The Tower Theatre by S. Charles Lee
click any of these images to enlarge
Note that ads for the Tower as a Newsreel Theatre in the 40's are still visible on the side of the building.
no longer open all night
More sources for information about the Tower Theatre...
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.
All images are subject to copyright.
California State Library
Here's a 1926 view of the vertical sign from the Mott-Merge collection of the State Library.
A view of the new building, looking east on 8th Street. full size view
More 1926 views from the Mott-Merge Collection of the State Library:
distance view | facade and tower | clock tower | 8th St. facade |
8th St. arch detail | ornament and vertical detail | detail above stained glass |
A view of the men's smoking lounge in a 1987 photo by Tom Zimmerman.
Note the ornamental painting on the ceiling beams.
More Tom Zimmerman photos from the archive: Newsreel ad in alley | balcony railing detail |
From William Reagh in the California Library collection: Tower exterior
Cinema Tour
www.cinematour.com The Tower Theatre page on this site has many exterior photos of the Tower plus some interior shots by Mark Campbell including: rear of auditorium | proscenium | dome | balcony | lobby chandelier | downstairs lounge |
Harrison Aster on Flickr
www.flickr.com...harrisonaster
Harrison Aster has some great photos of the Tower Theatre on Flickr. Here we are looking at the stained glass above the main entrance. full size view
Looking down at the house from a booth porthole.
Looking into the house from the stage.
See Harrison's Old Movie Palaces on Broadway set for more nice interiors of the Tower plus a few exteriors of other Broadway theatres.
laasB on Flickr
LaasB's Dead Cinemas, Downtown Los Angeles set has 50 interesting photos including this view up into the Tower Theatre balcony. full size view
See also: nameplate | sidewall detail | proscenium |
LA Okay
www.laokay.com This photo of the Tower exterior is from a listing of buildings by S. Charles Lee on this site. There's a nice commentary (and photos) of many of his LA buildings including the Bruin and Fox Wilshire. full size image
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
www.lapl.org A view of the stained glass arch from inside the lobby from the Library's collection.
Another interior: sidewall - from a 1928 Heinsbergen Decorating promo
Also from the LAPL collection: The Tower in 1946 when it was called the Music Hall. Note the Rialto just down the block and the Orpheum vertical beyond.
More exteriors in the Library's collection: early exterior | another view | from higher up | another view | 1938 exterior | 1952 exterior - with parade
LA Time Machines
www.latimemachines.com This site has lots of interesting items.
This photo is from their Los Angeles Movie Palaces page which offers a nice history of the all the Broadway theatres.
Los Angeles Movie Palaces
This photo of the Tower from its Newsreel Theatre days is on this site's Los Angeles Movie Palaces page.
The 1950 photo is by William Reagh. Signage from this era is still visible at the top of the building. full size image
Tower Theatre Website
www.towertheaterla.com This great photo of the interior by Berger Conser Architectural Photography is on the Tower's website, which also has a complete history and lots more superb photos. full size image
Click on "scouting photos" and "architectural photos" for the full tour.
Also see: Robert Berger's website
UCLA - S. Charles Lee Archive
http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/ A nice photo of the side of the building while under construction from UCLA's S. Charles Lee Archive. full size image
A view of the sidewall plasterwork. Many of these construction photos came from Dwyer studios.
More construction photos from the S. Charles Lee archive: scaffolding viewed from the front | front view at street level | auditorium sidewall with scaffolding |
University of Virginia/American Studies
http://xroads.virginia.edu/ This photo of plasterers at work on the Tower ceiling is from the University's exploration of American Picture Palaces. full size image
For more information on downtown Los Angeles theaters near the Tower see the Broadway Theaters Los Angeles page.
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