Grauman’s Chinese was where CinemaScope was introduced in Hollywood with the premier of “The Robe” in 1953, followed by most of the widescreen 20th Century-Fox epics of the period. During the peak Cinemascope years a hugh electric sign/marquee spanned the forecourt. It was quite spectacular but obliterated the famous entrance. It was replaced by two flashy but more conventional marquees on either side of the forecourt. These too have been removed.
The Temple Theater was located in the nine story Masonic Temple building on the east side of Brand Blvd just north of Colorado Street. The theater was fairly large, even had a balcony, but by the late 1950’s it had become rundown, seedy, and cheap showing triple features for 49 cents.
The Roxy was alway one of Glendale’s most popular theaters. In the late fifties it underwent a remodel with a new and larger marquee. When it reopened, Jayne Mansfield made a personal appearance! In the early sixties most of the Doris Day comedies played here with lines almost around the block.
Known as “Loew’s State” for most of its movie showing career, it was MGM’s first class house in LA. I remember seeing Lucy and Desi in “The Long Long Trailer” here in ‘54. Located at 7th and Broadway – the main crossroads of downtown Los Angeles in those days.
Grauman’s Chinese was where CinemaScope was introduced in Hollywood with the premier of “The Robe” in 1953, followed by most of the widescreen 20th Century-Fox epics of the period. During the peak Cinemascope years a hugh electric sign/marquee spanned the forecourt. It was quite spectacular but obliterated the famous entrance. It was replaced by two flashy but more conventional marquees on either side of the forecourt. These too have been removed.
The Temple Theater was located in the nine story Masonic Temple building on the east side of Brand Blvd just north of Colorado Street. The theater was fairly large, even had a balcony, but by the late 1950’s it had become rundown, seedy, and cheap showing triple features for 49 cents.
The Roxy was alway one of Glendale’s most popular theaters. In the late fifties it underwent a remodel with a new and larger marquee. When it reopened, Jayne Mansfield made a personal appearance! In the early sixties most of the Doris Day comedies played here with lines almost around the block.
Known as “Loew’s State” for most of its movie showing career, it was MGM’s first class house in LA. I remember seeing Lucy and Desi in “The Long Long Trailer” here in ‘54. Located at 7th and Broadway – the main crossroads of downtown Los Angeles in those days.
The RKO Hillstreet gave up the ghost in 1963. One of the last films to show there was Marlon Brando in “The Ugly American”.
I remember seeing Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in “White Christmas” at the Paramount Downtown in 1954. Also a stage show with Carmen Miranda!! For a photo of the interior: http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015543.jpg
exterior: http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015538.jpg
I believe the Tower Theater was known as the “Newsreel Theater” for some years ending in the early 1950’s.