The Mayan Theatre, one of the most outrageous of the remaining downtown Los Angeles movie palaces.
click any of these images to enlarge
another facade view
facade details
painting dates from the 60's
marquee
More sources for information about the Mayan Theatre...
The thumbnail images below are generally from searches on Google Images, Yahoo! or other databases. 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.
California State Library
www.lib.state.ca.us The State Library has 33 pictures of the Mayan from the Mott-Merge collection including this impressive view of the proscenium and fire curtain. full size view
Also from the State Library: looking toward the back of the Mayan Theatre auditorium. full size view
More views in the California library Collection:
Exteriors: exterior of Mayan and Belasco note early version of the roof sign | facade from across the street | another Mayan and Belasco facade view | facade close-up Elsie Janis "Oh,Kay!" | detail to north of marquee | looking south from under marquee |
Boxoffice Area: boxoffice detail | ticket lobby ceiling | another view of the boxoffice area | north ticket lobby display cases | flooring at entrance | floor detail |
Lobby: lobby view from north | lobby view from south | foyer drinking fountain | wall seat and chair in foyer | more lobby seating | detail of stairs to balcony | lobby ceiling light fixtures |
Balcony Foyer: balcony foyer with stairs to upper level | another balcony foyer view | stairs from balcony foyer into balcony | stair and furniture detail | another detail - center of balcony foyer |
Los Angeles Movie Palaces
geocities.com/los_angeles_coast
This great site's Los Angeles Movie Palaces page has lots of theatre pix that Lawrence, Dennis and James have collected. They're all clickable for larger versions. Here's a view from the stage toward the back of the Mayan Theatre. full size view
A view of the side stage house right. Note the detailing on the fire curtain.
A ceiling plasterwork detail.
More Mayan shots on this site: exterior | vertical sign | signage at night | view across auditorium | proscenium | another proscenium view | view across balcony |
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
A view of the proscenium by the Padilla Co.
full size view + another view
A balcony view from the library's collection, again by the Padilla Co.
A view by Padilla Co. of one of the side stages.
Here workman are preparing a plaster casting for installation at one of the side stages. full size view
More Mayan interiors from the Library's collection: balcony exit detail - 1927 -Padilla Co. | drinking fountain - 1927 | main floor aisle exit - Mott Studios | Duke Ellington - 1941 "Jump for Joy" | scene from "Jump For Joy" | backstage 1944 - "Sweet and Hot"
Exteriors from the Library's collection: facade construction - 1927 | exterior - 1927 | corner view - 1927 | another '27 facade view | Mayan and Belasco - 1927 | exterior wall detail - 1927- Padilla Co. | | 1937 exterior | signage at night - Mitchell Julian | painting the exterior -1965 | exterior from the 70's | 1983 exterior - Michael Edwards |
Ken McIntyre on Photobucket
photobucket.com/albums/q12/ken.. A great 2007 Mayan marquee shot by intrepid theatre researcher Ken McIntyre.
A detail view of the under marquee plasterwork. full size view
Also by Ken: another marquee view
Ken has also listed for the Cinema Treasures Mayan Theatre page some reproductions he's made of Mayan ads: September 1929 | 1931 ad | 1948 ad | 1958 ad |
Public Art in L.A.
www.publicartinla.com Here's a view of the Mayan Theatre's roof sign on this fascinating site's Neon Signs section.
This site also has a page on the Mayan Theatre listing contractors and vendors for the construction. Also some comments on sources for the facade ornamentation by Francisco Cornejo. See also the brief bio of Cornejo and a view of upper facade.
USC Archives
www.digarc.usc.edu A Broadway panorama shot from 1928 shows a view down Broadway and the early version on the Mayan's roof sign (on the lower left). Also visible is the side of the Belasco and its lobby windows just to the left of the Herald-Examiner Building. full size view
For more information on downtown Los Angeles theaters near the Mayan see the Theaters West of Broadway page and the Broadway Theaters Los Angeles page.
| back to top | home | downtown Los Angeles theatres |