D'Anton Cinemateque
9055 Santa Monica Boulevard,
West Hollywood,
CA
90069
9055 Santa Monica Boulevard,
West Hollywood,
CA
90069
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: Cinemateque Club, David's Tom Kat Theatre & Lounge
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I know of this theater only because I was an entertainment journalist at the time of its opening (the early 1970s), and I was assigned to write a story.
The concept was unique in its time: a classic motion picture dinner theater: food and classic movies. The opening attraction was the uncut version of the Judy Garland “A Star Is Born”. I have no memory of D'Anton’s fate. It may have disappeared quickly, or it may have thrived for a while. I do remember it being in the neighborhood of the West Hollywood Safeway market on Santa Monica Boulevard. The Safeway market is now enjoying an upscale reincarnation as a trendy Vons Pavilion market.
As I remember D'Anton’s did not have traditional movie theater seating, but seating closer to what you find in restaurants. The clientele was largely gay and lesbian, reflecting West Hollywood’s population.
How I wish I had a copy of the story I wrote at the time. Would love to see a post from someone who remembers this unique treasure.
Contributed by
Christopher Stone
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
This must have been something that was converted into a theatre like business, not a real theatre.
I have contacted the City of West Hollywood for further information about this unusual venue. Hopefully, I will have more info to post in the future.
According to an L.A. Times article from 4/29/1971, this “private club and film theater” was that week granted a zone exception to open. It was to be an 82-seat theater which was to show classic films. The address was: 9055 Santa Monica Blvd. The theater was actually called the “Cinematheque Club” — note the different spelling. Sure enough, ads over the next year or so show listings for classic movie showings, but apparently this didn’t work out so well. An ad from 9/19/1972 has at the same address David’s Tom Kat Theatre and Lounge, showing a “Super Male Film Festival.” After that date, there is no more match for that street address in the L.A. Times database — so that was probably the end of the venue as a theater. That address is currently the home of a place called Busy Body Home Fitness.
Scroll down to the West Hollywood entry and click on the photo for an exterior view:
http://tinyurl.com/ywx8dj
Is there anyway of restoration? I am curious as in finding a way to bring an old cinema to life again.
Re-Up the photo please!