Toured this building today; there are two theaters in there. The film theater is on the ground floor, the live theater is upstairs. Don’t know if the live theater is original, or an add-on. The ballroom has been converted into a lounge-type space.
I just finished a video profiling Steve Markham and his collection of vintage theater curtains, which are stored in the Orpheum’s dressing rooms on the fifth floor.
There are tons of indie and foreign films that don’t get played anywhere in L.A. If you look at a sampling of AMC plexes, they generally don’t include either in their programming. So this proposed plex is unlikely to help in that regard.
If the city wanted to control the number of seats in downtown and increase the variety of films offered, they should have kept the NuWilshire open.
If the city wanted a “premiere” showcase, they should have paid attention to the fact that Hollywood favors single screen movie palaces for those events — but oops! — they destroyed all their palaces.
There’s a huge disconnect between what people officially say they want for the city, and what they’re going to get.
Does anyone actually believe that SM wasn’t getting “the best” movies being released? Or that closing the Broadway will somehow help the selection of movies available to the public?
hdtv267, it depends on what they’re showing, but earlier shows are a safer bet if you want to shoot the Chinese mostly empty. I’d recommend going in as soon as they open the house and doing it before the show. Afterward they’re cleaning up and there’s more pressure to get you out. Evening shows are likely to be busier.
I’ve never taken the tour, but I’ve seen them going through prior to a show and they don’t seem to really give people time to take anything but quick snaps.
Something you should think about before you go in: it’s pretty dark. Do you have a camera that can take good quality photos at high ISO? (Or a really good flash?) If not, you might want to take a tripod. I tend to shoot long exposures (2-3 seconds) in there.
The manager used to stop me taking photographs, but the good news about Mann closing up shop is that they don’t seem to care anymore. The last couple of times I was in there I shot freely and no one bothered me.
Stopped by today. The parking lot behind the marquee still has the rises/hills (what do you call those things?) that made it easier for people in the back seat to see the screen.
According to a comment posted to one of the photos that Monika linked on 3/17/08, the snack bar still exists and is “vintage.” I stopped by today, but it wasn’t open and the gate was closed. The marquee is worth the visit however. I hate to see any theater marked as “closed/demolished” as long as there are still some features to see.
I was just looking at my photo of a cultural heritage landmark plaque on the side of this building. It refers to the architects as “Batch and Stanberry” — they misspelled both of their names!
Just went by today and there’s a banner up that says “Space Available.” Ken, next time you go by, take a look at what would have been the entrance/lobby. It looks like they restored the original ceiling.
They’re on the sidewalk, and they’re not allowed to ask for cash. They can accept donations from people taking photographs, etc. I’ve never seen them “aggressive,” but there are quite a few of them.
As well as the Silent Movie on Fairfax, LA also has the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo. They do a combination of live music shows and silent and sound films. It’s a small neighborhood theater, but it does have a Wurlitzer to provide accompaniment for silent movies. Films are usually preceded by comedy shorts, newsreels, and a sing-along.
Monica, the Conservancy runs the weekly walking tours downtown. LA Historic Theatre Foundation used to offer tours on Art Walk days but I think the change in management stopped that, and usually has an in-depth tour of a theater on the third Saturday of each month.
“What’s up with the big fence on the rooftop? Is there a tennis court up there?”
Soccer pitch.
Thanks for the link; Vitrolite is fascinating stuff, and it’s nice to see so many restoration projects going on.
Toured this building today; there are two theaters in there. The film theater is on the ground floor, the live theater is upstairs. Don’t know if the live theater is original, or an add-on. The ballroom has been converted into a lounge-type space.
I just finished a video profiling Steve Markham and his collection of vintage theater curtains, which are stored in the Orpheum’s dressing rooms on the fifth floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlZFmKbpBCs
I’ve put together a video from my days at the studio; it’s available on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TATJ_1P2Hdk
If you’re talking about “An Animated Life,” that’s several years old, but was just released in paperback.
The Squaw Man was shot in 1913, not 1914.
There are tons of indie and foreign films that don’t get played anywhere in L.A. If you look at a sampling of AMC plexes, they generally don’t include either in their programming. So this proposed plex is unlikely to help in that regard.
If the city wanted to control the number of seats in downtown and increase the variety of films offered, they should have kept the NuWilshire open.
If the city wanted a “premiere” showcase, they should have paid attention to the fact that Hollywood favors single screen movie palaces for those events — but oops! — they destroyed all their palaces.
There’s a huge disconnect between what people officially say they want for the city, and what they’re going to get.
Does anyone actually believe that SM wasn’t getting “the best” movies being released? Or that closing the Broadway will somehow help the selection of movies available to the public?
hdtv267, it depends on what they’re showing, but earlier shows are a safer bet if you want to shoot the Chinese mostly empty. I’d recommend going in as soon as they open the house and doing it before the show. Afterward they’re cleaning up and there’s more pressure to get you out. Evening shows are likely to be busier.
I’ve never taken the tour, but I’ve seen them going through prior to a show and they don’t seem to really give people time to take anything but quick snaps.
Something you should think about before you go in: it’s pretty dark. Do you have a camera that can take good quality photos at high ISO? (Or a really good flash?) If not, you might want to take a tripod. I tend to shoot long exposures (2-3 seconds) in there.
The manager used to stop me taking photographs, but the good news about Mann closing up shop is that they don’t seem to care anymore. The last couple of times I was in there I shot freely and no one bothered me.
Check the map — the theater is between Rosecrans Street and Rosecrans Place. There is no Blvd.
But you’re right that Bookstar is using Place in their address, but Street is more correct for the theater.
The correct street address is Rosecrans Place, not Blvd.
Also, the address should be EAST Foothill Blvd, if you want the mapping to work correctly.
Stopped by today. The parking lot behind the marquee still has the rises/hills (what do you call those things?) that made it easier for people in the back seat to see the screen.
Mike, I’m looking at a one-sheet for Daisy Miller and it has a G rating on it. IMDB also has it as G.
View link
According to a comment posted to one of the photos that Monika linked on 3/17/08, the snack bar still exists and is “vintage.” I stopped by today, but it wasn’t open and the gate was closed. The marquee is worth the visit however. I hate to see any theater marked as “closed/demolished” as long as there are still some features to see.
Looks a little empty without all the costumed people…
I stopped by today and there is a bright blue gnome standing on the corner of the roof over the marquee.
I was just looking at my photo of a cultural heritage landmark plaque on the side of this building. It refers to the architects as “Batch and Stanberry” — they misspelled both of their names!
Just went by today and there’s a banner up that says “Space Available.” Ken, next time you go by, take a look at what would have been the entrance/lobby. It looks like they restored the original ceiling.
They’re on the sidewalk, and they’re not allowed to ask for cash. They can accept donations from people taking photographs, etc. I’ve never seen them “aggressive,” but there are quite a few of them.
You say art house, they say revival… let’s call the whole thing off!
And another bad link, Re: the info. That’s why I hate linking to other websites, particularly the library!
The image is still viewable, and the info has been added to the image at the top of the page.
As well as the Silent Movie on Fairfax, LA also has the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo. They do a combination of live music shows and silent and sound films. It’s a small neighborhood theater, but it does have a Wurlitzer to provide accompaniment for silent movies. Films are usually preceded by comedy shorts, newsreels, and a sing-along.
Monica, the Conservancy runs the weekly walking tours downtown. LA Historic Theatre Foundation used to offer tours on Art Walk days but I think the change in management stopped that, and usually has an in-depth tour of a theater on the third Saturday of each month.
www.lahtf.org
www.youtube.com/lahtf