More sources for information about the Criterion...
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LA Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org An early view of the theatre still as the Kinema, from the Library collection.
A
nice exterior view of "The House of Hits" adorned with a wreath
supposedly from Joan Crawford, whose 1930 film "Paid" was then
playing.
Also in the Library collection: 1924 aerial view - theatre is at bottom right | 1929 exterior -"Fox Movietone Follies" |
Fred McSpadden Collection
This great 1920 exterior view is from the collection of Fred McSpadden, longtime theatre manager. His notes on the back indicate that he was on the house staff here as "doorman and asst. mgr." full size view
On the back Fred also notes: "Note STEAM URNS each side of front - At night steam flowed - with colored lights shooting thru steam."
Also on the back: " Photo by J.C. Milligan, 422 1/2 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, California PLEASE CREDIT." So we have.
The photo and the programs reproduced below come to us through the generosity of Bill Buehler of the Tucson Fox Theatre Memories Project. Thanks, Bill!
Fred was quoted in the Arizona Daily Star of 5/3/59 talking about the Kinema: “I had best time of my life there…any afternoon of the week you could expect Charlie Chapman, Lon Chaney, Mary Pickford or some other famous star to show up for a matinee. They would just walk in and sit down.”
The cover of the Kinema program of October 30, 1920 from the Fred McSpadden Collection. In these programs Fred is listed as the theatre's "press representative."
On the screen was "Nomads of the North."
click on this or any of the pages below for an enlarged view -- your browser should then allow you to click again on the image for more detail
page 1
pages 2 and 3
pages 4 and 5
pages 6 and 7
pages 8 and 9
pages 10 and 11
pages 12 and 13
pages 14 and 15
page 16 and inside rear cover
rear cover
The program cover for the January 8, 1921 issue.
On the screen that week was "Dangerous Business."
page 1
pages 2 and 3
pages 4 and 5
pages 6 and 7
pages 8 and 9
pages 10 and 11
pages 12 and 13
pages 14 and 15
page 16 and inside rear cover
rear cover
For more information on downtown Los Angeles movie palaces near the Kinema/Criterion see the Theaters West of Broadway page.
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