Tower Theatre

The Tower opened Oct. of 1927, it seated around 906 people. The theatre is closed but is used for film locations. The Tower closed in 1988. The seats on the main floor have been removed for filming and a dance floor. This theatre was designed by S. Charles Lee in a French-inspired theme. The facade has a Spanish Moorish look and a clock tower. The stained glass above the marquee shows a piece of film. (very nice). If you saw the film "coyote ugly" the last concert is inside the Tower.

The Tower theater (and several other downtown LA theaters) appeared in David Fincher's film "Fight Club"

According to The Last Remaining Seats the tower was removed from this building due to structural problems.

Amazing resemblance to Walter Reade's Mayfair Theater in Asbury Park, designed by NYC architect Richard Lamb.

Am researching Reade for my next book on Asbury Park. Can you tell me more about his West Coast movie theater presence?

The Tower theatre can also be seen in "The Omega Man" when Charlton Heston is going into the Olympic theatre around the corner to see "Woodstock". Also in "The Last Action Hero","6th Day". On the picture above, the only thing different is the style of the marquee. (it was modernized, no more neon, little light bulbs spell TOWER). The clock tower part of the building is still there that's the way it looks today. The tower was taller but was removed after the 1932 earthquake in Long Beach. The clock has not worked in years.

I believe the Tower Theater was known as the "Newsreel Theater" for some years ending in the early 1950's.

To see a 1950s photo of the Tower Theater marquee when it was known as the Newsreel Theater click here:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015417.jpg

What a grand facade. It would have been a great theatre if still in use today.

The Tower Theater's interior also appears in the 2001 David Lynch film 'Mulholland Drive' as the interior of Club Silencio.

I was able to see the interior of the Tower Theater during the Broadway Behind-the-Scenes event. It is very sad that the seats were removed from the ground floor but the remainder of the theater remains relatively intact. It is a beautiful theater and I hope that even with the scaring caused by the removal of the ground floor seats and with the addition of tiered stages on this level that the theater does not suffer anymore damage.

If you happen to own the Omega Man dvd.During that Woodstock sequence,you can zoom in on the theatre marquis and will be able to notice that something involving Mohammed Ali is happenning there.

This theatre may also have been the Music Hall Downtown (1950 - 1955).

I seem to recall some narrative on the old board saying that there was previously a Garrick Theatre on this site which burnt down.

The interior (and, if memory serves, the exterior, as well) of the Tower Theatre can be seen in the 1997 Sean Penn/John Travolta/Robin Wright Penn film, 'She's So Lovely'.

The Tower was still called the Newsreel as late as 1964, and usually ran a documentary film or two with its program of (of course) newsreels. It was at that time that I saw there a sensationalist documentary called "Mondo Cane" (Dog's World) which created quite a stir for its cynical views.

An interesting feature of the theater at that time was a small additional theater set up in the basement, adjacent to the rest rooms in what had probably been the lounge. Here were a few dozen seats facing a large projection television which played closed circuit programs, including newscasts and sporting events.

The Tower was not the first news theater in downtown Los Angeles. I recall seeing an old advertisement for the Palace, from the WWII era, when it was called the News-Palace.

I don't recall the exact year in which the Tower name was restored, but I remember seeing "Bonnie and Clyde" there a few weeks after it was released, so it had to have been before that movie came out in 1967.

The main thing I remember about the interior of the theater is the splendid grand staircase which spills down into the tiny, ornate lobby, taking up such a large part of it. The effect is really quite impressive.

You can make out the words "Newsreel Theater" on the side of the building today. It has a for rent sign hanging from the marquee touting it as a prime filming location. Yes, this theater would be visible from the old Olympic Theater which was used in "Omega Man".

According to the name on the clock tower it should be listed as the "Tower Theatre" with the "re" spelling.

Joe Vogel,
When was the last time you were in the Tower Theatre? and also remember the little theatre next to the restrooms. I loved to hang around the basement but it was very dark and scary, but that staircase was awesome i loved looking at it. As a kid i remember everthing being so huge and now i wonder if it still is? Is there anyway of getting a tour of this and other theatres?

L. Linares;

I only went to the Tower those two times; First, at the end of 1963, when it was still the Newsreel Theatre, and then again in 1967 after it had gone back to its original name and was showing first run movies. But the doors were so close to the sidewalk that it was easy to see the grand staircase in the lobby every time I passed by. I went to movies downtown mostly during the early 1960s, and had little interest in the fare at the Newsreel, but I went to the other big Broadway theatres many times.

I think that the L.A. Conservancy is still having its Broadway Theatre Tours every Saturday. I've heard that the United Artists is no longer available to them, and that the Million Dollar was recently taken off the tour due to falling plaster, so that leaves only the Los Angeles, the Orpheum, the Palace and maybe the Tower as stops on the tour. They try to include three theatres in the tour, but it depends on the availability (for example, if a music video or an ad or a movie is being filmed in one of the theatres, they wouldn't be able to include that one that week.) I think they charge eight dollars for the tour, and you need to make a reservation a month in advance.

The conservancy also sponsors a program called Last Remaining Seats, which features a series of old movies presented at one or another of the Broadway theatres, and usually one at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. This series usually happens in June, but you'll have to check on their web site to get the exact dates.

The Palace used to be one of the theatres at which these programs were presented, but it recently suffered some water damage to its projection room, so it may not be available for the series this year, and the Million Dollar is probably off the list too, because of the falling plaster. So this year's program will probably be confined to the Los Angeles, the Orpheum, and the Alex.

I'm not sure that the Tower qualifies for the description "still intact" given the modifications to the orchestra level and the fact that its vertical sign and marquee are tacky replacements. I would guess they were installed in the mid-60s after the theater's last incarnation as the Newsreel.

I found a few great photos of this theatre soon after it's opening..... pretty spectacular.... notice the subdued marquee of the time...

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015482.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics18/00028646.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015479.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015478.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics08/00013718.jpg

Here are some more recent shots....

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics18/00028720.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015480.jpg

About 20 years ago a friend of mind purchased the clock mechanism that was located in the tower of the "Tower theater" It was an old wind up cast iron clock with weights. There was an electric motor that would wind it up at regular intervals. It took us almost a full day taking it apart and bring down the pieces. I had a chance to go exploring and went upstairs to the projectionists room where I saw a toilet sitting right next to the projector,No stall or walls, just sitting there,I laughed out loud! As I started down I came across a big winch bolted to the floor and soon discovered it was for lowering the huge chandelier located in the lobby for cleaning and replacing bulbs. Quite a cool place.

The Tower is in many ways a dress rehearsal for the Los Angeles Theater. There are many of the same elements on a much smaller scale, particularly in the layout of the lobby and the lounge outside the restrooms under the theater. The paint on the ceiling is chipped and peeling but there's still plenty of glamour in the Tower. The auditiorium is very narrow and there doesn't seem to be enough room on their stage to have a screen big enough to show today's films. If it has a future, it would seem to be as a nightclub, for filming or for private parties.
The Tower was also stood in for a Miami nightclub in "Mambo Kings".

Went to the open house for the Tower the other week and was amazed by how intact this theater still is. It too reminds me of the Los Angeles but is as the the last comment said, muc more narrow. With the seats taken of the main floor and the seats in the balcony being a little shabby, not sure where they could from here in regards to ever showing films or performances. It needs some work though but it's still a palace.

The world premiere of The Jazz Singer (1927) was at the Tower Theater in Los Angeles.

I think the world premiere of "The Jazz Singer" took place in New York. The Los Angeles premiere took place at the Criterion Theater in late December 1927. The film moved over to the Tower in early 1928.

Interior photo during plaster contruction work:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PALACE/plaster.jpg

So beautiful !!!

This is a photo dated 8/3/27 of the Tower Theater still under construction.

Old photo/postcard:
http://www.gmrnet.com/graphics/theatr1c.jpg

Another early picture, courtesy of the USC Digital Archive:

http://digarc.usc.edu:8089/cispubsearch/sidview.jsp?object_name=chs-m146&ORN=CHS-6967

CALLING ALL THEATRE / MOVIE ENTHUSIASTS!!!

T'he Los Angeles Theatre' on South Broadway, LA is playing host to the UK television show 'Dead Famous LIVE'. We are currently looking for people who would like to come along as part of the studio audience.

'Dead Famous LIVE' is a studio entertainment show all about Hollywood History and the paranormal. We will be welcoming celebrity guests on to the show and investigating famous locations around Hollywood which are rumoured to be haunted including the Los Angeles Theatre itself.

This is an invaluable chance to get access to the Los Angeles Theatre, the place where Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' premiered in 1931 and to have a thoroughly great day out! (And its free!!)

We're transmitting 'Live' back to the United Kingdom so expect it to be exciting and fun!

We will be filming on three days from 11th - 13th November between 11.30am - 4pm. If you are interested in coming on one or all of these days then email me for tickets!

george.hughes@twofour.co.uk

I look forward to your responses!

A William Reagh photo:

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/reagh/1990-0006.jpg

Some early photos during construction of the Tower, from the UCLA Collection:

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/007/01/i0070105.jpg

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/007/01/i0070104.jpg

Here is a modern photo of the Tower Theater.

This theater is listed as Music Hall under the Independent Theater Guide in the LA Times from 1945-1947. It may have been called that for a longer period, I just can't find the listings other than those years.

I think MagicLantern is correct that this theater replaced the Garrick, but it sounds as though it was torn down instead of burned down.

(March 6, 1927)
Wrecking of the old Garrick Theater, located on the southeast corner of Eighth and Broadway and for many years a landmark of downtown Los Angeles, was started last week, to make way for a new $500,000 playhouse to be constructed there for the Gumbiner Theatrical Enterprises. Plans for the new theater, to be known as the Tower Theater, have been completed by Architect S. Charles Lee and according to the specifications the structure is to be one of the finest in the city. The interior is to be finished in marble and bronze in a method of execution never before attempted, according to Lee. The seating capacity of the theater will be 900. The exterior of the building will be featured by a 100-foot tower of terra cotta and this will not, it was said, infringe upon the height-limit building ordinance of the city. Contract for the work has been awarded to R.E. Campbell and under the terms of the document the building is to be completed within six months.

Pretty close to being on time although the cost seems to have doubled....

(Sept. 22, 1927)
The new Tower Theater at Eighth and Broadway will have its gala opening on October 12. According to H.L. Gumbiner of the Tower, the new palace of entertainment will have a "brilliant premiere." Some of the country's leading stars will be present to take part, he says. Many special features have been scheduled for the first week, in addition to the motion-picture production, which is to be announced later. First-run films are scheduled. The management of the $1,000,000 theater has a representative in the East at present who is gathering new ideas for presentations. The theater is reported negotiating for an orchestra which is now making a hit in New York. If secured, it will be here in time for the first week. An eastern organist has also been secured.

A little about the accoutrements:

(Sept. 25, 1927)
French renaissance design is being employed in the Tower Theater at Eighth and Broadway. Paintings which will appear in the halls of the playhouse are replicas of those in the palace at Versailles, according to H.L. Gumbiner, official of the theater. Marble pillars imported from Italy will be used in the entrance, while the stairway will be made of French marble. The main floor will seat 600 people and a balcony will accommodate 400. The building was designed by Charles Lee.

Is this the first with overhead air conditioning?

(Sept. 27, 1927)
An overhead refrigerating system comprising the latest scientific methods of ventilation has been installed in the new Tower Theater at Eighth and Broadway, opening October 12, according to H.L. Gumbiner, manager. The Palmer Theater in New York is the only other theater in the United States which has installed this new air conditoning plan. It is said that the overhead system is a protection against colds which sometimes result from a draft beneath the seats.

Vitaphone enters the picture:

(Oct. 4, 1927)
A long-term contract whereby Vitaphone prologues will be shown at the new Tower Theater at Eighth and Broadway, scheduled to open the 12th inst., was concluded yesterday when Sam Warner of the Warner Brothers Studios, signed the document which ensures the showing of the Vitaphone in the new amusement house. This will be the first time the 'pictures with a voice' have been presented in Los Angeles since their premiere showing at Grauman's Egyptian some time ago.

This article about the opening goes on and on, if anyone wants the complete article, let me know:

(Oct. 12, 1927)
Marking a new milestone in the progress of Los Angeles toward the rank of first theatrical city in the world, the new Tower Theater, one of the first in America to be built exclusively as a motion-picture house, will be formally opened this evening with a premiere showing of Lois Wilson in "The Gingham Girl.".....It is a picture theater only. No provision has been made for stage entertainment of any kind, other than that which may come under the head of such as the Vitaphone. It is a small theater, seats but 1000, although it occupies space at Eighth and Broadway, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

This obituary might be the reason for the widely held myth that the Tower Theater was the first to show "The Jazz Singer". Read the second entry for the contradiction.

(March 14, 1952)
Funeral services for H.L. Gumbiner, 72, pioneer independent motion-picture exhibitor, will be conducted at 11 a.m. today at the Little Church of the Flowers, Forest Lawn Memorial-Park. Mr. Gumbiner built and operated the old Tower Theater, now the Newsreel Theater at 802 S Broadway, in 1927, where the first talking picture, "The Jazz Singer," was introduced. In 1931 he opened the Los Angeles Theater, 615 S Broadway, with the world premiere of Chaplin's "City Lights."

Now go back and read what I believe is correct:

(Dec. 25, 1927)
When "The Jazz Singer" opens at the Criterion Theater Wednesday night, Al Jolson, the star of the picture, will not only be heard in a short spoken sequence, but he will sing, too, his incomparable songs, "Blue Skies," "Mammy" and others. This has been made possible through Vitaphone, controlled by Warner Brothers. The picture is regarded by far the most ambitious and significant step made in the field of talking pictures. The industry, as far as Hollywood generally is concerned, regards "The Jazz Singer" as doing much toward putting over films of this type. The picture attracted unusal interest when first shown in New York, and where it is still attracting crowded houses.

I guess its all cyclical:

(Oct. 4, 1965)
Tower Theater Reopens Oct. 13

Los Angeles will have its first new downtown first-run theater in 25 years when the modernized Tower Theater opens Oct. 13 at 8th and Broadway. The new policy was announced by Mrs. Villis G. Randall, daughter of the late H.L. Gumbiner, who originally opened the Tower on Oct. 12, 1927. "The Sandpiper," starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, will be the opening picture.

(Oct. 11, 1965)
One of the few remaining show business landmarks of downtown Los Angeles, the Tower Theater at 8th and Broadway, has been rebuilt and refurbished at a cost of $250,000 and will reopen Wednesday with "The Sandpiper", film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. This will be the first movie house to open with first-run product in 25 years and at a time when the wrecker's ball has been demolishing several former de luxe theaters. Mrs. Villis G. Randall, who is operating the new Tower for the estate of her father, the late H.L. Gumbiner, says she has "implicit faith that an entertainment rebirth is beginning in the downtown area.".....Improvements include an oversize air conditioning unit, a coffee lounge, new drapes, carpetting and a redesigned exterior....

On the way to see Metropolis at the Orpheum last night, I passed by the Tower and the side door was open on 8th street. I peeked in and it was pretty fabulous. Even though the ground floor seats have been removed, it still has what looks to be the original walls and ceiling. I think they were getting ready to film something there since it was full of workers painting and building a set on the stage.

Visited The Tower this evening during a prep for a film shoot. The theatre is very narrow indeed. I wonder if any 2.35:1 scope films ever played there, because the area where the screen would have been is narrow as well. Does anyone have any idea what the presentation was like after the theatre was remodeled in the '60's?

Scope films were shown at the Tower many times over but instead of the side masking moving outward to accomodate a scope size image the top masking moved down instead. Yes, it was a pretty good size 1.85:1 image for flat pictures but lousy for scope. As a movie-goer in my late teens I saw a reissue of Dr. Zhivago (in scope) at the Tower in November of 1970.

Here is a 1978 photo showing an old ad for the Newsreel painted on an alley wall:
http://tinyurl.com/mnvnt

Mark Campbell: The current proscenium of the Tower is not where the CinemaScope screen was located. The wide screen was placed several feet in front of the old screen's location, and surrounded with drapes that closed off the stage end of the theater. This was done in the early 1950's. The 1965 renovation didn't involve any major structural changes to the auditorium, though some canvas murals that had been in the ceiling dome were removed and the wall murals were covered over.

If you look very closely, you can see an advertisement for the Newsreel theater at the back of the shot. The forefront is Main Street, west side between 6th and 7th, circa 1941:
http://tinyurl.com/gje9b

ken: I think that must be the back wall of the Palace Theatre, which was called the News Palace for a few years in the early 1940s. In fact, the photo which accompanies the Cinema Treasures entry for The Palace shows "Newsreels" on both of the theatre's blade signs.

OK, I'll buy that.

My link for the 1928 photo expired, so here it is again:
http://tinyurl.com/rsqo6

This is a recent photo of the Tower Theater.

Here is a 2007 photo of the Tower Theater.

Does anyone know if the very top of the tower still exists somewhere? I read somewhere that it was removed after an earthquake, but I don't know if that's correct. I wonder if the top will ever be replaced.

The interior of the Tower theater, most notably the balcony section can be seen in "The Good German" starring George Clooney.

As well as "Mulholland Drive" and an upcoming Sci-Fi Noir thriller tentatively titled "Dark Streets"

From March 2006:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/dwntwn0056mar2006Tower.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/dwntwn0055mar2006Tower.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/dwntwn0029mar2006Tower.jpg

I don't think we've seen this 1938 photo yet:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics32/00065597.jpg

Here are a few more:
http://tinyurl.com/358z6w
http://tinyurl.com/2ptytz

The Tower Theatre also stood in for the Pantages Theater in "Ed Wood" with Johnny Depp, filmed 1994 (interiors only). I happened to be walking by the area during the shoot, and I spoke briefly to some of the extras, all dressed in 1950's period clothing as they milled about the street. It was like going back in time 40 years for a second.

Here is a 'then & now' comparison I put together that shows the Tower from 1928 and the same shot now:

http://lahtc.blogspot.com/2007/05/broadway-then-now.html

Rumours are going around of the Tower getting a rehab and showing movies again in the distant future. Apparently this news is coming from a sales agent selling condos at the Chapman Building, which is across the street. The website for the theater itself has not changed at all.

Here's the link, take this rumor for what it's worth:

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2007/05/rumblings_bumbl_122.php

I spent the night at this theater as an extra during the filming of "The Replacement Killers" back in 1997. I took a stroll and got to check out all the old theaters downtown while nobody was on the streets. A great night.

Did you get to see Mira Sorvino or Chow Yun Fat during the making of that movie?

You can see the Tower Theatre along with the Rialto Theatre in the movie "Let's Do It Again".

This is another recent view of the Tower Theater.

The end of Transformers takes place on Broadway, mostly in front of the Orpheum. But I believe one of the bad robots lands on the Tower and has a brief fight with one of the good robots. They worked the Eastern Columbia building in as well.

Here are some July 2007 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/2y6cuj
http://tinyurl.com/yr4a5n
http://tinyurl.com/yvz6zs
http://tinyurl.com/yq849m

The exterior of the theater is currently being cleaned - work began last night. The huge graffitti on the stained glass window has also been removed. This is being paid for by the new owners, who also own the nearby State, Los Angeles and Palace Theatres.

The State is owned by a church, I thought, unless the church leases it from the owners.

The church only leases the State Theatre.

Here is a 1952 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics47/00043211.jpg

The theater already looks much better from being cleaned. I wonder what they will do with the billboards that say 'newsreel'. I've kind of grown attached to them. A little bird told me that the clock is being repaired also.

I think the name was changed to Newsreel after WW2. Here is a 1940 photo that shows Tower on the marquee:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics43/00041014.jpg

I have a feeling that soon we will be seeing Guess ads or Calvin Klein ads in the billboard sized spaces where it says newsreel.

Here are two interior photos from the CA state library:
http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/laci/1991-0694.jpg
http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/laci/1991-0710.jpg

Here is a new photo of the tower theatre, and a few more on broadway in downtown LA taken this year.

well i messed that one up so here goes the real link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellathatguy/510647713/in/set-72157600249817477/

I haven't been inside this one. I don't think it's ever been part of the last remainingf seats program. I've been to the Orpheum and the Los Angeles, and I think one of the shows was at the Million Dollar a few years ago.

I went in here last winter one night when all the side doors were open and they were filming something in there. I don't think there are any seats and there is some kind of new stage that is like a runway coming out. The stage might have been for whatever they were filming but I'm pretty sure that there are no seats.

So it would be part of the "No Remaining Seats" program.

Or standing room only....

No, the SRO places are over on Main Street.

Has anybody noticed the beautiful job the owners have done on the theatre's facade???? The entire building has had a major power wash and looks stunning. While driving home from the Edison a few nights back I had to stop the car and get out to see the lights on the blade sigh and marque glowing. The theatre looks fantastic and I'm looking forward to getting inside soon. I spoke to Frank Schultz the manager of the Delijani Family Theater empire a few days back, and he said that the Palace Theatre on Broadway is next in line for a facade cleaning. YAY!!!

I watched them clean the north side on 8th....At one point they had half clean and half dirty and the difference was striking.

Here is a recent photo of the Tower Theater after cleaning.

Great photo...I love how the terra cotta comes to life. I read somewhere that they are going to restore the top of the tower and the clock is being repaired.

Here is a July 1928 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/3948tk

The Lion and the Mouse with May McAvoy and Lionel Barrymore was released in May of 1928.

Here is an August 1939 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/yvn3on

Ken mc, That ad could be for the Globe Theatre, also at the same area as the ad. The Globe Theatre was known as the Newsreel Theatre during the early 40's.

Scan of recent magazine article with picture and facts about all of downtown LA's theaters:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/dwntwnlaTowerTheater.jpg

From the Times, March 12 1921:

GREAT BUILDING FOR BROADWAY
Chicago Capitalist Leases the Eighth-Street Corner
Plans to Put Twelve-Story Structure on the Site
Over Two Millions Involved in Transfer of Ground

…'While Mr Gumbiner has resided in Los Angeles for only a few weeks, he is confident of the growth and expansion of the city as a commercial and industrial center. As soon as his affairs in Chicago can be satisfactorily arranged, he will come to Los Angeles to make his permanent home.'

Wonder what held him up for six years? The eventual building is four stories high, and the tower itself another six on top - in total, two short of the original plans.

Gumbiner also seems to have run the Cameo, up the street, at some point after 1924.

I have been told that the Tower screened a sneak preview of 'The Jazz Singer'. It's interesting that the Times ran a brief story about the Tower being equipped for Vitaphone just two days before 'The Jazz Singer's' release.

But the October 14 report on the Tower's opening night states that the Vitaphone subjects that accompanied the screening of 'The Gingham Girl' were the first downtown showing of Vitaphone.

Nick.....I still haven't seen proof of the mysterious sneak preview that people talk about at the Tower. My bet still goes with the Fox Criterion for the Jazz Singer award. If there was a sneak preview at the Tower there should be at least one tiny printed piece of evidence stating the date, but so far its only talk. There's a long discussion on the Criterion page about this. Here's a few excerpts:

(Feb. 22, 1928)
Only seven more days remain for Al Jolson as "The Jazz Singer" at the Criterion Theater when the Vitaphone production gives way to Richard Barthelmess in "The Patent-Leather Kid." The final showing of the black-face comedian's picture will mark the 138th performance, establishing a new record for the Criterion.

Here is the clincher:

(April 29, 1928)
The Metropolitan Theater has booked "The Patent Leather Kid" with Richard Barthelmess in its first downtown showing at popular prices, "Sunrise" with George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor is at the Criterion, and Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer" comes to the Tower.

These days, if a movie has a "sneak" it's usually part of it's publicity package, but in the 1920s sneak previews were genuinely sneaky (unannounced), and intended as a way to audience-test a movie before its release, so last-minute changes could be made. The Tower opened on October 12th, after The Jazz Singer had already been playing for several days in New York (it opened there on October 6th), and by that time the main reason for having a sneak preview would have passed.

In any case, if the preview did happen, it would have been before the Los Angeles opening of the movie at the Criterion on December 28th, so, assuming the event got mentioned in the press, there'd be about ten or eleven weeks of newspapers to sift through to find the evidence. But I suspect that the story of a Jazz Singer preview at the Tower is most likely apocryphal.

I've sifted and sifted and haven't found anything. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, of course. However, if it did happen I can understand that it might not be leaked before the event but after the event it would be highly unlikely that there wouldn't be some mention....somewhere.

Correction: The Tower Theater was designed by S. Charles Lee and S. Tilden Norton, not Lewis A. Smith.

From Saturday:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/TowerFeb16200801.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/TowerFeb16200803.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/TowerFeb16200805.jpg

Close-up of the vertical sign:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/TowerFeb26200805.jpg

A correction to William's 2001 note, in case anyone's counting on it… the Tower appears in the Governator's 'End of Days', not 'The 6th Day'. Apparently one of the side exits takes you down through the New York subway, along corridors lined with flaming torches and into a cavernous machine room where people still assemble for public entertainment (in this case a live performance involving the Devil, a virgin and a casting couch).

A Times obituary for HL Gumbiner (March 11 1952) credits his Tower with introducing 'the first talking picture', 'The Jazz Singer'. I wonder if the Tower's history has become mired in the confusion caused by the use of 'The Jazz Singer' as shorthand for 'first talkie'? Contemporary reports do suggest the Tower held the first Downtown screenings of the Vitascope...

Nick, if you go up this page to january 7, 2006 you can read my little tirade about this issue....I also quoted the obituary you speak of.

Here is a March 2008 photo. I took it while I was driving, hence the odd angle:
http://tinyurl.com/2gxba8

I was looking at the Tower the other day and thinking I'm glad they've cleaned the building but I hope they can somehow preserve the faded signs.

I noticed today that somebody spray painted graffiti on the north side of the Tower over the weekend or yesterday.....I hope they clean it off soon.

I posted a diptych of the Tower and the Rialto on my Flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenerymovies/2713631159/

Here is a July 2008 photo.

What's going on with this place? I drove by the other day, and there was no sign of life. Does anybody have an update?

Beats me.

You can see the auditorium set-up as a night club and stage in the new film "Dark Streets". In the opening the 8th. Street side of the theatre is next to a overpass to a highway (Hollywood magic).

I've notice lately that all of the little vendor's on the side of the Tower are gone or never open. Maybe they kicked everyone out. Also, the graffiti has been removed.

I've notice lately that all of the little vendor's on the side of the Tower are gone or never open. Maybe they kicked everyone out. Also, the graffiti has been removed.

They were filming at the Tower today. The theater was open. I took a look inside, but there was a lot of security so you couldn't just start walking around the auditorium. I took some photos.

Here is a photo taken yesterday:
http://tinyurl.com/4dm7n4

BTW, it was an episode of "Numb3rs" that was filming at the Tower when Ken was there. They showed the same marquee banner that was in his photo, and some scenes were filmed inside. It was supposed to be an exclusive magic club like the Magic Castle, only called something like "Tower of Illusion," but of course just "Tower" on the outside.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1256344/

Here is a 1951 photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/7yryry

Take a look at this photo I posted in July 07. You can still see the Newsreel ads which are visible in the 1951 photo.
http://tinyurl.com/2y6cuj

Two photographs I took in January 2009:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/3211354170/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/3211355814/

Here is a February 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cr2gud

Ken, did you take that photo on Saturday the 31st, or right around then? I was inside on the 31st and there were many Edward Gorey drawings decorating the interior. I am assuming it was for this "Edwardian Ball".

Here is a photo taken around midnight on Friday:
http://tinyurl.com/dmayv4

From the LAHTF's email flyer:

Contact: Hillsman Wright - 310 403-0865
hillsmanwright@hotmail.com
For immediate release – 4/7/09

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation www.lahtf.org
Invites You & Your Friends to Attend
All About the Tower/Rialto/Olympic (Bard’s 8th St.)
Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am – Doors open at 10:00 am
Tower Theatre * 802 S. Broadway * Downtown Los Angeles
Special thanks to the Delijani family
FREE ADMISSION

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) takes its popular All About… series to three theatres near the intersection of Broadway and 8th Street, the Tower (1927), Rialto (1917), and Olympic (Bard’s Eighth Street Theatre, 1927) on Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am. The public is invited to attend.

Show & Tell
Theatre historian Ed Kelsey will present a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation on the storied past of these three very different theatres and relate fascinating tales about the out-sized impresarios – Gumbiner, Quinn, Bard, Grauman, Corwin – who built and operated them.

Tours
Tours will explore the far reaches of the theatres’ public areas, support spaces, and stages to provide attendees with an insider’s, behind-the-scenes look at three of Broadway’s smaller theatres.

Engage
LAHTF volunteers will explain how you can get hands-on experience saving, restoring and programming great theatres in Los Angeles by becoming actively involved with the LAHTF. There will be announcements of a series of exciting events coming to historic theatres on Broadway soon.

Make it a day Downtown.
Join us at Clifton’s Cafeteria immediately following the event to continue the discussion.
Shop for bargains in the nearby Garment District, Broadway’s shops and Grand Central Market.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Save the Dates: May 16, June 13 & 20.

Many people are fascinated by the architecture of fantasy so beautifully on display in Southern California’s great historic theatres. People are also curious about how the theatres work. What does it look like backstage? What do the performers see when they look out across the footlights? Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation's "All About" series gives the public an insider's look at these wonderful theatres and share parts of their histories - good and bad - as a way to encourage people to become actively involved in protecting and ensuring their futures.

The LAHTF is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, restoring and supporting the operation of Southern California’s historic theatres. For more information visit www.lahtf.org

Here is a night view from 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/dcwyo7

Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c5o4ec

Tower is the Newsreel in this 1958 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c2v5sp

Looks like it was taken from the Olympic theatre's marquee.

Somebody is a fan of the Tower Theatre. Here is one example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79761301@N00/3500232756/in/pool-72675154@N00

There are about twenty excellent images in all. Use the index to view the rest.

Here are some photos taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/rxwtay
http://tinyurl.com/q48pfl
http://tinyurl.com/qsbsv7

Here is an amazing photo of the Tower Theater from 1951, when it was called the Newsreel Theater.

http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/search/controller/view/examiner-m7931.html?x=1252087949714

See a great new Wikipedia article about this theatre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Theatre_%28Los_Angeles%29

academy133 that 1951 shot is good but it's the same one ken mc posted from his Dec. 30, 2008 post.

If the top of the tower was removed after an earthquake in 1932, why is it still there in the 1951 photo?

Good question, DB. The top is also visible in the (circa) 1942 shot at the top of the page, and the 1938 shot posted on 2/3/07.

I just heard from Ed Kelsey, who gives the history presentations for the LAHTF's "All About" tours. He said he has a 1967 photo of the theater which shows the tower intact; he believes it was removed in the early 1970s as a result of the San Fernando quake. If he finds a more precise date in his files, I will post it here.

Just took another look at that Wikipedia page. As well as giving an incorrect date for the removal of the tower top, it repeats that business about the Tower being the location of a sneak preview of "The Jazz Singer," which others here have given evidence as being untrue.

Love the link to the 1951 photo academy133 posted. Its unfortunate all these amazing theaters are abandoned on Broadway downtown. With the recent opening of the megaplex a few blocks away, there really is no future for any of these old cinemas to show movies again, or even to become live performance venues. There's many of those in the area already. I suppose they'll just remain relics to tour of a time in movie history that is long gone.

As you know, SoCal, the Orpheum has been profitable for a while now. Technically the other theaters have not been abandoned, since they are earning their owners some money as filming locations, churches, etc. And there is movement behind the scenes right now, that if it pans out, could mean a second chance at life for some of these places.