Academy Theater

3141 West Manchester Boulevard,
Inglewood, CA 90305

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Showing 26 - 50 of 66 comments

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on February 5, 2010 at 5:01 pm

You may want to clear Feb 20th on your calendar — that’s the day that the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is going to hold one of their “All About” tours in this classic S. Charles Lee theater. Ed Kelsey will present Powerpoint presentations on the history of this building and the nearby Fox Inglewood. And if all goes according to plan, we’re going to give everyone a chance to see inside the Fox Inglewood. If you’ve seen my video on the Fox, you know just how amazing that place is.

Stay tuned for details!

William
William on August 10, 2009 at 11:00 am

The features playing the Academy Theatre in the above 1956 photo are Fess Parker in “The Great Locomotive Chase” and Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz”.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 20, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Here is a January 1974 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/nmf95f

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 16, 2009 at 10:05 pm

FYI, 55 Plymouth in the56 picture. I had an identical 56 model, but the55 had lower tail fins as pictured.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 16, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Here is another 1956 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/nwgx3x

Here is a June 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mm3eqj

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 25, 2009 at 6:46 pm

That spire in the `50’s was something else. I wonder why they chose to remove the cork screw design & replace it with bands.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 25, 2009 at 6:31 pm

Here are some additional photos from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/dd3coa
http://tinyurl.com/c57ql4

mrjlthomas
mrjlthomas on April 8, 2008 at 7:39 pm

You will love the book.

sirvan64
sirvan64 on April 8, 2008 at 2:08 pm

THIS THEATER WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER TO GO TO ON SATURDAY’S WITH MY FRIENDS.
MY FIRST TIME GOING THERE IN 1974 I SEEN,“MAGNUM FORCE AND RETURN OF THE DRAGON”.I USE TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH TO THERE,5TH AVE.,FOX,IMPERIAL THEATERS,BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL IN THE INGLEWOOD AREA.
I DO KNOW IT CLOSED IT’S DOORS IN THE LATE 1970’S,AND KNOW IT’S A CHURCH.BUT SEEING THE PICS,I FORGOTTEN HOW ELEGANT THE THEATER WAS ON THE INSIDE.

mrjlthomas
mrjlthomas on April 1, 2008 at 5:15 pm

The book was held up due to problems with overseas printing, however every order will be filled. Anyone can email Mr. Thomas at

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on March 30, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Did anyone order and receive their copy of the the ‘magnificent’ book “The Incredible History of the Acedemy Theater” by mrjlthomas?

I pre-ordered mine way-back in May 2007 and have not heard from or recieved anything. I payed $40.00 via PayPal which was processed in July 2007. I recently sent an e-mail to the e-mail address posted above by mrjlthomas on May 28, 2007 and it bounced back!

Nushboy07
Nushboy07 on March 30, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Yup, this is true.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 28, 2008 at 11:23 pm

The sign is visible for blocks on a clear day:
http://tinyurl.com/23l4s5

Nushboy07
Nushboy07 on January 16, 2008 at 10:06 pm

I go by there all the time. My mom saw Goldfinger there.

mrjlthomas
mrjlthomas on August 17, 2007 at 12:25 am

how can i place a photo with my comment?

mrjlthomas
mrjlthomas on August 17, 2007 at 12:13 am

Do you know how and why these phots ended up at the library of congress? Are you going to purchase a copy of the book “The Incredible History of The Academy Theater”?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 10, 2007 at 10:14 pm

Here is a photo from the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/2rcttn

mrjlthomas
mrjlthomas on May 28, 2007 at 7:19 pm

I have just completed a magnificent book entitled “The Incredible History of the Academy Theater”. It is a coffee table book with more than 60 vintage photos. It shows the correlation between S. Charles Lee, Charles Skouras,Julius Shchulman and Rev. Doyle Hart four men with incredible vision. The book also has a copy of the original program from the premier of “Another Thin Man” held at the Academy on November 9, 1939. There is also a photo of William Powell and Myrna Loy in the lobby and much much more. If you would like to pre-order a copy or attend the invitation only reception which will be held in the lobby of the Academy, email

William
William on August 23, 2006 at 8:39 am

The opening film at the Fox Academy Theatre was the World Press Preview for MGM’s “Another Thin Man” on November 9th. 1939 at 8:30pm.

bgoogles
bgoogles on July 24, 2006 at 5:01 pm

I grew up in Inglewood from 1953 to 1975. I frequented The Academy often. Two films I recall seeing were “The Great Escape” and “Dog of Flanders”. I still remember the vending machines in the men’s room. Cool viles of hair creme and combs.

William
William on March 29, 2006 at 2:52 pm

The Fox Academy Theatre opened on Nov. 1939 and was operated by Fox West Coast Theatre chain.