The theater was donated to the church for $100 in 2000 by John Loeks, owner of Jack Loeks Theaters, according to the church website: http://tinyurl.com/3y8o9l
Demolition was in July 2003, according to the Cincinnati Post:
Demolition should be completed by Friday on a former Over-the-Rhine movie theater that made headlines this year when a developer who had promised to renovate it skipped town after receiving a city loan.
The city hired a Green Township contractor this week to raze the Empire Theatre in the 1500 block of Vine Street after heavy rains over the weekend collapsed the roof of the 94-year-old structure.
“I would hope by Friday we’re hauling debris out,” said Tom McAlpin of Allgeier & Son Inc., the company demolishing the old theater.
Regal Cinemas to Close Theater in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The ax is about to fall on Regal Cinemas' largest Fort Wayne movie complex, Coventry 13 theaters.
The theaters near the Village at Coventry “will close on Feb. 7, unless they change their minds,” said Arthur Spirou, president and co- owner of Mallers-Spirou Enterprises, which leases the theaters to Regal.
Mallers-Spirou also leases Holiday 6 theaters near Northcrest Shopping Center to Regal, but that business “stays in place, as far as I know.”
How do you carry away a safe? Wouldn’t that be kind of obvious? This is from the LA Times, dated 10/24/22:
THEATER SAFE CARRIED AWAY
Daring Long Beach Theft Brings Arrests
Former Policeman Accused of Complicity
One of Trio Confesses, Say Officials
LONG BEACH, Oct. 23.—A former Long Beach police officer and two companions are being held by local police today following the looting of the box office of the Laughlin Theater early this morning and the carrying off of a safe containing nearly $1000.
Here’s that pesky Miller guy again. This is from the LA Times, dated 11/8/15:
The Alhambra Theater has been leased by the owners of Miller’s Theater and will be known in the future as Miller’s Hill Street Theater. It opened yesterday with the Fox production of “Sin.”
FORUM’S OPENING BRILLIANT
Carnival Spirit Prevails at New Theater as Stars and Social Leaders See “America”
FORUM MECCA IN FILM DEBUT
Another magnificent climax in bright light history of Los Angeles was attained last night. Far from the usual haunts of the playgoers, the Forum Theater, one of the most unusual of pioneering projects in construction and location, flung open its portals, and Pico and Norton streets, where the house is located, became a dazzling, glittering blazing focal point of interest.
NEW WARNER, BROTHERS' THEATER READY TO OPEN DOORS TO THE PUBLIC
Brilliant Premiere of “Glorious Betsy” Will Inaugurate Distinguished Addition to Hollywood White Way
Sea blue—terra cotta—gold—a triune harmony of color. Warner Brothers Theater—a picture house of distinction, and elaborate simplicity. This new home of motion pictures, located at Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox avenue, will open Thursday evening, and from all indices of popular opinion will be the delight of the theatergoer.
If I come across anything definitive on the 601 address, I will let you know. I may have access to the LAT archives soon, as opposed to just the free stuff.
A while ago I was discussing the Susan Hayward film “I’ll Cry Tomorrow”, as related to scenes shot on Main Street. I actually found a copy in my living room today when I was throwing out some junk. Nothing was filmed on Skid Row. One scene was shot at the Hard Rock bar (the original, not the Peter Morton place) over on Hill Street. Doors fans may recall this bar from the Morrison Hotel album.
HAIL TO THE CALIFORNIA.
The Beautiful New Miller Theater Holds a Merry Christmas Eve.
Miller’s wonderful new motionpicture theater is open at last! All Los Angeles has been awaiting the great event, and last night, Christmas Eve, Main street was the most brilliant thoroughfare of our town, ablaze with lights, thronged with automobiles, jammed with pedestrians—and lights, machines and people were all focussed on one spot, the handsome white facade of the splendid new California Theater.
Golden success crowns the Goldwyn regime at the California at last night’s brilliant opening of that theater under the new management, with Geraldine Farrar in “Flame of the Desert” as the feature, be any criterion. Crowds swarmed to the doors long before the house opened at 3 o'clock, and waited in two block-long lines up and down Main street.
PLAYHOUSE TO BE ELABORATE.
Large Picture Theater for Broadway Site
Auditorium Will Seat Over Nine Hundred
Ornate Design and Lighting Scheme Features. HANDSOME PICTURE PLAYHOUSE FOR SOUTH BROADWAY
A.F. Rosenhelm, architect of Clune’s new Broadway Theater, has awarded the general contract for the construction of that structure to John F. Jacobs & Son.
The changes announced by W.H. Clune for advancing his popular Broadway theater still further, are now taking place. In the future this splendid theater will give big feature film dramas with much of local interest interspersed. Yesterday, however, the ever popular “Adventures of Kathlyn” entertained capacity crowds the entire day.
Here is a recap of the sale by Grauman in March 1923, from the LA Times:
DOWNTOWN PLAYHOUSE NOW SOLD
Grauman and Lasky Turn Over Metropolitan Theater to New Owners
Grauman’s Metropolitan Theater, Sixth and Hill Streets, with the property on which it stands, was sold yesterday by Sid Grauman and the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation to a syndicate of local and San Francisco business men headed by A.C. Blumenthal of A.C. Blumenthal and Company, for $4,000,000, according to announcement last night of Mr. Grauman.
The theater changed hands in September 1947, according to the LA Times:
Pan-Pacific Sold to Cord in $2,250,000 Deal
In a $2,250,000 transaction, stockholders of the Pan-Pacific Corp. yesterday sold the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Theater and Bowling Alley and the Los Angeles ice hockey team franchise to E. L. Cord, former automobile manufacturer.
WOMAN CASHIER THUG’S VICTIM.
ROBBED AND DEALT BLOW UPON BASE OF SKULL
Lies Unconscious in Lot for an Hour, Then Walks to Her Home Where Medical Attention Is Secured—Accompanies Police on Search for Assailant.
Slugged in the head by a pursesnatcher on Tenth street near Grand avenue, early last evening. Miss Nellie Hartman, a pretty young woman of 25, cashier of the Alhambra Theater, lay in a semi-conscious condition.
BANDITS ROB ON BROADWAY
Twelve Hundred Dollars Taken From Messengers in Theater Crowd at Eighth Street
As they were about to drive away from the crowded corner of Eighth street and Broadway shortly after 10 o'clock last night with $1200 in cash and 6000 theater tickets, R.W. Neily and F.W. Peters, messengers for the Grauman Rialto Theater, were held up and robbed by three men in a large automobile.
Here is a very early photo from the LAPL. You can see the Normal School up the street which preceded the LA Library. Also the Biltmore has not yet been constructed: http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068275.jpg
An article in today’s LA Times discussed a proposal to turn Broadway between 2nd and 9th into a pedestrian mall with a busway. This had been proposed in 1977, but nothing came of it. The general manager of the Los Angeles theater was quoted favorably on the issue. I recall that this was done on Chestnut Street in the 80s with limited success. I think that street is once again open to traffic.
There is a town in Pennsylvania called Bryn Mawr. I think the etymology is Welsh. I’m curious to know if this is some variation or totally unrelated.
Here is an undated photo. Note the law office directly above the theater. I hope they got a break on the rent:
http://tinyurl.com/yv9z43
The theater was donated to the church for $100 in 2000 by John Loeks, owner of Jack Loeks Theaters, according to the church website:
http://tinyurl.com/3y8o9l
Demolished in December 1983. There is a photo on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2lo7ft
Demolition was in July 2003, according to the Cincinnati Post:
Demolition should be completed by Friday on a former Over-the-Rhine movie theater that made headlines this year when a developer who had promised to renovate it skipped town after receiving a city loan.
The city hired a Green Township contractor this week to raze the Empire Theatre in the 1500 block of Vine Street after heavy rains over the weekend collapsed the roof of the 94-year-old structure.
“I would hope by Friday we’re hauling debris out,” said Tom McAlpin of Allgeier & Son Inc., the company demolishing the old theater.
It is definitely possible. My mistake.
From the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, 1/25/02:
Regal Cinemas to Close Theater in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The ax is about to fall on Regal Cinemas' largest Fort Wayne movie complex, Coventry 13 theaters.
The theaters near the Village at Coventry “will close on Feb. 7, unless they change their minds,” said Arthur Spirou, president and co- owner of Mallers-Spirou Enterprises, which leases the theaters to Regal.
Mallers-Spirou also leases Holiday 6 theaters near Northcrest Shopping Center to Regal, but that business “stays in place, as far as I know.”
How do you carry away a safe? Wouldn’t that be kind of obvious? This is from the LA Times, dated 10/24/22:
THEATER SAFE CARRIED AWAY
Daring Long Beach Theft Brings Arrests
Former Policeman Accused of Complicity
One of Trio Confesses, Say Officials
LONG BEACH, Oct. 23.—A former Long Beach police officer and two companions are being held by local police today following the looting of the box office of the Laughlin Theater early this morning and the carrying off of a safe containing nearly $1000.
Here’s that pesky Miller guy again. This is from the LA Times, dated 11/8/15:
The Alhambra Theater has been leased by the owners of Miller’s Theater and will be known in the future as Miller’s Hill Street Theater. It opened yesterday with the Fox production of “Sin.”
Comfy chairs at the Warner:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015750.jpg
From the LA Times, 5/16/24:
FORUM’S OPENING BRILLIANT
Carnival Spirit Prevails at New Theater as Stars and Social Leaders See “America”
FORUM MECCA IN FILM DEBUT
Another magnificent climax in bright light history of Los Angeles was attained last night. Far from the usual haunts of the playgoers, the Forum Theater, one of the most unusual of pioneering projects in construction and location, flung open its portals, and Pico and Norton streets, where the house is located, became a dazzling, glittering blazing focal point of interest.
From the LA Times, 4/22/28:
NEW WARNER, BROTHERS' THEATER READY TO OPEN DOORS TO THE PUBLIC
Brilliant Premiere of “Glorious Betsy” Will Inaugurate Distinguished Addition to Hollywood White Way
Sea blue—terra cotta—gold—a triune harmony of color. Warner Brothers Theater—a picture house of distinction, and elaborate simplicity. This new home of motion pictures, located at Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox avenue, will open Thursday evening, and from all indices of popular opinion will be the delight of the theatergoer.
If I come across anything definitive on the 601 address, I will let you know. I may have access to the LAT archives soon, as opposed to just the free stuff.
A while ago I was discussing the Susan Hayward film “I’ll Cry Tomorrow”, as related to scenes shot on Main Street. I actually found a copy in my living room today when I was throwing out some junk. Nothing was filmed on Skid Row. One scene was shot at the Hard Rock bar (the original, not the Peter Morton place) over on Hill Street. Doors fans may recall this bar from the Morrison Hotel album.
Christmas Day, 1918 (LA Times):
HAIL TO THE CALIFORNIA.
The Beautiful New Miller Theater Holds a Merry Christmas Eve.
Miller’s wonderful new motionpicture theater is open at last! All Los Angeles has been awaiting the great event, and last night, Christmas Eve, Main street was the most brilliant thoroughfare of our town, ablaze with lights, thronged with automobiles, jammed with pedestrians—and lights, machines and people were all focussed on one spot, the handsome white facade of the splendid new California Theater.
Under new management (LA Times, 11/8/19)
Golden success crowns the Goldwyn regime at the California at last night’s brilliant opening of that theater under the new management, with Geraldine Farrar in “Flame of the Desert” as the feature, be any criterion. Crowds swarmed to the doors long before the house opened at 3 o'clock, and waited in two block-long lines up and down Main street.
Architect was A.F. Rosenhelm (LA Times, 7/17/10)
PLAYHOUSE TO BE ELABORATE.
Large Picture Theater for Broadway Site
Auditorium Will Seat Over Nine Hundred
Ornate Design and Lighting Scheme Features. HANDSOME PICTURE PLAYHOUSE FOR SOUTH BROADWAY
A.F. Rosenhelm, architect of Clune’s new Broadway Theater, has awarded the general contract for the construction of that structure to John F. Jacobs & Son.
From the LA Times, 5/20/14:
The changes announced by W.H. Clune for advancing his popular Broadway theater still further, are now taking place. In the future this splendid theater will give big feature film dramas with much of local interest interspersed. Yesterday, however, the ever popular “Adventures of Kathlyn” entertained capacity crowds the entire day.
Here is a recap of the sale by Grauman in March 1923, from the LA Times:
DOWNTOWN PLAYHOUSE NOW SOLD
Grauman and Lasky Turn Over Metropolitan Theater to New Owners
Grauman’s Metropolitan Theater, Sixth and Hill Streets, with the property on which it stands, was sold yesterday by Sid Grauman and the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation to a syndicate of local and San Francisco business men headed by A.C. Blumenthal of A.C. Blumenthal and Company, for $4,000,000, according to announcement last night of Mr. Grauman.
The theater changed hands in September 1947, according to the LA Times:
Pan-Pacific Sold to Cord in $2,250,000 Deal
In a $2,250,000 transaction, stockholders of the Pan-Pacific Corp. yesterday sold the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Theater and Bowling Alley and the Los Angeles ice hockey team franchise to E. L. Cord, former automobile manufacturer.
True crime in April 1914, from the LA Times:
WOMAN CASHIER THUG’S VICTIM.
ROBBED AND DEALT BLOW UPON BASE OF SKULL
Lies Unconscious in Lot for an Hour, Then Walks to Her Home Where Medical Attention Is Secured—Accompanies Police on Search for Assailant.
Slugged in the head by a pursesnatcher on Tenth street near Grand avenue, early last evening. Miss Nellie Hartman, a pretty young woman of 25, cashier of the Alhambra Theater, lay in a semi-conscious condition.
True crime in February 1922, from the LA Times:
BANDITS ROB ON BROADWAY
Twelve Hundred Dollars Taken From Messengers in Theater Crowd at Eighth Street
As they were about to drive away from the crowded corner of Eighth street and Broadway shortly after 10 o'clock last night with $1200 in cash and 6000 theater tickets, R.W. Neily and F.W. Peters, messengers for the Grauman Rialto Theater, were held up and robbed by three men in a large automobile.
Here is a very early photo from the LAPL. You can see the Normal School up the street which preceded the LA Library. Also the Biltmore has not yet been constructed:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068275.jpg
An article in today’s LA Times discussed a proposal to turn Broadway between 2nd and 9th into a pedestrian mall with a busway. This had been proposed in 1977, but nothing came of it. The general manager of the Los Angeles theater was quoted favorably on the issue. I recall that this was done on Chestnut Street in the 80s with limited success. I think that street is once again open to traffic.
It sounded pretty grim, didn’t it?