Four Star Theatre
5112 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90036
5112 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90036
11 people
favorited this theater
Built by United Artists and playing first run United Artists films, this opened in the early-1930’s as the 4 Star Theatre, and was a sister theatre to the United Artists Theatre in Pasadena. In the late-1930’s it was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres until the 1940’s, when United Artists took control again. It remained a first run theatre for United Artists movies until the 1970’s, when by then it had been equipped with 70mm projection equipment. The theatre ran some of the best films in Hollywood, showing repertory films on a large 70mm screen.
When the Mitchell Brothers of San Francisco took over it became an adult cinema for 10 years, later reverting to 3rd run release and Indian movies.
It eventually closed and became a church. In 1999, the church cemented over the Art Deco style bas relief figures on the facade which depicted ‘Artistry’ and ‘Unity’, which were also a feature on the United Artists Theatres in Pasadena and Belvedere Gardens (East Los Angeles). The church moved out in 2012 and the building became the Oasis Theatre, available to hire for live performances.
In 2013, there is talk of plans to demolish the building.
Contributed by
William Gabel, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 84 comments)
I went by this place today. Did the church move out as stated above? There is a sign on the side with their web address — the Oasis Christian Center. That site lists “service” times. And there’s still a star (a la Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame) on the sidewalk out front that reads “Jesus Christ the Son of God.”
Great Behind The Great Wall ad – I was, of course, there and saw and smelled the film. And a few weeks later I was at the Ritz seeing and smelling Scent of Mystery.
Here is a March 1977 ad from the LAT:
http://tinyurl.com/nvnhey
Here is a 1984 night shot:
http://tinyurl.com/ybuuvqv
This is a 2009 photo of the Oasis.
There’s some great night footage of the old neon marquee in the 1960s here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0lEosbR-Vg
As of January 2012, the building is still a church (Oasis Church), but Oasis has just announced they are leaving the building for another venue, and will be (have already?) sold it. With the new BMW dealership next door, the ritzy apartment complex across the street, and a dying decrepit Burger King next door, I wouldn’t be surprised if the new owners knock it down and start from scratch. As a 500ish-seater theater with no parking, there are few uses left for it as is.
I lived within walking distance of the Four Star for years and years. It was a great old palace, but, it got pretty run down by the end. And, having no parking lot in the middle of the Miracle mile district really hampered business. The first double feature I remember seeing there in the 80s was Hitchcock’s 39 STEPS with Tarkovsky’s SOLARIS. Bizarre double feature, but great great films. Lots of memories, but the the best was probably attending a screening of the 1986 restoration of 1937’s LOST HORIZON introduced by Jane Wyatt herself. As she introduced the screening Wyatt said that the film’s original premiere 50 years earlier was also held at the Four Star! Wow.
Looks like the tenants bought a historic church a few blocks away and will be leaving. “…Oasis will be moving in the near future from its present headquarters at Wilshire near Highland, a former movie theater.”
http://larchmontchronicle.com/oasis-christian-church-new-home/
Looks like a demo is in its future: http://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-teardown-for-four-staroasis-theatre.html?spref=fb