Fox Theatre

This theater is (or was) located on Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood and has been shuttered many years. It may have been demolished.

It's still standing on Hollywood Blvd.

Last week, half of the sign was light up during the night...perhaps a sign of opening again?

The comment below about the lights. The lights are still on a timer, so sometimes they go on when someone goes into the theatre. Mann theatres closed the Fox afew years back. Mann theatres had been using the Fox as a warehouse for the company. All the seats are gone and all the booth equipment has been removed. Mann theatres closed the Fox because it was cheaper to use it as a warehouse than a theatre. So it would be expensive to reopen this theatre.

I worked there as a local 150 union projectionist for the first six months of 1985. We ran Dune (70mm) , Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom, 2010 and others. This was the smallest theatre I ever worked in that ran 70mm using the cheaply built Norelco DP-75 with all those plastic pieces. Seated 175 with a screen measuring 15x30.

The Iris Theatre opened in 1918, it was designed by architect Frank Molline. S. Charles Lee gave the theatre a sleek art modere look along with a new neon marquee in the late 1930's. During this time the Iris showed first run Warner movies. In 1968 the Iris was renovated again for $250,000 and its name changed to the Fox. It reopened with the movie "The Killing of Sister George". The ads for the theatre boasted a new facade, expended lobby, marble walls and comfortable form chairs. The theatre closed in 1991. Today there is a available sign on it's marquee. The trouble with that is all that is left inside is a shell of the former theatre. Mann Theatres the last chain to operate the theatre. Gutted it for use as a warehouse for equipment for the chain.

The theatre is located at 6508 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.

The Fox Theatre seated 647 people. (not the 175 in the above post)

Can you change the city location from Los Angeles to Hollywood? It the only theatre on Hollywood Blvd. listed in Los Angeles not Hollywood.

How does this theater look like inside? Is it big? Is there a stage area?

if anyone has a direct contact with the owner/leasee please contact me at WiseGuyRewind@earthlink.net , I'm involved with a business opportunity and I need space for this . Thanks

It would be nice to see this place used for something besides a warehouse.

The Fox Theatre is a very simple theatre. It has been remodeled a few times over the years. It is just four walls, the theatre was earthquake retrofitted so the building is up to code for that. It was a medium sized theatre and no stage area.

They are looking to lease the theatre. There was a sign on the marquee as of last November 1st.

I remember seeing this theater when it was still the Iris, and still sporting the splendid neon marquee, and the simple, elegant facade which was its perfect backdrop, provided by Lee's excellent design. I've never seen a picture of the theater as it originally looked, but the Lee design was so good that I'm sure I'd forgive the owners for making the change. Not so with the Fox remodel of the 1960s. The skinny, plain and yet oddly fussy bogus arches, and the bland plastic marquee, are typical of the weak designs of that decade. Very few of the theater renovations in the 1960s were in any way forgivable. There was just no energy in them.

I have heard that, in 1953, the young Carol Burnett worked the ticket booth of the Iris, after a stint as an usherette at the Warner theater up the Boulevard. I'll bet she could tell some interesting stories about the place.

Joe:
I have a small photo of the original Franke Meline designed formal Romanesque brick facade of the Iris Theater from a trade magazine of the early 1920's. The current building was errected in 1918. E-mail me and I will send you a copy.

The marquee is sporting a for sale sign.

This and the Vogue theatre have had their leases taken over by club owner and film producer Elie Samaha, and he is not interested in reopening them as theatres, sad to say.

I used to go to the IRIS Theater as a child with my mom. It had a spectacular marquee. The facade was remodelled in 1955. An artists sketch and caption was published in the Herald Examinar Newspaper at the time... it read...

"Artist's sketch of the Fox Iris Theater at 6508 Hollywood Blvd. on February 11, 1955, to open soon with lavish movieland premiere fanfare. The 816-seat showcase has been remodeled at a cost of $100,000."

The artist's sketch (now owned by the L.A. Public Library) is located here....
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics49/00044348.jpg

Here is a great photo showing the IRIS only a few days before it's grand opening on July 31, 1934.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics40/00039934.jpg

Christian;

Many thanks for posting the 'artist's sketch pic (was this scheme ever carried out I wonder?) and also the 1934 photo of the S. Charles Lee? re-construction of the facade (I have never seen this one before). Your input is very much appreciated.

Here is a brief resume of the history of the Fox (former Iris Theatre);

It was built for theatre owner P. Tabor who had previously operated Hollywood's first movie theatre, the Idyl Hour Theatre, built in 1911 at 6265 Hollywood Blvd.

In 1913, the Idyl Hour Theatre was re-located to 6415 Hollywood Blvd and the name changed to Iris Theatre (This location would put it just slightly East of the current Warner Theatre (Pacific 1-2-3)on what is currently an empty piece of land).

In 1918 a new Iris Theatre was constructed on the other side of Hollywood Blvd at #6508 (the current site today). It was designed in a formal Romanesque style by architect Frank Meline & Co- Designers and Builders, the entire structure was built of brick and it had a seating capacity of 814 on a single floor.

The first major change to the theatre came in 1934 when S.Charles Lee? (according to William's post on here on Nov 11 2003) re-built the frontage (as seen in the photo you posted) and possibly did some re-modelling in the auditorium (strangely this is not mentioned in the Maggie Valentine book on S. Charles Lee 'The Show Starts on the Sidewalk'). The only work Lee did in Hollywood in in that period according to the book is the newly built Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in 1934-35. But then there are several innacuraccies in that book, so this needs further investigation.

The Iris Theatre was re-named the Fox Theatre in the mid-1950's when the former Music Box Theatre/Fox changed its name to Pix. This could tie-in with Artist's sketch of 1955 which you posted. If this new treatment was carried out on the facade, then it didn't last too long, as the current rendition we see today was possibly from the 1968 renovation.

The Fox was operated in its later years by Fox West Coast Theatres, National General Theatres and finally Mann Theatres. I have a copy of the LA Times, December 1983 when they did an article reviewing the movie theaters of Los Angeles. I quote; 'The Fox, Hollywood - The screen is poorly matted. Its picture is cut off at top and bottom - and as for cleanliness - it's a garbage dump'.

I have a year of closing for the Fox Theatre as 1994.

Elie Samaha... to paraphrase Cindy Adams, only in Hollywood, kids, only in Hollywood. Considering the recent $77.1 million Intermedia judgement against him for inflating production budgets and, with few exceptions, the junk he produced in the deal his company, Franchise Pictures, had with Warner Bros., it's amazing he still has any kind of positive reputation in town, but if you're slick or slimy enough, sometimes you find a way to hold on, I suppose...

KenRoe, YES, it most certainly was carried out, and I put a picture postcard view on my website so you can see it! The view is from 1956, and this is how I remember the theater... the IRIS is on the right side.....

http://www.rchristiananderson.com/hollywoodhistory/HollywoodBlvd3.jpg

The view also shows the Warners Cinerama Theater on the left side.... which is shown on cinema treasures at http://cinematreasures.org/theater/18/

Thats a great postcard view. I wonder if the low building just beyond the Warner Theatre building is the former first 1913 built Iris Theatre? It's an empty plot of land there nowadays so perhaps we will never know.

Hi Ken Roe,

I found an interesting photo for you. Above, you wrote "In 1913, the Idyl Hour Theatre was re-located to 6415 Hollywood Blvd and the name changed to Iris Theatre (This location would put it just slightly East of the current Warner Theatre (Pacific 1-2-3) on what is currently an empty piece of land).... I wonder if the low building just beyond the Warner Theatre building is the former first 1913 built Iris Theatre?"

I actually found a photo, TAKEN FROM A POSTCARD CIRCA 1948, which I have posted below, apparently taken from where the Warners Theater building is... and behold, a theater marquee! I can't make out the text on it, however... can you? Is this our "mystery theater" at 6415 Hollywood Blvd. in a later incarnation? When I first saw this card, I thought the marquee was the Warners, but realized it looks nothing like the square shaped marquees of the Warner and looks to be lower to the street, as well.

ALSO... I also wonder why the large letters "P U I" are backwards on the oblong mirror-like sign at the extreme left?

Here is the photo... http://www.rchristiananderson.com/hollyvine.jpg

Christian:

The theater marquee in the postcard view is that of the Admiral (now called the Vine) at 6321 Hollywood Boulevard.

There is a website that has two photos of the Iris.
Hollywoodphotographs.com

Hey, thanks Joe... I appreciate that. Odd that they named it the "Vine" when it's not on Vine Street and there has been confusion between the Hollywood Playhouse and Ricardo Montalban which are on Vine Street for years. I found another website about the Hollywood Playhouse that talks about the CBS Radio shows held at the Playhouse, which were actually performed at the Montalban (then called the CBS Radio Theater).

The main feature playing at the Admiral Theatre was "The Razor's Edge".

Great William, you're right, the main feature is "Razors Edge" and it was made in 1946....

I actually figured out the second feature... it was "Housekeepers Daughter" from 1939, with Joan Bennett and Adolph Menjou ... I guess that feature was in a second run at the time... it's a good guess the postcard view is from 1946 or 1947.

I passed by the theater the other day and it's still all boarded up and is in pretty sorry looking shape on the exterior. I wonder how bad the interior has become. It's hard to believe this theater only closed in 1994 (meaning it must have been still open during my first visit to Hollywood in the early 90's). It looks like it's been closed so much longer than that. The last 10 years have not been kind to it.

I cant find any thing about the Academy theater just east of Highland and across the street from the all night Hollywood theater. I lived at 1775 N Orchid street in 1953/55 and walked to all the shows on Hollywood Blvd. It was lit up like Christmas every night. Heading east on the blvd'd south side I can only remember the Paramount, Hollywood, Egyption and the News-View. The last one only showed news reels. Can anybody name the ones from Highland to Vine on the North side? I think there were four counting the big Warners theater showing "Cinerama" for those 3 years.

clvee;
Theatres on the north side of Hollywood Bld between Highland and Vine are: Vogue, Warner's(Pacific 1-3), Holly(Studio, Music Hall, Academy), Vine(Admiral).

I worked at the Holly Cinema across the street in 1981, The Fox, closed for about 2 weeks and did a re model, they put blue track lights in the floor down the isles, i think new seats also, improved Dolby and I think also 70 mm. I saw a movie there before it was remodled. After , when I worked at the HOLLY, I went over to see ARTHUR, decent sized theatre 2 isles, no balcony. decent remodel. ( it was just a freshner, new carpet etc, nothing major).
I was in LA July 2001, and it was boarded up,and marquee dark.
Strange how you can still hear the ghosts of the films that played there.

I've seen - can't recall where and wasn't able to find them via Google - what I presume to be relatively recent exterior photos of the Fox and indicating that a Latino church has moved into the space. Can anyone confirm this (or, perhaps through personal knowledge, pinpoint a time when those snapshots might have been taken)?

bt91975;
The Fox(former Iris) still sits vacant and boarded up. It is the Ritz further along the boulevard that is now in use as a Latino church.

At the Fox Hollywood on July 2, 1973, I saw Billy Jack. Only time I visited.

During one of the last remodels of this theatre and the Mann's Hollywood Theatre a few years before they closed both theatres was to earthquake retro-fit the side walls. At the time both theatres along with the Vogue Theatre were still doing business along the Blvd. As the business changed Mann Theatres had one projectionist had all three theatres.

I told a lie. Also saw Tender Mercies here in April, 1983.

Is this the same theatre?
http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/detail.asp?im=%2D1&cat=43&offset=120&ID=4192

That's the one!

From yesterdayla.com:

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

From the LA Library:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics17/00008113.jpg

Can anyone tell me where the Warners' Theater seen in the above photos is listed? Thanks.

ken mc: The former Warner Hollywood became the Pacific 1-2-3.

Thanks.

A photo by Arnold Hylen, circa 1959:

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/hylen/2001-0276.jpg

1968, from the LA Public Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014568.jpg

From the Bruce Torrence collection:

http://www.hollywoodphotographs.com/detail.asp?im=%2D1&cat=43&offset=32&ID=4159

I went to the Iris a few times, and then, much later, a film I wrote and directed premiered at the Fox. I have a photo somewhere of the marquee - what a thrill!

In Ken Roe's post from Jan. 2nd. 2005. He has the closing year as 1994. The Mann's Hollywood Theatre closed in 1991. And the Fox was the next theatre to close in 1991 and then the Vogue Theatre. The Vogue closed in the late summer/early fall 1992.

Thanks for the info about the Vogue - very helpful. My film played the Fox in 1976 for several weeks.

I was working as the projectionist at the Fox showing the Paul Simon film "One Trick Pony" the night that John Lennon was shot. I came down from the booth to get a soda when someone told me the news. At first I thought it was a bad joke but unfortunatly it wasn't.

Anyway I remember that it was a fairly small theatre and the screen wasn't very large. . . but it did have the then new, Dolby Stereo system and even 70mm projctors.

Matt Spero

Does anyone out there have any high quality pictures of the S. Charles Lee front of the theatre? that would be the late 50's early 60's. I'd love to see what the boxoffice looked like as well as clear shots of the marquee.

Matt Spero moviebear1@aol.com

Just got back from Cinecon in Hollywood. It's STILL standing there dark and empty!

I worked at this theater during the summer of 1969 and a few other times after that. I was 18 and 19 years old and made $1.65 an hour. Mr. Duff was the manager. He was an alcoholic and sometimes on the make with the girls. I worked as a loan out at other theaters and other managers were like that too. It was a bad scene, overall. My best friend from high school helped me get the job. She and another friend bought drugs from a red haired guy who would come by everyday carrying a paper sack. I ended my friednship with her and went to beauty school down the street. Sometimes I'd worked nights at Fox and go to school during the day. I took the city bus home at midnight. I lived on Van Ness below Franklin Avenue. It was scary.

Continued from my previous post. Cher and a friend came in one day for a matinee and ordered cokes and popcorn with extra butter. They were very nice. An older man named Slim worked as one of the doormen. Everyday he would order a Dr. Pepper with a candy bar. I felt sorry for him. I remember when when the film Easy Rider premiered there and the lines were around the block.

Continued. I could go on and on with the stories but they wouldn't be suitable for this post.

I am currently looking for any Old Theatres in which to lease or possibly buy in Reseda, Van Nuys, Hollywood or North Hollywood. It has been my Long life Dream to renevate and own my own Theatre/ Venue. Please e-mail me at richardwarrington@hotmail.com or call me at 310-597-9398 if youo live here!! Thanks.Rick

P.S. If you also live in the areas in which I am looking and want to help please contact me as well!!

Richard, The Fox Theatre has been gutted for along time now. And the current owners plan to turn this former theatre into a nightclub, along with the nearby Vogue Theatre. Somewhat in the lines of the ElRey Theatre on Wilshire Blvd..

The owners should be run out of town on a rail. I'll tell you something - if they renovated and re-opened these two theaters my guess is that they'd do well as movie theaters - like the El Capitan has. Warners should do that with the Pacific's - make it their flagship theater. If the Dome can operate as a theater, so can these. Nightclubs - phooey.

You're right, I remember when all the theatres on Hollywood Blvd. were all open showing movies. If you did not catch the film at the Chinese, Dome, Paramount, Pacific or the Egyptian #1, it all ended up at the World. Those were the days.

Exactly. One could spend an entire two or three days just going from movie theater to movie theater, catching all the latest, which is what I frequently used to do. Just start at the Chinese, then to the Paramount, then over to the Hollywood, then to the Egyptian, the Vogue, the Warner Cinerama (then the Pacific's), the Fox (or Iris), and I'd even do the New View, Admiral, and the Academy in the early 60s. Back then, even the Iris and the Hollywood were nice and comfy theaters. Each theater had its own personality, which is what I loved about the nabes, too. I've written about these theaters in my various novels so much that I fear I will write myself out, and yet I never do - I never tire of describing the magic of what it was like togokjkjkjkjkjk

Oops - continuing -

never tire of describing the magic of what it was like to go to the movies in the 50s, 60s, and even 70s, in the pre-multiplex days, when there were hundreds of stand-alone movie theaters in this city.

That's one of the main things I miss about going to the movies. I did the same thing, I would catch a show at the Chinese and walk down to the Pacific or one of the others for another film. Or go for the long haul with the triple feature at the World. All these theatres were managed by career managers that gave these theatres their personalities. Not the new corporation management styles of today.

Agreed. I worked at the World in 1966 for a few weeks - was going to LACC and had to have rent and food money, so I worked the late shift. But, I also went there every week to see whatever triple bill was playing. That's where I saw The Professionals for the first time. Even though the World was a low-rent affair, it was still terrific. Of all the Boulevard theaters, though, I loved going to the Paramount best of all (well, during its heyday) - what a theater and what curtains and what movies I saw there. Plus, it was just a short half-block walk to C.C. Brown's!

I remember C.C. Brown's but never ate there - didn't have the money.
My friend Julie once treated me to a sundae at the drug store on the corner of Highland and Hollywood. Does anyone remember the underground theater on Sunset Strip? You entered on the street, walked down steps to a small cave like theater. My older brother was friends with Hortio Guiterrez from Hollywood High School who became a famous concert pianist. We never kept in touch. The three of us saw the foreign flick - Umbrella's of Cherbourg. This theater and movie introduced me to foreign films. We also went to a spaghetti restaurant on Hollywood Blvd? I cannot recall the name. Horatio volunteered to replace the pianist and he played "Leaves of Grass."

I can describe the inside of this theater having worked there. The girl's dressing room was a large walk in closet - no windows. It was at the top of the stairs on the west side.Our uniforms were kept there. The men's and women's bathrooms were upstairs on the north side. The projection room and manager's office were on the south side. They also had no windows. The theater was small and cozy. Downsairs behind the cashier was the storage room filed with candy, popcorn etc. The doorman's dresing room I never saw, but I think it was behind the stage? The theater was very comfortable, not too small, not too big and very clean. From the candy counter we had a good view of the street and I enjoyed people watching.

Here's a view of the Fox from the air:
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pph5kh54547w&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3597240

From Los Angeles Times:

The historic Fox Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, empty for about three decades, has been purchased by the operator of the Crobar nightclub chain for more than $1 million.

Crobar, based in Chicago, plans to spend $5 million restoring and improving the building erected in 1917 before opening in October, said real estate broker Ruby Simpson of Sperry Van Ness. She represented Crobar and the sellers, a family that had owned the property since the 1920s.

That is the most nauseating news I've heard all week. I hope Crobar goes out of business soon. If I'd known the theater was that cheap, I would have bought it. Just what Hollywood needs (or the world needs), another trendy nightclub for idiot kids to get wasted at. This trend will pass, and all these "renovated" theaters will sit empty, only by then they will have ruined them irrevocably. Karma, baby - it will come.

The theatre closed 16 years ago in 1991. According to the post above from the Times story it closed in 1977. Time flies when your having fun on Hollywood Blvd.

The answer from the writer Robert Vincent) of the LA Times article was "Uh oh! Thanks for telling me".

I think this will be great that the building will be renovated, or at least used. Sure, it's unfortunate that it won't be a theater anymore....but this is a lot better than conversion into retail....and certainly better than an abandoned building slowly falling apart for two decades.

I heard things turned bad in the late 1970's. I left Hollywood in 1971. During the 1960's, The Blvd. was safe to park and see movies, back then. I went to the Teen Fair, Hullabaloo and It's Boss teen nightclubs. They were all safe, no drugs, good security, etc. The worst area was down near Highland at that time. I remember some transvestites and pimps. I guess things got bad to the point that people didn't feel safe parking, and going back to their cars at night. I read Carol Burnett's autobiography and she worked at this theater when it was The Iris. I also recently read on the internet that Fred from I love Lucy show lived near Hollywood Blvd, collapsed and died on a sidewalk after seeing a movie, mid 60's.

A good read is "Low Down" by A.J. Albany. Her Hollywood childhood and mine were similar. Same neighborhood, same junior high school although she is 11 years younger than me, we had many of the same experiences. Her dad was Joe Albany, famous jazz musician. I remember my dad telling us that he lived at the St. Francis and that he was a heroin addict. My dad who worked as a barber but went to Hollywood to work as a musician had told us that most of the jazz musicians he met were addicts. That is why he preferred being a barber. Once you start this book you will not be able to put it down. We lived near Bronson/Franklin and Van Ness/ Franklin areas. She describes in much detail, these areas as well as all her hangouts that I went to too.

While what you say about Hollywood Blvd is probably true...that's not the reason all the theaters closed.
It was a national trend. Everyone lost their theaters, even in the best of neighborhoods. Viewing habits changed in the 50's with the dawn of TV. Today, more modern multiplexes are used. It's hard to make an old single screen theater profitable. Even duplexing or triplexing is still hard to compete with the multiplexes.

True. I remember only two good movies that had lines around the block, the rest of the time the theater was near empty. I wondered how they made it. It's all about whether a theater has movies people want to see. Fox didn't have consistent good movies. I remember some awful off beat type of films. Too many theaters not enough good movies? One of the movies at the Fox was "Easy Rider." I answered the phone all day long from people wanting to know how to get to Hollywood Blvd, Which exit to take etc. Most of the calls were from the Valley - biker types.

Most of the info on this site is correct, no seats, fixtures, carpet ect. have been removed. All that remains is a few bare walls. Demo is scheduled for April 2007, all that is to remain are the exterior brick walls, including everything from the roof rafters to the floor. (nothing structural) As for the stage, it still seems to be as it was when the theater opened in 1917. Except for the screen, in wich about two thirds of it has been ripped down, leaving the remaing portion hanging with one jagged edge torn from side to side. Numerous tears from what it appears to be objects that were thrown through it, like a big piece of torn paper with holes.

Any photos of the interior before it's too late?

ill have some pics soon.

Sad and decaying:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdFoxMar22200701.jpg

Not much hope for rehab based on that picture.

A new sign on the front door is requesting a food and beverage license. Anyone know what this property will turn into?:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/hollywood90038/hwdFoxTheaterMay18200701Small.jpg

It sounds like it may become a restaurant/bar or a club.

Well manwithnoname posted that info above on Feb. 23 2007 at 12:40pm that the theatre was tobe turned into a club.

I loved this theatre back in the VERY early 80s. I lived on Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilcox so the walk was quick up to Hollywood Blvd. Saw FRIDAY THE 13TH Part 3 in 3D there. What a hoot. The World was the best theatre on the Blvd. though.

My Little History at the Fox Theater

EMPLOYED

I worked the Fox Theater on second shift at 6508 Hollywood Blvd. from the summer of 1986, at the opening of 'The Golden Child' through Spring of 1987. The first half of my employ, it was known as the "Mann's Fox Theater" and was later bought out by United Artist. At the end of my time, there were two rumors concerning this building:

1. That there were plans of another buy out by Goldwyn-Meyer (that turn over had not occurred by the time I left.)
2. The building repairs were too expense and it would probably be torn down.

DESCRIPTION

Pine's November 1, 2006 at 2:46 am post;

I can describe the inside of this theater having worked there. The girl's dressing room was a large walk in closet - no windows. It was at the top of the stairs on the west side.Our uniforms were kept there. The men's and women's bathrooms were upstairs on the north side. The projection room and manager's office were on the south side. They also had no windows. The theater was small and cozy. Downsairs behind the cashier was the storage room filed with candy, popcorn etc. The doorman's dresing room I never saw, but I think it was behind the stage? The theater was very comfortable, not too small, not too big and very clean. From the candy counter we had a good view of the street and I enjoyed people watching.
posted by Pine <http://cinematreasures.org/members/profile.php?id=16188> on Nov 1, 2006 at 2:46am

is an accurate description of what I recall. The only things I can add are:

The steel door on the inside of the ticket booth showed a deep indention from a bullet, put there during a robbery. I hard the booth attendant was hurt pretty badly, then tried to return to work and fear of a reoccurrence eventually cause her to quit. The combination locked safe was in the floor of the ticket booth.

Upstairs at first glance appeared to be a semi-circled hallway that stretched across the entire upper level with stairs at both ends. The bathroom and manager's doors that Pine mentioned were on the outside wall and the projection booth on the inside wall. And "when it rained, it poured!" during the rainy season it leaked throughout the building.

Scanning the pictures on this site, the front of the building has had many face-lifts. When I was there the rear of it, in the little alley, did not look like the same building. It looked as if it was supposed to be white when it was constructed. Although it did not have graffiti, it had varying layers of rust and discolorations. I, like many of you, loved the marquee.

THE CREW

The manager was James Foreman, who I heard was transferred to a theater in Beverly Hills.

The assistant manager was Duane, (no after theater information on him.)

Our doorman was the faithful, Slim. When I got there it was jokingly said 'Slim has been with the theater since it opened. Pine's September 11, 2006 4:50 - 4:56 am posts,

I worked at this theater during the summer of 1969 and a few other times after that. I was 18 and 19 years old and made $1.65 an hour. Mr. Duff was the manager. He was an alcoholic and sometimes on the make with the girls. I worked as a loan out at other theaters and other managers were like that too. It was a bad scene, overall. My best friend from high school helped me get the job. She and another friend bought drugs from a red haired guy who would come by everyday carrying a paper sack. I ended my friednship with her and went to beauty school down the street. Sometimes I'd worked nights at Fox and go to school during the day. I took the city bus home at midnight. I lived on Van Ness below Franklin Avenue. It was scary.

Continued from my previous post. Cher and a friend came in one day for a matinee and ordered cokes and popcorn with extra butter. They were very nice. An older man named Slim worked as one of the doormen. Everyday he would order a Dr. Pepper with a candy bar. I felt sorry for him. I remember when when the film Easy Rider premiered there and the lines were around the block.
posted by Pine <http://cinematreasures.org/members/profile.php?id=16188> on Sep 11, 2006 at 4:57am

confirmed his long time dedication. A couple of months before I left, Slim fell ill and did not return to work.
(no after theater information on him.)

One of our ushers; Larry, doubled as doorman.
(no after theater information on him.)

Our other usher, Honor, doubled as ticket taker when Larry was not in.
(no after theater information on her.)

The two cousins (Maria and Elizabeth) I heard took more hours in the retail jobs.

I have no information on who ran the projection booth during my stay.

FAMOUS PEOPLE

The famous people that graced our audience was:

THE LA RAIDERS

RAE DAWN CHONG - came in with one of her friend's toddler daughter.

ART EVANS - came in a few times.

PATRONAGE

The was not a steady flow of patriots, at times the show began as scheduled with one to a few viewers present.

Wow Slim was there in mid 80's. Sad to hear he fell ill. There was a another doorman, but I cannot recall his name. He was young - late teens. He told Julie and I, that he was living with his probation officer or someone from the court as he was living with his grandmother, got into trouble and placed in the care of a sicko guy who he said made him have sex with prostitutes. A guy who took advantage of his power. Julie tried to help him get out of his situation. I do not know whatever happened to him as I left to go to beauty school. Evidently this sicko told the grandmother that he would take care of him so he wouldn't have to be in detention, then he abuses him. Horrible. He also told him that if he ran away he'd be put in jail. Thanks for you information.

Mann Theatres was the last theatre chain to run the theatre. United Artists Theatres operated the Egyptian Theatre and those awful twins in the rear area of the property. Mann was the last lease holder to the theatre and they were the one that closed it and decided not to run it as a theatre.

It wasn't anything special, mom dropped me off here to watch The Little Mermaid, I think she left me because she said the movie was making her sick, also saw Troop Beverly Hills here...nothing to write home about, really a dump in the late 80s. Nothing lost if it's torn down, it was a cracker box even at the time...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/149929575/in/set-72057594129975085/
for a postcard of the Iris and Warner, and a better look at my picture that's featured at the top of this page here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/978316148/in/set-72157594343161371/

An Estey theater organ opus 1925 size 2/10 was installed in the Iris Theater in 1921. Note: Moved from Queen Theater Long Beach, California.

Roloff, thanks for your great photos. I would also like to find a photo of Hollywood Blvd 1969-72 of Hollywood College of beauty on Hollywood Blvd.No longer there. It was next door to Love's pit barbecue restaurant.

Roloff, you do have great photos. Thank you very much. I hate to see the old "Fox" structure go down.

Thanks guys. Feel free to comment on them in Flickr as well (you need to subscrobe though).

Here is a 1918 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2ry26j

The Family Skeleton with Charles Ray and Sylvia Breamer was released in March of 1918.

It appears some kind of renovation has started on the Fox Theater:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/hwdFoxTheaterDec242007.jpg

Here are some March 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/3xns9x
http://tinyurl.com/2nelq9
http://tinyurl.com/2vkzea
http://tinyurl.com/3azfa7

I guess if you pulled down the fake facade, as seen in the last photo, you would get a look at the original front. Maybe in the future.

The plans have changed. The property will not be a Crobar-branded venue like the ones in Chicago and Miami, but will still be a multi-purpose live performance venue. This article provides links to other related ones.

http://la.eater.com/archives/2008/03/03/no_crobar_for_hollywood.php

It's expected to open in the fall.

Here is a 1992 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics47/00043422.jpg

Re: 1992
What happened in 92? I see smoke and the fire dept. The people look different too, than when I was there in the 60's. I remember well dressed office and retail store types.

I think it was the Rodney King riots.

Work has finally started on the theater. I went by today and noticed the rear doors were open. Other than some faded and chipped panels on the walls, the auditorium has been cleared out. They were in the process of knocking out the projection booth. I have to admit I felt a twinge of sadness seeing it like this.

By the way. The much discussed 1955 remodel didn't happen until 1959. That's when the theater lost most of its character, the Iris name and the great old marquee. It reopened in August of 1960 with "The Time Machine".

Here is a photo taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/47yxfu

So sad, the graffiti must go. Has any work happened to this theatre yet?

Here is a 1953 photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/3zvxuj

Signage has just gone up on the boards indicating the opening of the nightclub/event venue Playhouse. The interior renderings look good (click on link, then click on Playhouse) Another space for the young and wealthy to party the nights away. None of the original theatre remains except for the facade and marquee. The facade has still not been renovated. Hopefully they will keep the kooky design intact and leave the marquee.

muselifestylegroup.com/

Here is part of an LA Times article dated 2/11/55:

Fox West Coast Theaters yesterday announced the gala opening of its newly remodeled Iris Theater in Hollywood for next Tuesday night after refurbishing at a cost of $100,000.

The first-run show house will feature a wide "miracle mirror" screen adapted for conventional, Cinemascope, 3D or VistaVision films, Edwin F. Zabel, Fox West Coast manager reported.

Additions under the redecoration program include a new facade on the front of the building, marquee, seats, carpeting, lighting system, box office and poster display cases finished in stainless steel. William F. Katzky, Jr., 35, with 16 years experience in show business has been named manager of the theater.

Here is another LA Times excerpt dated 11/24/68:

National General Corp. has closed the Iris Theater om Hollywood for a $250,000 renovation project. The theater will be renamed the Fox and will reopen on December 20 with an exclusive run of "The Killing of Sister George". The remodeling is part of an expansion program launched by Eugene V. Klein, president of the Los Angeles-based company.

The 650-seat house will be given a deluxe appearance, including a new facade, expanded lobby, marble walls, carpeting and comfortable bodiform chairs.

Nobody has yet created Cinema Treasures pages for the Fox Theatre's two predecessors (mentioned in Ken Roe's comment of January 2, 2005, above), the 1911 Idyl Hour Theatre at 6265 Hollywood Boulevard, and the 1913 Iris Theatre at 6415 Hollywood Boulevard. Does somebody want to do that, or should I post them? Ken?

Incidentally, the 1915 Los Angeles City Directory lists the Iris Theatre at 6417 Hollywood Boulevard. I believe that lot was absorbed into the parcel on which the Warner Bros. Hollywood Theatre was built. Unless there was some shifting of addresses over the years, the original Iris might have been demolished then.

Also, though the Idyl Hour Theatre appears to have been the first movie house built on Hollywood Boulevard, it might not have been the first in the Hollywood district. The building in which the Ivy Theatre was operating in 1915, and which is now the location of the Chaplin Stage of the El Centro Theatre, was erected in 1910. So far I don't know if this building was built as a theater, or if it was converted into a theater within a few years of its construction, but if it was built as a theater then the Idyl Hour was not Hollywood's first movie house.

Thanks for all the info!!! I started working here summer of 1969. I didn't know that it was renamed Fox, Dec 20, 1968. I recall National General, cause I received my paycheck from them.

Joe: I have added the Idyl Hour Theatre and first Iris Theatre, and they now have their own seperate pages.

CHURCH SERVICES WERE ONCE HELD AT THIS THEATER WHEN IT WAS THE IRIS.
A BRIEF HISTORY
   Hollywood Lutheran Church was founded May 29, 1921, when a group of 24 people, who had been meeting for worship and prayer in a private home in Los Feliz, opened a "Charter" of those wishing to start a new Lutheran congregation. Quickly outgrowing a house living room, they began holding services in the Iris Theater in Hollywood, and found their first pastor, Rev. Milton H. Stine (formerly the President of the California Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America).

Within less than a year, the new congregation purchased a lot on Sunset Blvd. near Van Ness, surrounded by Warner Bros. Studios. 
  But when Warner Bros. began to expand its Hollywood presence, a deal was made.  Hollywood Luthean Church sold its lot to Warner Bros. and purchased a permanent site in Los Feliz. Warner Bros. made a generous donation to help with the cost of construction and furnishings.  The congregation built its present home in 1924 at a cost of $70,000! The Sanctuary was dedicated November 9 that year and has been in continuous use ever since.
A Sunday School building was completed in 1937, and enlarged in the 1940s.   A two-story educational and office wing was added in 1968.

Our property once held a small (equity-waiver) wooden theatre building originally owned by actress Mae West, but she never performed in it. It fell into disrepair, was later condemned by the City of Los Angeles, and demolished before the new wing was added.
Hollywood Lutheran Church has been served by nine different senior Pastors in its eighty-six year history, as well as 4 assistant pastors, 11 seminary interns, and several parish visitors.
  Pastors who have served Hollywood Lutheran Church

1921–1926 Pastor Milton H. Stine
1927–1942 Pastor J. George Dorn
1931-1932 Assistant Pastor Erwin May
1932-1934 Assistant Pastor J. Ernest Messer
1943–1949 Pastor Robert D. Kerstetter

1945 Assistant Pastor Albert Alsop
1948 Assistant Pastor George H. Lovecamp  
Pastors Stine, Dorn and Kerstetter
  1949–1952 Pastor R. Bertram Reed
1953–1960 Pastor John T. Steinhaus
1960–1991 Pastor Harry D. Durkee

1961-1963 Associate Pastor Fred Daubenbis
1987-1988 Assistant Pastor Ken Edwins  
Pastors Reed, Steinhaus and Durkee
  1991–1995 Pastor John Wagner
1995–2000 Pastor James E. Boline
2000–2004 Interim Pastor Paul W. Kloth
2004– Pastor Daniel M. Hooper  
                           Pastors Boline and Hooper


 A Son of the Congregation:  Eddie Spirer, "the Little Minister" was a son of this congregation.  Of Orthodox Jewish descent, Eddie became a Christian, then a carpenter and contractor, and later went on to seminary and became a pastor of the Lutheran church (one of five men from this congregation who became pastors). A memorial book was written about his life.

Rev. Spirer was ordained at Hollywood Lutheran Church on July 13, 1930.

A tireless evangelist, Pastor Spirer (1895-1990) helped to found nearly 50 Lutheran churches in Southern California and Hawaii during his long career.

During the Depression and World War II, the congregation continued to grow until it was the largest church in the Synod.  The Sunday School had 400 young people enrolled.  Over 155 men from the congregation served in World War II; only one was injured, and he recovered and returned to Hollywood Lutheran Church!
Hollywood Lutheran Child Development Center was opened in 1974, and operated until February 2004. Its original mission was to provide quality child care and education for the staff at Hollywood-area hospitals. But later, these hospitals added their own internal facilities, making our center unnecessary and unprofitable, to the point of thousands of dollars in losses for the church.

 Hollywood Lutheran Church in 1976

Pastor Harry Durkee:  The one pastor whom many people remember well is Pastor Harry Durkee, who served from 1960 to1991 until his retirement from professional ministry. Our fellowship hall, Durkee Hall, is dedicated to honor Pastor Harry and Norma Durkee. (See:  Facilities.)

In 2005-2006 Durkee Hall was refurbished. The Durkees now live in Burbank, California.
HLC has also hosted several 12-Step programs -- Alcoholics Anonymous meetings -- for many decades. Hollywood Squares, the oldest and largest meeting in Hollywood has gathered in Durkee Hall for about 50 years. See: Community Schedule.
The buildings have been modernized several times, but retain their historic charm, especially in the Sanctuary, where worship services, weddings, baptisms, concerts and dramas, funerals and community programs have been held continuously for more than 86 years.
Recent History
In 1999 the congregation adopted an "Affirmation of Welcome" to gay and lesbian people, and so became part of the reconciling and welcoming movement of Christian churches that are working for the full participation of sexual minorities in the church. Through the Reconciling in Christ Program of Lutherans Concerned/North America, nearly 400 congregations of the ELCA and ELCIC have adopted similar public statements of welcome. See: What does "Reconciling in Christ" mean in this church?

The church was served by Interim Pastor Paul Kloth from 2000 to 2004. During this period, with the guidance of the Synod staff, the congregation determined that its chief mission priority in the years ahead would be to develop a ministry with GLBT people. In March 2004, the congregational called the Rev. Daniel M. Hooper as Pastor to lead in this effort.
During 2005 we re-formed a Hand Bell Choir. If you can't sing, you can ring!  With the arrival of the very talented and dedicated Eldon Turner as our Director of Music in May 2006, Hollywood Lutheran Church observed its 85th Anniversary.  Our music program continues to flourish, with plans for the rennovation and expansion of our pipe organ in 2008.  (See:  Music Program)
In October 2006 we also we welcomed the Silverlake Children's Theatre Group to our campus, and the Way of Life Church (Korean language) as our sister community that Christmas. More recently, we have launched several significant community enterprises, including Hollywood Remembers, Hollywood Callback and the Los Feliz Art Walk program.
Our community has a proud history of diversity, openness and innovation, a tradition which continues today.
We are indebted to our faithful archivist, Joan Riedell, who has carefully kept congregational records for many years. Her handiwork includes wonderful chronological binders of key documents and photographs for each decade of this church's life in Hollywood.

As this was a successful movie theatre from its 1918 opening, I think it likely that the Hollywood Lutherian Church could have used the original Idyl Hour/Iris Theatre on the other side of the Boulevard, which could have been sitting empty since closing in 1918, until its demolition in around 1927 when the Warner Theatre was built.

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

Here is a 1954 view of the Iris:
http://tinyurl.com/d3wfz8

Thank you for both these photos. They should have kept the street cars.

It's nice to so that marquee all lit up.

Here is a 1956 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/pkeqvs

When I worked there, starting summer of 69, the front was the same as above photo 1983. Thanks again for your photos.

It looks like there was some changes to the marquee between 1954 and 1956.

Obviously.

Here is a February 14, 1955 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/okzgj7

...many changes, and no ridiculously placed trees right in front of the marquee!

I went by this place today, and they're obviously working on it. The front has been cleaned up, the marquee has been redone, and there was activity inside. Big difference from the last time I saw the place.

The old Fox theater reopens as the new PLAYhouse nightclub. Looks nice inside. At least this longtime dump and eyesore on Hollywood Blvd is getting a new lease on life. For anyone who's going to whine it should be a movie theater again, you try opening a single screen movie theater in this area (with no parking). Love the crazy facade which was preserved and restored.

http://www.playhousehollywood.com/

You've jumped the gun a bit. The website seems to have gone live in May, but the calendar's events are all "TBD." They don't say when the club will officially open.

The grand opening is June 14 at 10pm. This is the Facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=81473643299&ref=nf

I think you need a password for that.

Ken, you just need to have a Facebook account...

So what is it, a strip club? I guess anything is better than the abandoned dump it had been.
Anyone have a current photo of the exterior?

No, Bway, just a regular old trendy nightclub.

Oh good, I like that idea better. It would have been sad to see it go to a strip club.

A good site to look at is "The Great Hollywood Hangover" site. Many photos on there, most from my era The 1960's.

Recently:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Fox1.jpg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/Fox6.jpg

I was going to post a June 2009 photo I took of the Fox from across the street; it is very similar to the second link hollywood90038 posted just above so I'll refrain.

Whatever the intended use, I must say that I was pleased to see the Fox without the front boarded up like it had been these past years.

There was an event at the Fox last night, perhaps a nightclub opening. Around midnight there were cameras outside and a line of people waiting to get in.

I thought this was already a nightclub.

LM, it only opened recently as a nightclub. What Ken saw was probably the kind of trendy event you get at trendy nightclubs.

I thought the grand opening took place earlier in July. Maybe some celebrities showed up at midnight and that was the reason for the cameras.

Here are some photos taken yesterday:
http://tinyurl.com/m8b3m3
http://tinyurl.com/nsgeqq

Growing Up in Hollywood in the 60s This was The " Iris" my local Movie House it was well Run by Mann Theaters & I believe Carol Burnett worked there in the Box Office after leaving Hollywood High in late 50s They showed alot of Disney Movies, architectural wise it was built for Motion Pictures as there was no Stage no Balcony

Now there is an interesting approach to grammar and punctuation.

It looks much better with the facade cleaned up and the boards removed. When will someone take a chainsaw to those idiotic trees on Hollywood Blvd that block the view of all the theatre facades.

I'm all for moving those trees to a more appropriate location! I've got a shovel......

The diner 'Sweet Love Hangover' opened in the lobby of the Fox theater today. Very nice design and cool mirrored ceiling which extends through the glass under the old marquee. The rest of the building is now the popular Playground nighclub. All traces of the theater are gone except for the restored marquee. Nice to have this simple diner added to a still decrepit Hollywood Blvd and saving the facade of this once crumbling movie theater.

Socal, you are so correct about those idiotic trees. It's amazing how cities don't think or use common sense when doing their jobs, such as planting trees. I love trees as much as anyone, but it's utterly idiotic that these trees were planted up against the marquees of the theaters to begin with.
We just were talking about this in the Gramercy Theater page too in NY, where they just planted a tree up against the marquee of that theater. See here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maincourse/3760858242/
In a few years that tree will cause the same ridiculousness as the Hollywood Blvd Theaters. So it's not just Hollywood, they have no common sense in NY either. Look at the July/August comments here in the Gramercy Theater page:

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6113/

The July 2009 photo shows the facade nicely cleaned up, but the trees are still there! Now open as the Playground Nightclub, an adult-oriented venue.

And here I thought they put the trees up in front of Studs (the former Tomcat, the former Pussycat) on Santa Monica Blvd to block the marquee with its silly gay porn titles... It seems cities everywhere have something against theater marquees.

This theater was featured in a 1953 theater owners' documentary about the financial devastation wrought by the 20% federal tax, plus other encroachments on the box office, such as television.

The doc is called "The Case Against the 20% Federal Admission Tax on Motion Picture Theaters" and is a treasure trove of theaters operating but in imminent trouble, including long looks at their still-open theaters, marquees, etc., and interviews with the owners.

There are also plenty of shots of already-closed theaters; the writing was really on the wall already.

TCM ran this movie on 11/1/09 at about 6am and I stumbled upon it by accident; I don't know when it will screen again but it is well worth seeking out.

I didn't see any mention of this, but in the early 80's this theater ran XXX features. I can still remember being a wide eyed college id in Hollywood for the first time passing the marque which advertised Ron Jeremy in The Marriage of Sulka - a M2F sex change gal!

from Dec. 2009:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff204/hollywood90038/FoxTheatre.jpg

It looks different now. They closed it off, close to the sidewalk. The sidewalk looks narrower than what I remember. Beautiful photo though, and brings back memories. Thank you.

The marquee looks great lit up at night. Nice to see this building cleaned up even its days showing movies are long gone. Now can someone do something about the decrepit Vogue?

The marquee looks great lit up at night. Nice to see this building cleaned up even its days showing movies are long gone. Now can someone do something about the decrepit Vogue?

The marquee looks great lit up at night. Nice to see this building cleaned up even its days showing movies are long gone. Now can someone do something about the decrepit Vogue?

The sad thing about the Fox, Hollywood and the Vogue. Is the Vogue was the better of the three houses and it sits there on Hollywood Blvd. all banged up waiting.

Every now and then, the gates are open and they are working on the inside of the Vogue. But there really hasn't been much change in a while. The little I could see was that everything inside was being torn out probably for a nightclub or retail space.

(not sure why my previous comment posted 3 times, sorry C.T.)

I think Artie the Steamfitter might be thinking of the Ritz Theatre (former Pussycat) on the XXX type of films from the mid 80's. During this time Mann Theatres operated this theatre and ran regular Hollywood feature films.
The X adult theatres on Hollywood Blvd. were:
The Ritz (Pussycat) Theatre
X-1&2 Theatre
Las Palma Theatre
Ivar Theatre

Yes, the old Pussycat sign is still on the top of the Ritz which is now a church (and slowly falling apart). The X is still there and has been abandoned for many years. The Las Palmas is now a nightclub and the Ivar is some kind of interactive digital experience venue now.

It should read Hollywood Blvd. area.

In reference to socal09's last post, the Vine is doing some sort of laser light show exhibition now as well as the Ivar. It was featured in a television commercial recently, though my memory is reluctant to provide what was being advertised.

Monika: yes, I mixed up the Ivar and the Vine. The Vine is the one with the light show. I believe the Ivar was purchased by the Los Angeles Film School to use as part of their campus.

The Laserium show at the Vine Theatre closed last month.

I remember an x rated theater on Hollywood Blvd close to Western Avenue, across from the St. Francis Hotel. This was back in the 1960's. Was that the Pussycat? Not sure of the name. A middle aged woman worked as the cashier. She had a huge bouffant died hairdo, and heavy makeup. I was a teen and never walked on that side of the street, thinking it was tainted. When I walked past the St. Francis Hotel. I'd hear people talking to me as I passed their windows. My dad would send me to an Italian place behind a fast food fried chicken place to pick up a container of ravioli. We lived a few blocks west of there.

Pine, The former Apollo Theatre show x rated around that time as the Star Theatre. The Apollo Theatre was located at 5544 Hollywood Blvd. just west of Western Avenue.