Clune's Auditorium

Here’s a 1920 photo of Pershing Square (with actual trees!) and the Auditorium.
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And while I’m at it, here’s updated links for the other photos from dead USC links above.

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LA Times reports that the development of this parcel has been delayed due to the recession. Not much of a market now for a luxury hotel and condos as planned.

Here is a January 1940 ad from the LAT:
http://tinyurl.com/qvbtx2

Here is a July 4, 1918 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/lqrtrj

Christmas tree lighting in Pershing Square
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courtesy of LA Metblogs

Here is part of an April 12, 1979 article from the LA Times about renovation of the Philharmonic:

For nearly sixty years, the names of Galli-Curci, Tito Schipa, John McCormack, Mary Garden, the Ballet Russe, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and of course the Light Opera Association, as well as many others, graced the marquee above 5th Street.

All that changed in 1965, when, except for an occasional production of a Broadway musical, the theatrical lights dimmed at the Philharmonic and the scene changed to the new Music Center.
Since then the 2,600-seat auditorium with its vast stage, ceiling of concentric sound circles and acoustically perfect interior has been dark-and silent-except on Sundays when the faithful attend Temple Baptist Church worship services.

Now that is changing. The auditorium and its adjoining nine-story office building overlooking Pershing Square have been sold by the church to Auditorium Management Company for a reported $3 million. The new group of entrepeneurs, investors and developers has started to renovate the old auditorium to return it to its original grandeur as a showcase for Broadway-type productions.

David Houk, president of the management company said the auditorium-office building had been for sale for five years but his group had doubts about purchasing it because, as he put it, “Downtown is dead”. Enter Stephen Rothman, a specialist in theater restoration who has done similar work at the old Paramount Theater in Aurora, Ill., and the Hartman Theater in Stamford, Conn. “This is a true Broadway stage”, said Rothman, “It just needs a little sanding. Otherwise it’s in incredible shape”.

What bugs me is that I was in LA for a year before it was torn down and never checked it out. Lost opportunity. Same for the Hippodrome on Main Street.

Geopolitical lecture in March 1947:
http://tinyurl.com/5xk5jo

There was some discussion last year of a retail/housing complex being built on this space. Obviously with the economy circling the drain nothing further has been mentioned.

Here is an undated postcard from the NYPL:
http://tinyurl.com/66ba6f

Here is a 1927 photo from the UCLA collection;
http://tinyurl.com/6fwqbm

There is a series of photos on the LA Times “Daily Mirror” blog, if you scroll about halfway down. I didn’t remember the scene from “Double Indemnity”, though:
http://tinyurl.com/3kbexg

Here are three articles from the LA Times in March 1984:
http://tinyurl.com/2s7jp4
http://tinyurl.com/2we6eh
http://tinyurl.com/3y99fg
http://tinyurl.com/37u427
http://tinyurl.com/3e3c7e
http://tinyurl.com/39kllb

Here’s an interesting article on that early color process. This quote from the page is especially interesting:

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“Kinemacolor was a moderate success in the early 20th century. It made millions in Europe but was completely stymied in the U.S. due to the shenanigans of the Patent Trust, an organization of film producers that worked desparately to prevent outsiders from making an inroad in the film business. The Patent Trust was the main reason why independant producers migrated from the U.S. east coast to California.