Hawaii Theatre
5941 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
5941 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
15 people
favorited this theater
Opened on 6th May 1940 and designed by architect Clarence G. Smale, the exterior of the Hawaii Theatre was dressed with a tropical mural over the box marquee. Round glass walls proceded onto the sidewalk flanking either side of the front entrance.
Inside, the auditorium was decorated with tropical jungle murals and had a simple Atmospheric style effect on the ceiling to continue the theatre’s theme.
The theatre was later converted into the Salvation Army Tabernacle in the early-1960’s and remains their Hollywood headquarters today.
Contributed by
W Housos
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Recent comments (view all 53 comments)
Here’s the bottom panel of a newspaper ad from 1958 with the Hawaii as the lead house.
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This theater was shown in a 1953 theater owners' documentary about the financial devastation wrought by the 20% federal tax, plus other encroachments on the box office, such as television.
The doc is called “The Case Against the 20% Federal Admission Tax on Motion Picture Theaters” and is a treasure trove of theaters operating but in imminent trouble, including long looks at their still-open theaters, marquees, etc., and interviews with the owners.
There are also plenty of shots of already-closed theaters; the writing was really on the wall already.
TCM ran this movie on 11/1/09 at about 6am and I stumbled upon it by accident; I don’t know when it will screen again but it is well worth seeking out.
CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS – a JORGE AMEER documentary
Where the movie theatres are the stars!!!!
LOGLINE: Where the movie theatres are the stars!!!! An in depth look at the movie houses that have helped shaped the history and heritage of Hollywood from its golden age to today.
enjoy the trailer/promo to my doc CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS coming soon in theatres. join the fb page – upload (via vimeo) or embed this trailer. If interested in booking this film at your theatres or venue, please let us know
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for updates, screening info, festivals etc….
Dowload this trailer from vimeo at
http://www.vimeo.com/15117804
Thanks to all of those who participated and provided footage and photos to make this doc possible.
official website: www.hollywoodindependents.com
November 13th, 10:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation will be hosting an “All About” the Music Box Theater at 6126 Hollywood Blvd, followed by a walk through of the nearby Hawaii, which has been a Salvation Army church for decades.
This event is free to LAHTF and Hollywood Heritage members; $7 to the general public.
I swear I saw a film at this exact theatre in 1978! But is says it was closed long before that. I think that’s inaccurate.
fieldight: The movie you saw in 1978 was probably at the theater down the block which was called the Hawaiian Gardens for while during the 1970s, but is listed at Cinema Treasures as the X 1 & 2 Theatres. The original Hawaii Theatre was definitely converted into the Salvation Army church after being closed in July, 1963.
Do any interior shots exist of this theatre?
Joe, I believe the “Hawaiian Gardens” days of the X 1 & 2 started in the early 90s. That’s when I attended screenings there anyway…
You would probably know better than I would about date, Don. I was in Hollywood only two or three times in the 1970s and early 1980s and only knew about the name change from hearsay, and I haven’t been to the Los Angeles area since 1986. I do remember when the Hawaii closed in 1963, though, as I visited Hollywood frequently during that period, and I was very disappointed that the theater closed before I ever got around to seeing a movie there.
I must be confusing it with the World theatre then. Ironically i am living in the same area, about 2 blocks away and walk past these closed theatres pretty much everyday.