Mason Theatre
127 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90012
127 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90012
6 people
favorited this theater
The Mason Opera House opened in 1903 and seated 1,600 people. Remodeled in 1924 by the architectural firm Meyer & Holler. Later known as the Mason Theatre, it showed Spanish-language films. The theater was demolished in 1955.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 45 comments)
This is excerpted from the LA Times, 4/28/41:
Nazi Film Show Barred
Downtown Theater Closed While Crowd Grows at Box Office
While a crowd milled around the box office, officials of the Pacific Electric Co. yesterday afternoon closed the Pacific Electric Theater, 627 S. Los Angeles St., where exhibition of a German-made motion picture was about to begin.
For Frank K. Ferenz, theater man who was presenting the picture “Dr. Koch”, it was the second German film closing in six months. Last October 13, managers of the Mason Theater, 127 S. Broadway, halted a performance of a German-made picture Ferenz was exhibiting. Ferenz suibsequently lost an $18,000 damage suit against the holders of the theater’s master lease. Superior Court Judge Clement L. Shinn ruled that German-made motion pictures fomented hatred, criticism and emnity.
As the throng awaiting entrance to the Pacific Electric Theater grew, police were called, but no disturbances were reported. Neal B. Vickrey, manager of the Pacific Electric club, who had entered into an agreement to rent the theater to Ferenz every week-end, said it is probable that no more such films by Ferenz will be presented at the theater.
Here is an item in the LA Times on 11/8/56:
Office workers in the Civic Center area would have sworn yesterday that an earthquake occurred about 3:30 p.m. Well, the earth did shake, but it wasn’t caused by turmoil beneath the earth’s surface.
The vibration was merely the result of a falling wall at the site of the old Mason Theater, being demolished on Broadway between 1st and 2nd streets. Workmen accomplished the task by attaching a steel cable to the top of the wall and then pulling. The wall buckled in the center and came tumbling down.
I’ve just noticed ken mc’s comment on the Pacific Electric Theater above. All my knowledge of the place comes from a conversation overheard between two bus drivers in the 1960s. As our bus was pulling into the 6th and Main station one day, the driver was telling a much younger off-duty driver riding to work that, back in the Pacific Electric era, he had gone to union meetings held the old P.E. Theatre next to the station. Apparently Metropolitan Coach Lines and then the MTA had discontinued the policy of letting the union hold meetings there.
The primary function of the place seems to have been business related, in any case. I had no idea they’d ever shown movies there. From the description of the event, it sounds like the company let Mr. Ferenz four-wall the house. I wonder if that was done frequently?
This is from the Arcadia Tribune in February 1932:
Fortune may return to this famous old theater on February 15 for on that evening “Shining Blackness” will open the Broadway theater with Lucille La Verne as the star, Helene Millard being among the supporting cast. The play is by Lulu Vollmer and Arthur Collins is the producer which means a fine production will be offered Los Angeles playgoers.
Miss La Verne has not been starred locally since “Sun Up” when she gave a memorable performance. It is to be hoped good fortune will perch on the banners of the old Mason Opera house, which has been closed for many weeks.
The 1947 project has a nice video clip on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/nq2jt8
This is from the LA Times in February 1941:
Arthur Spitz, Hungarian-born showman, has taken a three-year lease on the Mason Theater on Broadway near First St. and will present operettas at popular prices, he announced yesterday. The impresario intends to hire prominent singers, a chorus of 24, a line of 16 girls and a 24-piece orchestra.
Adding further novelty, Spitz says, “If anyone gets hungry during the intermission, we can take care of that too. There will be a five-cent buffet at which one can get anything from a hamburger to roast turkey.â€
The not-unfamilar procedure of putting attractions to a popular vote will be followed by the producer. The public will be allowed to choose from a list including “The Merry Widowâ€, “Bittersweetâ€, “Show Boatâ€, “Rose Marie†and “The Desert Songâ€, Spitz revealed. Two shows daily are scheduled, with an owl performance on Saturdays. Spitz’s publicity representative has labeled the enterprise “The Woolworth of the Operetta.â€
I have been told by my mother and 99-year old aunt that my uncle, Guillermo Gonzalez at one time sang opera at the Mason Theatre in Los Angeles. They said that his name was already appearing in posters at the time. I also found an old thick record where he sang “Payasso”. Would anyone know where I can search for any archives of old Opera Programs, Posters or anything that may have his name on them? I know he would have probably have performed at this theatre around the late 30’s or 40’s.
I have been told by my mother and 99-year old aunt that my uncle, Guillermo Gonzalez at one time sang opera at the Mason Theatre in Los Angeles. They said that his name was already appearing in posters at the time. I also found an old thick record where he sang “Payasso”. Would anyone know where I can search for any archives of old Opera Programs, Posters or anything that may have his name on them? I know he would have probably have performed at this theatre around the late 30’s or 40’s.
Here is a Sanborn map from 1906 showing the orientation of the Mason Opera House:
View link
The Mason is on the right in this 1952 color photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y5azump