It should. I added the Jewel a few weeks ago, and it did not appear for unknown reasons. This was later remedied, and apparently the first edition then reappeared out of the ether. Either one can be deleted.
The Palace Theater once housed the booking office for Al Jolson, Marie Dressler and Eddie Cantor. Once it was known for silent screen features. This week it closed for the last time. The final film was “Censorship in the USA”, typical of the fare since the 925-seat moviehouse became a center for so-called “adult movies”. The 60-some-year-old theater will be demolished to make way for a $20 million, 17-story complex urban renewal project in Center City.
Here is an article from the LA Times dated 8/2/70:
Glendora OKs Parking Plan for Theater
For the past three years, local residents have had to drive out of town to see a movie, but a new theater seems assured by City Council action. The Council has approved a parking variance for a 374-seat theater in the former post office building at 175 N. Vermont Avenue.
The theater, being developed by George Reid of Glendora and William Spencer of Montebello, both projection equipment engineers, will be completely renovated as a contemporary theater.
“The last theater in town was built in 1923 and closed in 1967”, according to Robert Dadaian, planning director. The old 800-seat theater was demolished two years ago to make way for a supermarket. The former post office building, built in 1956, was vacated in 1968 when a new facility was put into use at Glendora and Ada Avenues.
End of the road, 12/2/64, per the LA Times. Note the name of the theater early on before it was renamed the RKO Hillstreet:
The largest downtown theater, the historic RKO Hillstreet, will be demolished in April to make way for an eight-story parking garage, it was announced Tuesday. The theater’s doom was foreshadowed last spring when it was shut down for three months. It resumed showing movies during the summer.
The Hillstreet opened on March 20, 1922 with a vaudeville program and a film, “Why Announce Your Marriage” with Elaine Hammerstein. All seats were priced at 36 cents (50 cents on the weekends). Through the years, the theater was the site of many premieres. Originally named the Junior Orpheum, it was remodeled in 1929 and renamed the RKO Hillstreet.
Terror at the box office, 11/17/57, per the LA Times:
Auto Hits Box Office, Cashier Seriously Hurt
A 16-year old cashier in a motion picture theater at 3138 W. Pico Boulevard was seriously injured yesterday when the theater box office was nealy demolished by a car. The cashier was hospitalized with a crushed and fractured right leg. She told police that she was leaning back in her chair when the accident occurred and escaped the full impact of the automobile.
Police said the car careened out of control when it was struck in the rear by a westbound streetcar. No one aboard the steetcar was injured. The driver of the car received minor facial injuries.
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
It should. I added the Jewel a few weeks ago, and it did not appear for unknown reasons. This was later remedied, and apparently the first edition then reappeared out of the ether. Either one can be deleted.
This is from the LA Times dated 6/4/71:
Palace Closes in Philly
The Palace Theater once housed the booking office for Al Jolson, Marie Dressler and Eddie Cantor. Once it was known for silent screen features. This week it closed for the last time. The final film was “Censorship in the USA”, typical of the fare since the 925-seat moviehouse became a center for so-called “adult movies”. The 60-some-year-old theater will be demolished to make way for a $20 million, 17-story complex urban renewal project in Center City.
Here is an article from the LA Times dated 8/2/70:
Glendora OKs Parking Plan for Theater
For the past three years, local residents have had to drive out of town to see a movie, but a new theater seems assured by City Council action. The Council has approved a parking variance for a 374-seat theater in the former post office building at 175 N. Vermont Avenue.
The theater, being developed by George Reid of Glendora and William Spencer of Montebello, both projection equipment engineers, will be completely renovated as a contemporary theater.
“The last theater in town was built in 1923 and closed in 1967”, according to Robert Dadaian, planning director. The old 800-seat theater was demolished two years ago to make way for a supermarket. The former post office building, built in 1956, was vacated in 1968 when a new facility was put into use at Glendora and Ada Avenues.
The Glendora was demolished in 1968 to make way for a supermarket.
Does anyone know the current status? Is the theater now gone?
End of the road, 12/2/64, per the LA Times. Note the name of the theater early on before it was renamed the RKO Hillstreet:
The largest downtown theater, the historic RKO Hillstreet, will be demolished in April to make way for an eight-story parking garage, it was announced Tuesday. The theater’s doom was foreshadowed last spring when it was shut down for three months. It resumed showing movies during the summer.
The Hillstreet opened on March 20, 1922 with a vaudeville program and a film, “Why Announce Your Marriage” with Elaine Hammerstein. All seats were priced at 36 cents (50 cents on the weekends). Through the years, the theater was the site of many premieres. Originally named the Junior Orpheum, it was remodeled in 1929 and renamed the RKO Hillstreet.
End of the road, 2/3/63, per the LA Times:
The Walker Theater at 3rd and Bush Streets will be demolished under a $3300 contract which the city has with Walter Hesse of Gardena.
Terror at the box office, 11/17/57, per the LA Times:
Auto Hits Box Office, Cashier Seriously Hurt
A 16-year old cashier in a motion picture theater at 3138 W. Pico Boulevard was seriously injured yesterday when the theater box office was nealy demolished by a car. The cashier was hospitalized with a crushed and fractured right leg. She told police that she was leaning back in her chair when the accident occurred and escaped the full impact of the automobile.
Police said the car careened out of control when it was struck in the rear by a westbound streetcar. No one aboard the steetcar was injured. The driver of the car received minor facial injuries.
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.