Vision Theatre

A wonderful creation by the architectural firm of Morgan, Walls, & Clements. A Samson & Delilah mural can be found in the lobby of this art moderne theater.

what is the address

The Leimert Theatre is located at 3314 W. 43rd Place in the Crenshaw District.

This reinforced concrete theatre building is a direct result of the Paris Exposition of 1925, except for the open-work oil derrick tower and signage. The interior ceiling of the oval shaped auditorium still retains its Moderne patterns.

Some of this theatre can be seen in the film "Collateral".

Here is a great closeup from 1968 of the theater entrance...

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015012.jpg

Here is a 1970s photo from the library of congress

The Leimert Theatre was a movie palace that I remember well from childhood. That was when the cost was $.09.
My parent would take me there for movies such as, "Show Boat", "Down to the Sea in Ships" and, later, "Oklahoma."
One unique feature at the Leimert was the drinking fountain. This was before the days when we knew the word technology. The Leimert's drinking fountain water came on when you leaned over it. We kids just couldn't figure out how it worked and were fascinated by it.

The Leimert has many good memories. I hope the theatre is always preserved and honored.

I remember the Leimert from childhood as well (1951-58). Mr Pantages from the theater family was the manager. The sci-fic classic "It Came fromn Outer Space" had a sneak preview there (we loved it and couldn't believe the alien was changed in final release). The "magic" drinking fountain was controlled by an electric eye - I had completely forgotten about it until Bruceschwa's comments above. I think we knew it was an interesting architecture but that wasn't a priority then. We all thought the Academy on Manchester was cooler. I think the last film I saw there was "Love me Tender" with Elvis. We were ejected for making "counter comments" to the girls swooning.

The LA Library thinks that this theater was converted into a dry cleaners. Are they correct?

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015017.jpg

If you don't know the answer, here is a better picture:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015018.jpg

ken mc:

The Leimert Theatre building included shops along the street frontage. The dry cleaning establishment occupied part of that commercial space. The photograph is not dated, but looks to be from a few decades ago (the style of the signage looks about 1970s), so there's a good chance that the cleaners is now gone, too.

After it closed as a theatre, for many years the Leimert was operated as a regional assembly hall by the Jehovah's Witnesses. They restored the theatre, the only major alteration being the replacement of the "Leimert" sign on the tower with a sign that said "Watchtower," referring to their official organization, The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. I'm not sure if they still use the building or not, but I'm doubtful that it has been converted into a dry cleaning plant.

I will do a drive-by the next time I am close to downtown.

In 2003 the theater was known as the Vision Theatre and was named that sometime in the '90s. It is mentioned in the L.A. Conservancy News in 1998 by that name.

http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=15813

Les Ballet Africains performed here in 2004. Correct address is 3341 W. 43rd Pl.
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:X1E0vkU-buEJ:launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/djembe-l/message/15790+3341+w.+43rd+&hl=en

From May 2005:

http://eng.lacity.org/techdocs/emg/ManchesterJrArts_MND.pdf

From the California State Library:

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1815.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1816.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1817.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1818.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1819.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1820.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1821.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1822.jpg

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1823.jpg

What is the current name of this theatre?

From the LA Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015010.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015015.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015022.jpg

The last name that I have found for this theater is the Vision Theater as Manwithnoname has already posted. Here is a photo of the Vision Theater.

I noticed that no one has offered the correct pronunciation for this lovely neighborhood theater. So, for the benefit of folks not from L.A., it is "luh-MERT". The name of the surrounding area is Leimert Park -- roughly bounded by Crenshaw and Leimert Boulevards and Santa Barbara Avenue (now MLK Blvd.).

The Baldwin Hills Center at Crenshaw and Santa Barbara is quite noteworthy since it was the first suburban shopping mall to be developed in Southern California. It was originally anchored -- on either side of Santa Barbara Avenue -- by a May Company (somewhat reminiscent of the branch at Fairfax and Wilshire) and a Broadway department store (with a beautiful vertical blade sign similar to the one at The Broadway Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard).

But the most remarkable thing to my young, impressionable eyes was a wall clock inside The Broadway! The numbers were on three-dimensional cubes that projected from the face of the clock. It gave the illusion that you were looking at the clock straight-on from wherever you were on the shopping floor. Is it beyond the realm of possibility that this clock survived the conversion into Wal-Mart?

Here are two photos of the Leimert's Samson and Delilah mural:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015026.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015029.jpg

More great memories, more great history. The Leiment, the Baldwin, the Vermont. All of these theaters were monuments of fun, excitment, and thrills in my childhood and teen years. When I saw the photos of the Leiment on this page I topped out. It's the neighborhood in which I have grown up that these buildings once glimmed with life. These days you can not find a new building crafted with the personality that was carved into those theaters. Thank you all for the look back.

There was an article about the Leimert in the LA Times today, or maybe it was yesterday. An $11 million renovation is two years from completion. The article should be on the paper's website if you want the whole story.

This is an LA Times story dated September 26, 2007. Maybe its the same one that Ken was referring to.

That's the one.

Thank you ken mc, I just read the article. It would be a great asset to the community if things went well with the renovation of the Leimert-Vision Theatre. Marla Gibbs, the former owner, deserves a lot of credit for her contributions in the community. And on a similar note, I remember the neighboring historic night club that Mrs. Gibbs owned(s), let us not forget Marla's "Memory Lane". Briefly looking back at Memory Lane, I recall performing at Marla's drumming for Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and Sir Lady Java, I also recall seeing the classic comedy team of Leroy, Skillet, and LaWanda (LaWanda Page aka Aunt Ester of the 1970's Redd Foxx TV sitcom) performing at Marla's. Marla's Memory Lane served as host to scores of some of the worlds greatest Jazz, Blues, R&B and Comedy acts, I could go on and on. With the Leimert-Vision Theatre and Memory Lane, Mrs. Gibbs has had in her possession two of LA's greatest treasures, thank you Mrs. Gibbs. With it's bold features, the tower of the Leimert-Vision Theatre stands tall and mighty, as if a symboic gesture of the culture which surrounds it. Best wishes and good luck in regards to the renovation efforts and the neighborhood development plans,long live the Leimert-Vision Theatre.

This is so cool and brings back so many memories. We used to walk up to the Leimert Theater every Saturday . This was in the mid 50's to early 60's. We'd stop across the street at the Thrifty Drug store to buy candy. You could buy 3 candy bars for 10 cents and the larger size bars were 2 for 15 cents. Then back across the street, to where you refer to a Cleaners ( and is pictured in the photograph) but at that time it was a Record store. We saved our allownaces and bought the latest 45's for under a buck each. I remember it cost 25 cents to get into the movies. And for that price, we got to see two movies, cartoons and even newsreels! Now THOSE were the "Good old Days"!

Here are some March 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/2qj7g9
http://tinyurl.com/2lysgb
http://tinyurl.com/2wwpc8
http://tinyurl.com/2s7xqg

This 1933 photo was taken at the same time as the first LAPL photo posted on 11/28/05, but from a different angle.
http://tinyurl.com/6epqoy

Great photos ken mc ! I was wondering if anyone else remembers the record store that was on the corner, before the cleaners was there?
This had to be in the late 50's early 60's.

This undated photo from the LAPL shows a record store, but it's not on the corner:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015009.jpg

Here are some close ups:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015013.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015014.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015016.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015023.jpg

I have some fond memories of the Leimert Theatre.I grew up near there and I remember alternating between there and the Baldwin-depending on what was playing. I remember seeing For A Few Dollars More and I Crossed The Colored Line on a double featureI remember when they showed Cool Hand Luke and Wait Until Dark,together. You were lucky if you found a seat. Bonnie And Clyde drew a large crowd as well. The second feature was Point Blank,which would become a cult film. The last movie I saw there was Grand Prix and Sol Madrid with Anzio being the next attraction in 1968. Unfotunately,that double feature was the last movies screened there.The theatre abruptly closed.

According to this article construction won't begin until June or July of 2009 with an opening date around 2011.

Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/qtar7t

The Leimert Theatre's original name needs to somehow be added to search...I didn't know it was most recently called the Vision until I learned about it on another site.

Mike: On your initial search results page, check the box marked "previous names" and hit "search" again. The current name will come up in new results.

Anybody up for a tour of this theater and a presentation on its history? The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation will be holding an "All About..." at the Leimert/Vision Theater on October 17th. Keep an eye here for more details, check in at www.lahtf.org, or join us on Facebook.

Doors open at 10 a.m. this Saturday. Here's an idea of what to expect:

10:00 – Doors open – register guests
PowerPoint onscreen - LA’s Historic Theatres – as guests arrive
10:30 – Program Begins in Auditorium
Welcome – LAHTF, DCA, & guests
Save the Fairfax – Friends of the Fairfax
How the tour works
PowerPoint history by Ed Kelsey of the Leimert/Vision and neighborhood
PowerPoint from design team of Vision’s future
Q&A
Review neighborhood dining & shopping options
Theatre Tour –
(self guided, with docents in place to point out areas of interest and historic detail)
12:30-1:00 – tour ends –

Word is that Crenshaw Blvd will be closed tomorrow between MLK and Rodeo for a street festival.

www.tasteofsoulla.com

Be prepared with an alternate route!

A big question at yesterday's All About: where exactly was the fountain with the electric eye? No one can seem to find a photograph showing it. We also examined all the nooks and crannies, trying to figure it out, with no luck.

The renovation is planned to take part in 3 stages. The first involves the entrance/lobby, the second covers the auditorium, the last would involve removing everything beyond the proscenium and creating an entirely new structure that would include dressing rooms and support space. The projected completion date is now 2012.

Isn't this a picture of the lobby that shows a drinking fountain in the corner?

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/mott-merge/1992-1817.jpg

This theater was originally developed by Howard Hughes to show his movies in his theaters. The acoustics in the auditorium are fantastic. I worked with Marla Gibbs as her contractor/friend in the clean up renovation as part of "Rebuild LA". The movie theater was converted into a playhouse for approximately three weeks. There were continuous live performances in the auditorium. One of the performers was a gospel group called Honey on the Rock. My firm installed the sign "Vision Theater". Marla had a fantastic vision, unfortunately, the timing was extremely bad for her. It is great that the city is taking the incentive to restore this fantastic landmark.

David, the theater was built by the Leimert family (I believe), and was leased by H. Hughes and his partner. They only ran it for about a year before going out of business.