According to the Broadway/L.A. website the theater opened on Sept.19, 1930. The Wilshire Theater was originally named the Fox Wilshire.
“It was designed by Architect Charles Lee. The art deco auditorium and lobby were decorated in silver and black with coral draperies and seats, a scheme attributed in the opening program to Fox West Coast general manager Harold B. Franklin. In addition to the main organ, one of several cobbled up for Fox by Louis Maas and pipemaker Archie Marsh, the lobby for a time sported an Estey Minuette, a 2/3 portable organ worked into what looked like a large grand piano case. Renovated in 1981, the house is now a stage venue. On Nov. 4, 1953, Marilyn Monroe was among the luminaries who attended the premiere of “How To Marry A Millionaire,†also starring Lauren Bacall, at the theater.â€
The theater still brings gasps from first time attendees shocked to find such a beautiful art deco auditorium still standing.
The (Fox) Wilshire Theater reportedly has 1900 seats according to a NY Times internet article. My historical interest in the Wilshire lies in the fact that it was the Hollywood premiere site for Robert Wise’s “The Sand Pebbles” on December 28, 1966.
According to the Broadway/L.A. website the theater opened on Sept.19, 1930. The Wilshire Theater was originally named the Fox Wilshire.
“It was designed by Architect Charles Lee. The art deco auditorium and lobby were decorated in silver and black with coral draperies and seats, a scheme attributed in the opening program to Fox West Coast general manager Harold B. Franklin. In addition to the main organ, one of several cobbled up for Fox by Louis Maas and pipemaker Archie Marsh, the lobby for a time sported an Estey Minuette, a 2/3 portable organ worked into what looked like a large grand piano case. Renovated in 1981, the house is now a stage venue. On Nov. 4, 1953, Marilyn Monroe was among the luminaries who attended the premiere of “How To Marry A Millionaire,†also starring Lauren Bacall, at the theater.â€
The theater still brings gasps from first time attendees shocked to find such a beautiful art deco auditorium still standing.
The (Fox) Wilshire Theater reportedly has 1900 seats according to a NY Times internet article. My historical interest in the Wilshire lies in the fact that it was the Hollywood premiere site for Robert Wise’s “The Sand Pebbles” on December 28, 1966.