David's Tom Cat Theatre & Lounge
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: D.Anton Cinemateque, Cinemateque Club, David's Tom Kat Theatre & Lounge
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I know of this theatre only because I was an entertainment journalist at the time of its opening in Spring 1971, and I was assigned to write a story. It was located just a few doors north of the famed Troubadour music venue on Santa Monica Boulevard
The concept was unique in its time: a classic motion picture dinner theatre: 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 Cinematque fate. Didn’t last long screening classic movies as by fall of 1972 it had becmome a gay male adult theatre named David’s Tom Cat Theatre and Lounge. It had closed by 1977. 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 the D'Anton Cinemateque 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.
The building became a fashion boutique in the 1980’s named Metropolis. It is a Busy Body Home Fitness store in 2025.
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.
Is there anyway of restoration? I am curious as in finding a way to bring an old cinema to life again.
In the 1980s, the tiny spot was home to Metropolis, a fashion boutique.
Further information from Los Angeles BlogSpot ( add to introduction)
It opened in spring 1971 as an 82 seat restaurant called the Cinematheque Club showing classic films. The location was just east of Doheny Dr.
Seating evidently was more restaurant-style than theatre-style. The initial booking was “A Star Is Born” with Judy Garland. It didn’t last long as a classics venue, by fall of 1972 having morphed into David’s Tom Cat Theatre & Lounge.
Status: It’s now a Busy Body Home Fitness store.