Pantages Theatre

Any good restaurants in the area?

Guided tours of the interior of the Pantages Theatre, the Grand Dame of Hollywood Boulevard, will be available to the public starting August 6, 2001. For information, e-mail me at -lexi@vintage--venues.com or call toll free 866-467-7990.

It is truly the most beautiful art deco palace ever created. Going through the Hollywood Pantages is like walking in the Heavens.

I was in the theatre only about three times, the last time I stood on the stage and looked up at those balconies, wow, what a sight. The time before that was when they had the last Academy Awards there, the night Patty McCormack, Robert Wagner, and others took home the magic statue. I have climbed all over the roof, and those towers. It is a TRUE land mark for Los Angeles and Hollywood.

If the above sit is not working try the Nederlander site.

www.nederlander.com/pantages.html

I first attended the Pantages Theater in January 1981. I had the privilege of seeing My Fair Lady starring Rex Harrison playing his popular role as Professor Henry Higgins. I was in 8th grade at the time and I have been in love with the theater ever since. I'm glad my very first "broadway" type show was seen there. It is still as beautiful as it was the day I first set foot there. I have seen several shows there since and will be seeing The Producers there in May. Everyone should make every attempt to see a show there. It's a wonderful venue.

I saw many movies at the Pantagees. The Pantagees went from first run film to broadway theatre. I suggest this theatre be equipped again for film so the studios can have film premieres here since Westwood is not available due to merchant complaints as reported in Variety. The Pantages seats 2700 which would be perfect when the theatre is dark with no stage show. The Pantages is Hollywoods greatest film palace.brucec

The Pantages Theatre is still equipped to run film. It has 4 Norelco DP-70 (70mm/35mm) projectors in it's booth. It's been equipped since the mid 90's. I use to work for Pacific Theatres at the Hollywood Pacific Tri-Plex when they re-equipped the booth. They got some of the booth sound system from the Hollywood Pacific and we got new equipment in the main house.

During the "Spartacus" Road Show Engagement in 1960, the Pantages seating capacity was reduced to 1513 seats. Stanley Kubrick had RKO Theatre drape the far rear side seating on the main floor and the rear half of the balcony seating.

Since "Howard Hughes, through RKO Pictures, acquired the [Pantages] theater as part of his national chain of movie houses," does that mean that any RKO movie release (or premiere) would play there?... like for example "Clash by Night" in 1952?? I would love to see some kind of database whereby you could look up the premieres and movie showings for a particular theater with showing dates. That would be great!... It would be so helpful for historical story research. Great website!... and best wishes for a provocative publication.

I have Row B Orchestra seats 205-207 (a little to the right of center) Do you think those are too close to see Mama Mia at this theater? Thanks LV

These people cant be for real?

Robert, Do you think those seats (rowB orchestra) are too close to the stage to see a play? I don't want to be looing up the actors noses????

I won't sit there. Besides its a better show at the Winter Garden in NYC.

In 1973 the late Terry Helgesen wrote perhaps his finest story in the form of the ANNUAL for that year of the Theatre Historical Society of America, titled "The Hollywood Pantages" and in its 26 pages, he produced its whole story to that time. There are dozens of large scale black and white photos to be seen there, as well as a reproduction of the longitudinal cross section from the blueprints, and a full page portrait photo of Alexander Pantages. The 8-1/2x11 inch softbound is Out Of Print, but may be available from the sources listed below.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
To obtain any available Back Issue of either "Marquee" or of its ANNUALS, simply go to the web site of the THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at:
www.HistoricTheatres.org
and notice on the sidebar of their first page the link "PUBLICATIONS: Back Issues List" and click on that and you will be taken to their listing where they also give ordering details. Should they indicate that a publication is Out Of Print, then it may still be possible to view it via Inter-Library Loan where you go to the librarian at any public or school library and ask them to locate which library has the item by using the Union List of Serials, and your library can then ask the other library to loan it to them for you to read or photocopy. [Photocopies of most THSA publications are available from University Microforms International (UMI), but their prices are exorbitant.]

Note: Most any photo in any of their publications may be had in large size by purchase; see their ARCHIVE link. You should realize that there was no color still photography in the 1920s, so few theatres were seen in color at that time except by means of hand tinted renderings or post cards, thus all the antique photos from the Society will be in black and white, but it is quite possible that the Society has later color images available; it is best to inquire of them.

Should you not be able to contact them via their web site, you may also contact their Executive Director via E-mail at: execdir@historictheatres.org
Or you may reach them via phone or snail mail at:
Theatre Historical Soc. of America
152 N. York, 2nd Floor York Theatre Bldg.
Elmhurst, ILL. 60126-2806 (they are about 15 miles west of Chicago)

Phone: 630-782-1800 or via FAX at: 630-782-1802 (Monday through Friday, 9AM--4PM, CT)

This place is incredible. It is so ornate and opulent that it made me feel very, very poor just being there. or maybe it made me feel very, very rich...i dunno, i guess i was just in awe...

When I first went to the Hollywood Pantages, in Nov. 1944, as a boy,
the ads in the paper's movie section called it "RKO Pantages" and, downtown LA, "RKO Hillstreet", and these two RKO houses screened first-run films from Columbia studio, RKO (of course, but NOT "B" pictures such as "Cat People", which were shown down the street at the Hawaii theatre), and Universal. The first Hollywood Theatre I went to also in 1944 was the Eygptian, to see MGM's "Dragon Seed". It was s dazzling experience to visit this theatre; but that same day/evening when entering the Pantages ("Casanova Brown", with Gary Cooper), the fantastic lobby with its light grey heavy carpeting and overall magnificence for all time put every other movie house I've been in to shame. I would go, regardless of program, for years just to be in this theatre. LarryGardner

Ne plus ultra!

I may be biased toward my opinion of the Hollywood Pantages by the fact that my mother ushered there in the early 1950s. Working there, she assembled a significant autograph collection in an era when celebrities actually were occasionally to be found at the fabled corner of Hollywood and Vine.

I credit my earliest awareness of movie palaces generally to my mother's stint at the RKO Pantages. And, though I haven't been there in the many years since it became a stage venue, I did attend movies there regularly in the 70s and vividly remember it being one of the most sublime examples of art moderne architecture and ornament imaginable. While Los Angeles has many beautiful movie palace survivors, and the Broadway theater corridor will always hold wonderful memories for me, the Pantages is one of the very grandest palaces to be found anywhere.

On a side note, I've always been intrigued by the typeface used on the Pantages' vertical sign (as well as that of the Wiltern). (I found out that in typography it's known as "Hobo".) Other than those two instances, though, I haven't seen it used for any other theater signs. Does anyone else know of other examples of its use on a theater?

The Pantages is a great place to see a show. The area has really improved and there are several great restaurants within walking distance, most notably the aged, but still great Musso and Franks. The Vine Red Line Station is located across the street from the Pantages so it is easy, especially if you live in the Valley, to take the Red Line down to see a show and not worry traffic or about finding parking.

The Pantages is the most ornate movie palace built in Hollywood. The Pantages is the largest movie palace on Hollywood Blvd,the Pacific Warner was the second largest until being triplexed in the 1970's,Grauman's Chinese was the 3rd largest.The Pantages had the second largest stage in LA for many years, only the Shrine was larger.The Pantages would be a great venue to start holding large film premieres again like it did in the past. I still remember seeing the huge premiere of "A Star Is Born" with Judy Garland and all the golden era stars in attendance. The last roadshow film to play the Pantages was "Tora Tora Tora" back in 1970.I loved seeing movies on there big screen,it seemed very large at the time.I only remember the screen as being flat and not curved like the Pacific,Chinese,Egyptian and Cinerama Dome.I remember back in 1967 if my memory serves me correctly, the Pantages was showing Disney's "The Happiest Millionaire",the Warner was showing "Thoroughly Modern Millie",the Egyptian was showing "Hawaii",the Paramount was showing "The Dirty Dozen",the Chinese was showing "You Only Live Twice" and the Cinerama Dome was showing "Grand Prix". We were staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and could see the long lines at the Chinese and Paramount, which were across the street from each other, from our hotel room. I was 14 at the time and I thought this was pretty impressive.The Pantages is still my favorite theatre on Hollywood Blvd after all these years.brucec

I can't remember when I first went into the Pantages as a boy
I did see Kitty Foyl there in 1940. As a Citizen News paper boy
I got to know the manager and with a some free papers saw some
free movies. The Pantages and the Warner bros were the ones that
impressed the most. Anyone that was able be on the Blvd in the
1930 and 1940 saw Hollywood at its best. I have seen some musicals
sence they convert it. It can't compare NYC Broadway but don't let
stop from going

Is the Producers still playing there?

In the 1994 film "Ed Wood," there is a scene of Ed Wood and his cast from 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' leaving the Pantages Theater after viewing same. Ironic. "Plan 9 From Outer Space" at the Pantages?

Hi GerryC. There are 2 theaters seen in "Ed Wood" . The first theater scene, where the crowd goes wild and is throwing popcorn is where the cast of "Plan 9" exits in a hurry and the film that is on the marquee is "Bride of the Monster". The theater used for that scene was in Torrance and was called "The Stadium" theater but renamed especially for the film as "The Aurora". It has since been demolished. The story of that theater is at http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1908/

As you mention, the Pantages was the theater we see Ed and the cast of "Plan 9 from Outer Space" attend the premier of, but only Ed and his bride-to-be exit to the pouring rain at the end of the movie. I am not sure which theater "Plan 9" actually had it's premier, but I don't think it was the Pantages... however, the Pantages did give the movie that triumphant feel that Ed Wood actually accomplished his goal of being a movie director to be recognized. One note: Ed meets Orson Welles in a restaurant... that real life place is a few blocks from the Pantages and is called "Musso and Frank Grille" and has been a fixture on the boulevard for about 90 years. A bit of old Hollywood that still looks pretty much the same as it did in the 50s when I first went there as a boy.

Does anyone else know where the Wood films first showed? Do those venues still exsist?

Isn't this simply the Pantages Theatre? Although it's situated in Hollywood, I don't think that the community was ever actually part of its name. I tried to reach the "official" related website listed here in the introduction, but got nothing.

Hi Warren, as far as I know, it has simply been "the Pantages", however, for some of us who have lived in the Los Angeles area for a while, we often refer to it as the "Hollywood Pantages" to avoid confusion with the "Los Angeles Pantages" at 7th and Hill Streets, later renamed the Warner Theater, which is only a few miles away. In San Diego, there was also a "San Diego Pantages", as well. They all were operating in the 30s and 40s under the same name from what I can tell...

The story of the Los Angeles Pantages at Cinema Treasures
http://www.cinematreasures.com/theater/491/

The story of the San Diego Pantages at San Diego Historical Society
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/theaters/pantages.htm

I saw the movie "Klute" with Jane Fonda and Danald Sutherland at the Pantages with my cousin Vic who passed away yesterday. He was head of the Audio Visual Dept at the LA County Museum of Art for a number of years. He introduced me to all the great movie palaces in the LA area when I would make trips to LA when I was a child.He worked with Ron Haber at the museum who was responsible for the restoration of "A Star is Born" with Judy Garland which had a huge premiere at the Pantages in 1954. I will miss my cousin who always took me to the movies in Hollywood and Westwood and sometimes Downtown.It will always be a magical time in my life and I was fortunate to have such a wonderful cousin.brucec

brucec.... Just wanted to say that I own the DVD of the restored "A Star is Born" and even though still shots were used, the movie shows what an enormous talent Judy Garland was. The range of emotions and her singing and dancing run through the entire picture. Vic and Ron did a great job and the film is as much a tribute to them as it is to Judy. She must be smiling in heaven with them. Thanks for the note.

The Pantages was showcased on Good Morning America on ABC as the morning after the Oscars. They really showed off the theatre during the interviews which took place in the Lobby. The Oscars were held here from 1949-1959.They also took you into the Auditorium and mentioned the theatre during the whole hour of the telecast. brucec

The Florodora Girl (1930) was the first film which opened the famous Pantages Theater at Hollywood and Vine.

I just visited California and saw the Pantages. I come from Long Island, New York. I would like to say that this is still a beautiful theater from the outside. I did not go inside.

It is a pleasure to see this magnificent art deco masterpiece reach its milestone 75th anniversary today!!!

Just wished to comment that in the new Academy Award nominated film, "The Aviator", starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, we see DiCaprio as Hughes attending a premiere at the Pantages in 1939. How do we know it is 1939? Because a poster in the Boxoffice street lobby has a poster advertising as a coming attraction, MGM's "The Women"! This is an error. Being an MGM production, "The Women" never played at this theater, an RKO property. Further, at that time and through the second world war years, all posters at the first run theaters in Hollywood had specially made, unique, and expensive hand-cut posters that were NOT paper sheets printed by National Screen Service, as was the case with all other theaters everywhere.
The Director of "The Aviator", Martin Scorsese, never caught this error. LarryGardner ltglarrytgardner@netscape.net

The Pantages can be seen in this circa-late 40s photograph.

Here is a closer view of the Pantages, dated 1952.

http://imagesrvr.epnet.com/embimages/imh/mptv/full/mptv165280001.jpg


Caption: "Academy Awards: 31st Annual," Pantages Theater. 1959.
Source: MPTV

Biography(Leslie Ann Warren) last night showed a bit of the Pantages at the time of the world premiere of Disney's Happiest MIllionaire.

This is modern night view of the Pantages Theater.

Here are some nice interior photos of the Pantages Theater in Hollywood.

Can someone place these two theaters on Hollywood Boulevard for me? They must be here under different names, particularly the Warner's theater. Thanks. The photo is from yesterdayla.com:

http://www.yesterdayla.com/Graphics/HollywoodBlvd3.jpg

The Fox Theater was formerly known as the Iris Theater:

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3016/

For ken mc: Warners Hollywood > Warners Cinerama > Hollywood Pacific > Pacific 1-2-3. It's already listed as one of your favorites: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/18/

Box office, from the LA Public Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015749.jpg

Two more:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014724.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014736.jpg

Color photo of the Pantages Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96445164@N00/73008024/in/photostream/

When I first came to Los Angeles, one of my first jobs was working as a stagehand running a followspot for Riverdance at the Pantages. What an incredible building! My spot was mounted on a vertical tower set just in front of the proscenium. It was really something to be sitting up on top of a piece of steel so close to the plaster.

This is an incredible theatre. I remember how magnificent the lobby was! When we ran control cable for the PA system, I was sent down into the plenum below the seats to run the cable. Found several old theatre programs down in there, from other Nederlander shows.

In later years I sat in the audience for "The Producers", and was just in awe of my surroundings.

Just idle curiosity --- is this the Pantages in the lyrics of the Ricky Lee Jones song?

God knows there are plenty of Pantages theatres on the west coast, but I am assuming she meant the Hollywood one in the song.

JustOldBob: Patty McCormack & Robert Wagner NEVER
took home the "magic statue", although Patty was nominated.

The last time I went to the Pantages it was a double feather in the after noon. Must have been 1960. They were 'Sink the Bismark" and "The Blob". Lots of free parking but not many cars. The price was about 60 plus cents. What a come down for the grand ole theater?

Here is a 1937 photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/nx2ue

Here is another modern photo of Pantages Theater.

This is a recent photo of Pantages Theater.

Recently, on television, I saw the magnificent Pantages in a horror/sci fi award show which was held there. I had not seen the theatre since the last time I was in LA back in 1958. What a beauty she is! I was not interested in the award show but watched it in order to see what the theatre looked like. I must say, seeing it restored and looking so grand was a thrill.
William mentioned in another post that the theatre was still capable of showing film and I wondered if that was still the case and when the last time the theatre was used for that purpose. Are those Norelco's still in the booth? Also what type of stage curtain is in use now?

The four Norelco DP70's are still there. You can see alittle bit of the lobby in the movie "Phat Girlz", during a dream at the start of the movie.

The Pantages has been doing the touring Broadway show route and has had a few concerts and been a site for awards shows and filming locations in recent years

It must be nice to have so many grand theatres still intact.
Here in New York, with the exception of Radio City Music Hall, all of the wonderful old theatres have either been torn down or converted into small little movie theatre boxes. The young New Yorkers will never experience the thrill of watching a movie in a real movie palace.

Yes, Los Angeles still has a good number of palaces still in operation whether it be film or touring Broadway shows.
In Hollywood:
Pantages (Broadway/Concerts)
Chinese (Film)
El Capitan (Film/Special Events)

In Los Angeles:
Wiltern (Concerts/Special Events)
Los Angeles (Special Events/Filming Location)
Orpheum (Special Events/Filming Location)
Palace (Special Events/Film Location)
United Artists (Church)
Million Dollar (closed)
State (church)

In Beverly Hills:

Wilshire (Special Events/Concerts)

Others:
Hollywood Pacific (closed/maybe planning tobe restored soon)
Warner Huntington Park (closed/people are interested in it)
Warner Grand (San Pedro) (Movies/Concerts/Special Events/Filming)
Village (Movies)


Those are some of the true places that are still standing and operating.

Oh well now your just showin off :)
All the old great NY theatres: Roxy, Paramount, Rivoli,
Loew's State, and Capital are sadly gone.
All that remains is Radio City Music Hall, which is for the most part used for concerts, and the Palace, which runs very much like the Pantages. Also there is the Ziegfeld, which is a movie house and while it cannot be considered a palace. It is one of, if not the last, single screen theatre in NY.
Thanks for info William, I am so jealous.

Vito, don't forget the Beacon (concerts/special events) and the Mark Hellinger (church) and the Loew's Wonder Theatres (churches except the Jersey City (films/special events).

I'm jealous, I use to live there. Now I'm here in NYC too.

Oh yes, I did not mention some of still functioning legit theatres and of course the Beacon. There is also the St.George,
a fairly well restored palace on Staten Island which is used as a concert venue. I think the Brooklyn Paramoun twhich except for the main audutorium floor (a gym I nelieve) is also mostly intact. Also in Brooklyn, the Loew's Kings which is still intact but in bad shape and in desperate need of some love and resoration.

William,

I know this may be heresy to some, but what about the Egyptian? Granted, it is not the grand palace it used to be, but from time to time, their programming is quite good. Hollywood Blvd boasts the Chinese, El Capitan, Egyptian, Hollywood Pacific (closed for now) and Pantages, and all within a half-mile stretch.

I look forward to the day when the Norelcos are put to use at the Pantages!

Regards,
JSA

Here is a recent close-up of the Pantages Theater.

JSA, The Egyptian is run as a film screening venue. They program the house like AFI venues. There is very little left of the original interior decor left. Most people will remember the Egyptian Theatre as the Home of the Long Running Hits or as their catch line was "Where the Stars See the Movies". When I was last in the booth, two of them were in running shape and ran well. Someday :)

Scan of a reproduced old postcard of the Pantages Theater:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagescard.jpg

Only saw one movie there "Operation Petticoat" . Loved the theater!

Here's an aerial view of the Pantages. It's vast size is readily aparent:

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pph8r4545jmk&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=6892255

Does anyone know which theater this theater is in this aerial photo? It's between Ivar and Vine, one block west of the Pantages. You can see it's triangular marquee:

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pph7r1545fmj&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=6892255

i figured it out, that's the Vine theater.

Here's a current photo of the Pantages Theater I found online:

Click here for photo

Pantages Theater entrance today:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesmar222007001.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesmar222007002.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesmar222007003.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesmar222007004.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesmar222007005.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesmar222007006.jpg

This is from an interesting blog - author unknown, so thanks to whomever:
http://tinyurl.com/34urw2

At nite:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesatnightMay2007.jpg

Jennie Rupp was the manager of the Pantages for many years.I lost my apartment while working there as an usher in the early sixies. Jennie allowed me to live backstage for 2 months until I could find another place. I'll never forget her and her kindness.

There was a story about the Pantages in the LA Times today. Nederlander has a deal with a developer for a luxury home development on the adjacent property. No community opposition so far.

This is another recent photo of the Pantages Theater.

Pantages building exterior detail:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesOct72007008a.jpg

From Nov. 26:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesNov262007009.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdPantagesNov2620070010.jpg

Wow the place looks great!

Here is another night view of the Pantages Theater.

On July 1, 1963 I sat in the center of the front row of that magnificent balcony and watched the animated opening credits of "Cleopatra." I was so impressed. What a great place to see the big road show event. Two years later I sat in the same place and watched "The Pawnbroker" and it played just as well as the big films. I went there a number of other times and the Pantages always provided the best film-going experience..

Here is a vintage photo from the LAPL. Ignore the fake Christmas tree in the foreground:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics45/00072173.jpg

Do they have any photos of the actual theater besides these street photos?

The LAPL photos are mostly street scenes. I think the California State Library has interior photos of many theaters, but I don't recall if the Pantages was one of them.

You've already linked to some nice photos of the Pantages on this page. Whats the point of that photo? It shows less than the others that you linked to.

You may be right. I'm going home. A pleasant holiday weekend to all.

No offense intended Ken. You post some great photos. I just don't see any point in that particular photo. Continue posting them if you want. I'm turning off the email for this theater. Enjoy your holiday.

This picture from UCLA's collection is the exterior during the 1963 roadshow engagement of Cleopatra.

Of particular interest is the modernization that removed the frou frou art deco neon at the sides and bottom edge of the marquee and completely concealed the elaborate soffit behind a dropped ceiling with recessed lighting. (The ticket booth was also relocated from the center of the outer lobby to a side wall.)

This is a recent photo of the Pantages Theater.

I'm wondering if those are the original wooden entrance doors or if they were replaced at some earlier time?

Here are some March 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/2cuv2z
http://tinyurl.com/yr4b2z
http://tinyurl.com/2zzvec
http://tinyurl.com/2929fq
http://tinyurl.com/2cpfho
http://tinyurl.com/2gopgc
http://tinyurl.com/yrsk7c
http://tinyurl.com/yt2o6y
http://tinyurl.com/yqspwf

Rarely seen rear doors:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/PantagesApr16200801.jpg

I've never seen those rear doors before, and can't even guess where they are located.

I wonder how much of the decorative treatment there is original. In any case, it's nice to see the consistent use of the Hobo (aka Homeward Bound) typeface for the "Pantages" name.

Here is a 1959 photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/6z9usl

The Pantages during yesterdays Hollywood & Vine fire:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/basquefireApr302008081.jpg

LA Times story re fire:
http://tinyurl.com/6bve4e

That's the North West corner property, afew doors from the Vine Theatre.

Here is another photo of the Pantages Theater.

Marquee from Friday:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/PantagesMay30200803.jpg
Center outside lobby light:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/PantagesMay30200806.jpg

78 Years Old Today And Still Going Strong!!

I'm not sure what ..."seeking entitlement to complete the historic Pantages Theatre as originally designed" means:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/PantagesOfficeTower.jpg

"...seeking entitlement....": My guess would be that it just means they're trying to get permission from the city. Completing the original design, which was to include a height limit (150') office building, would probably require some sort of special permit, given that the building as it exists has official landmark status.

To my ear, the phrase reeks of developer pretentiousness, though. Why can't they just say seeking permission? Developers ought to run the jargon that comes out of their marketing departments past English teachers, so they'll sound less pompous and self-aggrandizing.

Still, I'd have no objection to seeing the building completed as Priteca originally designed it. If adding office space brings in more revenue for the owners, then the theatre, too, will benefit.

The L.A. Times carried an illustrated article about the Pantages headed "Theater, skyscraper announced" on December 23, 1928, according to this card in the California Index. Maybe somebody could get Larry Harnisch to dig it up and post it in the Daily Mirror weblog?

This is a 1958 ad for the RKO Pantages.

Here is a February 1938 ad. If you don't enjoy this movie, your money will be refunded. Too bad that isn't done today.

Lost, if they did that today, they may have to do that WAY to often with a lot of the crap that is put out today!

If they did that today Bway, there would be alot more theaters listed on this site as closed.

Hollywood Premiere of Cleopatra

I don't want to be a nag, but you're posting duplicate photos. This one was posted on 3/13/08.

RobertR: As much as I like seeing the photos on the page myself (now that I'm no longer on slow dial-up and don't have to deal with the page taking forever to load), I have to point out that embedding images in a Cinema Treasures comment violates the site's comment policy (bullet point four of the first section.)

Also, if you click the link (mentioned by ken mc in the previous comment) to this same photo at UCLA's website, you'll see that your embedded image is cut off on one side. Apparently, CT has updated its code to prevent its pages from getting stretched out by wide images or long bare links. A wider embedded image than this one would thus lose even more of its content. It's better to stick to direct links.

Here is a December 1950 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/4jacj9

When I look at that ad I think of Broderick Crawford in "Highway Patrol". 10-4

Don't forget "All the King's Men". Well worth renting.

I'll look into that one. I have "Born Yesterday".

Here is a LA Times ad for the original run of "It's a Wonderful Life" in January 1947. The film was not a financial success in its initial release.
http://tinyurl.com/3rcakh

This is a recent photo of the Pantages at night.

Here is a March 1954 photo from a new collection of Life magazine images on Google:
http://tinyurl.com/5soye3

The link to the Life magazine photo was originally found by a new member named "misterboo". Let's give proper credit to the person that actually found the photo. Thanks "misterboo".

This photo from Life Magazine is dated March 26, 1958. Thanks to CT member "misterboo" for the link.

If you keep up the ranting posts, Lo Mem, you should pass the 25,000 mark before the day is over! I've never seen you more ferocious. What has "ken mc" ever done to deserve your wrath?

Lo Life....I don't dislike your new buddy. I'm just reminding people who to thank for the photo link. If your buddy gave "misterboo" credit for finding the Life magazine link as I have done, I wouldn't have to do it for him. I'll try to save the 25,000 mark for another day. I wouldn't want you to miss the festivities.

How hard was it to "find" this link? It was on Google yesterday morning when I was in court. Your argument doesn't make any sense.

I'll assume that your talking to your new friend.

That was one more comment than I should have made on a ridiculous issue. Enjoy.

Here is a March 1950 photo from Life, again at the Academy Awards:
http://tinyurl.com/6g3jtz

Here is part of an LA Times story, dated 1/21/53:

An 18-year-old youth who told police he planned to don a felt windbreaker mask and rob the RKO Pantages Theater next Saturday night and a liquor store last night was arrested yesterday along with a would-be accomplice on suspicion of robbery. Police said the youths, both unemployed, had planned to rob a liquor store at 7315 Sunset Boulevard last night.

There must have been alot of crime in LA in the 1950s.

Don't miss Floyd B. Bariscale's profusely illustrated page about the Hollywood Pantages, at his Big Orange Landmarks web site.

I finally figured out why "Lost Memory" seems to turn up whenever "Ken mc" posts. Ken is the CT member with the most postings except for "Lost Memory," though there's a substantial number between them. But I suspect that Lo Mem fears that Ken will eventually overtake him. Lo Mem posting directly behind him will increase the chances of that never happening.

I didn't know they kept track. No interest on my part, anyway.

Here are some photos taken last night:
http://tinyurl.com/65dg3c
http://tinyurl.com/56bpnh
http://tinyurl.com/62excl
http://tinyurl.com/6mhqtj
http://tinyurl.com/5pube2

This is a nice 2009 photo of the Pantages at night.

Advertised as "California's Most Beautiful Theatre," the Pantages had its grand opening on the night of June 4th, 1930, with MGM's "The Florodora Girl" and a Fanchon & Marco stage revue. The film's star, Marion Davies, was guest of honor, and Eddie Cantor served as emcee. Radio stations KMTR and KFVD carried "live" coverage of the event, which was attended by scores of movie stars and other VIPs. Here's an ad listing some of those expected: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/pantages30.jpg

And the theatre at the time was under the direction of Fox West Coast Theatres.

I wish the Pantages still ran films. It was a great theatre for movies. The last film I saw there was "The Outlaw Josey Wales" in 1976, not soon after that it turned into a Legit theatre.

Scenic artist Amy Higgins has posted some photos of the Pantages on her website:
http://www.amyhiggins.com/Pantages.htm

Someone should tell her that the punctuation at the top of the page needs to be corrected. It should read Pantages Theatre, not Pantege's Theatre.

Here and here are photos I took of the Pantages last week.

This is a 1932 ticket for the Fox Pantages Theater. Would Fox Pantages be an aka name?

As it says Fox Pantages on the ticket, I'd say that's definitely an aka.

Fox Pantages or RKO Pantages or whatever doesn't change the name of the theatre. They just reflect changes in management. In my humble opinion, those names should be entered under "Chain" in the introduction, not only for this listing, but for all theatre listings. Here, the current chain, Nederlander, should be followed, in chronological order, by RKO, Fox West Coast.

I agree with Joe. There should be an aka name of Fox Pantages. The aka names are used by the search engine to find this theater listing. Having the aka name could also prevent a duplicate theater from being added.

Here is an undated photo recently added by the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00078/00078396.jpg

Here is another LAPL photo, taken on Oscar night:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics21/00045000.jpg

Here is another night photo.

This is a June 7, 1930 photo from the LAPL. The premiere was for "Floradora Girl", starring Marion Davies:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics40/00039752.jpg

Here is a 1936 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00075/00075883.jpg

At least you can see the theater in that photo.

Here is a replacement for the 1937 USC photo posted in July 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/dxqgmu

Here is a photo circa 1930s:
http://tinyurl.com/oyszav

Here is a January 1950 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/r25kc6

Here is a May 1938 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/rcxptr

I can actually read that one. Either my eyes have improved or the ad is clearer than usual.

Does Disney own this theater, or do they just rent it for their shows?
I remember in the early 90's the theater looked pretty run down.

I bought tickets today to see Fiddler on the Roof with Topol next month. Topol was the star of the film version in the late sixties. Should be a great show.

Bway: The Pantages is operated by Nederlander Theatres, but I believe the building is still owned by the Forman family, owners of Pacific Theatres. This is Nederlander's web page for the Pantages.

The Pantages received a thorough renovation in 2000, after which it reopened with Disney's "The Lion King", but as far as I know that's the only Disney production the house has hosted.

Disney operates the El Capitan Theatre at the other end of Hollywood. I think that building is also owned by the Formans.

You can see the Pantages in this 1962 photo.

I had the great fortune as a writer to get press passes for the initial run of the original Riverdance when it premiered at the Pantages back in the mid-90's. The tickets were worth $65 each and I had my nine years old daughter with me. We didn't have much money as I was enrolled back in college so the temptation to sell the tickets was great, yet the integrity of the trade as a writer, meant the pen was mighter than the dollar, so we went to see Riverdance and it was incredible. Everytime I saw Riverdance over the years, I always remember how special it was being at the Pantages.

Thanks for not selling your tickets and instead, attending the Pantages to see Riverdance. I respect your integrity. Our society doesn't reward people enough for making the kind of sacrifice you did. I attended a show at the Chicago Theatre in the late 90s that cost about $120 for my wife and I and our son. That was a lot of money for us at the time. Even though I'm not a writer, I found the courage to attend to show and enjoy myself. And since it wasn't Riverdance that I saw, I actually stayed awake for the whole show.

Recently:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages6.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages4.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/664.jpg

Here is a 1943 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/kuk3j9

Spring 2009:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages216.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages200.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages218.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages24.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages47.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages196.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages83.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages112.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages132.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages141.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages168.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Pantages17.jpg

Nice shots. I am going to show there tomorrow night, so maybe I can take some interior photos.

Here are some photos from the show last night. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the auditorium, even when the show was over.
http://tinyurl.com/llkrqz
http://tinyurl.com/kuwapg
http://tinyurl.com/mmu5vn
http://tinyurl.com/oxxkbe
http://tinyurl.com/l9cmdo
http://tinyurl.com/nnzpzq
http://tinyurl.com/nusgaq
http://tinyurl.com/my97ge

Here is a color photo from Life, dated 1954:
http://tinyurl.com/lqyulz

You can't let the other guy finish. LMAO

One more from the same date:
http://tinyurl.com/m7edo5

Unbelievable

Here is a February 1959 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/lbmoq3

I installed an ad blocker on my computer but these things get through anyway.

Guess who were among the guests at the 1954 premiere of "A Star Is Born" at the RKO Pantages: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41487528@N03/3973692902/