Regent Showcase Theater
614 N. La Brea Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90036
614 N. La Brea Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90036
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 64 comments
The murals in the auditorium—uncovered and restored when Cineplex Odeon took over—were by Los Angeles decorator Heinsbergen. Identical Greco-Deco mythological figures in these murals appear, in a much different arrangement, around the proscenium of the Bay Area’s Cerrito Theatre in El Cerrito, designed by a different architect but decorated by Heinsbergen.
My best memory of this theater is seeing “The Player” when it first came out. It was a completely sold out show; we were seated way on the side. The audience was full, apparently, of industry people, because they were laughing at all of these inside jokes I did not really understand!
Does anyone remember the Gordon Cafe that operated next to the theater? I presume this restaurant has changed names many times over the years, but my grandfather ran it as the Gordon Cafe in the early ‘50s I think. I’d especially love to see a picture from that era if anyone has.
Re:Ken mc’s post-I wonder how long “The Stunt Man” played at the Gordon. When i saw it while on vacation from Vegas in Spring ‘81,it was there with the Jack Nicholson/Jessica Lange remake of “The Postman Always Rings Twice”.
View link
Here’s a google street view of the theater:
View link
Last I heard, they were ceasing regular operation though there may be the occasional special event or premiere there. Apparently parent company Regent Entertainment is not doing well. The marquee was stripped of its Regent and Here!Network panels, but I understand all the seats and equipment are still intact.
Has it closed again?
There are no new showtimes for the week, the number listed on the website is disconnected, there are no coming attractions listed, etc.
I guess at least I made it to see “12” a couple months ago i that’s the case.
Hopefully it isn’t.
Here is a 1981 view of the Gordon:
http://tinyurl.com/cb8qxx
Here is a 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/52m3st
Here are some October 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/49ol7o
http://tinyurl.com/4wyfs9
http://tinyurl.com/4t5lge
http://tinyurl.com/4tgjj2
http://tinyurl.com/3rqbz4
Here is a January 1947 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/53sfgm
Did Regent take some time off to reconsider their decision to market this theatre to the GLBT community? I’ve been to this place once (saw “The Sixth Sense” – and had my jaw pryed off the floor by the ushers as a result of the ENDING!) and, once they switched to GLBT programming, wondered if they were even packing full houses here.
I can see why the theatre went out of business. A failing theatre/distribution company and bad DTV worthy titles.
The theatre is still operating (as of this date, they are running WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER with Colin Firth, but the building is for lease – Regent may indeed want out of this location.
On June 6, the Regent Showcase will be running a double feature. Billed as “Everyday Gay Heroes,” the two films are “Solar Flare” http://www.solarflare-themovie.com and “Polar Opposites” http://www.polaroppositesmovie.com
The doors are closed through Thursday June 5.
This just in… the old girl may have life in her yet. Theater is closed this week. May be news about a least some kind of cinema experience continuing soon. More to come…
It is a shame, yet another single screen theatre in L.A. is gone. Back in the 80’s into the 90’s Cineplex Odeon did a great job of reviving this theatre; they had great first run bookings including Hannah and her Sisters, Platoon, Radio Days, Fargo etc. It was at that time considered a Hollywood booking, and was a heavily patronized theatre. The Arclight and Grove really did in this theatre, the Fine Arts, Fairfax, and Beverly Center theatres.
Alas, we must report that as of May 29, 2008, the Regent Showcase Theater will be closed after seventy years of service to the community. Market pressure from Arclight and The Grove, who lock out studio films from this theater has finally taken its toll.
The architect for the renovation of the Gordon was David K. Mesbur. He received a Los Angeles Architectural Conservancy Award for the project in 1987.
There is a phototour of the Regent Snowcase here: View link
Heathrow,
Use to go to the Oriental on Sunset in the early 80s. Seem to remember it closed shortly thereafter.
I’ve passed the Delmar on Pico many times, but it was never operational.
Here is a January 1958 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/38rm99
Also, the Gordon opened in 1938
Hi Everyone,
I’m having a blast reading the postings. My parents owned the Gordon (never named the LaBrea BTW), the Oriental and the Delmar theaters. They had a lot of good and bad times at those theaters. I will read the posts to see if you ever have any questions.