyone there. I probably spent half my income going to movies there between 1976 and 1979. Its one thing to see a film on DVD. Its an entirely different experience to see it projected in the original 35mm print.

I arrived in Los Angeles in May of 1977 and right away knew it was built for me. The first double bill I saw was Alexander's Ragtime Band and The Gang's All Here. Though the theatre was odd -- very little rake, a low ceiling, and not a very large screen, it was run by dedicated cinemaphiles and for the next several years, it was one of my favorite hangouts. I miss it to this day.

I recall with great fondness the 3D festivals. I saw Kiss Me Kate whenever it was shown, but saw just about everything else, and most of them were really pretty terrible. The Tiffany boasted that it had a silver screen, and perhaps because the throw from the projector was in a straight line and the screen was small, the 3D was much more effective. They showed the shorts and cartoons, too, everything they could find. They also made it their business to find good posters. There was one 3 sheet of Rita Hayworth's Down to Earth that was beautiful.

Often, old stars would show up for screenings. I once saw The Harvey Girls with Virginia O'Brien in attendance. She was wearing a rather tired leopard skin coat. After all, it had been a long time since she was at MGM. I felt bad for her since only about thirty people showed up, but she still seemed delighted to be there and gave a little talk beforehand, describing how she was discovered and what it was like shooting the movie.

Another time, I saw Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. One entered the theatre from the side. A dazzling figure in a dazzling red gown caught the corner of my eye. It was the star and former wife of director Russ Meyer, Edy Williams. She was alone and sat directly behind me. She seemed like a good sport, she laughed at her own performance, but then disappared about halfway through when her role
in the film ended.

The sister theatre to the Tiffany was the Vagabond. See my post for that for a few more stories.

Can't bring up the Vagabond on the site...hmmm.

Also, what was the Gordon (on LaBrea south of Melrose) renamed?

JAlex; The Vagabond Theatre is now known as the Hayworth Theatre and is listed on this site here:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1170/
The Gordon Theatre is now known as the Regent Showcase Theatre and is listed here:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1131/

A tip when searching for a theatre on the site by name, is that if it isn't listed under its current name, try searching under previous name, by changing the tick in the search box.

KenRoe: Many thanks for the updates. I lived in LA 1981-89 and the Vagabond and Gordon were a couple of places I frequented...along with the Tiffany, the Oriental, the Four Star, the Clinton, the Fairfax, the New Beverly, the Pan Pacific. Obviously, I leaned to the inexpensive houses.

Here is a photo taken yesterday:
http://tinyurl.com/lg794w