The Ritz Theatre opened in 1929. It closed as a movie house in the summer of 1972. It re-opened as the Ritz Music Hall, a performing center for Rock ‘n Roll and western stars in 1974.
The Holly Theatre opened in 1912 and for its first year of operation was known as Jensen’s Theaterium, presumably operated by Henty Jensen who operated several theatres, including the nearby Melrose Theatre on Melrose Ave and the Raymond in Pasadena. It was one of a small group of theatre built for the Globe Amusement Company. The frontage of the theatre had an attractice entrance with a high curved arch, on top of which was a dome.
Re-named Hollyway Theatre (maybe because it was on the way to Hollywood), it is listed under this name in Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 with a seating capacity of 732. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is named the Holly Theatre, again with 732 seats. The 1950 and ‘52 editions have it still listed as the Holly Theatre but with 780 seats.
After closing it is noted in 1974 that it had become a branch office of Crocker Bank.
The building first opened as the Princess Theatre on 12th May 1917, replacing an earlier theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1916.
In 1924 a 2Manual/5Rank Hinners organ was installed and one of the organists was bob Moore, who in later years worked for Balaban & Katz in Chicago playing organ in the Tivoli, Southtown and other theatres.
Also in 1924 the theatre was re-named Lloyd Theatre. The Lloyd was refurbished in 1974 when a new screen was erected, new carpets fitted, new stage drapes installed and a new marquee fitted to the facade. It continued as a movie theatre until 1993 when it closed. The theatre was remodeled and re-opened by the current management as the Princess Theatre in 1995.
According to the history of the theatre on the church’s website http://www.sonlightoforange.com
the architect of the Orange Theatre was Harry J. Simons of Los Angeles.
Not stated on the website is that work commenced on building in around 1926 but was brought to a halt for some reason and the contract was completed by architect John Paxton Perine.
It opened on 22nd May 1929 with the movie “Molly and Me” starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown plus a vaudville show and Wurlitzer organ music. It had a seating capacity of 1,300 and was operated by Fox West Coast-Langley Theatres.
It closed in the early 1970’s and briefly went over to being a live theatre which closed in 1975. The current church use commenced in 1978.
Architect S. Charles Lee did some modernisations on the building in the 1930’s. Two projects listed in the Appendix in Maggie Valentine’s book “The Show Starts on the Sidewalk” have un-named Los Angeles theatres that could have had work executed by Charles Lee in 1936 for an un-named client and another for client Alex Pavlov in 1937-40.
Looking at the photos on the link I give here, the interior work carried out by Lee appears to be minimal, but the exterior photo above seems to have a more ‘modern’ look, especially the blade sign and marquee.
The Belasco Theatre was known briefly as the Republic Theatre before becoming the Follies Theatre in 1919 when it bagan its long life as a major burlesque house.
Construction on the Burbank Theatre began in 1887 to the plans of notable 19th century theatre architect James M. Wood. It remained incomplete until 1893 when it was finally finished and opened that year to the plans of Los Angeles architect Robert Brown Young.
The interior was done-over in 1937-38 and featured a rather thin overlay of art-deco over the original 1893 decor. It could be at this time that the exterior, seen in the above photo was also carried out. The building was always a street level and one floored facade.
The Regent closed early 1973 and was demolished in November 1973. The No. 40 Wurlitzer Hope-Jones organ was saved from the theatre as it was being torn down and was put into storage by the Rochester Theatre Organ Society.
Film Daily Yearbook,1930 lists this as the Peerless Theatre with 562 seats. The 1941 edition has it as the Haven Theatre with 563 seats, as does the 1943 edition, but by then it is listed as closed.
When known as the Arcade Theatre in 1930 it was listed as having 550 seats. The same seating capacity is given in 1941, and in 1943 its listed as having 542 seats.
In 1950 it is listed as the Studio Theatre with 560 seats
Figures taken from editions of the Film Daily Yearbook
Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 give a seating capacity of 1,400 and the operator being Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Mullins & Pinanski.
The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. gives a seating capacity of 1,000.
Thanks Richard;
The article I took information from in 1970 intimated that the theatre was about to be demolished, perhaps this didn’t happen after all.
Please take a look while you are down Seneca St next and let us know please.
Thanks
Ron;
The second Globe was the one that showed Loew’s vaudville/movies in the 1900’s. The article I have doen’t mention that there was a third Globe a block away as it reads, it seems to be talking about the same theatre regarding going burlesque then movies. Obviously a mistake.
The same article in THSA Marquee Vol 6 #3 A Historical Survey of the Theatres of Boston by Donald C. King makes no reference to a second Selwyn, former Cort. So sorry at this moment in time I can’t help any further.
Out the initial list above I have listings on the Film Daily Yearbooks for the following theatres:
1941 edition
Columbia Theatre, Washington Street 1,800 seats (closed)
1943 edition
Columbia Theatre, Washington Street 1,800 seats
1950 edition
Columbia Theatre, 978 Washington Street 975 seats
There is a Tremont Theatre, Tremont Street 1,500 seats listed in both 1941 & ‘43 but I’m not sure if the is the Tremont Temple you mention above but it operated as a movie theatre by the 1930’s. Later known as the Astor Theatre.
I have a record of the Selwyn Theatre (former Globe) being run as a vaudville film house in the 1900 by Loew’s. Later went to Burlesque. After W.W.II it was taken over by E.M.Loew’s Theatres and was re-named Centre Theatre, showing movies.
The firm of R.E. Hall & Co.Inc. were the architects and engineers of the Keith-Albee Georgia Theatre which opened on 15th November 1926 with the movie “Her Big Night” starring Zazu Pitts and five big acts of Keith vaudeville with Julian Leonard at the Grande Symphonic Wurlitzer Organ.
It was re-named Roxy in 1938 when it was leased by Independent Theatres Inc who promised a deal had been done with the famous Roxy Theater in New York to bring the stage shows from that theatre the following week after their Manhattan appearance. The Roxy became a ‘de-luxe’ movie theatre for several years until the last stage show was a part of the programme on 30th October 1943. From then on, it was movies only.
In the 1960’s it became a Cinerama theatre and this meant the removal of the two loge boxes either side of the stage and the auditorium was draped.
Regular movies return for the final years, the film “Willard” set a house record and Rock Hudson made a personal apearance when his movie “Pretty Maids All In A Row” was screened. The Roxy closed on 21st May 1972 with the screening to a small audience of a camp B grade horror movie, “Twilight People”. The wreckers moved in early summer 1972 and there were still portions of the theatres walls still standing as late as September 1972.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook,1950 with 550 seats.
The Ritz Theatre opened in 1929. It closed as a movie house in the summer of 1972. It re-opened as the Ritz Music Hall, a performing center for Rock ‘n Roll and western stars in 1974.
The Holly Theatre opened in 1912 and for its first year of operation was known as Jensen’s Theaterium, presumably operated by Henty Jensen who operated several theatres, including the nearby Melrose Theatre on Melrose Ave and the Raymond in Pasadena. It was one of a small group of theatre built for the Globe Amusement Company. The frontage of the theatre had an attractice entrance with a high curved arch, on top of which was a dome.
Re-named Hollyway Theatre (maybe because it was on the way to Hollywood), it is listed under this name in Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 with a seating capacity of 732. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is named the Holly Theatre, again with 732 seats. The 1950 and ‘52 editions have it still listed as the Holly Theatre but with 780 seats.
After closing it is noted in 1974 that it had become a branch office of Crocker Bank.
The building first opened as the Princess Theatre on 12th May 1917, replacing an earlier theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1916.
In 1924 a 2Manual/5Rank Hinners organ was installed and one of the organists was bob Moore, who in later years worked for Balaban & Katz in Chicago playing organ in the Tivoli, Southtown and other theatres.
Also in 1924 the theatre was re-named Lloyd Theatre. The Lloyd was refurbished in 1974 when a new screen was erected, new carpets fitted, new stage drapes installed and a new marquee fitted to the facade. It continued as a movie theatre until 1993 when it closed. The theatre was remodeled and re-opened by the current management as the Princess Theatre in 1995.
The Mayfair Theatre opened in 1926, closed in September 1973 and was demolished in 1974.
According to the history of the theatre on the church’s website http://www.sonlightoforange.com
the architect of the Orange Theatre was Harry J. Simons of Los Angeles.
Not stated on the website is that work commenced on building in around 1926 but was brought to a halt for some reason and the contract was completed by architect John Paxton Perine.
It opened on 22nd May 1929 with the movie “Molly and Me” starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown plus a vaudville show and Wurlitzer organ music. It had a seating capacity of 1,300 and was operated by Fox West Coast-Langley Theatres.
It closed in the early 1970’s and briefly went over to being a live theatre which closed in 1975. The current church use commenced in 1978.
Sorry that link didn’t work for some reason, try this one:-
http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/
Scroll down on the ‘Search by Title’ (alphabetically listed) until you come to Follies Theatre. Highlight and Submit
Photographs of the Follies Theatre View link
Architect S. Charles Lee did some modernisations on the building in the 1930’s. Two projects listed in the Appendix in Maggie Valentine’s book “The Show Starts on the Sidewalk” have un-named Los Angeles theatres that could have had work executed by Charles Lee in 1936 for an un-named client and another for client Alex Pavlov in 1937-40.
Looking at the photos on the link I give here, the interior work carried out by Lee appears to be minimal, but the exterior photo above seems to have a more ‘modern’ look, especially the blade sign and marquee.
The Belasco Theatre was known briefly as the Republic Theatre before becoming the Follies Theatre in 1919 when it bagan its long life as a major burlesque house.
It was demolished in May 1974
Construction on the Burbank Theatre began in 1887 to the plans of notable 19th century theatre architect James M. Wood. It remained incomplete until 1893 when it was finally finished and opened that year to the plans of Los Angeles architect Robert Brown Young.
The interior was done-over in 1937-38 and featured a rather thin overlay of art-deco over the original 1893 decor. It could be at this time that the exterior, seen in the above photo was also carried out. The building was always a street level and one floored facade.
It was demolished in March 1974.
The Regent closed early 1973 and was demolished in November 1973. The No. 40 Wurlitzer Hope-Jones organ was saved from the theatre as it was being torn down and was put into storage by the Rochester Theatre Organ Society.
Film Daily Yearbook,1930 lists this as the Peerless Theatre with 562 seats. The 1941 edition has it as the Haven Theatre with 563 seats, as does the 1943 edition, but by then it is listed as closed.
It is not listed in F.D.Y. editions 1950 or 1957.
When known as the Arcade Theatre in 1930 it was listed as having 550 seats. The same seating capacity is given in 1941, and in 1943 its listed as having 542 seats.
In 1950 it is listed as the Studio Theatre with 560 seats
Figures taken from editions of the Film Daily Yearbook
The original address of the Ute Theatre (before it was moved along the street) was 126 E Pikes Peak Avenue.
Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 give a seating capacity of 1,400 and the operator being Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Mullins & Pinanski.
The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. gives a seating capacity of 1,000.
Its in my shopping cart!
Thanks Richard;
The article I took information from in 1970 intimated that the theatre was about to be demolished, perhaps this didn’t happen after all.
Please take a look while you are down Seneca St next and let us know please.
Thanks
Ron;
The second Globe was the one that showed Loew’s vaudville/movies in the 1900’s. The article I have doen’t mention that there was a third Globe a block away as it reads, it seems to be talking about the same theatre regarding going burlesque then movies. Obviously a mistake.
The same article in THSA Marquee Vol 6 #3 A Historical Survey of the Theatres of Boston by Donald C. King makes no reference to a second Selwyn, former Cort. So sorry at this moment in time I can’t help any further.
Out the initial list above I have listings on the Film Daily Yearbooks for the following theatres:
1941 edition
Columbia Theatre, Washington Street 1,800 seats (closed)
1943 edition
Columbia Theatre, Washington Street 1,800 seats
1950 edition
Columbia Theatre, 978 Washington Street 975 seats
There is a Tremont Theatre, Tremont Street 1,500 seats listed in both 1941 & ‘43 but I’m not sure if the is the Tremont Temple you mention above but it operated as a movie theatre by the 1930’s. Later known as the Astor Theatre.
I have a record of the Selwyn Theatre (former Globe) being run as a vaudville film house in the 1900 by Loew’s. Later went to Burlesque. After W.W.II it was taken over by E.M.Loew’s Theatres and was re-named Centre Theatre, showing movies.
The firm of R.E. Hall & Co.Inc. were the architects and engineers of the Keith-Albee Georgia Theatre which opened on 15th November 1926 with the movie “Her Big Night” starring Zazu Pitts and five big acts of Keith vaudeville with Julian Leonard at the Grande Symphonic Wurlitzer Organ.
It was re-named Roxy in 1938 when it was leased by Independent Theatres Inc who promised a deal had been done with the famous Roxy Theater in New York to bring the stage shows from that theatre the following week after their Manhattan appearance. The Roxy became a ‘de-luxe’ movie theatre for several years until the last stage show was a part of the programme on 30th October 1943. From then on, it was movies only.
In the 1960’s it became a Cinerama theatre and this meant the removal of the two loge boxes either side of the stage and the auditorium was draped.
Regular movies return for the final years, the film “Willard” set a house record and Rock Hudson made a personal apearance when his movie “Pretty Maids All In A Row” was screened. The Roxy closed on 21st May 1972 with the screening to a small audience of a camp B grade horror movie, “Twilight People”. The wreckers moved in early summer 1972 and there were still portions of the theatres walls still standing as late as September 1972.
The Mercy Theatre opened on 5th April 1920 with a Shubert production of the operetta “Maytime”.
The RKO Palace closed on 2nd August 1965 and demolition of the building was completed four months later.
The Russell Theatre opened on 4th December 1930 with the movie “Whoopie” starring Eddie Cantor
The RKO Royal Theatre had two other architects helping out Thomas Lamb (on one of his first projects), they were Buchanan & Fox.
This Scott Theatre opened in 1959.
The Alhambra Theatre opened on 23rd September 1927 with the movie “The Fighting Eagle” starring Rod LaRocque.