The new Torrance Drive-In Theater, another link in the fast-growing Aladdin chain, will open Wednesday. The opening screen attractions are Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler in “Fox Fire†and Rod Cameron in his latest full length film “Double Jeoaprdyâ€, costarring Gale Robbins.
Officials of Aladdin, civic leaders and others are expected to attend the opening event. Fred Chancia is resident general manager.
Here is part of a February 1985 article from the LA Times:
Developer Dennis Bass has agreed to try to preserve the neon marquee of the 46-year-old La Reina Theater in Sherman Oaks. The proposed demolition of the theater has prompted some community opposition.
Jackie Brainard, a spokeswoman for Bass, said Thursday that the developer has consulted with the theater’s architect, S. Charles Lee, and hopes that he can incorporate the marquee into his proposed project at Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue. Bass is planning a complex of retail stores and restaurants.
Bass, who is in the process of purchasing the theater from the Mann Theatre Corp., met Thursday night with representatives of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. to discuss his plans and seek community response. The strongest opposition, however, is expected to come from a group called Save the La Reina, headed by Sherman Oaks resident Lee David. David has filed an application with the city’s Cultural Heritage Board, asking that the art deco theater be declared a historic monument.
David said his group will lobby to have the building maintained as a movie or performing arts theater, or developed into a restaurant and retail complex with the exterior left intact. Brainard said that Bass has consulted with his architects and does not believe that it would be feasible to incorporate the theater building into his project.
This December 3, 1931 story in the LA Times discusses the second blast:
Sheriff’s investigators last night continued to seek a motive in the mysterious blast which early yesterday wrecked the front of the Sunbeam Theater at 6525 Compton Avenue. Deputies from the sheriff’s arson squad were assigned to run down a number of clues, including the movements of an auto seen stopping in front of the theater about three minutes before the explosion.
Rushing to the scene of the blast, which occurred shortly before midnight, deputy sheriffs from the Florence avenue substation surrounded the building in the belief that an attempt had been made to blow up the office safe. The safe, however, was found to be intact.
According to the officers, Charles W. Grubbs, who lives in the same building and who formerly owned the theater, said the explosion may have been the work of men not in sympathy with the policy of the present owners, the Franklin Theaters Corporation.
Here is part of an article about the demolition dated 5/31/74:
The end, when it came this weekend, was mercifully swift. A few well-aimed wrecking balls and the tottering old Follies Theater at 327 S. Main St. fell in upon itself like the collapsing star it was.
Built originally as the Belasco Theater and opened in 1904 as the Los Angeles home of the celebrated Belasco Stock Co., the landmark managed to cling to an aura of respectability only for little more than a decade. But as the theater district moved south, the Belasco name was withdrawn to be used on another theater in the 900 block of S. Hill St. and the Main St. house became forever more a home of burlesque.
From World War II on, it was a downhill slide for the musty old theater, as burlesque went the way of vaudeville and both were replaced with cheap skin flicks. The Follies was raided, closed and then reopened half a dozen times before it was finally abandoned to the bulldozers. The old Follies, the last burlesque house in Los Angeles, will fulfill its destiny as just another parking lot.
Ina Ray Hutton’s show tonight inaugurates KTLA’s new studio theater. It’s the old Melvan house that, although vacated, carried the slogan “Movies are Better than Ever” on its dusty marquee.
Two film thrillers will be coupled on 19 screens throughout the greater Los Angeles area next Wednesday. “It Came from Beneath the Sea†and “Creature with the Atom Brain†are booked at RKO Hillstreet, Belmont, Hawaii, Capitol Glendale, United Artists Pasadena, United Artists East LA, United Artists Inglewood, Dome, Ocean Park, Southside, Van Nuys, Culver, Wardman, Major, Burbank and five drive-ins.
“It Came from Beneath the Sea†deals with a monster jet propelled from the ocean’s depth by an H-bomb to attack the world. “Creature with the Atom Brain†is a drama of men who return from the dead via the power of the atom.
“Madness of Love” has its gala American premiere at the Laurel Theater on Friday night. With it Cifesa Films, Inc., Spain’s leading motion picture producer, is making a concerted effort for a portion of the foreign art film market in this country.
The theater was used for live performances in 1984, according to this LA Times item from September of that year:
Marga Lopez, Maria Teresa Rivas and Blanca Guerra will reprise their roles in “Ausencia de Diosâ€, an abridged Spanish-language version of John Pielmeier’s “Agnes of God†that will play additional performances today and Saturday at the Fiesta Theater, 2131 W. Pico. (387-8882).
The Elysian was called the Studio Theater Playhouse in 1966, according to this LA Times item from February of that year:
For those who take stock in popular revivals, there’s “A Thousand Clowns†continuing at the Studio Theater Playhouse, 1944 Riverside Drive. David Ridenour directs this version of Herb Gardner’s comedy lunge at the television industry.
A 75-year-old housewife collapsed and died at Hollywood Receiving Hospital 45 minutes after her husband’s death was reported to her there. Police said Walter Young, 83, was in conversation with Manley P. Hall, head of a philosophical society, who had lectured minutes earlier at the Campus Theater, 1020 N. Vermont Avenue, when he dropped to the floor.
Young, police say, was taken to Hollywood Receiving Hospital, where attendants pronounced him dead. Forty five minutes later, his wife went into the hospital with friends. She collapsed and died when informed of her husband’s death.
This is part of a January 1922 article in the LA Times:
Purchase of the Douglas Building at Third and Spring streets as a city hall annex was recommended to the City Council yesterday. A committee has been appointed to investigate the buildings offered to the city for the housing of offices now located in the Normal Hill building, which is to be razed to make way for the new $1,500,000 Central Library.
Originally, the majority of the committee had recommended in its report that the city purchase the Lyceum Theater building and adjoining lot on Spring street between Second and Third. The Perry estate, owners of the Lyceum Theater property, however withdrew its offer to sell, so the committee eliminated this portion of its report.
SANTA MONICA-The State Division of Highways has filed condemnation proceedings against property at 3414 Pico Boulevard for the Santa Monica Freeway right of way. Located on the property is the Bundy Theater, which closed on January 8. The state took possession two days later. The structure is under the surveillance of the State Police to discourage vandals from damaging the building. The trial date for the condemnation proceedings has not yet been set.
The Division of Highways will use 3,000 square feet of the 48,000 square foot parcel, owned by Bundy Theater Venture, a partnership composed of Fox West Coast Theaters Corp., George Bourke, David Bourke, Maxie Lee Bourke and Maxie Lee Bourke Fox.
Construction of the freeway segment between Sawtelle Blvd. in West Los Angeles and the west portal of the Olympic Blvd. tunnel under Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica is scheduled to begin in the summer.
Glib Chandrowsky, the basso profundo who attracted notice in the role of the High Priest at Grauman’s Chinese Theater during the showing of “The King of Kingsâ€, will make his first personal appearance since his engagement in the Grauman prologue at the Brooklyn Theater, 2524 Brooklyn Avenue, Sunday Monday and Tuesday. Chandrowsky was the outstanding soloist with the Ukranian Choir which appeared throughout the country.
Here is a June 26, 1955 item from the LA Times:
The new Torrance Drive-In Theater, another link in the fast-growing Aladdin chain, will open Wednesday. The opening screen attractions are Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler in “Fox Fire†and Rod Cameron in his latest full length film “Double Jeoaprdyâ€, costarring Gale Robbins.
Officials of Aladdin, civic leaders and others are expected to attend the opening event. Fred Chancia is resident general manager.
Circa 1920s, from the USC archives:
http://tinyurl.com/y9waqge
Here is the USC photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yet2qr9
Here is the USC photo from the teens that I posted a while ago:
http://tinyurl.com/ycdswbb
Here are the USC photos:
http://tinyurl.com/ygptrdt
http://tinyurl.com/yhbxwfx
Here is a larger version of the photo at the top of the page:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015503.jpg
Here is part of a February 1985 article from the LA Times:
Developer Dennis Bass has agreed to try to preserve the neon marquee of the 46-year-old La Reina Theater in Sherman Oaks. The proposed demolition of the theater has prompted some community opposition.
Jackie Brainard, a spokeswoman for Bass, said Thursday that the developer has consulted with the theater’s architect, S. Charles Lee, and hopes that he can incorporate the marquee into his proposed project at Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue. Bass is planning a complex of retail stores and restaurants.
Bass, who is in the process of purchasing the theater from the Mann Theatre Corp., met Thursday night with representatives of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. to discuss his plans and seek community response. The strongest opposition, however, is expected to come from a group called Save the La Reina, headed by Sherman Oaks resident Lee David. David has filed an application with the city’s Cultural Heritage Board, asking that the art deco theater be declared a historic monument.
David said his group will lobby to have the building maintained as a movie or performing arts theater, or developed into a restaurant and retail complex with the exterior left intact. Brainard said that Bass has consulted with his architects and does not believe that it would be feasible to incorporate the theater building into his project.
This December 3, 1931 story in the LA Times discusses the second blast:
Sheriff’s investigators last night continued to seek a motive in the mysterious blast which early yesterday wrecked the front of the Sunbeam Theater at 6525 Compton Avenue. Deputies from the sheriff’s arson squad were assigned to run down a number of clues, including the movements of an auto seen stopping in front of the theater about three minutes before the explosion.
Rushing to the scene of the blast, which occurred shortly before midnight, deputy sheriffs from the Florence avenue substation surrounded the building in the belief that an attempt had been made to blow up the office safe. The safe, however, was found to be intact.
According to the officers, Charles W. Grubbs, who lives in the same building and who formerly owned the theater, said the explosion may have been the work of men not in sympathy with the policy of the present owners, the Franklin Theaters Corporation.
Here is an October 2009 article about ongoing renovation at the Royal:
http://tinyurl.com/ydl737w
Here is part of an article about the demolition dated 5/31/74:
The end, when it came this weekend, was mercifully swift. A few well-aimed wrecking balls and the tottering old Follies Theater at 327 S. Main St. fell in upon itself like the collapsing star it was.
Built originally as the Belasco Theater and opened in 1904 as the Los Angeles home of the celebrated Belasco Stock Co., the landmark managed to cling to an aura of respectability only for little more than a decade. But as the theater district moved south, the Belasco name was withdrawn to be used on another theater in the 900 block of S. Hill St. and the Main St. house became forever more a home of burlesque.
From World War II on, it was a downhill slide for the musty old theater, as burlesque went the way of vaudeville and both were replaced with cheap skin flicks. The Follies was raided, closed and then reopened half a dozen times before it was finally abandoned to the bulldozers. The old Follies, the last burlesque house in Los Angeles, will fulfill its destiny as just another parking lot.
This is from the LA Times on 10/17/50:
Ina Ray Hutton’s show tonight inaugurates KTLA’s new studio theater. It’s the old Melvan house that, although vacated, carried the slogan “Movies are Better than Ever” on its dusty marquee.
Here is a June 1955 item from the LA Times:
Two film thrillers will be coupled on 19 screens throughout the greater Los Angeles area next Wednesday. “It Came from Beneath the Sea†and “Creature with the Atom Brain†are booked at RKO Hillstreet, Belmont, Hawaii, Capitol Glendale, United Artists Pasadena, United Artists East LA, United Artists Inglewood, Dome, Ocean Park, Southside, Van Nuys, Culver, Wardman, Major, Burbank and five drive-ins.
“It Came from Beneath the Sea†deals with a monster jet propelled from the ocean’s depth by an H-bomb to attack the world. “Creature with the Atom Brain†is a drama of men who return from the dead via the power of the atom.
This is from the LA Times in April 1950:
“Madness of Love” has its gala American premiere at the Laurel Theater on Friday night. With it Cifesa Films, Inc., Spain’s leading motion picture producer, is making a concerted effort for a portion of the foreign art film market in this country.
The theater was used for live performances in 1984, according to this LA Times item from September of that year:
Marga Lopez, Maria Teresa Rivas and Blanca Guerra will reprise their roles in “Ausencia de Diosâ€, an abridged Spanish-language version of John Pielmeier’s “Agnes of God†that will play additional performances today and Saturday at the Fiesta Theater, 2131 W. Pico. (387-8882).
The Elysian was called the Studio Theater Playhouse in 1966, according to this LA Times item from February of that year:
For those who take stock in popular revivals, there’s “A Thousand Clowns†continuing at the Studio Theater Playhouse, 1944 Riverside Drive. David Ridenour directs this version of Herb Gardner’s comedy lunge at the television industry.
This is from the LA Times on Christmas Eve, 1951:
A 75-year-old housewife collapsed and died at Hollywood Receiving Hospital 45 minutes after her husband’s death was reported to her there. Police said Walter Young, 83, was in conversation with Manley P. Hall, head of a philosophical society, who had lectured minutes earlier at the Campus Theater, 1020 N. Vermont Avenue, when he dropped to the floor.
Young, police say, was taken to Hollywood Receiving Hospital, where attendants pronounced him dead. Forty five minutes later, his wife went into the hospital with friends. She collapsed and died when informed of her husband’s death.
This is part of a January 1922 article in the LA Times:
Purchase of the Douglas Building at Third and Spring streets as a city hall annex was recommended to the City Council yesterday. A committee has been appointed to investigate the buildings offered to the city for the housing of offices now located in the Normal Hill building, which is to be razed to make way for the new $1,500,000 Central Library.
Originally, the majority of the committee had recommended in its report that the city purchase the Lyceum Theater building and adjoining lot on Spring street between Second and Third. The Perry estate, owners of the Lyceum Theater property, however withdrew its offer to sell, so the committee eliminated this portion of its report.
This is from the LA Times on January 31, 1963:
SANTA MONICA-The State Division of Highways has filed condemnation proceedings against property at 3414 Pico Boulevard for the Santa Monica Freeway right of way. Located on the property is the Bundy Theater, which closed on January 8. The state took possession two days later. The structure is under the surveillance of the State Police to discourage vandals from damaging the building. The trial date for the condemnation proceedings has not yet been set.
The Division of Highways will use 3,000 square feet of the 48,000 square foot parcel, owned by Bundy Theater Venture, a partnership composed of Fox West Coast Theaters Corp., George Bourke, David Bourke, Maxie Lee Bourke and Maxie Lee Bourke Fox.
Construction of the freeway segment between Sawtelle Blvd. in West Los Angeles and the west portal of the Olympic Blvd. tunnel under Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica is scheduled to begin in the summer.
This is from the LA Times in December 1927:
Glib Chandrowsky, the basso profundo who attracted notice in the role of the High Priest at Grauman’s Chinese Theater during the showing of “The King of Kingsâ€, will make his first personal appearance since his engagement in the Grauman prologue at the Brooklyn Theater, 2524 Brooklyn Avenue, Sunday Monday and Tuesday. Chandrowsky was the outstanding soloist with the Ukranian Choir which appeared throughout the country.
The Avalon was advertised consistently in the LA Times from 1942 to 1950, all at 5258 S. Avalon. The last ad was 11/23/50.
Here are some photos taken today, after lunch at Langer’s:
http://tinyurl.com/ycm59u5
http://tinyurl.com/y9luymx
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y9n7pjx
Here is an early 1930s ad:
http://tinyurl.com/yg43clr
Here is an early 1930s ad for a Cary Grant film:
http://tinyurl.com/ylk88l5
Here is an ad for the Strand, circa 1930s:
http://tinyurl.com/yleb4cl