New Ivar Theatre
1605 Ivar Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
1605 Ivar Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
3 people
favorited this theater
Built by restaurant owner Yegishe Harout in 1951, the Ivar Theatre presented stage plays until 1971. Plays produced here include, “The Barrett’s of Wimpole Street”, “The Glass Menagerie”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “The Pajama Game”. From 1971 it began showing adult films along with burlesque performances. Seating was provided for 350 in orchestra and balcony levels.
The theatre was home to the California Youth Theatre from late-2000 through the middle part of the decade, but that group has moved to another venue. The Ivar Theatre is once again presenting stage plays and live music as the New Ivar Theatre.
At the rear section of the building, behind the stage, was a club named ‘The Sewers of Paris’, later by 1977 it was a gay bar named ‘Gaslight’, and in 1996 it was renamed ‘The Opium Den’. Today it is used as a green room for the theatre and for receptions.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre, Ken Roe
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Here is a 1974 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/qcz6b7
Here is a 1985 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/paygn5
Here is a January 1970 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/p3eufp
Three photographs I took of the Ivar Theatre in June 2005:
Exterior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/3530948041/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/3531763282/
Auditorium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/3530957875/
This is another exterior view.
The Ivar did show at least one movie before 1971, when it began running adult films. In March, 1967, the Ivar began the exclusive Los Angeles run of Arch Oboler’s 3-D science fiction movie, “The Bubble.”
Here is a 1977 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics34/00036647.jpg
Here is a January 1958 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/purgh5
Here is a February 1966 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/yz2f3xe
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
The Grateful Dead played here on Feb 25, 1966.