Fox Criterion Theatre

This is an October 1915 ad from the LA Times. The Brooks may have been demolished to make way for the Criterion, or it may hsve been a different theater. It was definitely showing films at that time:
http://tinyurl.com/ynlj45

Guys: The Mozart Theatre at 730 S. Grand was the one with all the names (Including, per the photo, Clune’s Grand Avenue Theatre.) It outlasted the Criterion. Also, the state library got both direction and date wrong on its photo. The view is south from 7th and Grand, not north, and the year has to be 1908 or later, when the building was erected.

As for the Fox Criterion, it looks as though (per ken mc’s comment of May 29 this year) that this theatre’s last operating name must have been either Tally’s Theatre or Grand Wilshire Theatre, since the original entry at top of this page says that it was razed in 1941.

I think this is the correct theater, but i don’t know the name it is listed under on here but here are the dates and names of the theater at that spot…i think:

Walker Theater(1908-1910)
Nielsen Theater(1910)
Walker Theater(1910-1912)
Mozart Theater(1912-1916)
Grand Avenue Theater(1923-1924)
Fine Arts Theater(1924)
Orange Grove Theater(1924-1929)
Actors' Theater(1929-1935)
Grand International Theater(1935-1937)
Grand Theater(1937-1946)

This is supposed to be an 1899 photo from the CA state library. The view is Seventh & Grand, looking north. The sign appears to say Grand Avenue Theatre, as far as I can tell, so it could be a predecessor:
View link

August 8, 1928, from the LA Times:

CRITERION TO REOPEN DOORS

One of the most imposing lists of attractions any theater ever had the privilege of offering the public will come into the Criterion Theater, Grand near Seventh, on its reopening as West Coast’s banner long-run popular price house. The Criterion opens on the 18th with the William Fox special “Street Angel” as the attraction.

Opened on 12/2/17 with a showing of Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Woman God Forgot”, starring Geraldine Farrar.

T.L. Tally placed an ad in the LA Times on 3/14/41 for the sale of Tally’s Theater, Grand Wilshire formerly Criterion, 642 S. Grand. Cost $200,00 will sell for $275,000. Contact T.L. Tally 1544 W. Eighth, phone FE 9223 or call him at home at CR-60521.

(Feb. 22, 1928)
Only seven more days remain for Al Jolson as “The Jazz Singer” at the Criterion Theater when the Vitaphone production gives way to Richard Barthelmess in “The Patent-Leather Kid.” The final showing of the black-face comedian’s picture will mark the 138th performance, establishing a new record for the Criterion.

Here is the clincher:

(April 29, 1928)
The Metropolitan Theater has booked “The Patent Leather Kid” with Richard Barthelmess in its first downtown showing at popular prices, “Sunrise” with George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor is at the Criterion, and Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” comes to the Tower.

(Jan. 1, 1928)
CRITERION
“The Jazz Singer,” starring Al Jolson, is now in the first week of its showing at the Criterion Theater. The production is novel, not ony because it marks Jolson’s initial screen effort, but also because it is accompanied by what is hailed as an unusually fine Vitaphone score, May McAvoy appears opposite Jolson.

Society of Cinemaland
“Jazz-Singer Opens
An interesting premiere of Wednesday evening was that of "The Jazz-Singer,” taken from the stage play by Raphaelson, which opened at the Los Angeles Criterion Theater with Al Jolson in the leading role, and important feature being the Vitaphone accompaniment which will preserve for posterity the voice of the famous blues singer. Jolson, completing a 3000-mile journey in order to be present at the premiere, arrived in Los Angeles Tuesday on the California Limited, after stopping for a brief visit at Lake Arrowhead. A large number of Hollywood friends met him at the station, the reception there being followed by many affairs in his honor. Conrad Nagel, as master of ceremonies, introduced the blackface comedian in person to the Criterion Theater audiences Wednesday evening. Jolson left almost immediately after the premiere for New York.

Here is another connection between The Jazz Singer and the Criterion:

(Dec. 4, 1927)
“Old San Francisco,” the current attraction at the Criterion Theater, produced for Warner Brothers under the direction of Alan Crosland, is to be followed by another Crosland production, “The Jazz Singer,” with Al Jolson in the leading role. Crosland has an unusual record, one that has never been achieved by anyone in the picture industry, it is said. For the last two years his name has appeared before all productions that have been screened at the Warner Brothers' Theater, New York. With the “Jazz Singer” there now, it is reported that his record will no doubt stand for another year. With the report that the Criterion has been leased by Warners for a period of six months, and with the Jolson opus billed to follow “Old San Francisco,” Crosland will, without a doubt, do much to establish a record at that theater.

An expanded shot of the photo at the top of the page:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015282.jpg

Ken Roe is correct. The Criterion/Kinema Robert Morton was built up to around 30-ranks and had a 5-manual console. The organ was broken up for parts. The organ had been played by a famed theatre organist named Eddie Horton.

Morton built (3) 5-manual organs: LA Criterion/Kinema, the Fresno Kinema (also built up from a smaller 2 manual organ, but was only around 12-ranks and 5 manuals), and the Palms Theatre in Pennsylvania—sorry I do not remember whether it was in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. I think the organ was in Pittsburgh. Photos of all three consoles are in Vol. II of “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ” by David L. Junchen.

Sorry about the spelling errors in
the previous posting of 9/15/05 @ 9:48am.
I have a good photo of the theatre
from its original days as the Kinema.
Would be happy to post it or make
it available for posting if site manager
would contact me about it.
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