Fox Ritz Theatre

Fox Ritz sign upper right in this Getty Images link.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/civil-defense-billboard-with-old-cars-in-front-news-photo/590960634?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643

The Fox Ritz Theatre can be seen in a street scene in the UK made movie “The Man Who Could Work Miracles” (1936) starring Roland Young and Ralph Richardson. Based on a short story by H.G. Wells, the scene is supposed to be in San Francisco.

In the 1977 sketch comedy film CAN I DO IT…‘TILL I NEED GLASSES, a scene opens outside the theatre, and the marquee is advertising the producers’ previous film IF YOU DON’T STOP IT, YOU’LL GO BLIND. Don’t know if the actual theatre interior was used for the remainder of the sketch.

You can see it as the Lindy Opera House at around the 1:00 minute mark here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0lEosbR-Vg

Here is a February 1953 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/ylq9lma

Here is a 1954 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2js4ws

True crime in September 1932, as reported (breathlessly) by the LA Times:

Two Bandits Escape With $1000 After Forcing Theater Manager to Open Vault
WILSHIRE FILM HOUSE ROBBED Pair Bind Executive, but Fail to Open Money Box Prisoner Then Freed to Work Combination

Two bandits obtained nearly $1000 from the safe of the Fox Ritz Theater at 5214 Wilshire Boulevard early yesterday after they had forced the manager. M. Spencer Leve, to accompany them from his home, 902 Shenandoah Street, and open the vault, Leve told Wilshire police.

(July 10, 1977)
As a concerned citizen I note with dismay Sylvie Drake’s report that the American Theater, formerly known as the Lindy Opera House and originally constructed in 1928 as the Ritz Theater on Wilshire and La Brea Avenues, has been condemned to the wrecking crews by its current owner. United States Life Savings Co. The theater is to be replaced by a parking lot.
I am sad, disheartened and not a little angry that this action is transpiring. I understand that U.S. Life has made some effort to make a financial go of keeping the building but apparently failed. Though I am fully cognizant that U.S. Life has every legal right to dispose of its property, I think that this action evidences a gross insensitivity toward an artistic facility that once proudly served the aesthetic and cultural needs of the public. I was under the impression, perhaps mistaken, that businesses, agencies, and corporations devoted to public service and serving the needs of the community had a moral obligation in the very least to sustain and support traditional values. U.S. Life gets a black mark for gross negligence, lack of creative moral leadership and general civic irresponsibility in the disposing of the Lindy Opera House in such a cavalier manner. I believe a society does not requite itself by saying, “It isn’t turning a profit!” On the contrary, any society and most of all ours is not to be judged by the corpulencey of its profit margins but by the length and breadth of its vision. Some in the past have had that vision. Just over 20 years ago James Doolittle did much in saving the then-dark Huntington Hartford Theater and the Greek Theater in the form of the Greek Theater Assn. Just recently the Nederlanders have returned to Los Angeles the resplendent old vaudeville house, the Pantages Theater. In an 11th hour attempt to do the impossible I exhort those individuals who gave us the Music Center to use their influence, prestige, and civic stature to help us save the Lindy Opera House.

CHARLES DIAZ-HANSEN
Chairman
Committee to Save the Lindy Opera House

The Ritz was used extensively (almost a supporting character) in John Cassavetes' “Opening Night” for both interior and exterior scenes. The film is worth a look.
My last memory of movie-going at the Ritz is a strong one. It was my 8th or 9th birthday and my mother took me and a gang of friends to
a revival of Disney’s “Cinderella” here. Why such a vivid memory?
We were all in the balcony and I developed a brutally painful earache
during the picture, but I refused to leave even though I was moaning
and groaning through the whole thing, and pretty much ruined the movie for everybody in the auditorium. Ahh Childhood.

One more, from 1931:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics19/00009304.jpg

CALLING ALL THEATRE / MOVIE ENTHUSIASTS!!!

T'he Los Angeles Theatre' on South Broadway, LA is playing host to the UK television show ‘Dead Famous LIVE’. We are currently looking for people who would like to come along as part of the studio audience.

‘Dead Famous LIVE’ is a studio entertainment show all about Hollywood History and the paranormal. We will be welcoming celebrity guests on to the show and investigating famous locations around Hollywood which are rumoured to be haunted including the Los Angeles Theatre itself.

This is an invaluable chance to get access to the Los Angeles Theatre, the place where Charlie Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’ premiered in 1931 and to have a thoroughly great day out! (And its free!!)

We’re transmitting ‘Live’ back to the United Kingdom so expect it to be exciting and fun!

We will be filming on three days from 11th – 13th November between 11.30am – 4pm. If you are interested in coming on one or all of these days then email me for tickets!

.uk

I look forward to your responses!

The seating capacity of the Ritz Theatre given at opening was 1,660.

From 1963 until it was demolished in 1977, the Ritz was known as the Lindy Opera House, and was a pet project of the owner of the company that made Lindy ball point pens. I recall that the grand opening, scheduled for November 23rd, had to be delayed until December, due to the assasination of President Kennedy.