Warrens Theatre

Became the Warrens theatre on September 1st, 1960

September 26th, 1929 reopening as Warner downtown Warner Downtown theatre opening Thu, Sep 26, 1929 – 11 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com

Warrens Theatre is seen a few times in this `60s Texaco commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPk-lRVpDq4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3RJBQ1NoeceR_VPAyChQAbVXXjtEOo5pHYXd2E6S2H1bth8p1edOCxLMA

Not similar to the (Loew’s) State in St. Louis, which was designed by Thomas Lamb. I saw many films at this theatre, from “Arena” to “Autopsy.”

Here is a link to a view of the Warner Brothers Downtown Theater – seen from the Hill Street side in 1931. www.guidodeiro.com/vitaphone.html

You can see the former theatre’s marquee in a current Fios / Verizon commercial. It’s the one with people caught in traffic in large type phones and a faster drives by.

(Associated Press, August 10, 1929)
Alexander Pantages Involved with 16 Year-Old Dancer at Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 10.â€"
(AP)â€"Alexander Pantages, millionaire theatre magnate, today was charged with two offenses against a 16-year-old dancer, Eunice Prince, in a complaint issued by District Attorney Buron Fitts. Pantages' attorneys immediately announced they would
institute habeas corpus proceedings.

Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 10. â€" (AP) â€" Alexander Pantages, millionaire vaudeville theatre operator, was in the city jail today, charged with suspicion of committing a statutory offense against Eunice Pringle, 16-year-old dancer and daughter of a
Los Angeles physician.
Miss Pringle, who graduated from high school last year, the youngest in her class, and entered the University of Southern California, was placed in the custody o£ juvenile authorities after she had told the police that Pantages had attacked her.
Pantages was taken into custody yesterday when the girl ran out of his office screaming, her clothes disarranged.
One witness to the occurrence said Miss Pringle fell fainting out of the theatre magnate’s office. Other witnesses declared the clothing of both Pantages and the girl
was torn and disarranged. Several persons reported hearing the girl’s screams emanating from Pantages' office.

Denies Girl’s Charges.

The theatre magnate denied the girl’s charges and hinted that it was a “frameup.” He told police he had booked Miss Pringle two weeks ago for a dancing act, but that she
had proved a failure. He said she had frequented his office for two days, begging for another chance.
Pantages declared Miss Pringle asked him for an interview yesterday afternoon. After a preliminary conversation he said, she leaned close to him and said, “I’ll make you
take my act.” Pantages asserted the girl then pushed him into another room and ran down the hall.
Fred Weise, who was in the hall, told officers he heard the girl screaming and saw Miss Pringle emerge from Pantages' office with the theatre magnate chasing her. Weise
said the clothing of both Pantages and Miss Pringle was in disarray.

Got $15,000,000 Recently.

Chief of Detectives A. E. Taylor said Pantages told him that Miss Pringle, realizing she was not to be re-employed, forcibly removed his coat and then tried to tear the remainder of his clothing into a state of disarray.
District Attorney Buron Fitts said a formal complaint would be issued today, pending which the wealthy theatre operator was to be held in jail. Pantages recently sold six of his theatres to the Radio-Keith-Orpheum circuit for a reputed price of $12,000,000. This week he sold two others to a Hollywood corporation for $3,000,000. Pantages' wife, Mrs. Lois Pantages, is scheduled to go on trial here Sept. 2, on charges of second degree murder, resulting from the death of Joe Rokumoto, a Japanese, following the collision of their automobiles.

Was it a smoggy day,LOL KENMC.

At the Chinese and LOEWS STATE ,The Wizard of Oz.

Here is a May 1939 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/lpvvfq

Here is a 1926 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068292.jpg

Here is a photo, maybe early 1960s, from USC:
http://tinyurl.com/c4gfq2

Here is part of a 4/10/54 story in the LA Times:

FORMER DOORMAN ARRESTED AFTER THEATER HOLD-UP

George Rae, 38, was held in City Jail yesterday on a charge that he robbed the Warners Downtown Theater, where he once was employed as s doorman. He was surprised by police as he tried to flee with approximately $60 in cash.

Rae was caught walking out of the theater shortly after he pointed a gun at Lou Schirmeister, 45, theater manager, and demanded some money. Schirmeister noticed the man loitering in the lobby and tipped off an usher to notify police.