Hollywood starting making sense as a film exhibition area around 1910 with the rapid residential expansion westward and the booming film industry.  It wasn't until 1922 and the opening of Grauman's Egyptian that Hollywood started to rival downtown as a location for star-studded premieres and first-run exhibition.   

                 click image to enlarge >>

Grauman's second location, the Chinese, added to the allure of the district and other exhibitors not already represented added to the growing strip of theatres.   Legitimate theatre was also well represented with houses such as the Music Box (later known as the Henry Fonda) and El Capitan opening as live venues before becoming movie theatres.  The last of the Hollywood movie palaces to open, the Pantages, has gone the other way -- it's now a Broadway house with movies there long over.

Check back and watch this section evolve.  We'll be adding more photos and data every week .

See you at the movies!

 

about the photos...

The larger photos on the right of the column are 2007 images by Bill Counter. A click on these photos will get you a larger view.

The thumbnail images on the left below are generally as shown on an image search of Google Images, Yahoo! or other databases for these theatres. Click on the image to see how the search engine found it in context. 

We also give you a link to the site itself (or sometimes a specific article) for your further research. 

All images are subject to copyright.  

Admiral Theatre

6321 Hollywood Blvd.-- See the listing for the Vine Theatre .

Apollo Theatre

5544 Hollywood Blvd.     See our listing down the page for the Star Theatre.


Arclight Cinemas

6360 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 464-4226     showtimes

Website: www.arclightcinemas.com

A new 14 screen complex that, along with a 24 hour fitness and other tenants, wraps around the backside of the Cinerama Dome. All seating is reserved with a mix of blockbusters, art fare and revivals offered. There's a nice cafe in the lobby. Discounted parking is available in the adjacent garage.

More information: See our Cinerama Dome page.

 

Avalon

1775 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 467-4571

Website: www.avalonhollywood.com

Opened: January 24, 1927 as the Hollywood Playhouse.  In 1942 it was purchased from Guaranty Bank (who had foreclosed) by C.E. Toberman and Sid Grauman.  Toberman moved the name El Capitan to the building as his El Capitan on Hollywood Blvd. was then being called the Paramount.  Their first tenant was Ken Murray, whose "Blackouts" had a long profitable run.

It later became the Hollywood Palace as a TV studio and is now known as the Avalon. Nixon broadcast his "Checkers" speech from here in 1952.

Architects: Gogerty and Weyl

Seating: Originally 1178. Seats have been removed on the main floor.

Status: It's always been a live house or TV studio and currently is a music venue. 

 

California State Library

www.lib.state.ca.us  

The State Library has some fine pictures of the Hollywood Playhouse including this nice view of the proscenium and sidewall. 

full size view

 

 

Also in the State Library collection is this view of the balcony soffit and rear of the main floor. 

full size view


More photos of the Hollywood Playhouse in the State Library collection:

Exteriors: exterior  |  entrance detail  |  entrance from the south |

Patio:  patio view  |  patio view #2  |  patio view #3 | patio furniture | furniture and fireplace |

Main Lobby: lobby and stairway  |  looking the length of the lobby |
south end of lobby  |  north end of lobby  |  lobby tapestry  |  stairwaymain and balcony lobbies from stair landing  |  another stairway view  |

Balcony Lobby:  upstairs lobby | upstairs lobby door detail |

Auditorium: ceiling detail

 

Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com    

From the Bruce Torrence Hollywood Photographs Collection:   1927 exterior (as the Hollywood Playhouse)  another 1927 view  |  1927 detail1930 exterior  | 1937 exterior   1947 exterior (as the El Capitan)  1948 exterior   |  1978 exterior (as the Palace)  1987 exterior

 

Wikipedia

www.wikipedia.org  This picture (and a history of the theatre) appears on the Wikipedia Avalon page.   full size view

 

 

L.A. Public Library

www.lapl.org  An early exterior view from the Library collection.  

full size view

Also in the LAPL collection:   1927 proscenium view  |   lobby - 1927  |  asbestos curtain from under balcony


Century Theatre

5115 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
| map |

Opened: 1922 as the Hunley's Theatre for owner Otis Hunley. It was a class operation for years under management of  Century Theatres, Statewide,  and Loew's. It ran as a first run site into the mid 1970's.

Architects: Meyer and Holler

Seating: 750 

Status: Demolished after a fire in the late 1980's.  The final years were as a gay porno venue.

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Century

Hollywood Theaters - Hunley's Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. in an image from the www.hollywoodphotographs.com Bruce Torrence collection.Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com     

In the great Bruce Torrence collection is this rare 1922 exterior shot of  Hunley's Theatre.  full size view  

Also in the Bruce Torrence collection:     exterior 1972


Chinese Theatre

6801-6925 Hollywood Blvd.  See the listings for Grauman's Chinese and Mann Chinese 6 .  Also see the listing for the Mann Chinese Twin   (demolished).


Cinerama Dome

6360 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 464-4226     showtimes

Website:  www.arclightcinemas.com

Opened: November 11, 1963

Architect: Welton Becket and Associates

Seating: 937 originally, 856 at present.

Status:  First run. It's now part of the new ArcLight complex

More information: See our Cinerama Dome page for lots more photos and info.

Colony Theatre

6523 Hollywood Blvd.-- See the listing for the Holly Theatre.

Doolittle, James Theatre

1615 Vine St.-- See the listing for the Ricardo Montalban Theatre .

 

Linwood Dunn Theatre

1313 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (310) 247-3000 

Website:  www.oscars.org   |   film events calendar

The Linwood Dunn Theatre at the Pickford Film Center is a plush 286 seat  theatre hosting revivals, rare archival screenings and programs related to various aspects of movie making. The facility is well equipped for all standard film formats including 70mm.

Interior of the theatre as shown on www.oscars.org, the Academy's website. 

 enlarged view   

 

Egyptian Theatre

6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 466-3456 

film schedule

Website: www.americancinematheque.com

Opened: October 18, 1922 by Sid Grauman and known for many years as Grauman's Egyptian.

Architects: Meyer & Holler

Seating: Originally 1741. Now 616 seats plus a 78 seat screening room.

Status:  American Cinematheque opened in the renovated building in 1998. They offer a mix of revivals, foreign films, indies and various festivals.

More information: See our Egyptian Theatre page for photos and more details.

 

Egyptian 2 & 3

6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map |

Opened: 1979 by United Artists Theatre Circuit. These theatres were in an existing concrete block store building facing onto Las Palmas Avenue.

The twin shared a boxoffice with the main Egyptian auditorium. You'd walk down the forecourt area but take a left and go off to this separate building on the east side of the main theatre. Decor: multiplex tacky. Not a great filmgoing experience.

Status: Closed, along with the rest of the complex, in 1992. The building has been used for other purposes since then and is not part of the American Cinematheque operation.

 

El Capitan Theatre

6838 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 467-4571

showtimes

Website: disney.go.com        

Opened: May 3, 1926 as a legit theatre. From 1942 onward it was known as the Paramount Theatre.

Architects: Morgan, Walls & Clements did the building, G. Albert Lansburgh was the theatre architect.

Status: Lushly restored and playing first run Disney product -- and again called the El Capitan.

More information and photos: See our El Capitan Theatre   page. 

 

Filmarte Theatre

1228 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map

Opened: in the 20's the La Mirada. It had good runs of a number of French films in the 1930's. It became a revival house in the 40's under Fox West Coast management.

Seating: 900

Status: Demolished after a fire in the late 80's. There's currently an office building on the site.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page.

Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com    From the Bruce Torrence collection: 1933 exterior of the Filmarte

 

L.A. Public Library

www.lapl.org   Here's a 1930's view of the auditorium of the La Mirada.

full size image

 

A lobby view, also from the LAPL collection.   

 full size image  


Here's a 1957 exterior view by Gerald A. Smith when the Filmarte Theatre was being used by Art Linklater.   

full size view

Also in the Library Collection:   boxoffice 

 

Ken McIntyre on Photobucket

www.photobucket.com    Here's a 1937 view looking north on Vine posted on this site by the industrious Ken McIntyre. 

Fonda, Henry Theatre

6126 Hollywood Blvd.   See our page for the Music Box which operated under the Henry Fonda Theatre name in the 1980's. It's now known as the Music Box @ Fonda.

 

Fox Theatre

6508 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map 

Opened: 1918 as the Iris -- a replacement for an earlier Iris Theatre  located near the Warner.   The opening attraction was 1915's "Birth of a Nation." 

It was renamed the Fox after a remodel  in 1959 (after the Music Box became the Pix instead of the Fox).  It was operated by Fox West Coast, NGC and (lastly) Mann. It got another remodel in 1968 and was running first run product (occasionally in 70mm) well into the 80's.

Architect: Frank Meline designed a classical facade with diamond brick patterns and  sets of paired columns topped with Grecian urns.  With a 1934 remodel by S. Charles Lee it got a deco look.  The current facade dates from 1968.

Seating: Originally 1000 advertised, later (perhaps more accurate) tally was 814 and down to 647 in later years.

Status: Closed 1991 by Mann Theatres.  Was being used as a warehouse by Mann Theatres.  Sold to the Crobar restaurant/club chain who are remodeling the space as a live music venue.    details

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Fox.

Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com    From the great Bruce Torrance Hollywood photographs collection: 1918 exterior  |  1956 marquee view   |   1961 exterior   

L.A. Public Library Photo Collection

www.lapl.org  Here's a 1968 view with the opening attraction after a remodel and a name change (from the Iris to the Fox). 

 full size image      

A view of the 1934 facade by S. Charles Lee.  full size image 

Also from the Library's collection: early street view (also showing the Warner) 


Online Archive of California

oac.cdlib.org    From the State Archives: 1959 marquee view (by Arnold Hylen) 

 

World O' Crap

www.world-o-crap.com    This blog isn't calling this facade (as seen in 1961) crap. Rather it's comparing it to the current 1972 version in an article on signage.   full size image 

 

Hollywood Movie Palaces - The Iris and the Warner Theatres on Hollywood Blvd. in a postcard from the website YesterdayLA.comYesterday LA

www.yesterdayla.com  On the right you'll see the facade of the Iris in this view from the 1950's. Note "Cinerama Holiday" playing at the Warner.    

full size image

Fox Theatre

6126 Hollywood Blvd.   See our page for the Music Box which operated under the Fox name in the 1940's and 50's.


Galaxy 6

7021 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map |

Opened: 1992 as the General Cinema Galaxy 6.  The presentation quality was good with 2 of the houses being equipped for 70mm.

GCC went into bankruptcy and the theatre was taken over by AMC (along with other GCC properties in Los Angeles) and operated as the AMC Hollywood Galaxy 6.

The site of the Galaxy complex was once the famed Garden Court Apartments (1916), home of many stars over the years.  It had been demolished about a decade before the Galaxy was built.

Seating: 2400

Status: Closed in 2003 after difficulty competing with the newer Arclight and Mann Chinese 6 complexes. The space now houses an LA Fitness branch.

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Galaxy.

 

Grauman's Chinese Theatre

6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 464-8111   showtimes

Website: www.manntheatres.com

Opened: May 18,1927

Architects: Meyer & Holler

Seating: 1,492.

Status:  Still a major first run venue operated by Mann Theatres. 

More information: See our  Grauman's Chinese Theatre page.

 

Guild Theatre

6126 Hollywood Blvd.   See our page for the Music Box which operated under the Guild name in the 1940's.

Hartford, Huntington Theatre

1615 Vine St.-- See the listing for the Ricardo Montalban Theatre .

 

Hawaii Theatre

5941 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map

Opened: May 6. 1940. It was also known as the Hawaii Music Hall.

Architect: Clarence G. Smale, along with theatre designer Carl Moeller, created an interesting environment with volcanos, waterfalls and more.

Seating: 1,106 seats, all on one level.

Status: Closed July, 1963 and gutted for use by the Salvation Army. 

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page for lots of interesting history.

L.A. Public Library Photo Collection

www.lapl.org   From the Library's collection: 1940 exterior at night.  

full size view 

Los Angeles Theaters - The interior of the Hawaii Theatre in Hollywood in a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library Collection.An interior view from the LAPL.  

full size view  

 Also in the Library's collection:   rendering of the exterior   |  view from the east   |  lobby -1940  |  another lobby view   |  lobby ceiling detail  |  auditorium rear  - 1940  |

 

Ken McIntyre on Photobucket

photobucket.com...kencmcintyre    Posted by Ken McIntyre: 1941 exterior

Hollywood Photographs

 www.hollywoodphotographs.com    

From the Bruce Torrence collection:  1946 exterior    


Henry Fonda Theatre

6126 Hollywood Blvd.   See our page for the Music Box which operated under the Henry Fonda Theatre name in the 1980's. It's now known as the Music Box @ Fonda.

 

Hitching Post Theatre

6262 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map |

Opened: Around 1941 and lasted into the 50's. While the Hitching Post, it ran double feature westerns. You had to check your cap gun in the lobby. The theatre was later known as the Tele-View and the Paris

Seating: Approx 350

Status: Demolished

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page. 

Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com   On this site:  1948 marquee view

L.A. Public Library Photo Collection

www.lapl.org  Here's a view of the marquee during the 1950 Academy Awards when the theatre was called  the Paris. The awards were right across the street at the Pantages.   full size image   |   1951 view 

 

 A night view from the library's collection showing the Hitching Post's marquee on the left.  full size image

 

Ken Mcintyre on Photobucket

photobucket.com...kencmcintyre    Ken McIntyre has posted a view of the Hitching Post with a different marquee on his Photobucket album. 

Also: mid-40's exterior.

 

Holly Theatre

6523 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map |

Opened: July 31, 1931 as an "automatic theatre" called the Studio in what had been a store space across the street from the Iris (later the Fox). The automatic business meant that there were no ticket takers or ushers and just vending machines in the lobby. This was a project of Howard Hughes' Hughes-Franklin circuit. It didn't last long.

In 1936 it got a remodel and was then called the Colony at least through 1939. It was known in the 50's as the Hollywood Music Hall and the Academy. The theatre was re-named the Holly in the 1960's.

It was operated by a variety of circuits: Statewide, Century, General Cinema (Holly Cinema), Loew's (Loew's Holly) and SRO. It was frequently a move-over house from the Paramount/El Capitan. The most renowned booking the theatre had was a 62 week run of Caligula starting in 1980. 

Architect: S. Charles Lee

Seating: 300 

Status: Gutted and once again is retail space. 

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page for a lively history by former patrons and employees.  

Also see our listing for an earlier theatre on this site -- Hollywood's first, the Idyl Hour.

Los Angeles Theatres: the Studio Theatre, later the Holly Theatre, by S. Charles Lee in a UCLA Archives photo.S. Charles Lee Archive - UCLA

digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee      Here's a photo from 1931 of S. Charles Lee's moderne facade. Signage says: "The World's Most Unique Theatre". From UCLA's  S. Charles Lee Archive.    full size image

Los Angeles Theatres: the Studio Theatre lobby, later the Holly Theatre, by S. Charles Lee in a UCLA Archives photo.

A lobby view    full size image 

More about the Studio from the S. Charles Lee archive:  an advertising piece  |   lobby drinking fountain  |   the "weather factory" display

 

Cinema Tour

www.cinematour.com   Here's a 2003 view of the gutted Holly Theatre by Adam Martin.   full size view

 

Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com    From the Bruce Torrence Hollywood Photographs Collection:   1972 exterior "Cabaret"  

 

Theatre Historical Society

www.historictheatres.org   Here's a color view of the Loew's Holly from a THS web page when they were trying to determine its identity.  full size image

Hollywood Music Hall

6523 Hollywood Blvd.-- See the listing for the Holly Theatre .


Hollywood Playhouse / Hollywood Palace

1775 Vine St.    See our listing for the Avalon.

 

Hollywood Theatre

6764 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map

Opened: 1913 as Hollywood's second theatre. (The Idyl Hour was the first.)  The facade was of white glazed brick with marble prevalent inside. Initial admission was 10 cents.

The Hollywood was operated for years by Fox West Coast (later NGC and Mann) -- frequently as a moveover house from the Chinese. It was a grind operation for awhile under NGC.  Mann did a remodel in 1977 (including 70mm installation) for a moveover of "Star Wars."   "Blade Runner" also had a good run here in 1982.

Architects: Kremple and Erkes. S. Charles Lee and Clifford Balch did a remodel in the 30's and replaced the original white brick facade.

Seating: 750

Status: Closed in 1991 and remodeled as a Guinness Book of Records museum. The marquee is the only feature remaining.

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page. 

Los Angeles Theatres: Facade of the Hollywood Theatre, as remodeled by S. Charles Lee, in a UCLA Archives photo.UCLA - S. Charles Lee Archive

 digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee   From the UCLA collection S. Charles Lee Archive here's a 1936 view of Lee's facade that replaced a 1927 version.   full size image


Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com   From the Bruce Torrance Collection: 1915 view  (beyond fence)  |  1915 facade view (at left)  |   1972 exterior   |   1977 remodel1977 "Star Wars"   

 

L.A. Public Library Photo Collection

www.lapl.org    From the Library's collection is this 1938 night view.   

full size view

 

Hunley Theatre

5115 Hollywood Blvd.-- See the listing for the Century Theatre.

 

Idyl Hour Theatre

6525 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map |

Opened: Late 1910 or early 1911 as Hollywood's first movie theatre.  Stories differ. Bruce Torrence lists it as 6525 Hollywood Blvd. and calls it the Idyl Hour

Gregory Paul Williams calls it the Idle Hour puts it in a storefront at the N.E. Corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Hudson (essentially the same location). He notes the the 1931  Studio / Holly Theatre  at 6523 Hollywood Blvd. had earlier been the site of the Idle Hour.

In 1913 the business moved to a newer storefront on the north side of the 6400 block and was renamed the Iris Theatre 

In 1918 it moved again, to  a purpose built structure on the other side of the street that eventually became the Fox.

Status: We're assuming that it was demolished and the present building on the site  dates from after 1913.

 

Iris Theatre (1913)

6415 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map |

Opened: 1913 after a move and a renaming. It was formerly the Idyl Hour at 6525 Hollywood Blvd. The move was into a new storefront building just east of the current Warner/Pacific Hollywood 1-2-3. 

The new theatre's name was chosen as an homage to the gardens of painter Paul DeLongpre.  The storefronts were located in what had originally been gardens just south of the house, an early Hollywood tourist attraction. The theatre reportedly had the first electric sign in Hollywood.

Status: The Iris moved into a new building at 6508 Hollywood Blvd in 1918 and later became known as the Fox Theatre .  

This block of 1913 storefronts wasn't demolished until 1995.  Other tenants included KFWB after they moved out of the Warner Theatre building.  The DeLongpre house itself survived until the Warner was constructed.

 

Iris Theatre  (1918)

6508 Hollywood Blvd. -- See our listing for the Fox Theatre

 

Ivar Theatre

1605 Ivar  St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 461-7300 

Opened: 1951

Seating: 350 

There have been occasional movies over the years at the Ivar Theatre but it's usually a legit playhouse.  Performers through the years have included Lord Buckley, Lenny Bruce and many burlesque performers.

Tom Waits Library

www.tomwaitslibrary.com    A page of this site is devoted to the Ivar Theatre, where Waits recorded his 1975 album "Nighthawks at the Diner."   

The page has a history and many photos of the Ivar Theatre including this 70's view from the Los Angeles Public Library Collection.  full size view

La Mirada Theatre

1228 Vine St.    See our listing for the Filmarte.

 

Los Angeles Theaters - The Kodak Theatre Hollywood.Kodak Theatre

6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map | (213) 480-3232 or (323) 308-6300

Website:www.kodaktheatre.com

Opened: 2001

An elephant towering over the Hollywood and Highland complex, home of several Hollywood theaters -- the Kodak and the Mann Chinese 6.Seating: 3400

Architect: Rockwell Group

This venue, built at a cost of over $90 million at the Hollywood and Highland Center is best known as the home of the Oscar telecast. The theatre also hosts concerts and occasional legit shows.

An elephant atop the Hollywood and Highland Center, an homage to D.W. Griffith's Intolerance >>>

The theatre, like the center itself hasn't been a great success. The complex is now owned by the CIM group after the original developers, Trizec-Hahn, sold it at a substantial loss.


Las Palmas Theatre

1642 N. Las Palmas Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map 

Seating: 600

Opened: Originally a market, it was remodeled in 1936 into the Hollywood Little Theatre.  It was a noted legit venue for many years. The Hume Cronyn production of "Portrait of a Lady" starring Jessica Tandy played here. Carol Channing made her west coast debut at the Las Palmas in "Lend an Ear" directed by Gower Champion.

Status: Closed. The Las Palmas ran adult films in the 1970's. The theatre was later used as  a music club.

More information: See the Las Palmas page on Cinema Treasures.

Hollywood Photographs

 www.hollywoodphotographs.com    From the Bruce Torrence Hollywood Photographs Collection:  1972 exterior  


Mann's Chinese Twin

6915 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
| map |

Opened: 1979

Seating: 1500 total

Status: Demolished in 1999 for construction of the Hollywood and Highland complex, which contains the Mann Chinese 6 and the Kodak Theatre.

Hollywood Photographs

 www.hollywoodphotographs.com   This archive has several 1979 construction pictures of the Chinese 2&3 including:  from above |  street view  |   from the back   |  completed facade  |

 

Mann's Chinese 6

6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 464-8111

 showtimes

Website: www.manntheatres.com

A new 6 plex in the Hollywood and Highland complex adjacent to the Grauman's Chinese. The photo shown is the theatre entrance upstairs in the mall.  

There was also a "Chinese Twin" directly next to the original Grauman's Chinese, but this was demolished for construction of the Hollywood and Highland project.

More information: See the  Cinema Tour page for more 2004 photos by Ken Roe:  lobby view  |   an auditorium view

 

Hollywood Theatres - Mann's Chinese 6 -- lounge photo by Cariberry.Cariberry on Flikr

www.flickr.com/photos/cariberry   Here's a lounge area photo at the Chinese 6 by cariberry.    full size image

 

Mann Theatres

www.manntheatres.com    Mann has this picture of the Chinese 6 lobby on the premieres page of their website.    full size image   

 

Marcal Theatre

6025 Hollywood Blvd.   See our listing for the World Theatre  down near the bottom of this page.


Ricardo Montalban Theatre

1615 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 463-0089

Website: www.ricardomontalbantheatre.org

Opened: January 19, 1927 as a legit operation, Wilkes Vine St. and was later called just the Vine St. In March, 1931 it became a cinema,  the Mirror, under the direction of the Howard Hughes' Hughes-Franklin curcuit.  It ran double features with 3 changes a week.

In 1936 CBS took over and called it the Studio Theatre. Huntington Hartford gave the place a "modernizing" in 1954 and re-opened it as a legit venue named after himself -- The Huntington Hartford Theatre. It was later the James A. Doolittle and was eventually purchased by "Nosotros", a UCLA affiliated group.

Architect: Myron Hunt

Seating: 1200

Status: Legit. Reopened in 2004 as the Ricardo Montalban with a resident troupe featuring works for young people, frequently in Spanish. The facade has been restored to its 1927 appearance and work is continuing on the interior.

More information: See the page on Cinema Treasures.

L.A. Public Library Photo Collection

www.lapl.org    Here's a 1954 photo with the Huntington Hartford's inagural attraction.  From the library's wonderful collection.    full size image

 

Hollywood Photographs

www.hollywoodphotographs.com    From the Bruce Torrence Hollywood Photographs Collection:   1927 exterior from north (as the Vine St.)    1927 facade  |  1927 side view from south  |  1928 facade view

 

Music Box @ Fonda

6126 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map (323) 464-0808

Website: www.henryfondatheater.com

Opened: October 18, 1926 as the Music Box Theatre. While running movies in the 40's and 50's it was known as the Guild, the Fox and later as the Pix. When converted back to a legit operation by the Nederlander Organization in the 1970's it was known as the Henry Fonda.

Architects: Morgan, Walls & Clements

Seating: 980

Status: Very much alive as a music club. Seats have been removed on the main floor.

More information: See our page on the Music Box / Henry Fonda Theatre.

Music Hall Theatre

6523 Hollywood Blvd.-- See the listing for the Holly Theatre .

New-View / NewsView Theatre

6656 Hollywood Blvd.-- See the listing for the Ritz Theatre.

 


Pacific Hollywood 1-2-3

6433 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| map

Opened: April 26, 1926 as the Warner Brothers Hollywood. It's also been known as the Warner Cinerama and the Pacific 1-2-3.

Architect: G. Albert Lansburg

Seating: 2200

Status:  Closed. The building is owned by Pacific Theatres, its longtime operator. It's sitting dormant waiting for the next great idea.

More information: See our Warner Bros. Hollywood page.

 

Pantages Hollywood

6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
| m