Bob Baker Marionette Theater

4949 York Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90042

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Related Websites

Bob Baker Marionette Theater (Official)

Additional Info

Architects: Richard R.F. Lehman

Functions: Live Performances

Previous Names: York Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 213.250.9995

Nearby Theaters

York Theatre

The York Theatre was opened by August 1923 and operated by the John Sugar Amusement Co. Richard R.F. Lehman was the architect. In the 1930’s it was remodeled. It was closed around 1955 when it was screening religious films with a free admission. It later became a barber shop and the Artisan Organ Hall, an organ building & repair shop which occasionally had organ concerts playing to silent movies. In 1985 the former York Theatre housed the Pyong Kang Korean church, but they moved out and by October 2017, the building was vacant.

In February 2019 it was announced the building would house the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, which officially opened on November 29, 2019.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

MRY886
MRY886 on July 4, 2005 at 9:38 pm

The original seating is not in the this theater. The York was being renovated in the late 1940s and the original wooden backed seats were being replaced. Our church, which is located several blocks away, was under construction at that time and they were able to procure all the York Theatre seats that were needed to fill the new sanctuary. For many years the inserts were blue, but they were redone in crimson red in the 1990s, so now they really look like the theater seats they originally were. They are really quite comfortable.

deleted user
[Deleted] on August 25, 2005 at 4:21 pm

I remember seeing a double bill of Ronald Coleman in Shangri La and another film starring the Lane Sisters aroung 1949 or 50. At that time the York showed older films, some very good. Diana Ellis

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 11, 2007 at 11:40 pm

Here is an October 1955 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/yvnguy

unihikid
unihikid on January 28, 2008 at 1:13 pm

heres a pic of the yorks signage with a lary car,its at the bottom of the page

View link

Damon Packard
Damon Packard on June 2, 2009 at 7:57 am

I live a few blocks away from this theatre and have always been curious about the history of it. Some fascinating pics from the 1950’s someone posted above. The whole area looked so different in those days, wow! what happened to our civilization, how quickly things deteriorate. I’m still curious about what films played here over the years during it’s operation as a cinema, especially in the 60’s/70’s. Someone posted an LA Times ad from the 50’s above (which is quite a curious ad, something about spaceships) and it looked like it was some kind of religious spot even at THAT time, weird

CStefanic
CStefanic on October 24, 2017 at 3:57 pm

I recently visited this site. It appears the church has moved on and the space is vacant… Hmmm.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 25, 2017 at 9:04 am

Is the Art Deco looking building(Reynolds) on the right of the above photo(now a pharmacy), used to be a theatre once(it looks like a theatre!!)?

robboehm
robboehm on February 22, 2019 at 1:56 pm

The York will again be a theater, home to Bob Baker’s Marionettes. See artist’s rendering of the new facade I just uploaded.

nixols
nixols on November 7, 2019 at 2:36 pm

The York theater has been hosting performances of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater for several months. The official grand opening will be held on November 29, 2019. The status of this theater should be changed to OPEN. Yea! http://www.bobbakermarionettetheater.com

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