United Artists Theatre - C. Howard Crane, architect
click any of these images to enlarge
The building looking south. The top 50 ft. of latticework was officially considered a "sign" to meet LA height limitations.
another view of the facade
A view looking south showing the vertical sign. There was once a second vertical and signage on top for Texaco.
The alley side of the UA. The stage is at left. Note the fading United Artists sign still visible on the building. The current attraction as evidenced by the roof signs: Jesus Saves
More sources for information about the United Artists 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.
Cinema and Theatre Historical Society
www.caths.org.au Here's an image of some ornament from the newsletter of this Australian theatre history group.
The unique gothic style of the United Artists Theatre makes it one of the most unusual Los Angeles movie palaces.
Flickr
www.flickr.com On this site: UA and Texaco signs on an old postcard.
Note also the Texaco signage on the tower on top of the building.
Forgotten Detroit
www.forgottendetroit.com A nice auditorium view of the Los Angeles United Artists is here on this Detroit architecture site.
Also on this site: Detroit United Artists photo gallery
Ken McIntyre on Cinema Treasures
www.cinematreasures.org/theater/489 Great researcher Ken McIntyre has posted on Photobucket a picture he located of some of the United Artists principals ready for the opening. full size view.
Top row left to right: John Barrymore (evidently in costume for the '29 release "The Tempest), Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks.
Lower right: D.W. Griffith
Lower left: Joseph Schenck, president of both the United Artists Corporation and the separate United Artists Theatre Circuit. Schenck would later join Darryl Zanuck in forming 20th Century Fox.
Los Angeles Conservancy
www.laconservancy.org Here's a great view up Broadway in the '30's with the United Artists Theatre on the left.
The photo is featured on the LA Conservancy's wonderful photo gallery of the Broadway Historic Theatre District and is from the Conservancy archives.
A rare view of the United Artists Theatre lobby in the late '20's.
The photo is from the LA Conservancy archives.
Los Angeles Movie Palaces
www.geocities.com/los_angeles_coast
This great site's Los Angeles Movie Palaces page has this view looking back into the balcony.
L.A. Public Library Photo Collection
A view of the proscenium from the Library's collection.
A sidewall mural detail.
A view of the dome from the library's collection.
Looking down the mezzanine lobby.
More interiors in the LAPL collection: asbestos curtain | asbestos curtain detail | drawing of interior | sidewall view | Mary at the Wurlitzer | lobby painting - Napoleon | booth operators |
United Artists exteriors from the LAPL collection: lining up in 1928 | 1928 exterior D.W. Griffiths "Battle of the Sexes" | 1929 marquee view "Bulldog Drummond" | night marquee view - "Taming of the Shrew" | 1931 exterior "The Bat Whispers" - an early 65mm production, probably shown in 35mm at the United Artists. Note the added letters above the marquee.
California State Library
www.library.ca.gov A photo by William Reagh showing the gothic tracery on the exterior to nice effect. full size view
USC Archive
digarc.usc.edu Exterior photos of the United Artists from the USC archives unearthed by Ken McIntyre on Cinema Treasures include this 1928 view looking south on Broadway.
Other exteriors in the USC archives: view looking north | night view with vertical lit | 1931 panoramic view looking north - Note that the Texaco signage has been added.
Zilf's Postcards on Flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/zilf Zilf has amassed a great collection of Los Angeles postcards--459 at last count - including a number of pictures of Los Angeles movie palaces.
Here's a postcard view looking north on Broadway from the United Artists/Texaco building. full size view
For more information on theaters near the United Artists on Broadway see the Los Angeles Broadway Theaters page.
You could also head a block west to visit the Mayan and Belasco theaters. These listings are the Hill Street section of our Theaters West of Broadway page.
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