Paradise Theatre

Here’s another photo, smaller, but without the intrusive utility wires.

I saw “Day of the Triffids” there in 1963. What a wonderful place; the auditorium was wide, the product of (apparently) the post-‘50’s wide-screen boom. The Cinemascope was really spectacular, and the sound was tremendous. The front of the theater had an unusual spacious, snaking corridor. One entered in front, but it actually lead to the right. Once inside, the auditorium was on the left. And it was big! As I recall the entryway added to the mysterioso of the place, and as a kid of thirteen I had no idea what to expect. I’m glad someone mentioned the crying room. Although I grew up in Hollywood and saw most of the theaters in the area, I don’t recall having seen another (but some, like the Chinese, must have had them). The room was empty at the time, and I suppose the spacious use of real estate was impractical for most cinemas. Certainly, the lazy, open nature of the whole place lent it an air of the movie scene of the fifties, and if one asked I would have said the theater was the perfect example of Southern California at the time, seen on a postcard with a smiling, cartoon sun sipping a mai tai, and wearing dark glasses. It should be mentioned that the theater was located just north of LAX, and the wide unencumbered street of Sepulveda Blvd. with its modern stores then gave it a comfortable jet-setter feel. In spite of the ghost-nature all of us get when we think of our lost favorites, I’m grateful that the front still exists, as well the front of the lovely Loyola Theater just north of there. For those interested, the building should be seen on Google Street Search. Although the photo above is much appreciated, the image is way too narrow to appreciate its wide, sweeping nature, and the power lines create an uncharacteristic quaintness to the place. Imagine a photo double-wided toward the left, and plenty of greenery on either side.

It’s on the east side of the street. The same side as the former Loyola Theatre just two blocks or so North. The marquee and vertical sign and box office are missing, but the Best Picture metal display in the forecourt area was still there.

I was sent there in either late ‘75 or early '76 to run Disney’s Blackbeard’s Ghost while the projectionist took the week off. I’ll never forget that Academy Awards wall that went from the lobby to the auditorium. I had never been in that theatre before and I only saw the auditorium through the booth ports. There was a door that led directly to a portion of the roof outside from the booth. During intermissions I would step out onto the roof and watch jetliners land at the Los Angeles airport.

The address of this theatre is 9100 South Sepulveda Boulevard.

The Paradise Theatre opened on August 23rd, 1950 with a seating capacity 1314 people. It is located on S. Sepulveda Blvd. at W. 89 Street.
The front is of fieldstone , brick and glass in the modern California style. Live plants under the canopy give this area an outdoor patio effect. After passing through a mirrored and planted lobby with a curved refreshment stand and a manager’s office at one side, the patron enters a magnificent foyer with pastel walls trimmed in redwood and aquamarine carpeting studded with yellow and beige stars. Special features on the auditorium include a rear crying room and Telesonic Theatrephone Hearing aids for the hear of hearing patrons. Also in the foyer was a special section entitled the “Wall of Fame” containing a pictoral history of the Academy Awards since 1927.

Yes, I too, remember having my “Day in Paradise”. The Paradise was third only to the Academy and the Loyola for being the most beautifully designed picture palace in the Inglewood – Westchester area of Los Angeles. It was located not far from Morningside High School and the Imperial Theater, (which I would rate about 4th in the area, excluding of course the grand old dame, Carthay Circle Theater, a bit farther away). I saw Elvis Presley’s “BLUE HAWAII” there in 1961, and it was terrific. The Pacific Theaters chain always did a first-class job with their theaters, including the drive-ins.

It’s such a shame these fine cinema exhibitors (Pacific) are no longer in business, and top-flight theaters like the Paradise are closed. Thank God the exterior has been preserved!!!