Holly Cinema

Hi Richjr37,

Are you sure you have the right theatre? This address was never a bookstore.

Photos via Google Maps (streetview) from 2007 through 2013 show the building was used as a Scientology Test Center.

Photos from July of 2014 through 2017 show the building as being empty/vacant.

A photo taken in January of 2018 show it was soon to open as Harold’s Chicken. It did open as Harold’s Chicken in 2019.

Your post stating it was a bookstore now was written in July of 2019 and it definitely wasn’t a bookstore then. In fact, I can find no record of this address (6523 Hollywood Blvd) EVER being a bookstore.

I worked at the Holly as the manager for two full years in the mid 1980s, and thus I’ve been keeping tabs on it.

Also posted the July 31st, 1931 grand opening ad as Studio. Ad confirms 303 seats.

Ad from July 7,1977 in the Pictures section.

June 26th, 1970 grand opening ad in photo section.

The Studio Theatre was to have been the first of ten houses of its type for Hughes-Franklin Theatres according to this item from Building and Engineering News of December 5, 1931:

“CALIFORNIA— Harold B. Franklin, president of the Hughes-Franklin theatres. 7051 Hollywoood Blvd., announces that plans are under way for nine new theatres, similar in size and type to the recently completed Studio Theatre at Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson Avenue, to be built in San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, San Diego, Oakland, Stockton and San Jose. Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Dallas, Texas. They will have seating capacities ranging from 300 to 500 and will have the automatic features provided in the Hollywood Theatre. S. Charles Lee, 2404 W. Seventh St., Los Angeles, will be the architect.”

DOCUMENTARY ON CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD CINEMAS – Lookn for interviewees, photos, videos of old hollywood

Hello,

I’m and independent filmmaker working on a documentary about old movie theatres in hollywood (Iris, Warner, Pacific, Hollywood, Vogue, Grauman’s Chinese, Egyptian etc..) that have had an impact on the hollywood community, both as a symbol of Hollywood as well as the historical and heritage effects it has had on “hollywood” as an industry. We are profiling theatres that are currently functioning as well as the obsolete. If you worked in these theatres back in the day (during their highlights) and have interesting stories to tell, photos to show, video to talk about I would like to hear from you. Many older movie houses are being demolished due to new developments and it is important to help future generation know and understand how these movie palaces have helped shaped the Hollywood we know today. If you have any photos or videos with personal stories you’d like to share, please contact me (323) 876-0975 – – You must owns the materials you are willing to share (taken the picture- recorded the videos, written the letters, etc…)

If you do have materials you’d like to send that may help in accurate information, you are welcome to send it to me.

Jorge Ameer
Classic Hollywood Cinemas
Box 3204
Hollywood, California 90028

View link

Aside from the theater looking much more run down today, it hasn’t changed all that much.

It looks like the theater has always occupied the right or east side of the building, with retail or some other enterprise on the west side. This is despite the fact that one building has always encompassed both businesses.

Here are some early 1930s views from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/98q3hh

John Oblinger or Steve Gates, what happened to him? Did one of you guys pop him? hehehehe

Here are some October 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/4xtbwd
http://tinyurl.com/3jkszy
http://tinyurl.com/4a22sb
http://tinyurl.com/3q8n4p

I always hated these Mansard roof facades. It seems many theaters were “modernized” with these in the 60s. Yuck!!!