Wrecking of the old Garrick Theater, located on the southeast corner of Eighth and Broadway and for many years a landmark of downtown Los Angeles, was started last week, to make way for a new $500,000 playhouse. Plans for the new theater, to be known as the Tower Theater, have been completed by architect S. Charles Lee.
The pathetic little bank that replaced the theater is closed and up for sale. I took a picture of it. Did they save the bricks so we can rebuild the theater?
The building I was trying to recall was the Bank of Commerce. Here’s a 1920 photo. The College is between the bank building and the Subway Terminal: http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068252.jpg
The Church of Compassion wasn’t a Moonie church. It did receive a scathing write-up in the LA Times on 9/1/74 for allegedly bilking its congregants. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Although the organization has held regular services at times in Dallas and in South Gate, those have been discontinued in favor of a Los Angeles “cathedral”, opening September 29 in what was once the Warren’s Theater building at 7th & Hill streets.
The Church of Compassion, which has a lease-option on the 10-story building, has refurbished the 765-seat theater and some offices with plush carpeting, mirrors and statuary to serve as its new headquarters.
On October 19, 1976, the church appears to be going under after several investigations:
Until recently, one Sunday afternoon a month services were held (admittance by ticket only) in the lavishly appointed 2,000 seat theater at 7th and Hill. The church sponsors no services there now however, “because we are holding crusades in other cities”, a spokesman explained.
The Church of Compassion filed for bankruptcy in May 1977. On 5/29/83, the LA Times reported the following:
The former Warner Theater, currently operating as the Theater Jewelry Center at the corner of 7th & Hill Streets, has been purchased by McDade & Shidler. The nine-story, 94,000 square foot building was converted into a commercial jewelry mart about
4 ½ years ago.
I was inside the theater today. The security guards nixed any picture taking. The balcony is still intact. There is a beautiful chandelier, and a great mural on the ceiling. Where the stage would have been is now a tacky fake skyline, for unknown reasons. If you’re downtown during the week, this is well worth a look around, plus you can pick up a diamond ring for the missus.
They’ve taken Dr. Scott’s name off the marquee, which makes sense. There is a large ad, very faded, on the back wall. I took some pictures. They also have the two “Jesus Saves” signs that used to be on the Church of the Open Door over by the library.
I was inside this theater today. I tried to ask permission to take photos, but no one spoke English. I took that as a negative affirmation. The theater is very well kept inside. My camera has a weak flash, but hopefully the pictures will be OK when I post them later.
My rationale is that, in Philly at least, the “theater” was a closet in the back of the room. I have no objection to adding a straight theater that later showed adult films. In the case of the Star/Movie, I don’t have enough information to determine if it merits an addition.
The Nu-Art showed “Birth of a Nation” in July 1970. I recall that the owner of the Silent Movie theater scheduled a showing a few years ago, but canceled due to community objection.
I saw a 1969 LA Times ad for the Star Theater in Long Beach at Ocean and Locust. I think this is the same as “The Movie” at 345 E. Ocean. This is a porno theater, so I’m not adding it.
Holy moley. This chick’s filmography is impressive. I can’t tell which weird film was the secret one in 1969, but here is a sample, from the imdb:
Janine Reynaud
Getraumte Sunden (USA title – Succubus) 1968
Im Schloss der blutigen Begierde (Castle of Bloody Lust) 1968
Rote Lippen, Sadoerotica (aka Red Lips, aka Sadist Erotica) 1969
Kuss mich, Monster (Kiss Me, Monster) 1969
Wie Kurz ist die Zeit zu Lieben (How Short is the Time for Love) 1970
Je suis une nymphomane (no translation necessary) 1970
From the LA Times, 10/24/59:
The old Chino Theater building will be converted into a 10-lane bowling alley. A snack bar is also planned.
Here are some photos from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/25z5za
http://tinyurl.com/23pqq8
http://tinyurl.com/yujzly
http://tinyurl.com/yozqxl
From the LA Times, March 6, 1927:
Theater Landmark Razed
Wrecking of the old Garrick Theater, located on the southeast corner of Eighth and Broadway and for many years a landmark of downtown Los Angeles, was started last week, to make way for a new $500,000 playhouse. Plans for the new theater, to be known as the Tower Theater, have been completed by architect S. Charles Lee.
From the LAPL:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015705.jpg
They were tearing up a big section of the parking lot today, closer to Los Angeles street. Stay tuned.
You can see the theater at the bottom right in this 1924 photo:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics38/00068728.jpg
The line gets longer in the uncropped version of the photo at the top:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics26/00032622.jpg
The pathetic little bank that replaced the theater is closed and up for sale. I took a picture of it. Did they save the bricks so we can rebuild the theater?
The building I was trying to recall was the Bank of Commerce. Here’s a 1920 photo. The College is between the bank building and the Subway Terminal:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068252.jpg
The Church of Compassion wasn’t a Moonie church. It did receive a scathing write-up in the LA Times on 9/1/74 for allegedly bilking its congregants. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Although the organization has held regular services at times in Dallas and in South Gate, those have been discontinued in favor of a Los Angeles “cathedral”, opening September 29 in what was once the Warren’s Theater building at 7th & Hill streets.
The Church of Compassion, which has a lease-option on the 10-story building, has refurbished the 765-seat theater and some offices with plush carpeting, mirrors and statuary to serve as its new headquarters.
On October 19, 1976, the church appears to be going under after several investigations:
Until recently, one Sunday afternoon a month services were held (admittance by ticket only) in the lavishly appointed 2,000 seat theater at 7th and Hill. The church sponsors no services there now however, “because we are holding crusades in other cities”, a spokesman explained.
The Church of Compassion filed for bankruptcy in May 1977. On 5/29/83, the LA Times reported the following:
The former Warner Theater, currently operating as the Theater Jewelry Center at the corner of 7th & Hill Streets, has been purchased by McDade & Shidler. The nine-story, 94,000 square foot building was converted into a commercial jewelry mart about
4 ½ years ago.
I guess if you were sitting in the cheap seats you might object to a stringy chandelier blocking your view of the screen.
There was a cyclone fence across the front of the theater today. No one was around, so I couldn’t ask what was going on.
I was inside the theater today. The security guards nixed any picture taking. The balcony is still intact. There is a beautiful chandelier, and a great mural on the ceiling. Where the stage would have been is now a tacky fake skyline, for unknown reasons. If you’re downtown during the week, this is well worth a look around, plus you can pick up a diamond ring for the missus.
They’ve taken Dr. Scott’s name off the marquee, which makes sense. There is a large ad, very faded, on the back wall. I took some pictures. They also have the two “Jesus Saves” signs that used to be on the Church of the Open Door over by the library.
Some kind of renovation is going on inside. The construction guys wouldn’t let me in to take pictures.
I was inside this theater today. I tried to ask permission to take photos, but no one spoke English. I took that as a negative affirmation. The theater is very well kept inside. My camera has a weak flash, but hopefully the pictures will be OK when I post them later.
There weren’t any theaters left in Camden in the early 80s, when I lived in Philly. Has anyone built one since, maybe in the waterfront area?
My rationale is that, in Philly at least, the “theater” was a closet in the back of the room. I have no objection to adding a straight theater that later showed adult films. In the case of the Star/Movie, I don’t have enough information to determine if it merits an addition.
The Nu-Art showed “Birth of a Nation” in July 1970. I recall that the owner of the Silent Movie theater scheduled a showing a few years ago, but canceled due to community objection.
I saw a 1969 LA Times ad for the Star Theater in Long Beach at Ocean and Locust. I think this is the same as “The Movie” at 345 E. Ocean. This is a porno theater, so I’m not adding it.
The Rialto was showing x-rated films in November 1969, per an ad in the LA Times.
I have to check that out. Thanks for the info.
Any time.
Holy moley. This chick’s filmography is impressive. I can’t tell which weird film was the secret one in 1969, but here is a sample, from the imdb:
Janine Reynaud
Getraumte Sunden (USA title – Succubus) 1968
Im Schloss der blutigen Begierde (Castle of Bloody Lust) 1968
Rote Lippen, Sadoerotica (aka Red Lips, aka Sadist Erotica) 1969
Kuss mich, Monster (Kiss Me, Monster) 1969
Wie Kurz ist die Zeit zu Lieben (How Short is the Time for Love) 1970
Je suis une nymphomane (no translation necessary) 1970
One of the posters in the USC photo is for “Half Breed”, a 1916 Douglas Fairbanks film.