Here is a letter to the LA Times dated 11/16/67. Both the Follies and the Burbank are now gone, of course:
“A few days ago I read with interest a Times article reporting the possible consideration of the official dedication of the Follies and Burbank theaters on Main Street as historical landmarks. At this time when Los Angeles is growing in national importance as a theater center the proposal has merit”
The writer, Ralph Freud of UCLA’s Theater Arts department, goes on to list some of the famous plays and players that performed live at the two theaters. I guess the landmark argument didn’t make too much of an impression on the powers that be.
There’s an office building on that spot now. I think that’s around where Wilshire deadends on Grand and you have to turn right or left, or drive into the lobby of the building, I suppose.
Given that there are so many Egyptian theaters from the 1920s (Hollywood and Long Beach CA come to mind), I’m wondering if the whole King Tut mania of the teens had anything to do with this. Why would an architect say out of the blue “I think I will make my theater look like something out of ancient Egypt”.
Joe, if you go back two pictures from 730 to 729 and 728, you will see more aerial photos, also of the Pershing Square area. Interesting to try and pick out the different structures. Thanks for the tip.
How about this double bill in Feb. 1980 – George Romero’s “Martin” and the uncut version of Tod Browning’s “Freaks”. The Zep film “Song Remains the Same” followed the week after.
Everybody stands in line once a year for the last remaining seats show. Other than private parties, that’s about it. But, as we’ve said on some of the other pages, is there enough demand to keep a first run theater going in DTLA? I guess the Staples people will find out when they open up their multiplex in a few years. There will be an increased need for entertainment if the downtown population continues to multiply.
It doesn’t seem like anyone ever wanted to shoot the east side of Broadway south of the Bradbury building. This 1918 photo is one of the few I found, but no theater is in evidence: http://tinyurl.com/3dw5t8
I spent some time with a friend in Miami Beach when I took the photos in April. He is a real estate developer, pretty well known in that area. He objected when I told him about taking pictures of the strip club as he has had numerous run ins with the owner, whose name I can’t recall. He didn’t see any architectural significance regarding this building. To each his own, I guess.
Some early reviews by Landmark patrons were less than glowing. Problems with sound and with the staff. This is third hand as I haven’t been to this theater yet.
Here is a letter to the LA Times dated 11/16/67. Both the Follies and the Burbank are now gone, of course:
“A few days ago I read with interest a Times article reporting the possible consideration of the official dedication of the Follies and Burbank theaters on Main Street as historical landmarks. At this time when Los Angeles is growing in national importance as a theater center the proposal has merit”
The writer, Ralph Freud of UCLA’s Theater Arts department, goes on to list some of the famous plays and players that performed live at the two theaters. I guess the landmark argument didn’t make too much of an impression on the powers that be.
I remember when the booths were a quarter on Times Square in the early eighties. I must be getting old.
I think the listing of the Front Door on CT is a tribute to the elasticity of the term “Cinema Treasures”.
On #728 you can also see the sizable Metropolitan/Paramount at the corner of 6th and Hill.
There’s an office building on that spot now. I think that’s around where Wilshire deadends on Grand and you have to turn right or left, or drive into the lobby of the building, I suppose.
Given that there are so many Egyptian theaters from the 1920s (Hollywood and Long Beach CA come to mind), I’m wondering if the whole King Tut mania of the teens had anything to do with this. Why would an architect say out of the blue “I think I will make my theater look like something out of ancient Egypt”.
Maybe 150 seats per screen, so approximately 900 seats? I assume the rooms weren’t closets like the Beverly Center.
Is that at the bottom right?
Joe, if you go back two pictures from 730 to 729 and 728, you will see more aerial photos, also of the Pershing Square area. Interesting to try and pick out the different structures. Thanks for the tip.
How about this double bill in Feb. 1980 – George Romero’s “Martin” and the uncut version of Tod Browning’s “Freaks”. The Zep film “Song Remains the Same” followed the week after.
I don’t think the city is called Los Cerritos. I think it’s just Cerritos.
I don’t think the city is called Los Cerritos. I think it’s just Cerritos.
Note the predecessor to the Million Dollar on the left.
Everybody stands in line once a year for the last remaining seats show. Other than private parties, that’s about it. But, as we’ve said on some of the other pages, is there enough demand to keep a first run theater going in DTLA? I guess the Staples people will find out when they open up their multiplex in a few years. There will be an increased need for entertainment if the downtown population continues to multiply.
There is going to be some fight if they ever try to bulldoze this. At least I hope there will be a fight.
It doesn’t seem like anyone ever wanted to shoot the east side of Broadway south of the Bradbury building. This 1918 photo is one of the few I found, but no theater is in evidence:
http://tinyurl.com/3dw5t8
There are plenty of photos on the Fox Redondo page.
Hard to figure how a municipality could be called “Body of Christ”. Doesn’t that seem like a church/state separation issue?
I spent some time with a friend in Miami Beach when I took the photos in April. He is a real estate developer, pretty well known in that area. He objected when I told him about taking pictures of the strip club as he has had numerous run ins with the owner, whose name I can’t recall. He didn’t see any architectural significance regarding this building. To each his own, I guess.
Ken Green, here is your furniture store. Photo is dated 1954:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics31/00050120.jpg
Close. The film would have been “A Summer Place”. The aforementioned theme song was a huge hit in 1959.
Some early reviews by Landmark patrons were less than glowing. Problems with sound and with the staff. This is third hand as I haven’t been to this theater yet.
Here is a photo from the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/2rcttn
Here is a photo from the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/2vskfq
Here is a photo from the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/2wl4wv