Well, Spring street didn't see the same kind of theatrical action that was on Main Street or (later) on Broadway. But we have a few interesting theatres.
Our stroll on Spring Street starts at the north end of the street and works south as you scroll down the page. Pictures and theatre names on the right are for theatres on the east side of the street, on the left are those on the west.
The thumbnail images below are generally from searches on Google Images, Yahoo! or other databases. Click on the image to see how it was found in context.
We
also give you a link to the site itself (or sometimes a specific
article) for your further research. Most of our facts about the buildings come from the various postings of the diligent researchers posting on Cinema Treasures.
All images are subject to copyright.
Tom Bradley Blvd. [West 1st Street]
<< west to 100 S. Broadway < Mason's Theatre
Grand Opera House, Novelty >east to 100 S. Main St. >>
Ideal
134 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
|map|
West 2nd Street
<west to 200 S. Broadway<<
Linda Lea >>east to 200 S. Main St. >
Lyceum
227 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
| map |
Opened: 1888 as the Los Angeles Theatre. In 1903 this interesting Richardsonian Romanesque building became the Orpheum - the second home of Orpheum Circuit vaudeville in Los Angeles. Previously they'd been at the Grand Opera House. Orpheum moved on in 1911 to their new home at 630 S. Broadway (now the Palace Theatre). At one point it was also known as Fischer's Lyceum.
Architect: unknown
Seating: 800
Status: Closed in 1941 as the Lyceum and was later demolished.
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Lyceum for a great discussion.
California State Library
www.lib.state.ca.us
The State Library collection has this c. 1897 view of the Lyceum
Theatre published as a souvenir card by J.B. Blanchard & Co. The
Lyceum is the turreted building in the center. It would have been still
called the Los Angeles Theatre at the time of the photo. The building
on the left was later known as Lyceum Hall. full size view
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org Here's a 1919 exterior shot from the Library collection.
Another exterior view while called the Orpheum.
This was the second home of the Orpheum circuit in Los Angeles.
Another later view from the north. Note that the "Lyceum Hall" building to the left has been demolished.
An interior shot of the balcony sidewall from 1941, prior to demolition.
Another 1941 interior.
More exterior views from the library collection: entrance c. 1890 | backwall c. 1903 - 1910 - with "Orpheum" signage | facade | later exterior - "Talking Pictures" | 1941 - prior to demolition |
Lyceum Hall
229 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
| map |
This building was just south of the Lyceum Theatre at 227. It was a former Turnverein Hall. Full nature of the events held here is unknown.
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org Here's an exterior shot from the Library collection.
The Lyceum Hall building is in the foreground, with the Lyceum Theatre farther north.
CSULB - A Visit to Old Los Angeles
www.csulb.edu An early postcard view of Spring street between 2nd and 3rd on Brent Dickerson's Tour of Spring Street. We're looking south (at the west side of the street) toward 3rd. The Lyceum Hall building at the far right side of the picture.
Brent identifies the Lyceum Hall building as the Los Angeles Theatre when actually the theatre in question (the Lyceum/Orpheum/Los Angeles) is just off the picture, farther to the right. full size view
This is one of many great adventures on Brent's site. Details are on the site's index page.
Edison
236 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
| map |
Dates: A nickelodeon operating in 1910. Opening and closing dates are unknown.
More Information: Cinema Treasures has a page on the Edison Theatre but nothing more is currently known.
California
238 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
| map |
Dates: This theatre is listed in the 1910 and 1914 city directories. Opening and closing dates are unknown.
More Information: Cinema Treasures has a page on the California Theatre but there's no other information.
West 3rd Street
<west to 300 S. Broadway<<
Hippodrome, Regal, Follies >>east to 300 S. Main St. >
Tally's Phonograph and Vitascope Parlor
311 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
Opened: In 1896, Tally curtained off the back of his phonograph parlor creating Tally's Theatre. This was following the first successful exhibition of movies in Los Angeles at the Grand Opera House - also in 1896. He moved to the 388 S. Spring location in 1900.
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page for Tally's 311 S. Spring for lots of discussion about this location and the Tally's Electric on Main St.
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org Here's a photo from the Library collection of Tally's Phonograph Parlor with the rear area draped off to show movies - the "Mammoth Projecting Kinetoscope." He cut holes in the drape at eye level for those afraid to enter the darkened space beyond. full size view
Empress
344 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
(also listed as 338 or 340)
Opened: December 21, 1903 as Waldeck's Casino, a project of Jacob Waldeck, who previously worked at the Orpheum. The theatre was intended mostly for vaudeville with a 27' by 60' stage and a full orchestra employed. The building also contained a billiard hall, a wax museum and had a roof garden.
By May of 1904 Waldeck is dead after a breakdown caused partially by the financial strain. Fights for control ensue. Then it's just known as the Casino.
By 1906 it's known as the Hotchkiss Theatre and by 1909 as the Los Angeles. Note that the Lyceum, a block up the street, had opened as the Los Angeles Theatre in 1888.
By 1911 the operation was known as the Empress and running Sullivan and Considine vaudeville. It was also called Loew's Empress (Marcus Leow was involved for a bit) and Quinn's Empress. In 1919 it was Biola Hall, in 1920 it was the Novel and then in '20-'21 Gore's Capitol. Later it was Waxman's and Waxman's Capitol.
Status: Demolished prior to 1952 . Closing date unknown.
Architect: Abraham M. Edelman
Seating: 1200
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Capitol for amazing stories about Waldeck (the original promoter), bookings, hoodoo, financial problems, death, fights for control and lots more fun details unearthed by great research. Lots of discussion by Jeff Bridges and other diligent researchers also surfaces on the page for Broadway's Cozy Theatre.
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org An interior of the theatre (when it was the Casino) from the Library's collection. full size view
USC Archives
digarc.usc.edu A 1908 view of the corner of 4th and Spring has the Hotchkiss Theatre peeking around on the far left side. full size view
Jeff Bridges on Flickr
www.flickr.com A great map by Jeff Bridges in response to the Cinema Treasures discussion is an updated version of a 1906 Sanborn fire map showing the plan of the Hotchkiss, backing up to the Belasco/Follies on Main Street. full size view
Tally's Phonograph and Vitascope Parlor
388 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
Opened: 1900 when Tally moved his operation from 311 S. Spring.
West 4th Street
<west to 400 S. Broadway<< Broadway Theatre
Muse, Rosslyn, Regent >>east to 400 S. Main St. >
Horne's Big Show
423 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
Horne's Big Show Theatre was a operating in 1910. No other details are known. The current building on the site dates from 1926.
More Information: Ken Roe reports all the known information on the Horne's Big Show page of Cinema Treasures.
Regent
447 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
|map|
The Regent was running in 1925. Also known as Gore's Regent.
See also the listing for the Regent Theatre on Main Street, which had a much longer run.
Unique
456 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
Not much is known about this theatre except that it was running vaudeville and occasional films in 1901-1902.
Cinema Treasures
www.cinematreasures.org Here are 2 postings by Ken McIntyre about the Unique from the L.A. Times.
He's linked these on the Cinema Treasures page for the Capitol Theatre: Unique Theatre article 12/01 | Unique Theatre article 5/02
Gaumont Chronophone
473 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
Opened: April 27, 1908 under the management of local theatre operator E.A. Fischer. This theatre specialized in shorts demonstrating an early talkie process from the Gaumont studios. Closing date is unknown.
More Information: Cinema Treasures has a page on the Gaumont Chronophone Theatre with Joe Vogel and Lost Memory reporting all that is known about this venture.
West 5th Street
<west to 500 S. Broadway<< Roxie, Cameo, Arcade
Gayety, Star, Optic, Burbank>>east to 500 S. Main St. >
Orchestrion
527 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
| map |
Opened: Another nickelodeon known to be operating in 1910. Opening and closing dates are unknown.
Status: The building that could have house the theatre was demolished around 2006.
More Information: Cinema Treasures has a page on the Orchestrion Theatre which reports what little is known about this vanished Los Angeles theatre.
West 6th Street
<west to 600 S. Broadway<< Los Angeles, Palace
Lark, Republic, Gem >>east to 600 S. Main St. >
No theatres in the 600 block of S. Spring Street
West 7th Street
<west to 700 S. Broadway<< Globe, Loew's State
>>east to 700 S. Main St. >
No theatres in the 700 block of S. Spring Street
West 8th Street
<west to 800 S. Broadway<< Tower, Rialto, Orpheum
Miller's, California >>east to 800 S. Main St. >
No theatres in the 800 block of S. Spring Street
West 9th Street
<west to 900 S. Broadway<< United Artists
>>east to 900 S. Main St. >
Spring Street ends at 9th
For more downtown Los Angeles theatre explorations:
See our Directory on the main downtown page. Visit our Theatres West of Broadway page for a tour of theatres on Hill Street, Olive, Grand and Figueroa. See the Broadway page for Los Angeles movie palaces, grindhouses and more on the big street. And don't miss our Main Street Theatres page for exploration of 30 theatres!
See you at the movies!