Astro Theatre
320 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90013
320 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90013
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Retail
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Cozy Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Cozy Theatre opened in an already existing building around 1927, this very small downtown theatre was located almost opposite the Million Dollar Theatre on S. Broadway.
On October 8, 1969 it was reopened as the Astro Theatre, screening adult movies, but this was not successful. By the end of 1969 it went over to Spanish language films, closing around 1980.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 60 comments)
Here is a photo taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/5m7b8o
I guess we can accept the opening date of 1927 for the Cozy, as it’s listed in the 1929 Los Angeles City Directory. Still no more word on Albert C. Martin as the architect of either the 1905 building or the later theater conversion, though.
Still around in January 1960, per the LA Times. “Always Three Big Hits”. Phone number was MA8-3176.
Here is a June 2009 view of the theater building:
http://tinyurl.com/le92m2
Going back to the comment posted by Tillmany in 2004, I just watched “The Killer That Stalked New York” this morning, and noticed the clever, almost seamless blending of the New York and Los Angeles location work with the Columbia backlot shots. I knew right away that the Cozy had to be in L.A. when I spotted the Bradbury Building. There is one brief shot where the name of the Central Theater is clear, on the front of the marquee.
The 1906 permit lists Robert Brown Young as the architect and PM Johnson as the builder. AC Martin did many of the changes in the 1920s, but not, apparently the 1926 conversion of part of the ground floor into the 350-seat Cozy Theater. The Cozy opened in 1926 or 1927. The cornice came off circa 1950 and floors 4 and 5 were lost in 1971. Architect Chas A Ham converted the by-then, 403-seat Astro into a restaurant space in 1977. There’s a post on this building here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6994825&postcount=27790.
To search permits go here: http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/online-building-records.jsf
Click the link at the bottom of the page and then search by “address”. Hint: for better results just type in the street number and street name, not “St”, “Ave”. etc.
My father owned and operated the Cozy Theater from around 1935 until he retired, or so I thought. I am unaware of the change to the Astro From the time I was 8 or 9, I sold candy, took tickets and “played” usher.
We were very poor and lived on welfare in Highland Park. We went to the Cozy Theater many times because the price was cheap (25 cents) and they showed three feature films at a time. We would eat an inexpensive but excellent meal at Clifton’s Cafeteria then go to the Cozy for hours of excellent entertainment. There was another theater nearby that also offered similar pricing with first run movies, but Cozy offered three feature films. Years later I still miss the Cozy Theater. I’d be interested to hear from hosetrader1010 about the history of purchasing, owning and selling the Cozy.
If horsetrader1010 reads my comment of 9/3/16 can email me at . Jmartin
This reopened as the Astro theatre on October 8th, 1969 with a triple bill adult program. Spanish movies by the end of 1969. Grand opening ad posted.