We're trying to keep track of all the happenings concerning the historic theaters in Los Angeles. But there's a lot going on. If we miss anything newsworthy, please help by sending us an e-mail with a link to what you've found.
And we're always looking for more interesting pictures to post on the site -- especially interior shots of some of the less well documented Los Angeles historic theaters.
Thanks for visiting. Check out the full articles on the sources we've referenced.
See you at the movies!
--- Bill Counter
e-mail us : counterb@gmail.com
Showcase / Gordon Theatre on La Brea Closes
Rialto to get makeover as Bar and Restaurant
6/20/08 $6 Million Pledged to Rialto Theatre for Changes
Stephen Friday reported on www.angelenic.com: "Following the fates of many historic properties affected by the ongoing Bringing Back Broadway initiative, the currently defunct Rialto Theater has found a suitor to boost its low profile on the strip. According to an announcement made yesterday, Hollywood-based Longest Marquee LLC..." full article
The photo of the Rialto with the article is by Stephen Friday. more Broadway photos
Last Remaining Seats 2008 - LA Conservancy
5/28/08 - 7/2/08 - [Wednesday evenings ] www.laconservancy.org The Conservancy's 22nd season of presenting classic films and live entertainment in the historic theaters
of Los Angeles. Tickets $18 (!) or the series of 6 for $75.
May 28 "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" at the Los Angeles
June 4 "Mildred Pierce" at the Million Dollar
June 11 "Goldfinger" at the Orpheum
June 18 "Young Frankenstein" at the Los Angeles
June 25 "El Rey Del Bario" at the Million Dollar
The photo above of the Los Angeles Theatre by John Farris appears in the Conservancy's wonderful photo gallery of the Broadway Historic Theatre District.
Westlake Theatre Mixed-Use project Conceptualized
4/22/08 Stephen Friday reported on www.angelenic.com: "Back in February, news announcing the Community Redevelopment Agency’s plans to initiate redevelopment of the parcels around the historic Westlake Theatre
caught the attention of area supporters hoping to see the disadvantaged
MacArthur Park neighborhood receive some much-needed investment dollars.
The agency is currently seeking a developer to restore the landmark venue to its former glory as a movie and performing arts space..." full article
The illustration here is one of a number from Utopiad.org accompanying the article on Angelenic.
Jules Verne Festival to Return To Broadway
4/18/08 www.downtownlascene.com reported: "The Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival has announced initial details for its second event in Downtown Los Angeles.
The series of screenings
and related events will take place Oct. 23-26 at a series of theaters
on Broadway, as well as in the Edison nightclub and the Bradbury
Building. " full article
Downtown Film Festival Gets a Home Base
4/12/08 Jeannine Denholm on www.blogdowntown.com wrote: "The Barker Block lofts will soon become the official home of the Downtown Film Festival. ...Warehouses around the development will house a mini cinema village complete with swanky screening room, a lounge featuring local musicians and space for panel discussions.
The Downtown Film Festival runs August 13-17 and features all different types of film. " full article
See the festival's website: www.downtownfilmfestla.com
More Theatre Reuse
4/4/08 Units for Palace, Los Angeles?
Eric Richardson on www.blogdowntown.com wrote: "Applications have been filed to convert space in two more Broadway theater buildings to residential use. The Broadway office tower above the entrance to the Palace Theatre is proposed to be converted to 20 condo units. That space includes an amazing 5th floor with skylight and enormous windows, site of numerous recent movie shoots." full article
Condos Eyed for Two Broadway Theater Buildings
4/4/08 Dakota on www.la.curbed.com reported: "Some interesting afternoon news from downtown: On the heels of that $40 million "Bringing Back Broadway" campaign, applications have been filed to create condominiums in two Broadway theater buildings, reports Blogdowntown.
The buildings: The Broadway office tower of the Palace Theatre and the Fox office tower of the Los Angeles Theater." full article
Delijani Looks to Add 155 Bite-Sized Condos in the United Building
4/1/08 Eric Richardson on www.blogdowntown.com wrote: "The United Building, better known as the State Theatre Building, could soon become home to 155 live-work condo units." full article
The photo of the State Theatre/United Building is by Eric Richardson
Broadway Discussion Missing a Key Ingredient
3/30/08 Eric Richardson and Ed Fuentes on www.blogdowntown.com wrote: "The discussion at Thursday's Zocalo event on Broadway was more notable for who was missing from the conversation than for the words said on the Orpheum stage. The great potential of Broadway was certainly touted..." full article
Back at the Globe
3/16/08 Ed Fuentes on www.blogdowntown.com wrote: "The big question at "Bringing Back a Broadway Sign", where we noted the return of the Globe Theater neon, was when the new letters would once again be lit. Last night we got half the answer..." full story
Photo of the Globe marquee from a March 6 post is by view from a loft.
Inside the Majestic Million Dollar
3/11/08 The Angelenic Blogteam wrote on www.angelenic.com: "On February 28, 2008, Broadway’s landmark Million Dollar Theatre reopened after a year-long $1 million renovation. The reopening celebration featured live Latin performers, dancers and much cheer from the community. " full story
Photo of the proscenium is by Stephen Friday. More photos: Million Dollar set by Rich Alossi and Million Dollar Set by Stephen Friday
Fox Theatre Hollywood in turnaround -- no Crobar
3/3/08 No Crobar for Hollywood?
la.eater.com reports: " We're still awaiting so many Hollywood debuts, but have we already hit the tipping point? Metromix reports that Crobar is unplanning to open at the former Fox Theater on Hollywood Boulevard." full article
A Million Dollar Opening
3/3/08 Historic Broadway Theater Gets New Life as Live Venue
Kathryn Maese wrote on www.downtownnews.com : "For more than a year the red letters on the Million Dollar Theatre's marquee have proclaimed "Coming Soon." Last week, the static sign changed to "The Million Dollar Presenta," ushering in a new era for the 1918 landmark as it reopened..." full article
Photo on Los Angeles Downtown News by Gary Leonard
Latest Broadway Revival Gets Underway
2/4/08 City, Property Owners Tout Joint Effort for Bringing Back Historic Theater District.
Kathryn Maese on www.ladowntownnews.com wrote: " The Los Angeles Theatre came alive last Monday morning, its usually blank marquee emblazoned with the words 'Bringing Back Broadway.'...the event kicked off a public-private partnership that aims to revive the historic theater district from Third Street to Olympic Boulevard." full article
“Broadway is Going to be all You Dreamed It Could Be” - Villaraigosa
1/28/08 The Angelenic Blogteam wrote on www.angelenic.com: "Earlier this morning on a busy block of Broadway, the press corps, local politicos, developers, Downtown boosters and bloggers filled the ornate reception hall at the historic Los Angeles Theatre to hear the much-anticipated plans for an unprecedented push to revitalize Downtown’s grand old theater district." full article
Image of the Roxie is from Bringing Back Broadway.
Spotlight Turned On L.A.'s Broadway
1/28/08 Downtown Area Tries For Tries For Second Act With Ambitious Renewal Plan
From the AP on showbuzz.cbsnews.com: "The neon lights aren't bright on this Broadway, a grungy downtown strip of abandoned movie houses, vacant buildings and discount stores. But that could change with an ambitious city plan that seeks to turn Broadway back into the theater and nightlife hub it was early last century." full article
Behind the Delijani Empire
12/31/07 Owner of Four Broadway Theaters Asserts Plans for the Future
Kathryn Maese wrote on www.downtownnews.com : "In the 1980s, Broadway's fabled theaters and movie houses were closing
one after the other, falling victim to changing cultural tastes, the
ravages of age and disuse. Vaudeville and Wurlitzer organs had long ago
given way to Spanish language flicks and churches, though even those
films would soon end. " full article
Photo with the article of the Los Angeles Theatre is by Gary Leonard
Another Theatre Renovation Planned [Vision Theatre, Leimert Park] - This Time Below the 10
12/20/07 Marissa Gluck on www.la.curbed.com wrote: " Seriously, Leimert Park is hot. A buzzing neighborhood, a thriving arts scene, and the attendant fears about gentrification. You haven't really made it until local residents and merchants battle developers.
The Vision Theater (built by Howard Hughes) is receiving a grant for $10 million from the city "to transform the structure, built in the early 1930s, into a state-of-the-art..." full article
The photo of the Vision Theatre tower here by Googiesque accompanies the Curbed LA article. Also see another nice photo on Leimert Park Beat by Elise: Vision theatre tower.
For More on the Leimert/Vision Theatre: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Vision Theatre. Also see the Cinema Tours' Leimert Theatre page for some nice photos.
City Officials Unveil New Vision for Vision Theatre
12/13/07 Chico C. Norwood reported in www.lawattstimes.com reported: "
City officials are looking to the Vision Theater to jump start the
Leimert Park business district. At a mid-morning press conference
...officials unveiled the new vision for the Vision Theater. Originally
built in the 1930s as the Leimert Theater, the Vision is considered ...
full article
ImaginAsian Center Makes its Main Street Debut
12/2/07 Ed Fuentes and Eric Richardson on www.blogdowntown.com wrote: "... In a very real way the ImaginAsian Center is a throwback to Hollywood
days of old, when the studios controlled all three phases of
moviemaking. Downtown was home to the United Artists theater on Broadway... " full article
New Film Festival to Boost Downtown’s Star Power
The photo is uncredited.
Los Angeles Theatre Getting a Restaurant
The photo is uncredited.
Broadway West?
11/14/07 Timseltown Eyes Theatrical Revival
Jonathan Karp in the Wall Street Journal wrote: "Along Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, the Tower Theater helped usher in the era of "talking pictures" in 1927, and the Los Angeles Theatre hosted the 1931 premiere of Charlie Chaplin's classic film "City Lights." Albert Einstein accompanied the star to the gala, while Great Depression victims stood in line for bread across the street." full article
Regent Theatre -- Location Sleuth
11/8/07 Larry Harnisch wrote on his blog The Daily Mirror on latimesblogs.latimes.com : " I had an opportunity to tour the Regent, 448 S. Main St. (yes, it's still standing) during the Los Angeles Conservancy's recent Mainly Main tour. The theater, built in 1914, was never a movie palace, so there's nothing opulent about it... full article
The photo of the Regent Theatre is by Larry Harnisch.
Orpheum's Second Big Break
10/8/07 Historic Theater Lights Up Broadway With a Busy Slate of Acts
Kathryn Maese wrote on www.downtownnews.com : " On a recent night at the Orpheum Theatre, the Broadway Bar on the
ground floor was packed with die-hard Sinead O'Connor fans. They had
come as a sort of preamble to the night ahead. As concertgoers took their seats in the restored 81-year-old space..." full article
Historic Belasco Theater Awaits Its Next Act
9/07/07 Eric Richardson on www.blogdowntown.com wrote:
"Downtowners who've seen his rhymes via Art Walk or email may be more familiar with the latter of Broker Poet Ed Rosenthal's two professions, but Ed's no slouch when it comes to real estate.
He prides himself in finding the right buyer for historic properties, and has managed the sales of such Downtown landmarks as the Old Bank District and the Eastern Columbia. At the moment Ed's representing the sale of the Belasco Theater..." full story
The Belasco photo is by Dave Bullock, www.eecue.com. His Belasco Theatre set has 18 more great photos.
Palace Theatre Gets its Act Together
8/25/07 Rich Alossi wrote on www.angelenic.com: "I decided recently to go on the Figueroa Corridor Angels Walk tour (self-guided) with a friend, and beforehand I wanted to check out the recently cleaned Palace Theater. I’ve always known that the building was historic and had character..." full story
Photo by Rich Alossi. Stephen Friday's Palace Theatre photo set
Historic Theatres Get Cleaned
8/20/07 News Brief on www.downtownnews.com : "Downtown property owner Michael Delijani last week finished cleaning two key theaters along Broadway in preparation for a full restoration. The 1927 Tower Theater at 802 S. Broadway, which Delijani recently acquired for an undisclosed amount, and the 1911 Palace Theater at 630 S. Broadway..." full story
Variety Arts Center Sells
1/8/07 Former Pasadena Playhouse Owner Plans to Stage Plays and Musicals in South Park Space
Kathryn Maese on www.downtownnews.com wrote: " A new player has entered the mix in the hot Staples Center neighborhood. Downtown's latest building transaction could bring a hefty dose of drama to South Park." full article
The photo of the Variety Arts Center is by Gary Leonard.
Nick of Hollywood Explains Pantages
6/7/06 JWilliams on www.la.curbed.com wrote: "After turning away developers for more than two decades, the family that owns the Pantages Theatre is planning a $300 million entertainment-themed development that would surround the Hollywood facility...
...It would dovetail with other large housing, retail and hospitality developments already under way in the area surrounding the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street." full article
The photo of the Pantages with the LA Curbed article is from the website of the Los Angeles stagehands union: www.ia33.org
Also see a 2005 posting on Skyscraper City: Massive Hollywood Development
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