I have it listed in Film Daily Yearbooks, 1941 and 1952 as the San Clemente Theater. FDY for 1941 gives a seating capacity of 800 and in 1952 it is listed with 650 seats. The address given is Highway 101. It is the only theatre listed in the town of San Clemente.
I went by there last June (2004) and as I was taking photographs a guy came out from the car dealership across the road and asked ‘why are you taking photo’s that dump for? The sooner its torn down the better’. I just told him that it is an important part of the local history of the community and something should be done to get it open again in some form or another. He just walked away swearing, as if I was some kinda ‘nut’.
I checked out the actual street address and I can confirm lostmemory’s posting that it is located at 1598 El Camino Real, on the corner of Boca de La Playa.
I wonder if it opened as the El Hidelgo Theater, became known as the San Clemente Theater and finally closed as the Miramar Theater?
The building looked closed up and un-used, to my eyes.
RHSottSpencer;
I stand corrected by your superior local knowledge.
Just for the record I have several Kinematograph Yearbooks. Listing for Pontardulais (Glam) is given; Tivoli (no further details in the Yearbooks for 1937 and 1944). The 1947 Yearbook gives the Tivoli, prices 9d to 2/3d.
In the Kine. Yearbooks for 1963 and 1966 the cinema listed for Pontardulais is; Memorial and Welfare Hall, (Western Electric Sound) Phone 372. Two changes weekly. 500 seats. Prices 1s. to 3s. Cinemascope. One show daily. Booked at hall. Proscenium width 30ft. Screen 28ft by 14ft. Station: Pontardulais
Is the Memorial and Welfare Hall the former Tivoli?
Thats a great postcard view. I wonder if the low building just beyond the Warner Theatre building is the former first 1913 built Iris Theatre? It’s an empty plot of land there nowadays so perhaps we will never know.
That would be kewl. S. CA’s climate is one reason I will be there. I will be in LA from 12th Jan until 30th Jan and San Francisco from 31st Jan until 7th Feb.
e-mail me (link on my profile) if interested in meeting up anyone?
Thanks br91975;
I know for sure it was closed on one of my visits in the mid 1990’s and was open again on my next visit in 1998. Maybe it closed in 1994 and had re-opened by March 1996.
It is still currently operating, and I hope to go see a movie there when I visit LA in a couple of weeks time (depending whats on offer, that is!).
Thanks for your kind remarks. It’s difficult doing research from so far away (as I am in the UK), but I try my best when I am over in the USA to locate as much info as I can on theatres. I think I have exhausted my knowledge on the Ricardo Montalban for the moment though.
I remember Lux soap over here in the UK in the 1950’s, in fact I think it could still be on sale in a few outlets. Of course we had the BBC which doesn’t allow sponsership of its programmes, well it didn’t back in the ‘old days’.
I too just bought Rosemary Lord’s book for the older photo’s, being a ‘coffee-table’ type book, its not the type you pick up and actually ‘read’ is it!
Glad we finally got the Helen Hayes play title right! As they say ‘A picture never lies’. Great photo. Thanks
When it first opened in 1931 as the Studio Theatre, it was billed on the marquee as being ‘The Worlds Most Unusual Theatre’. The new concept was that it was the first ‘automatic’ theatre in the area. It had no ushers, just a cashier, a manager and a projectionist. Patrons passed through a turnstyle after purchasing their tickets. The turnstyle operated automatic doors and candy, cigarettes and drinks were sold via coin-operated machines.
It closed as the Holly Theatre in the summer of 1986.
Great photo Christian. Again it is one I haven’t seen before.
As Joe Vogal mentions above, the Marcal Theater opened in 1925, it had a seating capacity of 964.
It was operated by Fox Theatres for many years and in 1949 architect S.Charles Lee drew up plans to renovate the theatre, although it is not certain whether this happened.
In 1983 the LA Times did a review on the movie theatres of Los Angeles and here is what they said about the World Theatre, Hollywood;
‘Well – Don’t go alone and check your seat before sitting down. This is a good theatre for seeing action and horror films. The audience keeps up a continuous barrage of commentary. These people dont just watch a film, they participate’.
You got 3 movies for $2 admission, running continuously daily from 12 noon until 4am and audiences ranged from film buffs, male hustlers to homeless street people. It closed as a movie theatre in the Summer of 1986.
The Hitching Post Theatre, Hollywood. operated from the mid 1940’s until the mid-1950’s. Film Daily Yearbooks give a seating capacity of 400.
Children were encouraged to attend the Saturday morning performances wearing their cowboy outfits, but had to check-in their cap pistols in the lobby.
There is a great photo of the kids in their outfits queuing up to enter the theatre. On the marquee the attractions are; Charles Starrett in “Outlaws of the Rockies” plus “Indian Agent” with Tim Holt. A notice on the box office window states ‘Guns must be checked inside’.
The site of the theatre, directly across from the Hollywood Pantages Theater is now the open piazza which leads to the Red-Line Metro station.
This opened as the Admiral Theater pre 1939 (anyone know when?) It was re-modelled by architect S. Charles Lee in 1939-40 for the owner Julius Stern.
Pacific Theatres were operating the Vine Theater as a 2 movies for $2 admission policy before closing it in about 1994. It re-opened in 1998 showing recent movies in double bills and has a current seating capacity of 600.
Many thanks for posting the ‘artist’s sketch pic (was this scheme ever carried out I wonder?) and also the 1934 photo of the S. Charles Lee? re-construction of the facade (I have never seen this one before). Your input is very much appreciated.
Here is a brief resume of the history of the Fox (former Iris Theatre);
It was built for theatre owner P. Tabor who had previously operated Hollywood’s first movie theatre, the Idyl Hour Theatre, built in 1911 at 6265 Hollywood Blvd.
In 1913, the Idyl Hour Theatre was re-located to 6415 Hollywood Blvd and the name changed to Iris Theatre (This location would put it just slightly East of the current Warner Theatre (Pacific 1-2-3)on what is currently an empty piece of land).
In 1918 a new Iris Theatre was constructed on the other side of Hollywood Blvd at #6508 (the current site today). It was designed in a formal Romanesque style by architect Frank Meline & Co- Designers and Builders, the entire structure was built of brick and it had a seating capacity of 814 on a single floor.
The first major change to the theatre came in 1934 when S.Charles Lee? (according to William’s post on here on Nov 11 2003) re-built the frontage (as seen in the photo you posted) and possibly did some re-modelling in the auditorium (strangely this is not mentioned in the Maggie Valentine book on S. Charles Lee ‘The Show Starts on the Sidewalk’). The only work Lee did in Hollywood in in that period according to the book is the newly built Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in 1934-35. But then there are several innacuraccies in that book, so this needs further investigation.
The Iris Theatre was re-named the Fox Theatre in the mid-1950’s when the former Music Box Theatre/Fox changed its name to Pix. This could tie-in with Artist’s sketch of 1955 which you posted. If this new treatment was carried out on the facade, then it didn’t last too long, as the current rendition we see today was possibly from the 1968 renovation.
The Fox was operated in its later years by Fox West Coast Theatres, National General Theatres and finally Mann Theatres. I have a copy of the LA Times, December 1983 when they did an article reviewing the movie theaters of Los Angeles. I quote; ‘The Fox, Hollywood – The screen is poorly matted. Its picture is cut off at top and bottom – and as for cleanliness – it’s a garbage dump’.
I have a year of closing for the Fox Theatre as 1994.
This area of London is known as Walham Green. It has been without a cinema since the former Regal/ABC on North End Rd closed in 1972. That has since been demolished.
The former Red Hall Cinema/Gaumont on Vanston Place closed in 1962 and is still there, in use as a bingo club.
You have my full support and I empathize with your feelings totally, as possibly many others on this site do too? I have just added many former gay male porn cinemas in New York, Florida and San Francisco to the site. Some of course were former regular movie theaters like the Montauk once was. This is a better use for an old theater than being carved up into yet another drug store etc or demolition.
42nd St and the Times Sq area has certainly ‘lost it’ as far as I’m concerned. It used to be the heart of NYC which gave it the edgy feel which made it an exciting place to visit. Now its about as exciting as a ride on the horse drawn street car on Main St, Disneyland!
Keep on supporting the Montauk, your $$’s MAY make all the difference to the future of the building. I will be doing the same when in West Hollywood in a couple of weeks time at the Tomcat Theatre (former Monica Theatre)
Happy New Year to All Theatre and Cinema Treasures enthusiasts.
The Huntington Hartford Theatre always looked to be a fairly drab building to my eyes, and it always seemed to be ‘closed’ whenever I visited LA, so I never went into it. Maybe I will have more luck on my next visit in a couple of weeks time! Last time I was there it was shrouded in scaffolding during its recent renovation.
This opened as the 980 seat capacity Carter DeHaven Music Box Theatre on 20th October 1926. It was designed by noted theatre architects Octavious Morgan, J.A. Walls and Stiles O. Clements in a Spanish Colonial style.
Initially it was used for staging elaborate musical revues in which artists such as Fanny Brice starred in productions designed to rival the ‘Zeigfeld Follies’. After the show, theatregoers could mingle with the stars and dance and watch cabaret shows in an open-air room located above the theatre’s main entrance. This room was also a well known ‘speakeasy’ serving alcohol during the prohibition era. Within a year the theatre had become a drama playhouse and productions included Clark Gable starring in “Chicago” and Bella Lugosi starring in “Dracula” following on from his first big screen success in that role.
In 1936 it became a radio studio theatre and artists such as Mae West, Al Jolson, Joan Crawford, James Cagney, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper and Jean Harlow all graced the stage, broadcasting dramas as ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’. This possibly only lasted until 1938 as CBS had then taken over the former Vine St Theatre (now the Ricardo Montalban Theatre) and broadcasts of ‘The Lux Radio Theatre continued from there. The Music Box Theatre was most likely 'dark’ until it returned to legitimate stage use briefly in the early 1940’s when, again known as the Music Box Theatre, a production of “Life With Father” had an extensive run in 1942. Again, the theatre possibly had another ‘dark’ period.
It became a full time movie theatre known as the Guild Theater from February 1945 when Fox West Coast Theatres took control and it was re-modelled in the foyer areas to an Art Deco Moderne design, which included a stylish pavement mounted pay-box. Cladding was put on the facade of the theatre hiding the original Spanish style decorations and the auditorium was given the ‘Skouras’ style treatment that many Fox West Coast Theatres were given at this time. It later became the Fox Theatre, showing first run movies.
A later change of management in the mid-1950’s altered the name to Pix Theater (the Fox name was transfered to the former Iris Theatre further West on Hollywood Blvd) and a spectacular neon display was mounted on the new marquee and vertical sign. Many ‘Sneak Previews’ were held at the Pix and in 1975 the premier of “Jaws” was held here, followed in 1976 by the premier of “Rocky”. But this was a last gasp as it briefly went over to screening Spanish language movies and closed as a full time move theatre in 1977, after which it lay empty and un-used for many years.
In March 1985 it re-opened as the Henry Fonda Theatre, a legitimate theatre with a production of “Twelve Angry Men” and it came under the management of Nederlander Theatres. Many Broadway productions have played here in recent years including “Driving Miss Daisy”, Glengary Glen Ross", “Lend Me A Tenor” and “Nunsense”. It has also been used for concerts by Marianne Faithful, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Davies and Adam Ant, among many others to numerous to name.
The current seating capacity is 863 and in June 2002 it was getting started on an on-going restoration which has now brought many of the original architectural features back into sight. The former open-air cabaret room has been restored back into use again and serves as a reception area. The theatre now thrives on a mixed diet of concerts, live performances and special events. The current lessee’s hope to eventually remove the cladding on the front of the theatre and reveal and restore the original Spanish style facade.
Joe;
I have notes that the Music Box Theatre became a radio studio theatre in 1936, the same year as the Mirror Theatre became the Studio Theatre.
It could be that ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ was broadcast initially from the Music Box, then transfered over the CBS Playhouse in 1938.
The Music Box could have become ‘dark’ when this happened.
I have notes on stars such as Mae West, Al Jolson, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper and Jean Harlow all gracing the stage at the Music Box Theater when ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ was being broadcast.
The Music Box Theatre returned to legitimate stage use briefly in the early 1940’s when a production of “Life With Father” had an extensive run in 1942. Possibly ‘dark’ again until it then went over to full time movies as the Guild Theater from February 1945 when Fox West Coast Theatres took control.
These are the offical names that the theater has had over the years;
Wilkes' Vine St Theatre
Vine St Theatre
Mirror Theater
Studio Theatre
CBS Radio Playhouse
Huntington Hartford Theatre
James A. Doolittle Theatre
Ricardo Montalban Theatre
The new neon lit marquee and vertical sign that S.CHarles Lee designed in 1936 for the Studio Theatre only lasted a couple of years, as in 1938 a new slim plain marquee was errected when the name changed to the CBS Radio Playhouse (Pictured in the book ‘Hollywood Then & Now’ by Rosemary Lord PRC Publishing 2003 on page 120).
Just to point out you have a couple of the former names mixed up. It was never called Lux Radio Playhouse (‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ was the name of a show broadcast from the theatre which had Cecil B DeMille hosting and featured stars such as Gloria Swanson and George Raft)
For CBS Radio Theatre-this should read CBS Radio Playhouse.
In its early years, actor Edward Everett Horton starred in many productions at the theatre between March 1928 and January 1929.
I believe that in recent years it was leased to the Nederlander Theatres Org?
The Ricardo Montalban Theatre showed movies again in November 2004 when for 3 days the 1st Annual Nosotros American Latino Film Festival was held. Is the theatre fully equipped with projectors, screen and sound system now, or was this a temporary insallation?
Just to add a few more pieces of the historical time line of this theatre to the above notes;
Wilkes' Vine Street Theatre opened on 19th January 1927.
It became a full time movie theater from 15th March 1931 and was re-named the Mirror Theater. This lasted until 1936 when CBS Radio took over and it became known as the Studio Theater. It was at this time that architect S. Charles Lee added a dazzling neon lit marquee and vertical sign on the front of the building and a new air conditioning plant was installed.
It re-opened as a legitimate playhouse again in September 1954 and was re-named the Huntington Hartford Theater, when Helen Hayes starred in “What Every Woman Wants”.
The Hove Cinematograph Theatre was a part conversion of the Belvedere Club and Tea Rooms. It opened in late 1911.
In 1922 it became the Tivoli owned by George Beyfus and the seating capacity was given as 500. In 1948 it was acquired by Harry Jacobs and re-named the Embassy.
In 1967 Miles Byrne took over and after a few years, business was dropping and he planned to divide the building into a gambling club on the orchestra floor, with a small auditorium in the circle but planning permission was refused in 1979.
The Embassy continued as a single screen cinema until it closed down at the end of March 1981 with the movie “Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again”.
The building was then converted into the Black Cat bingo club until the late 1980’s when it was converted into retail use. It is has been used as an amusement arcade in recent years.
The street address of the Odeon was 38 St. Georges Road, Kemp Town, Brighton.
It was an original Oscar Deutsch built Odeon (this one a conversion of former stables) which opened on 1st February 1934, the architect was Andrew Mather. The seating capacity was 958 in a stadium style, with no overhanging balcony.
It closed as the Odeon Theatre on 5th November 1960 and lay empty until 1962 when it re-opened as a bingo club. It was used for a short while as a church after bingo ceased and was demolished in January 1986 and a block of flats built on the site.
I have it listed in Film Daily Yearbooks, 1941 and 1952 as the San Clemente Theater. FDY for 1941 gives a seating capacity of 800 and in 1952 it is listed with 650 seats. The address given is Highway 101. It is the only theatre listed in the town of San Clemente.
I went by there last June (2004) and as I was taking photographs a guy came out from the car dealership across the road and asked ‘why are you taking photo’s that dump for? The sooner its torn down the better’. I just told him that it is an important part of the local history of the community and something should be done to get it open again in some form or another. He just walked away swearing, as if I was some kinda ‘nut’.
I checked out the actual street address and I can confirm lostmemory’s posting that it is located at 1598 El Camino Real, on the corner of Boca de La Playa.
I wonder if it opened as the El Hidelgo Theater, became known as the San Clemente Theater and finally closed as the Miramar Theater?
The building looked closed up and un-used, to my eyes.
Two small photographs I took can be seen here:– http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=11305
The Stuart Galbraith IV. book ‘Motor City Marquees’ gives the architects of the Dawn Theater as Feldman & Seeler
RHSottSpencer;
I stand corrected by your superior local knowledge.
Just for the record I have several Kinematograph Yearbooks. Listing for Pontardulais (Glam) is given; Tivoli (no further details in the Yearbooks for 1937 and 1944). The 1947 Yearbook gives the Tivoli, prices 9d to 2/3d.
In the Kine. Yearbooks for 1963 and 1966 the cinema listed for Pontardulais is; Memorial and Welfare Hall, (Western Electric Sound) Phone 372. Two changes weekly. 500 seats. Prices 1s. to 3s. Cinemascope. One show daily. Booked at hall. Proscenium width 30ft. Screen 28ft by 14ft. Station: Pontardulais
Is the Memorial and Welfare Hall the former Tivoli?
Thats a great postcard view. I wonder if the low building just beyond the Warner Theatre building is the former first 1913 built Iris Theatre? It’s an empty plot of land there nowadays so perhaps we will never know.
That would be kewl. S. CA’s climate is one reason I will be there. I will be in LA from 12th Jan until 30th Jan and San Francisco from 31st Jan until 7th Feb.
e-mail me (link on my profile) if interested in meeting up anyone?
Thanks br91975;
I know for sure it was closed on one of my visits in the mid 1990’s and was open again on my next visit in 1998. Maybe it closed in 1994 and had re-opened by March 1996.
It is still currently operating, and I hope to go see a movie there when I visit LA in a couple of weeks time (depending whats on offer, that is!).
Christian;
Thanks for your kind remarks. It’s difficult doing research from so far away (as I am in the UK), but I try my best when I am over in the USA to locate as much info as I can on theatres. I think I have exhausted my knowledge on the Ricardo Montalban for the moment though.
I remember Lux soap over here in the UK in the 1950’s, in fact I think it could still be on sale in a few outlets. Of course we had the BBC which doesn’t allow sponsership of its programmes, well it didn’t back in the ‘old days’.
I too just bought Rosemary Lord’s book for the older photo’s, being a ‘coffee-table’ type book, its not the type you pick up and actually ‘read’ is it!
Glad we finally got the Helen Hayes play title right! As they say ‘A picture never lies’. Great photo. Thanks
When it first opened in 1931 as the Studio Theatre, it was billed on the marquee as being ‘The Worlds Most Unusual Theatre’. The new concept was that it was the first ‘automatic’ theatre in the area. It had no ushers, just a cashier, a manager and a projectionist. Patrons passed through a turnstyle after purchasing their tickets. The turnstyle operated automatic doors and candy, cigarettes and drinks were sold via coin-operated machines.
It closed as the Holly Theatre in the summer of 1986.
Great photo Christian. Again it is one I haven’t seen before.
As Joe Vogal mentions above, the Marcal Theater opened in 1925, it had a seating capacity of 964.
It was operated by Fox Theatres for many years and in 1949 architect S.Charles Lee drew up plans to renovate the theatre, although it is not certain whether this happened.
In 1983 the LA Times did a review on the movie theatres of Los Angeles and here is what they said about the World Theatre, Hollywood;
‘Well – Don’t go alone and check your seat before sitting down. This is a good theatre for seeing action and horror films. The audience keeps up a continuous barrage of commentary. These people dont just watch a film, they participate’.
You got 3 movies for $2 admission, running continuously daily from 12 noon until 4am and audiences ranged from film buffs, male hustlers to homeless street people. It closed as a movie theatre in the Summer of 1986.
The Hitching Post Theatre, Hollywood. operated from the mid 1940’s until the mid-1950’s. Film Daily Yearbooks give a seating capacity of 400.
Children were encouraged to attend the Saturday morning performances wearing their cowboy outfits, but had to check-in their cap pistols in the lobby.
There is a great photo of the kids in their outfits queuing up to enter the theatre. On the marquee the attractions are; Charles Starrett in “Outlaws of the Rockies” plus “Indian Agent” with Tim Holt. A notice on the box office window states ‘Guns must be checked inside’.
The site of the theatre, directly across from the Hollywood Pantages Theater is now the open piazza which leads to the Red-Line Metro station.
This opened as the Admiral Theater pre 1939 (anyone know when?) It was re-modelled by architect S. Charles Lee in 1939-40 for the owner Julius Stern.
Pacific Theatres were operating the Vine Theater as a 2 movies for $2 admission policy before closing it in about 1994. It re-opened in 1998 showing recent movies in double bills and has a current seating capacity of 600.
Christian;
Many thanks for posting the ‘artist’s sketch pic (was this scheme ever carried out I wonder?) and also the 1934 photo of the S. Charles Lee? re-construction of the facade (I have never seen this one before). Your input is very much appreciated.
Here is a brief resume of the history of the Fox (former Iris Theatre);
It was built for theatre owner P. Tabor who had previously operated Hollywood’s first movie theatre, the Idyl Hour Theatre, built in 1911 at 6265 Hollywood Blvd.
In 1913, the Idyl Hour Theatre was re-located to 6415 Hollywood Blvd and the name changed to Iris Theatre (This location would put it just slightly East of the current Warner Theatre (Pacific 1-2-3)on what is currently an empty piece of land).
In 1918 a new Iris Theatre was constructed on the other side of Hollywood Blvd at #6508 (the current site today). It was designed in a formal Romanesque style by architect Frank Meline & Co- Designers and Builders, the entire structure was built of brick and it had a seating capacity of 814 on a single floor.
The first major change to the theatre came in 1934 when S.Charles Lee? (according to William’s post on here on Nov 11 2003) re-built the frontage (as seen in the photo you posted) and possibly did some re-modelling in the auditorium (strangely this is not mentioned in the Maggie Valentine book on S. Charles Lee ‘The Show Starts on the Sidewalk’). The only work Lee did in Hollywood in in that period according to the book is the newly built Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in 1934-35. But then there are several innacuraccies in that book, so this needs further investigation.
The Iris Theatre was re-named the Fox Theatre in the mid-1950’s when the former Music Box Theatre/Fox changed its name to Pix. This could tie-in with Artist’s sketch of 1955 which you posted. If this new treatment was carried out on the facade, then it didn’t last too long, as the current rendition we see today was possibly from the 1968 renovation.
The Fox was operated in its later years by Fox West Coast Theatres, National General Theatres and finally Mann Theatres. I have a copy of the LA Times, December 1983 when they did an article reviewing the movie theaters of Los Angeles. I quote; ‘The Fox, Hollywood – The screen is poorly matted. Its picture is cut off at top and bottom – and as for cleanliness – it’s a garbage dump’.
I have a year of closing for the Fox Theatre as 1994.
This area of London is known as Walham Green. It has been without a cinema since the former Regal/ABC on North End Rd closed in 1972. That has since been demolished.
The former Red Hall Cinema/Gaumont on Vanston Place closed in 1962 and is still there, in use as a bingo club.
This multiplex opened as the Warner Village Cinemas on 11th October 2002.
The Viers Mill Theater opened on 3rd August 1950 with the film “The Good Humour Man” starring Jack Carson.
The architect was Richard L. Parli and it was built as part of the Viers Mill Village Shopping Center. It had a seating capacity of 900.
It was operated throughout its existance by the Sidney Lust organisation.
After closing it was converted into a drugstore.
Theatrebuff;
You have my full support and I empathize with your feelings totally, as possibly many others on this site do too? I have just added many former gay male porn cinemas in New York, Florida and San Francisco to the site. Some of course were former regular movie theaters like the Montauk once was. This is a better use for an old theater than being carved up into yet another drug store etc or demolition.
42nd St and the Times Sq area has certainly ‘lost it’ as far as I’m concerned. It used to be the heart of NYC which gave it the edgy feel which made it an exciting place to visit. Now its about as exciting as a ride on the horse drawn street car on Main St, Disneyland!
Keep on supporting the Montauk, your $$’s MAY make all the difference to the future of the building. I will be doing the same when in West Hollywood in a couple of weeks time at the Tomcat Theatre (former Monica Theatre)
Happy New Year to All Theatre and Cinema Treasures enthusiasts.
The Huntington Hartford Theatre always looked to be a fairly drab building to my eyes, and it always seemed to be ‘closed’ whenever I visited LA, so I never went into it. Maybe I will have more luck on my next visit in a couple of weeks time! Last time I was there it was shrouded in scaffolding during its recent renovation.
I have just posted a fairly comprehensive history up on the Music Box Theatre page /theaters/493/
This opened as the 980 seat capacity Carter DeHaven Music Box Theatre on 20th October 1926. It was designed by noted theatre architects Octavious Morgan, J.A. Walls and Stiles O. Clements in a Spanish Colonial style.
Initially it was used for staging elaborate musical revues in which artists such as Fanny Brice starred in productions designed to rival the ‘Zeigfeld Follies’. After the show, theatregoers could mingle with the stars and dance and watch cabaret shows in an open-air room located above the theatre’s main entrance. This room was also a well known ‘speakeasy’ serving alcohol during the prohibition era. Within a year the theatre had become a drama playhouse and productions included Clark Gable starring in “Chicago” and Bella Lugosi starring in “Dracula” following on from his first big screen success in that role.
In 1936 it became a radio studio theatre and artists such as Mae West, Al Jolson, Joan Crawford, James Cagney, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper and Jean Harlow all graced the stage, broadcasting dramas as ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’. This possibly only lasted until 1938 as CBS had then taken over the former Vine St Theatre (now the Ricardo Montalban Theatre) and broadcasts of ‘The Lux Radio Theatre continued from there. The Music Box Theatre was most likely 'dark’ until it returned to legitimate stage use briefly in the early 1940’s when, again known as the Music Box Theatre, a production of “Life With Father” had an extensive run in 1942. Again, the theatre possibly had another ‘dark’ period.
It became a full time movie theatre known as the Guild Theater from February 1945 when Fox West Coast Theatres took control and it was re-modelled in the foyer areas to an Art Deco Moderne design, which included a stylish pavement mounted pay-box. Cladding was put on the facade of the theatre hiding the original Spanish style decorations and the auditorium was given the ‘Skouras’ style treatment that many Fox West Coast Theatres were given at this time. It later became the Fox Theatre, showing first run movies.
A later change of management in the mid-1950’s altered the name to Pix Theater (the Fox name was transfered to the former Iris Theatre further West on Hollywood Blvd) and a spectacular neon display was mounted on the new marquee and vertical sign. Many ‘Sneak Previews’ were held at the Pix and in 1975 the premier of “Jaws” was held here, followed in 1976 by the premier of “Rocky”. But this was a last gasp as it briefly went over to screening Spanish language movies and closed as a full time move theatre in 1977, after which it lay empty and un-used for many years.
In March 1985 it re-opened as the Henry Fonda Theatre, a legitimate theatre with a production of “Twelve Angry Men” and it came under the management of Nederlander Theatres. Many Broadway productions have played here in recent years including “Driving Miss Daisy”, Glengary Glen Ross", “Lend Me A Tenor” and “Nunsense”. It has also been used for concerts by Marianne Faithful, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Davies and Adam Ant, among many others to numerous to name.
The current seating capacity is 863 and in June 2002 it was getting started on an on-going restoration which has now brought many of the original architectural features back into sight. The former open-air cabaret room has been restored back into use again and serves as a reception area. The theatre now thrives on a mixed diet of concerts, live performances and special events. The current lessee’s hope to eventually remove the cladding on the front of the theatre and reveal and restore the original Spanish style facade.
Joe;
I have notes that the Music Box Theatre became a radio studio theatre in 1936, the same year as the Mirror Theatre became the Studio Theatre.
It could be that ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ was broadcast initially from the Music Box, then transfered over the CBS Playhouse in 1938.
The Music Box could have become ‘dark’ when this happened.
I have notes on stars such as Mae West, Al Jolson, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper and Jean Harlow all gracing the stage at the Music Box Theater when ‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ was being broadcast.
The Music Box Theatre returned to legitimate stage use briefly in the early 1940’s when a production of “Life With Father” had an extensive run in 1942. Possibly ‘dark’ again until it then went over to full time movies as the Guild Theater from February 1945 when Fox West Coast Theatres took control.
These are the offical names that the theater has had over the years;
Wilkes' Vine St Theatre
Vine St Theatre
Mirror Theater
Studio Theatre
CBS Radio Playhouse
Huntington Hartford Theatre
James A. Doolittle Theatre
Ricardo Montalban Theatre
The new neon lit marquee and vertical sign that S.CHarles Lee designed in 1936 for the Studio Theatre only lasted a couple of years, as in 1938 a new slim plain marquee was errected when the name changed to the CBS Radio Playhouse (Pictured in the book ‘Hollywood Then & Now’ by Rosemary Lord PRC Publishing 2003 on page 120).
Just to point out you have a couple of the former names mixed up. It was never called Lux Radio Playhouse (‘The Lux Radio Theatre’ was the name of a show broadcast from the theatre which had Cecil B DeMille hosting and featured stars such as Gloria Swanson and George Raft)
For CBS Radio Theatre-this should read CBS Radio Playhouse.
In its early years, actor Edward Everett Horton starred in many productions at the theatre between March 1928 and January 1929.
I believe that in recent years it was leased to the Nederlander Theatres Org?
The Ricardo Montalban Theatre showed movies again in November 2004 when for 3 days the 1st Annual Nosotros American Latino Film Festival was held. Is the theatre fully equipped with projectors, screen and sound system now, or was this a temporary insallation?
Just to add a few more pieces of the historical time line of this theatre to the above notes;
Wilkes' Vine Street Theatre opened on 19th January 1927.
It became a full time movie theater from 15th March 1931 and was re-named the Mirror Theater. This lasted until 1936 when CBS Radio took over and it became known as the Studio Theater. It was at this time that architect S. Charles Lee added a dazzling neon lit marquee and vertical sign on the front of the building and a new air conditioning plant was installed.
It re-opened as a legitimate playhouse again in September 1954 and was re-named the Huntington Hartford Theater, when Helen Hayes starred in “What Every Woman Wants”.
The Hove Cinematograph Theatre was a part conversion of the Belvedere Club and Tea Rooms. It opened in late 1911.
In 1922 it became the Tivoli owned by George Beyfus and the seating capacity was given as 500. In 1948 it was acquired by Harry Jacobs and re-named the Embassy.
In 1967 Miles Byrne took over and after a few years, business was dropping and he planned to divide the building into a gambling club on the orchestra floor, with a small auditorium in the circle but planning permission was refused in 1979.
The Embassy continued as a single screen cinema until it closed down at the end of March 1981 with the movie “Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again”.
The building was then converted into the Black Cat bingo club until the late 1980’s when it was converted into retail use. It is has been used as an amusement arcade in recent years.
The street address of the Odeon was 38 St. Georges Road, Kemp Town, Brighton.
It was an original Oscar Deutsch built Odeon (this one a conversion of former stables) which opened on 1st February 1934, the architect was Andrew Mather. The seating capacity was 958 in a stadium style, with no overhanging balcony.
It closed as the Odeon Theatre on 5th November 1960 and lay empty until 1962 when it re-opened as a bingo club. It was used for a short while as a church after bingo ceased and was demolished in January 1986 and a block of flats built on the site.
Thanks Ian,
You are correct. The current status of the Classic Cinema should be ammended to Demolished. I believe a supermarket was built on the site.