Optic Theatre
533 S. Main Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90013
533 S. Main Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90013
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 89 comments
ScottS & ken mc: People’s Theatre was yet another name of the theatre known as as the Olympic/Alphin/Omar/Moon/Gayety.
People’s Theater address was 523 S. Main, per an ad in the LA Times dated 11/29/08. Another ad on the same page touts Long Beach as “The Atlantic City of the Pacific”, which I liked. Nobody touts my hometown any more except compulsive gamblers.
In the film “Uptown Saturday Night” a few of the theatres located on Main Street can be seen. The marquees theatres making a cameo in the film are the Burbank, Follies, Optic and the Regent.
Here is the same view in 1904 – no People’s marquee that I can see:
http://tinyurl.com/yu8vtp
Here is the People’s Theater, circa 1907. I don’t know if this has been posted on one of the other pages already:
http://tinyurl.com/yv9n7l
This is a 1922 photo. Unfortunately it stops mid block. You can expand it by clicking on the bottom right corner:
http://tinyurl.com/ypfql4
My 1909 Panoramic map of Los Angeles shows a “People’s Theater” in the middle of the block, west side of Main between Fifth and Sixth. If the building holding the Optic/Moon was in fact constructed in 1910, then this could be a vaudeville theatre that predated the Optic. But, there’s no address so I’m not sure what address the People’s Theater had. It is definitely in the middle of the block. Could have been where the Star Theatre was. That 1907 photo above is no help. None of the signs are legible. Too bad you can’t zoom in on them anymore. Anyone know anything else?
The 1967 LA city directory advertised the Optic as open from 9 am to 6 am. I guess they needed a few hours to clean up. Call 623-6434 for shows and times.
The Optic would be on the far left of this January 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y5yxb2
One of the photos you posted on 10/13 is the one that was in the LA Times today.
You’re right, after looking at the 1975 photo.
ken mc: When I compare these photos from the 1970s with the 1913 pictures I linked to on October 13th, the Optic looks much the same size in all of them to me. In the 1970’s pictures you can even still make out the outline of the old entrance arch, which has been partly enclosed above the added marquee. The theatre’s cornice line looks as though it’s in the same place relative to the taller building next door in all these pictures.
I just checked the pictures you linked to on October 4th, and the Optic building doesn’t show at all in the second of them. All we can see is the first three letters of its blade sign, which was attached to the building next door to the theatre. The low building in the first of those photos is probably not the Optic building at all, but a lower building demolished to make way for the theatre. The cornice line of the Optic was always about mid-level of the second floor windows of its next door neighbor to the north.
There was an interesting photo in the LA Times today, from the LAFD historical society. The photo was dated 1913 and showed the Optic as a small one story building. Presumably that preceded the larger building that we see in the photos above. The smaller building was clearly labeled “Optic Theater”.
Here is a blurb from the Oxnard Courier, 4/2/15:
“Persistent rumors that Charlie Chaplin had retired from the movie business because of failing mind and health were set at rest yesterday by Seth Perkins, manager of the Woodley and Optic Theaters in Los Angeles…
‘Seth Perkins, Optic Theater, Los Angeles
Dear Seth: Any and all rumors, other than that they say I am turning out better pictures than I ever have, are erroneous. Thanks for your consideration. CHARLES CHAPLIN’"
A web site devoted to the Los Angeles Fire Department contains an archive which includes this collection of pictures of a 1913 fire in the Brennan Hotel building which was immediately north of the Optic (and to which the Optic’s blade sign was attached.) Several of the shots show the front of the Optic quite clearly, and a couple show the facade of the theatre to the north of the hotel, that theatre of many names which is discussed in several comments above.
Take a look at these two photos. The first is from 1907, and the second is from 1917. I posted the second one a while ago, but the link expired. The buildings on South Main between 5th and 6th are the same, but the Optic sign has not yet been added to the theater building. Presumably the building pre-existed the theater. There is a sign on the Optic building, but I can’t make out what it says.
http://tinyurl.com/g6ctx
http://tinyurl.com/mr7fo
Season 2 of Hill Street Blues, first episode, had an extended scene in the hotel next to the Optic. The marquee was green and white, as opposed to red and white as seen in the opening credits of the Rockford Files. There was also an adult book store next to the theater.
This may be a cool project to make a map of Main Street.
I was watching the first season of Hill Street Blues on DVD last night. Quite a few episodes were filmed in downtown Los Angeles. I noticed the Optic twice, and the Regent once. At one point, two cops were filmed talking in their car as they drove north on Main. If you slow down the speed, you can see every business on Main between 7th and 4th circa 1981.
Very good Joe. Thanks.
someonewalks: Fischer’s Theatre (your first link) had its entrance on First Street just west of Main. It became a movie house called the Spanish Theatre before being demolished in the 1920’s. Your second link, the Belasco, is listed at Cinema Treasures under its final name, the Follies.
More evidence of other (live) theaters on Main Street
View link
View link
I watched the first season of the Rockford Files on DVD yesterday. The opening montage does show the red and white marquee of the Optic, circa 1974. The current attraction was Point Blank, a 1967 film by John Boorman starring Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson.
Been taking photos of Broadway, Main and Spring street (including theatres) This map was handy and answers some location questions on this board as to Main Street Theatres.
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
The Rex was the small neighborhood theatre later called the Lux. I recall seeing it a few times before it was demolished as part of the Bunker Hill urban renewal project.