Million Dollar Theatre
307 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90013
307 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90013
59 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 175 of 227 comments
Urgent…Please help! My father, Alfredo Mendoza was a Mexican entertainer and performed there with his late aunt famous Mexican singer Amalia Mendoza sometime in the 1960’s or 70’s. Can anyone please tell me where or how I can find photo or film archives on performances held at the Million Dollar Theatre. I am researching my fathers career and could use your assistance. Please contact me at Thanks
Carolina
Looks like my link is still holding up, three days later. That’s encouraging.
Here is a small ad in the LA Times dated 5/6/39. Thankfully times have changed for the better:
MILLION $ 2ND BIG WEEK
Premiere of Stage and Screen
“Blackberries of 1940"
40 Sizzling Brown Skin Beauties
plus 2 First Run Features
Here is a photo from the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/2wl4wv
It is a great building. Rent DOA (the original) or Blade Runner for a look at the inside, or just go there if you’re in LA. Sometimes they charge to get in and walk around, sometimes they don’t. It depends on the current administration.
Just so visitors to this site know, the Bradbury, though not a theater, is a wonderful historic building that can be visited:
View link
I’m sorry…. I work in the Bradbury, and was able to get into the Million Dollar Theatre – ugh, I’m having a senior moment and I’m only 26!
You’re talking about the theater, right? The Bradbury is across the street. Not being picky, just clarifying.
I was at the downtown office this week, and I was able to get into the Bradbury playing the “I’m a tour guide/member of the LAC’s historical theatres committee” crap…. Well…. The auditorium looked okay – painted red, gold, and cream. The lights were down save for these red lights on for accent… The Lobby on the other hand….. As I posted above, they have removed the 1950s drop ceiling, but they have placed a rather ugly gold pressed tin ceiling in it’s placed and have hung ugly lamps…. I’m hoping that once this theatre is open and making money, that they’ll do a full lobby restoration at a later date….
I was in the theatre lobby this morning conducting a tour and saw that the drop ceiling and round lights added in the 1950s has been removed. Near that front door the 1940s round dome has been un-covered and is being restored. I couldn’t get my group into the auditorium, but I could see that the underside of the balcony has been re-painted a Maroon-ish color. I hope to try to sneak in next Saturday.
Hello – My name is Mark Anthony De La Rosa and I am the Grand Son of Adolfo (Al) De La Rosa, also known as “El Gordo De La Rosa.” He worked directly for Frank Fouce in the 1950’s and managed the Million Dollar Theatre and was also responsible for booking and bringing various Latin Talent from all over Latin America to include Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Vargas, Cantinflas, La Bomba Atomica and various others to the United States. Please advise if you knew my Grand Father; if so, I would like to hear some stories or you may have some pictures that you may be willing to share. My Grand Father passed away on December 5th, 1968 (before I was born). I do look forward to your response. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Mark A. De La Rosa
P.s. I can be reached at
I guess a million is appropriate, given the name of the theater.
I suppose it could have taken them a while to bring the sign down. There is no reason they really had to. If anyone inquired they could’ve said that the theatre is under contract, and a lot of time wouldn’t have been wasted.
The other thing is that I imagine it doesn’t really take that long to spend a million dollars on renovation, despite what instinct might lead you to believe.
If it were a pain-staking restoration, which I don’t get the feeling it is, I could see how the time span you are discussing might seem odd.
My two cents.
They had a “for lease” sign out front a few months ago. I didn’t know all this renovation was going on inside. Who is paying for all this?
From Downtown News, May 21, 2007: “The legendary theater at Third Street and Broadway, built by Sid Grauman, is being renovated and will reopen in June, said manager Robert Voskanian. The Million Dollar Theatre, which seats more than 2,000 people, will host film screenings, movie premieres, stage performances and concerts. Voskanian said the next phase of the renovation includes replacing the carpet, drapes and some electrical repairs. The theater has been completely repainted and is awaiting a shipment of gold tiles for the lobby, which will house an upscale concession stand. The $1 million-plus refurbishment is more than halfway complete, said Voskanian.”
Here is a 1987 photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2z3dh7
The blade looks the same in this 1950 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2843hq
Here is a 1984 photo. The blade looks a little different:
http://tinyurl.com/2mee53
The Million Dollar is back.! Soon Latin Cinema Award winning movies * with subtitles available in english
more info for tickets
fri-sat-sun. Wed and Thu Latin Music acts , arts paint and special events.
We welcome all fans to support the renovated Million Dollar
Arts, Music, Cinema is Back Million Dollar
213.617.3600
how can i contact the person in charge.
I wanted to take some school photographs of the million dollar building.
I attend Pierce College —Photography 11
Please email me
I hear that the interior is kind of shabby. Maybe someone can comment who has been in there recently.
Ken Mc, thank you for that link to the stock scam. There’s some fascinating material there. (Gotta love the legal language of the period: “A feme sole of the age of majority…”)
It would be nice to see the Million Dollar active again. It’s in a good location, relatively speaking, especially with the new lofts that are coming in and its nearness to Grand Central Market.
I was a member of the LA Conservancy a few years ago. They have interesting walking tours of downtown LA, including a tour of the theaters on Broadway.
Here is an even better one:
View link
Photograph of the auditorium can be found here:
View link