Bob was amazing. He performed at the Million Dollar last Halloween for LAHTF’s Spooktacular. They had a sideshow performer named George the Giant for the matinee, and he asked Bob to improv during his show. Bob did such a great job that the magician who came up next insisted that Bob play for him as well. He seemed like a happy little kid when he was playing.
The executive director of LAHTF attends services there and he says that they’ve done a great job of preserving the theater (including murals of UA’s founding members). He’s also working to get us in there for an “All About…” tour.
And Chas is right: you have to make a reservation before you’re allowed in for service.
I shot some time lapse video at the Last Remaining Seats show two weeks ago of the exterior, auditorium and lobby. It’s on YouTube if anyone wants to take a look.
“Contrary to the description, the Mayan hasn’t been used for the Last Remaining Seats series, at least not since I started attending in the late ‘80s or early '90s.”
I asked Connie Humberger about this tonight; she was there from the beginning. And yes, the Mayan was used for the LRS series, back when it was a porn house. They had to go in and clean the place up.
Also, the description as it appears now, refers to the book “Last Remaining Seats,” not the film program.
For you Facebookers (?), there’s something you might like to see on the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation page: I took a series of 21 photos of the theater being constructed and turned them into a time lapse movie. Scroll down to the bottom. In HD!
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, along with the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival, will honoring Tony Curtis at the Million Dollar on June 13th. They’ll be screening Houdini in the afternoon, along with a magician who’ll be recreating one of Houdini’s famous escape stunts.
Then there’ll be a dinner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, where Tony will be autographing copies of his book. And then back to the Million Dollar for the 50th anniversary of Some Like It Hot.
Come to see the theater or to star-gaze. It promises to be an amazing evening. Plus we’ll be revealing some of the Million Dollar’s “hidden treasures.”
There’s something interesting in the basement of the Mayan that I haven’t seen mentioned here: in one of the mechanical spaces, someone kept a running tally of the shows in pencil on the wall. The top entry is “Grand Opening August 15, 1927.” Then:
1 – O-Kay – Elsie Janis – 8 weeks – musical – Aug 15, 1927
2 – Twinkle Twinkle – Joe E. Brown Nancy Welford – 6 “ – musical – Oct 10, 1927
and so on into the early 1930s. There’s a sheet of Plexiglas protecting it.
As Knatcal noted above, the entire facade was removed. A few bones show through, like the position of the doors and the frame of the marquee. But yes, they’ve remodeled the heck out of this place.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie here, but I went today to see “Up” which was showing in auditorium 1, the large one downstairs. Much to my surprise, the screen was filthy. The lower 1/3 looked like multiple people had thrown their drinks on it. The splotches were noticeable at various points during the movie. Needless to say, I won’t be hurrying back there any time soon.
The Bayside Business District is wondering why attendance is off in Santa Monica. They think they need to tear down a parking structure to build a new cinema. Maybe they should pay a little attention to the ones they have…
You’ve jumped the gun a bit. The website seems to have gone live in May, but the calendar’s events are all “TBD.” They don’t say when the club will officially open.
There was some debate on The Mayan page about whether or not the Belasco even had a projection booth. Well, after the “All About” tour, I can definitely say that the theater has a projection booth. Apparently it was added later in its life, but they did a good job of integrating it into the original design.
I went by this place today, and they’re obviously working on it. The front has been cleaned up, the marquee has been redone, and there was activity inside. Big difference from the last time I saw the place.
Prepped the Belasco today for the tour. This place is looking pretty amazing — I can’t wait to see it when they’re finished.
Be advised we’re going to be asking people to check their cameras at the Belasco door (no problems with taking photos in the Mayan) — management doesn’t want the place to be photographed “in process.”
LAHTF’s “All About…” series strikes again! Saturday, May 16, 10:30 a.m. (doors open at 10) at the Mayan. Tours of the Belasco next door will also be included, but from what I have heard, management does not want to allow any photography of the Belasco — so be prepared to check your camera at the door. See you there!
LAHTF’s “All About…” series returns this Saturday, May 16th, 10:30 (doors open at 10) to The Mayan. Also included will be the Belasco Theatre next door. See you there.
Bob was amazing. He performed at the Million Dollar last Halloween for LAHTF’s Spooktacular. They had a sideshow performer named George the Giant for the matinee, and he asked Bob to improv during his show. Bob did such a great job that the magician who came up next insisted that Bob play for him as well. He seemed like a happy little kid when he was playing.
LM, you have too much free time on your hands!
Layers of paint can be removed.
The executive director of LAHTF attends services there and he says that they’ve done a great job of preserving the theater (including murals of UA’s founding members). He’s also working to get us in there for an “All About…” tour.
And Chas is right: you have to make a reservation before you’re allowed in for service.
I prefer dealing with a real person rather than a machine.
Thanks!
I shot some time lapse video at the Last Remaining Seats show two weeks ago of the exterior, auditorium and lobby. It’s on YouTube if anyone wants to take a look.
View link
“Contrary to the description, the Mayan hasn’t been used for the Last Remaining Seats series, at least not since I started attending in the late ‘80s or early '90s.”
I asked Connie Humberger about this tonight; she was there from the beginning. And yes, the Mayan was used for the LRS series, back when it was a porn house. They had to go in and clean the place up.
Also, the description as it appears now, refers to the book “Last Remaining Seats,” not the film program.
For you Facebookers (?), there’s something you might like to see on the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation page: I took a series of 21 photos of the theater being constructed and turned them into a time lapse movie. Scroll down to the bottom. In HD!
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, along with the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival, will honoring Tony Curtis at the Million Dollar on June 13th. They’ll be screening Houdini in the afternoon, along with a magician who’ll be recreating one of Houdini’s famous escape stunts.
Then there’ll be a dinner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, where Tony will be autographing copies of his book. And then back to the Million Dollar for the 50th anniversary of Some Like It Hot.
Come to see the theater or to star-gaze. It promises to be an amazing evening. Plus we’ll be revealing some of the Million Dollar’s “hidden treasures.”
Get your tickets now.
http://www.julesvernefestival.com/
It opened in 1940, so it had a long run as a regular theater before it switched to porn.
There’s something interesting in the basement of the Mayan that I haven’t seen mentioned here: in one of the mechanical spaces, someone kept a running tally of the shows in pencil on the wall. The top entry is “Grand Opening August 15, 1927.” Then:
1 – O-Kay – Elsie Janis – 8 weeks – musical – Aug 15, 1927
2 – Twinkle Twinkle – Joe E. Brown Nancy Welford – 6 “ – musical – Oct 10, 1927
and so on into the early 1930s. There’s a sheet of Plexiglas protecting it.
In the late 70s, the Monroe was showing generic porn during the day and Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones every night.
As Knatcal noted above, the entire facade was removed. A few bones show through, like the position of the doors and the frame of the marquee. But yes, they’ve remodeled the heck out of this place.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie here, but I went today to see “Up” which was showing in auditorium 1, the large one downstairs. Much to my surprise, the screen was filthy. The lower 1/3 looked like multiple people had thrown their drinks on it. The splotches were noticeable at various points during the movie. Needless to say, I won’t be hurrying back there any time soon.
The Bayside Business District is wondering why attendance is off in Santa Monica. They think they need to tear down a parking structure to build a new cinema. Maybe they should pay a little attention to the ones they have…
No, Bway, just a regular old trendy nightclub.
Ken, you just need to have a Facebook account…
You’ve jumped the gun a bit. The website seems to have gone live in May, but the calendar’s events are all “TBD.” They don’t say when the club will officially open.
D-Box is a system for moving seats in sync with a movie, game, etc.
There was some debate on The Mayan page about whether or not the Belasco even had a projection booth. Well, after the “All About” tour, I can definitely say that the theater has a projection booth. Apparently it was added later in its life, but they did a good job of integrating it into the original design.
I went by this place today, and they’re obviously working on it. The front has been cleaned up, the marquee has been redone, and there was activity inside. Big difference from the last time I saw the place.
Yeah, Segask, there’s still a coffee joint in there.
Prepped the Belasco today for the tour. This place is looking pretty amazing — I can’t wait to see it when they’re finished.
Be advised we’re going to be asking people to check their cameras at the Belasco door (no problems with taking photos in the Mayan) — management doesn’t want the place to be photographed “in process.”
Hope lots of you can show up for this event.
LAHTF’s “All About…” series strikes again! Saturday, May 16, 10:30 a.m. (doors open at 10) at the Mayan. Tours of the Belasco next door will also be included, but from what I have heard, management does not want to allow any photography of the Belasco — so be prepared to check your camera at the door. See you there!
LAHTF’s “All About…” series returns this Saturday, May 16th, 10:30 (doors open at 10) to The Mayan. Also included will be the Belasco Theatre next door. See you there.