Holly Cinema

6523 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90028

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Showing 1 - 25 of 74 comments

CTCrouch
CTCrouch on September 1, 2021 at 5:02 am

Ed Collins: It was likely a misunderstanding from the Scientology Test Center occupancy. I recall them having L. Ron Hubbard/Scientology books displayed in the windows, in the sort of fashion which could easily be mistaken for a bookstore when driving by.

Ed Collins
Ed Collins on September 1, 2021 at 4:14 am

Hi Richjr37,

Are you sure you have the right theatre? This address was never a bookstore.

Photos via Google Maps (streetview) from 2007 through 2013 show the building was used as a Scientology Test Center.

Photos from July of 2014 through 2017 show the building as being empty/vacant.

A photo taken in January of 2018 show it was soon to open as Harold’s Chicken. It did open as Harold’s Chicken in 2019.

Your post stating it was a bookstore now was written in July of 2019 and it definitely wasn’t a bookstore then. In fact, I can find no record of this address (6523 Hollywood Blvd) EVER being a bookstore.

I worked at the Holly as the manager for two full years in the mid 1980s, and thus I’ve been keeping tabs on it.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 30, 2019 at 2:56 am

Became Music Hall (Hollywood) on August 8th, 1945. Grand opening ads posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 12, 2019 at 2:07 am

Also posted the July 31st, 1931 grand opening ad as Studio. Ad confirms 303 seats.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 12, 2019 at 2:00 am

Opened as Colony on December 9th, 1936. Ad posted.

richjr37
richjr37 on July 8, 2019 at 3:36 am

Ad from July 7,1977 in the Pictures section.

DarthHaggis
DarthHaggis on March 6, 2018 at 11:27 pm

Loew’s Grand Opening Wednesday June 24th 1970 (LaTimes pg76)

Watermelon Man (Rated R) Showtimes: 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 8:30, 10:30 & Midnite 12:00

rivest266
rivest266 on August 5, 2016 at 11:37 pm

June 26th, 1970 grand opening ad in photo section.

RickB
RickB on August 16, 2014 at 1:17 am

Google Street View from February 2014 shows a “For Lease” sign on the Scientology store at this address.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 15, 2014 at 5:34 pm

The Studio Theatre was to have been the first of ten houses of its type for Hughes-Franklin Theatres according to this item from Building and Engineering News of December 5, 1931:

“CALIFORNIA— Harold B. Franklin, president of the Hughes-Franklin theatres. 7051 Hollywoood Blvd., announces that plans are under way for nine new theatres, similar in size and type to the recently completed Studio Theatre at Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson Avenue, to be built in San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, San Diego, Oakland, Stockton and San Jose. Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Dallas, Texas. They will have seating capacities ranging from 300 to 500 and will have the automatic features provided in the Hollywood Theatre. S. Charles Lee, 2404 W. Seventh St., Los Angeles, will be the architect.”
I don’t know if any of the other theaters were built.

Twistr54
Twistr54 on May 30, 2011 at 3:33 am

I worked at this theatre in 1981. I started at the end of the Caligula run.

hollywoodtheatres
hollywoodtheatres on April 6, 2010 at 9:22 pm

DOCUMENTARY ON CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS – Lookn for interviewees, photos, videos of old hollywood

Hello,

I’m and independent filmmaker working on a documentary about old movie theatres in hollywood (Iris, Warner, Pacific, Hollywood, Vogue, Grauman’s Chinese, Egyptian etc..) that have had an impact on the hollywood community, both as a symbol of Hollywood as well as the historical and heritage effects it has had on “hollywood” as an industry. We are profiling theatres that are currently functioning as well as the obsolete. If you worked in these theatres back in the day (during their highlights) and have interesting stories to tell, photos to show, video to talk about I would like to hear from you. Many older movie houses are being demolished due to new developments and it is important to help future generation know and understand how these movie palaces have helped shaped the Hollywood we know today. If you have any photos or videos with personal stories you’d like to share, please contact me (323) 876-0975 – – You must owns the materials you are willing to share (taken the picture- recorded the videos, written the letters, etc…)

If you do have materials you’d like to send that may help in accurate information, you are welcome to send it to me.

Jorge Ameer
Classic Hollywood Cinemas
Box 3204
Hollywood, California 90028

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 27, 2009 at 9:10 pm

Here is a January 1939 ad for the Colony from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/ntn524

Bway
Bway on April 30, 2009 at 8:26 pm

Aside from the theater looking much more run down today, it hasn’t changed all that much.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 26, 2009 at 5:20 am

It looks like the theater has always occupied the right or east side of the building, with retail or some other enterprise on the west side. This is despite the fact that one building has always encompassed both businesses.

richjr37
richjr37 on January 21, 2009 at 5:36 pm

As a kid,i saw “Bugsy Malone” and “The Big Bus” as a double feature in 1976 at the Holly.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 3, 2009 at 4:54 am

Here are some early 1930s views from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/98q3hh

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 19, 2008 at 4:52 am

Has anyone noticed that the Scientologists now own at least a half dozen buildings in Hollywood, some of them quite large? They must be doing OK.

Meredith Rhule
Meredith Rhule on December 19, 2008 at 4:48 am

John Oblinger or Steve Gates, what happened to him? Did one of you guys pop him? hehehehe

Twistr54
Twistr54 on October 6, 2008 at 9:34 pm

I loved working at this theatre, and the Paramount (El Cap) also.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 22, 2008 at 6:57 am

The former Holly can be seen in the background in these two 1992 photos from the LAPL:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics21/00045163.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics47/00043452.jpg

patinkin
patinkin on November 10, 2007 at 5:13 am

I always hated these Mansard roof facades. It seems many theaters were “modernized” with these in the 60s. Yuck!!!