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  This theater is featured in our companion book, Cinema Treasures. Find out more…

Silent Movie Theatre

Hollywood, CA
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
, Hollywood, CA 90036 United States
(map)
323.655.2520
Status: Open
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Deco
Function: Movies, Special Events
Seats: 224
Chain: Independent
Architect: John Hampton
Firm: Unknown
Silent Movie Theatre
The warm neon glow of the Silent Movie Theatre beckons a new generation of silent moviegoers
Photo courtesy of Bob Meza
This silent movie shrine was built in 1942, when silents seemed like ancient relics to the masses.

Though it has gone through hard times over the years, including having to close its doors for a few years (due to the infamous murder of the owner in 1996), it has never ceased to pay homage to the films that built the entertainment capital of the world.

With the switch to its current owner, it was completely renovated, and now beautifully captures the look of old time movie theaters.

Related Websites

The Silent Movie Theatre (Official)
Contributed by Carrick Bartle


YOUR COMMENTS

 
A great place in the 40's -70's to see great silent movie programs. Run by a sweet couple, she'd sell candy and he'd run the projector. It's been renovated to nicer then it ever was, and the silent movies look great. Also they have a pianist playing along live to the movies. Highly recommended!!!
posted by BrianMontgomery on Jun 24, 2002 at 2:04pm
I'll never forget the time I went to this wonderful place in 1973 to see a Silent Screen Comedians Film Festival, and when I went to the lobby, I met a charming old gentleman whom I had seen seated in the flickering darkness enjoying some silent slapstick by Laurel & Hardy. He and I struck up a conversation, and since I had just started Film School, I wanted to get a firsthand look at cinema history. The gent I spoke with told me he used to work with Laurel & Hardy, and Hal Roach. I asked him what his name was, and he said, "Marvin Hatley". He then put on a 1930s-era bowler hat, like L&H sported in all their films, and started whistling the "Cuckoo Song" to me! I was nearly bowled over by that, because I had seen many sound Laurel & Hardy comedies when they were first run on television in the early 1950s, and here I was talking to the man who was the music director for Hal Roach, and had written the "Cuckoo Song"! I saw him one more time after that, in 1986, just before his passing, at a Hollywood meeting of the "Sons of the Desert", the Laurel & Hardy Fan Club, where he sold me an autographed copy of a record album he had made, "Music for Laurel & Hardy".
posted by Dejael on Nov 21, 2002 at 9:24pm
Wow, what a unique name. Does it still do silent movies?
posted by SNWEB.ORG on Nov 23, 2003 at 8:11am
Indeed this theatre still shows silent movies. Visit www.silentmovietheatre.com for a schedule of films and a photo tour. It is well worth a visit!



posted by Gordon on Nov 28, 2003 at 1:05pm
Wow, it does still show silent movies! History repeats itself!
posted by SNWEB.ORG on Nov 28, 2003 at 4:03pm
was that sarcasm?
posted by captain cook on Dec 18, 2003 at 2:48am
The Silent Movie theatre is apparently for sale. Here is an article:
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2003_09_28.html
posted by cnichols on Feb 2, 2004 at 7:06pm
This is a must see for any and all movie buffs. An educational experience especially for kids. This is where it all began for me as a youngster when my father took me to all the early greats from Elmo Lincoln, the first Tarzan, to Ben Turpin,Charlie Chaplin,and of course Laurel and Hardy.Thanks Dad !
posted by Anthony C. on Feb 17, 2004 at 1:56am
when i was 13 my parents thought it was a good gift for my birthday to go see a silent movie,well being it my birthday and all me and my friends went to break in to the old picfair theatre (about 2 miles away)which they were about to tare down.i was late coming home and put on punishment,so no silent movie for the birthday boy.well it turns out that that night when we were suppose to go to the silent movies there was a killing where some wacko killed the owner,funny how things work out.
posted by unihikid on Apr 12, 2005 at 7:55pm
Here is a story about a guy who throws parties here
http://www.wallyontheweb.com/ScreeningRoom.html
posted by RobertR on Jul 19, 2005 at 8:05am
took my kids to the Silent Movie Theatre while they were growing up in the '90s. Keaton, Chaplin, Robin Hood-- wonderful movie experiences for the next generation.
posted by Meryl on Aug 24, 2005 at 3:03am
Upcoming film festival:
http://www.emerson.edu/emersontoday/index.cfm?view=ShowArticle&articleID=671
posted by TC on Sep 27, 2005 at 2:21am
For many years I attended the Cinecon convention held during the Labor Day weekend in Hollywood. Almost at once, it became a ritual to head to California from New York the night before the convention started to take in the Wednesday night show at the Silent Movie. Sometimes the late Larry Austin would be at the ticket window welcoming patrons, other times he would be in the lobby chatting ambily among the regulars and first timers. Then the show would begin. The organist would start playing "Pomp and Circumstance", while Larry, well-dressed and head held high, would descend down the aisle to introduce the picture. Sometimes I would see my fellow conventioneers in the audience for either Wednesday's or Monday's show, some of them "bookending" the convention with trips to the Silent Movie. I stopped going to Cinecon after it became too pricey for me around the same time Larry was murdered. I haven't been to California since, but hopefully the next time I go (I do have family out there), I plan to see what the Silent Movie is like today.
posted by PaulLD1 on Sep 28, 2005 at 12:27pm
Here is a photo of the Silent Movie Theater.
posted by Lost Memory on Oct 15, 2005 at 10:28am
Here is another photo of the Silent Movie Theater.
posted by Lost Memory on Dec 12, 2005 at 5:37am
NPR's Morning Edition is right now broadcasting a feature about the Silent Movie theatre. If you don't catch it on the radio, try listening to it from this page.
posted by Ron Newman on Feb 27, 2006 at 2:55am
Fairfax Avenue is changing rapidly. Some of the older businesses that catered to the local Jewish clientele are closing up and being replaced by trendy boutiques and galleries. It remains to be seen if the theater will survive the gentrification process.
posted by ken mc on Mar 4, 2006 at 6:24pm
This theater has been sold. The new owners will show silent films as well as more recent pictures. The theater will probably de-emphasize the silent film aspect. Whether the theater's name will change is unknown.
posted by ken mc on Jun 14, 2006 at 5:38am
The Silent Movie Theatre celebrates it's 65th anniversary this month, February 2007. Showing more silent films on a more regular basis than the previous owner, it's still going strong. Silent movies are shown on Thursday nights and sometimes on Sundays. Tickets are available at the door for $10 cash. For a complete schedule, just call 323-655-2520. The venue is still available to be rented for Weddings, Birthdays, Private Dates, Concerts, and Independent Film Screenings. For more information, go to www.SilentMovieTheatre.com and click on EVENTS.
posted by bstaples on Feb 3, 2007 at 11:37am
The Silent Movie Theatre celebrates it's 65th anniversary this month, February 2007. Showing more silent films on a more regular basis than the previous owner, it's still going strong. Silent movies are shown on Thursday nights and sometimes on Sundays. Tickets are available at the door for $10 cash. For a complete schedule, just call 323-655-2520. The venue is still available to be rented for Weddings, Birthdays, Private Dates, Concerts, and Independent Film Screenings. For more information, go to www.SilentMovieTheatre.com and click on EVENTS.
posted by bstaples on Feb 3, 2007 at 11:38am
Here is an older photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics18/00028662.jpg
posted by ken mc on Feb 23, 2007 at 8:27am
Here is an interesting article about the Silent Movie Theater:
http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL123.htm
posted by ken mc on Apr 6, 2007 at 11:03am
This is a recent close-up view of the Silent Movie Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 22, 2007 at 6:45am
Here is a recent night view.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 16, 2007 at 10:07am
This is an October 25, 2007 article about the Silent Movie Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Oct 31, 2007 at 7:54pm
There was a lengthy article in the LA Weekly as well. A very ambitious program is planned.
posted by ken mc on Oct 31, 2007 at 7:58pm
Will the name of this theatre remain the same?
posted by Ron Newman on Oct 31, 2007 at 9:03pm
Here is an interior view.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 6, 2007 at 11:21am
I've never been inside this theater in the 23 years I've been in LA. I guess silent films are not my thing.
posted by ken mc on Dec 6, 2007 at 11:38am
Silent films are not my favorite either. And I'm not very fond of movies with subtitles.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 6, 2007 at 11:50am
Here is a March 2008 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2duc5y
posted by ken mc on Mar 29, 2008 at 7:01pm
This photo shows some of the owners since the 1940s:
http://tinyurl.com/5ays3y
posted by ken mc on Apr 22, 2008 at 5:32pm
Here is another article about the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/6jsxvs
posted by ken mc on Apr 22, 2008 at 5:36pm
Here's a brief video clip from YouTube showing Bob Mitchell playing the organ at the Silent Movie Theatre. Bob Mitchell's career as an organist began when, at the age of twelve, he was hired to play Christmas carols between movies during the holiday season at the Strand Theatre in Pasadena, California. Soon he was accompanying the movies themselves, and his temporary holiday engagement stretched into a four year tenure as the Strand's organist.

He has been playing the organ at the Silent Movie Theatre since 1990.
posted by Joe Vogel on Apr 22, 2008 at 9:25pm
Updating my comments from Sep 28, 2005, this past week I went to the Silent Movie Theatre for the first time since Larry Austin's sad demise. The ticket taker, soda seller, and rah-rah girl for the evening was a young lady named Mo, who bears a striking resemblence to Natalie Portman (and yes, she tells me she gets that all the time). The people who own the theatre now, called the Cinefamily, run it as a sort of mix of the old with a dash of Melrose chic. The silents are now shown only on Wednesdays, but are hewed to a monthly theme. But best of all, Bob Mitchell, who must be close to 100, God bless him, still plays the organ at the theatre now and then. And shame on you ken mc and Lost Memory for your cavalier attitudes on silent movies. Without them, we wouldn't have the movies as we know them today!
posted by PaulLD1 on Sep 6, 2008 at 6:51pm
I don't denigrate the importance of silent movies. I just don't like watching them.
posted by ken mc on Sep 6, 2008 at 7:16pm
If you enjoy silent movies, good for you. I don't enjoy watching them. And I don't feel any shame for expressing my opinion.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 6, 2008 at 7:20pm
My apologies, gents. But how did you two find out so fast? I've looked everywhere for a "Inform me when others mention my name" option on this site!
posted by PaulLD1 on Sep 6, 2008 at 9:03pm
when the theatre is listed as part of your "favorites" list, an email automatically goes to you.
posted by Meryl on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:22pm
A photo I took last week of the Silent Movie Theatre can be seen here. Too bad part of the lighting was burnt out.
posted by Bryan Krefft on Feb 28, 2009 at 2:17pm
Wow what a great place. Im hope I get to see it sometime. Great pics as usual Lost Memory.
posted by norelco on Apr 11, 2009 at 12:03pm
This was once a fairly classy joint...it's sad to see how the current management has let it go to seed. It's dirty, needs a repainting, the neon sign is broken - as if no one cares. Their schedule is overloaded with artsy obscurities that seem to be programmed mostly for hipster approval - forget entertainment. It's as if the powers that be are ashamed of the theater's history. Well, at least they'll throw you a free beer!
posted by ParkerGrofield on Apr 28, 2009 at 6:16pm
LA Times today notes passing of Bob Mitchell, long time organist who played at this theater and Strand in Pasadena, the latter in the 1920s. He was also organist at Dodger Stadium when it opened in 1962.
posted by ken mc on Jul 9, 2009 at 9:16am
If you to the link in Joe Vogel's post from April 22, 2008 from YouTube. You can see a few clips of Bob Mitchell playing the organ at the Silent Movie Theatre.

RIP
posted by William on Jul 9, 2009 at 11:09am
There was an article in the Sunday LA Times about repertory cinema in LA. The name of theater is now Cinefamily. The website is www.cinefamily.org
posted by ken mc on Aug 24, 2009 at 12:27pm
Ken, that page says "CineFamily at the Silent Theatre." So it seems like a marketing thing and the name hasn't really changed.
posted by Don S on Aug 24, 2009 at 2:26pm
OK, I guess the name stays the same. Easier to find it under Silent Theater anyway.
posted by ken mc on Aug 24, 2009 at 4:16pm
The Related Websites link still works and shows the same information as the link that you posted.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 24, 2009 at 4:23pm
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