Fox Studio City Theatre
12136 Ventura Boulevard,
Studio City,
CA
91604
12136 Ventura Boulevard,
Studio City,
CA
91604
14 people
favorited this theater
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Recent piece on the book store. Copy and paste to view.
http://www.scoutingla.com/when-your-local-barnes-noble-is-in-a-1930s-art-deco-movie-theater/
Current interior photos are here: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barnes-and-noble-booksellers-bookstar-studio-city
Historic photo of the Studio City theater is here:
http://www.studiocitychamber.com/aboutus.php
Don S, I said missing as the way it looked as a movie theatre the last time I saw a film there. Missing was the wrong word to use.
To William and tlsloews, the lobby is not “missing.” It’s simply with the remodeling necessary to turn the theater into a store, that space is now the least recognizable.
I was watching the “Dragnet 1968” box set and in the first episode, there’s a great shot of Friday and Gannon pulling up in front of the Studio City theater (although Friday’s voice over says the theater is at Western and Olympic!). Dr. Zhivago is playing, according to the marquee.
Later in the episode, they also drive past the Oriental Theater on Sunset Blvd.
I hate to ask a dumb question William but how can the Lobby be missing? Just wondering.The Lobby is most of the time between the Entrance and the auditorium,I know that this is a bookstore now.
Yes, the auditorium is still there. Once you walk in the front doors, you are in the store and can see the auditorium. The lobby is missing.
Very nice photos,was just wondering is the auditorium still there I did not read about in it any of the posts.
Here is a night shot:
http://tinyurl.com/y9286o5
Here are some March 2010 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/ybn8dqy
http://tinyurl.com/yboyksu
http://tinyurl.com/yaawkse
Here is another photo of the bookstore:
http://tinyurl.com/y9c227b
Been There – Done That
Here are two photos taken yesterday while inching my way down Ventura Boulevard at rush hour:
http://tinyurl.com/29fsna
http://tinyurl.com/yrx8a9
Here is a March 1948 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2g6r4z
“Two Minute Warning” was playing at the Studio in November 1976, according to an LA Times ad. You have to admire the casting in this film, which I remember fondly from the blimp crashing into the Rose Bowl (or possibly the Coliseum). In no particular order, the film starred Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam, Beau Bridges, Marilyn Hassett(?), David Janssen, Jack Klugman, Walter Pidgeon, Gena Rowlands, Brock Peters, David Groh (the husband on “Rhoda”), Anthony Davis (USC football star) and Joe Kapp (NFL quarterback). Probably worth renting for the cast alone.
I was the Manager of the Studio Theatre in 1985. It was a tremendous experience and is where I met my wife, Beth. They don’t make them like this anymore. After the Studio, I went to the Upland, National, Manhattan, Criterion, and finally Del Amo. It all seems like a lifetime ago. Unbelievable!! Thanks, Chuck!!
There is a scene from an episode of the 1985 “Twilight Zone” show that was shot right in front of this theatre. You can see the ticket booth, marque and posters clearly.
I have found further information on the Fox Studio City Theatre;
Architect: Clifford A. Balch
Architect plans dated 1937
Theatre opened 1938 or possibly 1939.
Building Engineer: W.E. Wilson
Built for Pacific Theatre/Laurel Theatres
Any further information ie, Architect, Opening date (or year) would be very much appreciated. Thanks
The Fox Studio City Theatre opened about 1939. It had a seating capacity of 880. It closed to movies in February 1991.
The Studio was a lovely neigberhood house. It was in good condition until the day the theatre closed. My friend Rickie James was the last manager to run the Studio before it closed. Rickie had also worked at the La Reina, Glendale and Alex theatres for Mann. Rickie passed away on Jan 11,2004 at age 47 due to a stroke. Many TY and Film stars use to attend movies at the Studio Theatre. Many sneak previews were done at the Studio Theatre. Both Rickie and his Studio Theatre are missed.brucec
Yes, The Studio Theatre was a beautiful theatre. But one of the reasons why Mann Theatres dropped it from its chain. Was they did not own the property it was a lease. A new large 18 screen multi-plex theatre opened about two miles away at Universal City. So Mann theatre since the mid 70’s dropped low profit single screen theatres or theatres that their leases were about to run out. Like the La Reina , El Portal, Fox Venice, Rialto, Highland, El Rey, Fairfax, Wilshire, Fox Wilshire, Loyola, Academy, Fifth Ave., Fox Inglewood, Academy Pasadena, State, Lido, Vogue, Fox Hollywood, Hollywood, Fox Northridge, Guild, Imperial, Belmont. All of these were part of Mann Theatre’s at one time. There are a few more names on that list. Only one house that made a return to the chain was the Criterion in Santa Monica, they owned the property on that one. Santa Monica area made a really comeback in the mid 80’s. The Mann Theatre’s in Westwood are all on lease, except the National Theatre. The lease owners for the Village and the Bruin theatres were asking just over a million a year as for the two theatres. The theatres are owned by one of the Skouras family. The Skouras family was major titles in the Fox Theatre & Studio operations.
The auditorium ceiling’s decorative painting is also intact. The murals on the sidewalls, though sympathetic, are not original.