Lux Theatre
827 W. 3rd Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90071
827 W. 3rd Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90071
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First listing as Anita in the LA Times on December 1st, 1946.
The architects for the Bear/Lux were none other than Train & Williams, who built all sorts of things: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/michael_locke/sets/72157631603322678/
My dad, Robert Rotstan, and my mom bought the Lux Theater in 1945 right after my dad finished his tour of duty in the US. army Air Corps and they were married. He was a B 25 Pilot stationed in the 310th Bomb Group during WWII . They owned the theater along with a partner Deane Miller and his wife for a short while and then sold it, I suspect to the gentlemen mentioned in another of these posts.
In this 1964 aerial photo the Lux can be seen in the middle right, just east of the intersection of Third & Figueroa:
http://tinyurl.com/239nhdd
From Boxoffice magazine, November 1946:
Louis Torres' Lux Theatre has a new face and a new name, for, shining with fresh paint, it has been reopened as the Anita.
I did some research in the LA Times records, and it looks like solicitations for the redevelopment of the block between Figueroa, Flower, 3rd and 4th were taken in December 1966. I think the old buildings on this block, including the theater, were probably cleared in 1967.
The Anita is listed in the LA Times theater guide in 1947. This should be added as an aka.
http://tinyurl.com/46kxvs
I see where the Lux is now, after looking at the 1965 photo. It’s on the northeast corner of Figueroa and Third, just before the 110 onramp. I thought it was after the freeway. There is a large apartment complex on that corner now.
Maybe they hypnotized him.
So you’re living in Iowa and someone from LA calls you and says “Buy my theater for $20,000”. How does that work?
Here are a few more things from the LA Times:
(June 6, 1928)
FEED ‘EM FILMS OF WILD WEST, SAY DEFENDANTS
On Third street, downtown, they want westerns. If they get society pictures it is only to be expected that business will fall off. This, according to R.D. Rawson and John Hostetter, explains why Don Thornburg did not make $400 a week out of the Rex Theater they sold him for $20,000. His suit against them to get his money back went to trial before Judge Willis yesterday. Thornberg related that he was living peacefully in Iowa when the defendants persuaded him to buy the theather at 827 West Third street. They say he did not make good because he showed the wrong kind of films. The case may be decided today.
(May 30, 1931)
REX THEATRE, 827 West Third Street, near Figueroa
EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN conducted by DON AND CHARLOTTE McCROSSAN, Seattle, Wn.,…..
Some of the old city directories list individuals but give the theater address, for reasons unknown. For example, the 1914 director lists one L.C. Myer at 827 W. 3rd. I don’t know if Mr. Myer had any connection to the theater, but the listing is under “motion picture theaters”, so one would assume so.
Here is a June 1940 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2m89p4
The theater is visible in this 1965 photo by William Reagh:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/spnb1/00017489.jpg
There is another aka for the Lux. On 12/2/46, the LA Times advertised a double feature at the Anita Theater, 825 W. Third.
A brief from the LA Times dated 1/23/28:
PROJECTION ROOM FIRE CAUSES SCARE
A film fire in the projection room of the Rex Theater, 827 W. Third Street late yesterday sent a small number of spectators rushing into the street. No one was injured. Police reported the only damage done was to the film.
On 1/22/50, the features were “Story of Molly X” and “Kiss for Corliss”. Address was 825 W. Third. Phone number was MU 5617.
Here is an uncropped shot, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015375.jpg
I have seen the 1964 picture on the LA Public Library website. It’s too bad that there are no pictures of this interesting little theater in its better days.
Here is the marquee from 1964….
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015374.jpg
The Lux Theater was originally called the ROSE Theater, then the REX Theater, and finally the LUX Theater. It was torn down after 1964. Here is a photo from that year …… that is sad!
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015373.jpg
The Lux Theatre was operated by Harold Wenzler and I worked there as relief projectionist right after I got my LA City license. Mr. Wenzler, while down at the heel, nevertheless insisted upon the best possible presentation. Altec Sound Service ensured that the elderly booth equipment worked well (Simplex standard heads on WE universal bases with Strong lamphouses (of the same type that were sold with 16mm “auditorium projectors” at that time) with tungar bulb rectifiers on the floor beneath each lamphouse.
When the Lux bit the dust with the redevlopment of Bunker Hill, Mr. Wenzler leased the Granada Theatre on Temple Street.