Paramount Theatre
323 W. Sixth Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
323 W. Sixth Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
16 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 124 comments found
I have now come across multiple references to George Edwin Bergstrom having been one of the architects of Grauman’s Metropolitan Theatre. Both Soutnwest Builder & Contractor and the national trade publication Engineering and Contracting mention his involvement in the project. The latter publication’s issue of April 27, 1921, carries this item, which mentions Bergstrom supervising construction on the project in conjunction with engineer R.C. Mitchell.
Various items in Southwest Builder & Contractor indicate that William Lee Woollett designed the interiors of the Metropolitan Theatre, but that the lead architect on the project was Bergstrom. Woollett probably designed the details on the facade of the building as well, but I haven’t found any specific sources saying he did. Woollett was apparently the sole architect on the later project creating a Broadway entrance for the theater.
Very Very nice too bad its gone now.
An ad campaign concerning the new, modernized Paramount was in Boxoffice in June 1952.
http://tinyurl.com/yeamgpp
I think the necktie photo mentioned on 8/17 is on the Clune’s Auditorium page.
History and photos can be found here in a 2009 article by Michael Grace: View link
When the theater went to screening B films in the late 50s a basement bar called the Metro that was a gay scene opened just east of the box office on 6th next to the alley. Also a post razing Wm.Reagh photo of the necktie stand @ the corner of Hill and 6th- it’s in the picture catalog of California State Library – search terms: Reagh and Hill ( he didn’t i.d. the site )
The Metropolitan/Paramount was the second largest movie palace ever built on the West Coast the largest was the Fox in San Francisco. My friend Dick who worked for Disney and United Artists said this was the most impressive Movie Palace in LA. brucec
Here is a 1943 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/mvp9a4
Here is a January 1949 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/ngfejz
The Three Stooges Fan Club is trying to document a 1957 personal appearance of Joe Besser, Moe Howard and Larry Fine as The Three Stooges at the Paramount. This would be the only personal appearance by Besser with the Three Stooges. Any documentation, such as a newspaper ad or review would be greatly appreciated. My email address is: Thanks, Frank Reighter
In December 1938 they were staging basketball games on the theater stage, according to this LA Times ad:
http://tinyurl.com/dzjzv4
Here is a photo from May 1946, may have been previously posted from another venue, here it is:
View link
Looks like the same ad posted on the Million Dollar Theatre listing.
This is a 1923 ad from the LA Times. I thought it was interesting as it shows Sid Grauman’s influence at that time, as he owned the Metropolitan, the Egyptian, the Million Dollar and the Rialto. The Chinese was not yet built.
http://tinyurl.com/dg3wre
Here is a 1941 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/cgednr
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 5/28/52:
Hostesses in evening dress will greet numerous actors, Mayor Bowron and throngs of theatergoers at the Paramount Theater’s reopening at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
Improvements totalling $250,000 at the theater include a new marquee, lobby, foyer, new seats and rocking-chair loges. There will be new lounge rooms and a large television screen. Top motion pictures will be shown as well as stage shows when they become available, said Jerry Zigmond, United Paramount western division manager.
Two employees have been with the theater since it opened 29 years ago as Grauman’s Metropolitan. They are Earl C. Hamilton, 61, chief projectionist, and Vic Hayes, 60, doorman. The two remember the theater’s initial opening when “My American Wife"m starring Gloria Swanson and Antonio Moreno, was presented.
Post it on this page:
/theaters/17/
Yes, that shot is from the Paramount Theatre in Hollywood.
Thanks for sharing that misterboo.
If it was in Hollywood, it was probably at the Paramount/El Capitan on Hollywood Boulevard.
Google Images has some interior photos of the Paramount in 1952, when they were having 3D screenings of “Bwana Devil”. Interesting shot of the formally attired peeps in the balcony:
http://tinyurl.com/5hqpdy
Ooops, I just noticed Ken just linked to the same photo…
Here’s a photo of the interior of the Metropolitan:
Click here for photo
If you link to the source, you wouldn’t have to explain where the photo comes from.
Sorry, that was the New York public library. Force of habit.