They also used to dabble in the “Midnight Movie” business and were showing Rocky Horror Picture Show Saturdays at Midnight for years and years and years. This is during the 1980’s.
Like in so many other cities, this neighborhood where the Riviera was located became primarily African-American as the white people ran away to the suburbs. Unfortunately, this meant the area became poverty stricken and the theatre couldn’t make a go of it.
The Eckel is long gone and I don’t think that Twin Screen theatre next to the War Memorial ever opened. At least it wasn’t there as of 1983. The drive-ins are also long gone I believe.
I went to this theatre a number times for concerts while attending Syracuse University in the 1980’s, including the Stray Cats and the Monkees. Sorry I missed Frank Zappa there, that’s a big regret. The place was one of the first old movie palaces I’d been in and lived up to its reputation. Fantastic decor, probably equal to the most lavish palaces like the Los Angeles or the Fox in San Francisco.
Really not much left except the two outside walls and a couple of metal trusses along the roofline.
I believe they are doing this to keep this project within the realm of a “renovation” rather than “new construction.” I don’t know why, is it zoning regs? To get tax breaks? Couldn’t tell you, I’d just be guessing.
Not much action as far as new building yet. Just the tearing down so far. Where’s the old marquee? I wanted it for my rec room!
That first photo from the 1920’s shows the Regent. It’s right next to the “Canadian Office Building”, which is still there in 2007 photo you posted. The labeled San Fernando Building in the background also confirms it.
I can pin down the photo supposedly “Circa 1903.” That’s off. On the right side of the photo the Pacific Electric Building is clearly visible. That is from where I am typing this message right now (I live there). That was finished in 1905. The Kerckhoff Building, across Sixth street (closer to the camera position), was finished around 1908. If that was there, it would block the view of the PE Building. So this photo dates between 1905 and 1908.
Now that so many people are moving back to Downtown to live, why is nobody playing movies in any of these theatres on a regular basis???
Come on! I’m very glad that most of them are still around, and most of them could be fixed up with too great an effort, but using the space as retail stores is just a crying shame. These are historic theatres!
I urge to city of L.A. to take over at least one of these old theatres (like was done for the Egyptian) and get some NGO to come in start showing films there on a regular basis again! It’s shame the way all of Broadway has gone to seed.
This building has been torn down, since there is an empty lot on Spring between the Alexandria Hotel (1906) and the Broadway-Spring Arcade Building (about 1925).
That undated color photo is after 1958, since we see buses with the color scheme of MTA Mark I, which started in March 1958. Also, before the theatre was torn down in 1961, so photo is 1958 to 1960.
The Tower Theatre also stood in for the Pantages Theater in “Ed Wood” with Johnny Depp, filmed 1994 (interiors only). I happened to be walking by the area during the shoot, and I spoke briefly to some of the extras, all dressed in 1950’s period clothing as they milled about the street. It was like going back in time 40 years for a second.
After it closed up, it was rented out by a local scenster for some screenings of old horror movies on several occasions (he merely projected DVDs on a standard video projector probably costing less than $2000, and honestly it really didn’t look too bad…a little dim but no splices or film print damage, obviously). This was around 2000 or 2001. As confirmed by others here, I had heard the rumor that the place was morphing into a nightclub. Fine and dandy, but DO IT ALREADY! I’d rather have the place functioning. You’ve already ripped out the seats aparently, you naughty boy. So let’s do something with it. I’d prefer another organziation in the style of the American Cinemateque; Hollywood Blvd. is the perfect place fortit.
Los Angeles is overrun with closed movie palaces; thankfully many of them have not been demolished. Probably the only way to get many of them operating again is either to have them run by a non-profit organziation, in the mold of the American Cinematheque, or converting them to host legitimate theatre productions, which generally take in a lot more money than film screenings ever do (except for the latest Star Wars installment possibly…) So, how about it? Someone step up to the plate and get an NPO together…
They also used to dabble in the “Midnight Movie” business and were showing Rocky Horror Picture Show Saturdays at Midnight for years and years and years. This is during the 1980’s.
Like in so many other cities, this neighborhood where the Riviera was located became primarily African-American as the white people ran away to the suburbs. Unfortunately, this meant the area became poverty stricken and the theatre couldn’t make a go of it.
The Eckel is long gone and I don’t think that Twin Screen theatre next to the War Memorial ever opened. At least it wasn’t there as of 1983. The drive-ins are also long gone I believe.
I went to this theatre a number times for concerts while attending Syracuse University in the 1980’s, including the Stray Cats and the Monkees. Sorry I missed Frank Zappa there, that’s a big regret. The place was one of the first old movie palaces I’d been in and lived up to its reputation. Fantastic decor, probably equal to the most lavish palaces like the Los Angeles or the Fox in San Francisco.
Really not much left except the two outside walls and a couple of metal trusses along the roofline.
I believe they are doing this to keep this project within the realm of a “renovation” rather than “new construction.” I don’t know why, is it zoning regs? To get tax breaks? Couldn’t tell you, I’d just be guessing.
Not much action as far as new building yet. Just the tearing down so far. Where’s the old marquee? I wanted it for my rec room!
KenMC:
That first photo from the 1920’s shows the Regent. It’s right next to the “Canadian Office Building”, which is still there in 2007 photo you posted. The labeled San Fernando Building in the background also confirms it.
Someonewalksinla:
I can pin down the photo supposedly “Circa 1903.” That’s off. On the right side of the photo the Pacific Electric Building is clearly visible. That is from where I am typing this message right now (I live there). That was finished in 1905. The Kerckhoff Building, across Sixth street (closer to the camera position), was finished around 1908. If that was there, it would block the view of the PE Building. So this photo dates between 1905 and 1908.
And it’s shocking how nice it looked as late as the 1970’s, compared how horrible it looks today.
Now that so many people are moving back to Downtown to live, why is nobody playing movies in any of these theatres on a regular basis???
Come on! I’m very glad that most of them are still around, and most of them could be fixed up with too great an effort, but using the space as retail stores is just a crying shame. These are historic theatres!
I urge to city of L.A. to take over at least one of these old theatres (like was done for the Egyptian) and get some NGO to come in start showing films there on a regular basis again! It’s shame the way all of Broadway has gone to seed.
This building has been torn down, since there is an empty lot on Spring between the Alexandria Hotel (1906) and the Broadway-Spring Arcade Building (about 1925).
That undated color photo is after 1958, since we see buses with the color scheme of MTA Mark I, which started in March 1958. Also, before the theatre was torn down in 1961, so photo is 1958 to 1960.
The Tower Theatre also stood in for the Pantages Theater in “Ed Wood” with Johnny Depp, filmed 1994 (interiors only). I happened to be walking by the area during the shoot, and I spoke briefly to some of the extras, all dressed in 1950’s period clothing as they milled about the street. It was like going back in time 40 years for a second.
After it closed up, it was rented out by a local scenster for some screenings of old horror movies on several occasions (he merely projected DVDs on a standard video projector probably costing less than $2000, and honestly it really didn’t look too bad…a little dim but no splices or film print damage, obviously). This was around 2000 or 2001. As confirmed by others here, I had heard the rumor that the place was morphing into a nightclub. Fine and dandy, but DO IT ALREADY! I’d rather have the place functioning. You’ve already ripped out the seats aparently, you naughty boy. So let’s do something with it. I’d prefer another organziation in the style of the American Cinemateque; Hollywood Blvd. is the perfect place fortit.
Los Angeles is overrun with closed movie palaces; thankfully many of them have not been demolished. Probably the only way to get many of them operating again is either to have them run by a non-profit organziation, in the mold of the American Cinematheque, or converting them to host legitimate theatre productions, which generally take in a lot more money than film screenings ever do (except for the latest Star Wars installment possibly…) So, how about it? Someone step up to the plate and get an NPO together…