NuWilshire Theatre
1314 Wilshire Boulevard,
Santa Monica,
CA
90403
1314 Wilshire Boulevard,
Santa Monica,
CA
90403
24 people
favorited this theater
Originally a Fox theater when it opened in 1931, the Wilshire was later taken over by Mann Theatres and turned into a twin in the mid 1970’s.
Landmark took over the operations in the early 1990’s when Mann opened a six-plex on Third Street Promenade.
The NuWilshire closed in November 2007.
Contributed by
B Erickson
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Recent comments (view all 260 comments)
I stopped by for a look this past weekend. It was nice to see the terrazzo reinstalled, beautifully matched and filled-in where it had been sawn for temporary removal. I also noticed for the first time the faint outline of where the octagonal box office once stood, and this made me appreciate the care with which some long-ago terrazzo contractor had matched the zig-zag pattern and colors so that there would be no “scar” to denote the location of the missing structure.
Also to be seen is a reconstruction of the original ticket lobby ceiling—very simple, with a Moderne plaster band around the edge as a sort of cornice molding. This is the only architectural nod to the NuWilshire’s original interior. Beyond the location of the former entrance doors, all is clean but unfinished, waiting for a tenant. To the right, in what was once the lobby, the outlines of a staircase can be seen in the concrete of the West wall. As for the color scheme of the facade, I don’t find it offensive, though something more imaginative could easily have been arrived at.
The original exit doors in the alley were flush with the wall, but in the remodel they pushed them inward, creating a couple of closet-sized alcoves. I’ve previously reported that those spaces are collecting wind-blown garbage. Now the final indignity: people are starting to use them as restrooms. Thank you, owner of the NuWilshire, for your contribution to this community!
The twinning of the Mann Wilshire Theatre happened around the Dec. 1976-Jan. 1977. The New Mann Wilshire Twin Theatre opened on Feb. 18, 1977 with “A Star is Born” in one theatre and “Face to Face” in the other theatre.
A May 2010 diptych I shot of the marquee:
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It had been a while since such sadness overcame me when I visited a previously functioning theatre. What a tragedy.
Here is a close up photo of the marquee from March 2010:
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The Wilshire was a great place for young sci-fi/horror film fans in the early-‘70s. While it was still a large single screen, my pals and I caught such classics as “Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror” and “House of Wax” (both in 3-D), “Sssssss” and “The Boy Who Cried Werewolf,” “Ben” and “Tales from the Crypt,” “Silent Running” and “The Hellstrom Chronicle,” and “The Andromeda Strain” with “The Red Tent” among others. The most fun I had at the Wilshire was a packed house on a Saturday night in spring of '76 for a triple bill of “The Groove Tube,” “Flesh Gordon” and a sneak preview of “The First Nudie Musical.” (I believe we told our folks we were cramming for a midterm that night!) The best double bill I never saw there was “The Getaway” and “Magnum Force.” The conscientious ticket girl, alas, wouldn’t sell me a ticket because I was underage. I pointed out that the Peckinpah film was PG, to no avail. (However, the next year, while I was still under 17, I got into the “Dirty Harry”/“Magnum Force” double-bill over at the El Miro on 3rd St., no problem!) Other great single screen shows included “Jaws” (saw Bill Cosby and family trying to stay inconspicuous the back row), “The Eiger Sanction” and “The Front Page,” “Night Moves” and “The Wilby Conspiracy,” “Straw Dogs” and “A Clockwork Orange” and “Gator” with “The Enforcer.” After the twinning, the place was never the same…though I did spend the better part of a day there in '77 for a triple-header of “Orca,” “Play It Again, Sam” and a sneak of “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training.” Kids today don’t know what they’re missing!
Correction to the above post:
Not that it matters much, but I just remembered that “Andromeda Strain” played with “Silent Running” (both Universal releases) and “Hellstrom Chronicle” showed with “The Red Tent.” One more unforgettable ‘77 bill after the twinning was the graphic double feature of “Taxi Driver” and “The Farmer.” I recall an older couple—who obviously didn’t research the films they were going to see that evening—walking out quite early. I do miss the days when a neighborhood movie house could without warning become an unforgiving grindhouse.
Any new updates?
No, Kylee. The NuWilshire remains empty, a large dead spot in the neighborhood…
I see that, but wasn’t sure about behind the scenes. It was one of the first things I noticed when I moved here two months ago (from Florida). Very sad spot in the middle of a wonderful town. I thought it looked like (it could be) a great music venue.