Here is a LA Times article from 1909 about the People’s Theater being sold. It seems that a few years before and up to this article, the theater showed a few boxing movies, and also a lot of medical demonstrations from the ‘Great Fer Don’. It’s hard to find much after this time because the term ‘people’s theater’ seems to come into the language as a type of theater rather than a reference to just this building. There’s a lot to weed through.
(Sept. 24, 1909)
RECORD DEAL ON MAIN
-FOREIGN CAPITALIST PAYS NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION FOR PEOPLES' THEATER SITE-
One of the largest and most important deals in Los Angeles business property consummated this year was put through yesterday when John C. Mordough, a retired banker and lumber merchant, of the City of Mexico, purchased through the agency of R.A. Rowan & Co., the property at Nos. 521-523-525 South Main street, known as the Peoples Theater building. H.J. Woolacott, the seller, received $225,000 for his holding, or at the rate of over $3500 a front foot.
The site is improved with a three-story brick building, containing two stores and the Peoples Theater on the ground floor, and a rooming-house on the two upper floors. The lot fronts 61 ½ feet on Main and extends back 165 feet to an alley. The present rents are said to be $15,000 a year, which will pay Mr. Mordough 6 per cent. on his investment.
Mr. Mordough came to Los Angeles first with the Shrine convention in 1907, as one of the delegates of the Anezeh Shrine of the City of Mexico. He was so impressed with the bustling and hustling way of the city, that he immediately made a loan of $50,000 on a Broadway lot. Since then he has visited the city frequently and has loaned through R.A. Rowan & Co., several hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Woollacott, the seler, purchased the holding many years ago, while it was still residence property, at $800 a front foot. He erected the present building four years ago at a cost of $46,000.
Did you get that map in jpeg2000 format from the Library of Congress, Scott? If so, its pretty amazing. I don’t know how accurate it is but I spend hours looking at all of the details.
My Historic Theater Committee group had our meeting in the Regent the other night. Here’s the photos I took so you can see how it looks inside as of April 2007.
Ken mc…..The Teatro Hidalgo was at 371 N. Main and opened in 1918. I think it would be right where the United States District Court takes up the whole block now. Or, it might have been where the 101 freeway plows through next door….it’s hard to tell since addresses changed with freeways and block sized buildings.
Thanks Tillmany, I just watched that Boston Blackie movie and took a picture of the tv when they showed the Olympic Theater. It’s not very clear, but here it is:
Apparently, this theater was originally on Broadway and then moved to Main and was called the Wonderland Theater:
June 08, 1908
AUCTION
430-432-434 So. Broadway
(Old Wonderland Theater)
December 26, 1909
The following items are from the Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer. A.C. Martin is preparing plans for a one-story brick
theater building 32x120 feet, to be erected for the owners of the Wonderland Theater on South Main street. It will have a stamped metal front, marble lobby with tile floor, and cement floors in auditorium. The cost will be about $20,000.
September 09, 1921
FIRE IN THEATER
‘Crowd in Near Panic as Flames Burn Cinema Operator'
While attempting to smother a blazing roll of film which caught fire from the heat of a projector in the operating room at the Wonderland Theater, at 315 South Main street early last evening, Milton Guion, age 23 years, the operator, was severly burned on the arms and face. A near panic was caused in the theater when the flames spread from the projector to the interior of the operating room. Many persons rushed to the street. Chemicals quickly subdued the blaze. The fire damage was nominal, but the crowd blocked traffic for more than twenty minutes.
Los Angeles Times
I think you found a new theater ken mc….I guess there was a Wonderland on Broadway first and then Main:
June 08, 1908
AUCTION
430-432-434 So. Broadway
(Old Wonderland Theater)
December 26, 1909
The following items are from the Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer. A.C. Martin is preparing plans for a one-story brick
theater building 32x120 feet, to be erected for the owners of the Wonderland Theater on South Main street. It will have a stamped metal front, marble lobby with tile floor, and cement floors in auditorium. The cost will be about $20,000.
September 09, 1921
FIRE IN THEATER
‘Crowd in Near Panic as Flames Burn Cinema Operator'
While attempting to smother a blazing roll of film which caught fire from the heat of a projector in the operating room at the Wonderland Theater, at 315 South Main street early last evening, Milton Guion, age 23 years, the operator, was severly burned on the arms and face. A near panic was caused in the theater when the flames spread from the projector to the interior of the operating room. Many persons rushed to the street. Chemicals quickly subdued the blaze. The fire damage was nominal, but the crowd blocked traffic for more than twenty minutes.
Actually, from looking at the map from the above link and the old photo, I bet the Rosslyn Theater was at 431 and leased the lobby on the left and right to those money places, leaving the middle entrance to get into the theater. Maybe it took up all three places originally.
Does anyone know if the very top of the tower still exists somewhere? I read somewhere that it was removed after an earthquake, but I don’t know if that’s correct. I wonder if the top will ever be replaced.
Here are a few more things about the opening of the Vogue.
(June 30, 1935)
Construction and preparation of the Vogue Theater Building, 6669-77 Hollywood Boulevard, represents another important structural project in the Hollywood program. The structure, constructed by the Vogue Theater Company of which Howard Sheehan is president, represents an investment of about $50,000, and inclusive of equipment, a total expenditure of about $95,000, it was stated.
(July 02, 1935)
Hollywood’s newest first-run motion picture theater, the Vogue Theater, 6669 Hollywood Boulevard, is being rushed to completion for an opening set for Tuesday evening, July 9. The modernistic theater, first of its kind to be built in Souther California, is being erected at a cost of $60,000. With the smartly sophisticated styled furnishings and latest equipment, a total expenditure of over $95,000 will be realized when the doors open. Under the direction of Howard Sheehan, the new Vogue Theater will establish a policy of first-run pictures of the highest type, it is announced.
(July 03, 1935)
Vogue Theater, slated to open next Tuesday night, at 6669-77 Hollywood Boulevard, will present “Ladies Crave Excitement” as one-half of a double bill.
(July 08, 1935)
VOGUE THEATER’S OPENING WILL BE THEATRICAL EVENT
Amusement seekers will attend the gala premiere of Hollywood’s newest first-run picture palace, Vogue Theater, tomorrow. Stars of the stage and screen will be on hand to pay their respects to Howard Sheehan and his new theatrical venture. Two pictures will make up the initial program. One is “The Phantom Fiend,” a mystery drama made from the novel, “The Lodger,” by Mrs. Belloc Lowndes.
Here’s an article that states the original businesses that occupied the Vogue Theater Building.
(May 5, 1935) Los Angeles Times
FIVE LEASES FOR STORE AREAS IN NEW STRUCTURE
Announcement of the leasing of all the store areas in the Vogue Theater Building now nearing completion at 6669-77 Hollywood Boulevard has been made by Coldwell, Cornawall & Banker. The rentals total $57,000, it was stated. Musso and Frank Grill Company have leased, for a long period, a portion of the building in the rear of the easterly stores for an addition to their present dining-room at a total rental of $15,000 and are expending $11,000 for interior decoration, the report says. Sam Kessler has leased the store at 6669 Hollywood Boulevard for a period of five years at a rental of $15,000, it was announced. Armin Richter has leased the storeroom at 6671 Hollywood Boulevard for a period of five years at a total rental of $9000, according to the report. The storeroom at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard has been leased to Angeline Jahnke for a period of five years at a rental of $9000, and Sally’s Candy Company has leased the storeroom at 6677 Hollywood Boulevard for a period of five years at a rental of $9000, the report states.
After this theater was turned into a parking lot, a law was passed that if a building was torn down it had to be replaced with another building and not just a flat parking lot. At least that is what I was told on a LA Conservancy walking tour.
wow, you found it….the money to loan places on either side probably explain some of the other things above. It looks tiny. I wish i could get that zoom feature to show up and work on this photo. thanks ken
I went in this theater last weekend after getting a chance to freely wander around the Elks Club on the other side of the park…spooky but beautiful. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I doubt any restoration will be done on the Westlake since it is full to the hilt with swap meet junk and the floor has been leveled to the height of the stage. The murals are still beautiful and there are many architectural details surviving, but the building would have to be vacated and used for a different purpose. The tenants there now are trying to make a living and don’t seem to look up or have much interest in where they are and the history of it.
Are we sure this is the same building? I guess so but i’m so confused now because our info is spread out over a few theater pages. I want to make a timeline for this place. Maybe it will get the record for the theater with the most names.
Here is a LA Times article from 1909 about the People’s Theater being sold. It seems that a few years before and up to this article, the theater showed a few boxing movies, and also a lot of medical demonstrations from the ‘Great Fer Don’. It’s hard to find much after this time because the term ‘people’s theater’ seems to come into the language as a type of theater rather than a reference to just this building. There’s a lot to weed through.
(Sept. 24, 1909)
RECORD DEAL ON MAIN
-FOREIGN CAPITALIST PAYS NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION FOR PEOPLES' THEATER SITE-
One of the largest and most important deals in Los Angeles business property consummated this year was put through yesterday when John C. Mordough, a retired banker and lumber merchant, of the City of Mexico, purchased through the agency of R.A. Rowan & Co., the property at Nos. 521-523-525 South Main street, known as the Peoples Theater building. H.J. Woolacott, the seller, received $225,000 for his holding, or at the rate of over $3500 a front foot.
The site is improved with a three-story brick building, containing two stores and the Peoples Theater on the ground floor, and a rooming-house on the two upper floors. The lot fronts 61 ½ feet on Main and extends back 165 feet to an alley. The present rents are said to be $15,000 a year, which will pay Mr. Mordough 6 per cent. on his investment.
Mr. Mordough came to Los Angeles first with the Shrine convention in 1907, as one of the delegates of the Anezeh Shrine of the City of Mexico. He was so impressed with the bustling and hustling way of the city, that he immediately made a loan of $50,000 on a Broadway lot. Since then he has visited the city frequently and has loaned through R.A. Rowan & Co., several hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Woollacott, the seler, purchased the holding many years ago, while it was still residence property, at $800 a front foot. He erected the present building four years ago at a cost of $46,000.
Here’s a post I put up about the Regent and the Rosslyn across the street:
View link
here’s another post I put up about the Rosslyn….any input would be appreciated…
View link
Did you get that map in jpeg2000 format from the Library of Congress, Scott? If so, its pretty amazing. I don’t know how accurate it is but I spend hours looking at all of the details.
Scott could have walked half a block up to the Burbank also if he tired of the Lark and falling bodies.
Here’s a blog post I put on my HTC group that shows a ‘then & now’ comparison with the Rosslyn Theater.
View link
I’ve put a few ‘then & now’ photos together of the Burbank Theater on this page for my HTC group:
View link
My Historic Theater Committee group had our meeting in the Regent the other night. Here’s the photos I took so you can see how it looks inside as of April 2007.
View link
Ken mc…..The Teatro Hidalgo was at 371 N. Main and opened in 1918. I think it would be right where the United States District Court takes up the whole block now. Or, it might have been where the 101 freeway plows through next door….it’s hard to tell since addresses changed with freeways and block sized buildings.
Thanks Tillmany, I just watched that Boston Blackie movie and took a picture of the tv when they showed the Olympic Theater. It’s not very clear, but here it is:
View link
Apparently, this theater was originally on Broadway and then moved to Main and was called the Wonderland Theater:
June 08, 1908
AUCTION
430-432-434 So. Broadway
(Old Wonderland Theater)
December 26, 1909
The following items are from the Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer. A.C. Martin is preparing plans for a one-story brick
theater building 32x120 feet, to be erected for the owners of the Wonderland Theater on South Main street. It will have a stamped metal front, marble lobby with tile floor, and cement floors in auditorium. The cost will be about $20,000.
September 09, 1921
FIRE IN THEATER
‘Crowd in Near Panic as Flames Burn Cinema Operator'
While attempting to smother a blazing roll of film which caught fire from the heat of a projector in the operating room at the Wonderland Theater, at 315 South Main street early last evening, Milton Guion, age 23 years, the operator, was severly burned on the arms and face. A near panic was caused in the theater when the flames spread from the projector to the interior of the operating room. Many persons rushed to the street. Chemicals quickly subdued the blaze. The fire damage was nominal, but the crowd blocked traffic for more than twenty minutes.
Los Angeles Times
Thanks Joe…I’ll put the Wonderland items on the Jade page.
I think you found a new theater ken mc….I guess there was a Wonderland on Broadway first and then Main:
June 08, 1908
AUCTION
430-432-434 So. Broadway
(Old Wonderland Theater)
December 26, 1909
The following items are from the Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer. A.C. Martin is preparing plans for a one-story brick
theater building 32x120 feet, to be erected for the owners of the Wonderland Theater on South Main street. It will have a stamped metal front, marble lobby with tile floor, and cement floors in auditorium. The cost will be about $20,000.
September 09, 1921
FIRE IN THEATER
‘Crowd in Near Panic as Flames Burn Cinema Operator'
While attempting to smother a blazing roll of film which caught fire from the heat of a projector in the operating room at the Wonderland Theater, at 315 South Main street early last evening, Milton Guion, age 23 years, the operator, was severly burned on the arms and face. A near panic was caused in the theater when the flames spread from the projector to the interior of the operating room. Many persons rushed to the street. Chemicals quickly subdued the blaze. The fire damage was nominal, but the crowd blocked traffic for more than twenty minutes.
I was going to go down there today and take a picture, but the marathon had a bunch of streets closed…..I’ll try next week.
They use the word ‘demolished’ a few times in the article, so I think this theater is gone. Here’s the article:
View link
Actually, from looking at the map from the above link and the old photo, I bet the Rosslyn Theater was at 431 and leased the lobby on the left and right to those money places, leaving the middle entrance to get into the theater. Maybe it took up all three places originally.
In that photo you can see 433 main and barely make out 431 main next door to the Rosslyn. Maybe the correct address was 429 main.
Does anyone know if the very top of the tower still exists somewhere? I read somewhere that it was removed after an earthquake, but I don’t know if that’s correct. I wonder if the top will ever be replaced.
Thanks for reposting those links Joe. I wish they would enable the zoom feature again. The detail was amazing on those scans.
Here are a few more things about the opening of the Vogue.
(June 30, 1935)
Construction and preparation of the Vogue Theater Building, 6669-77 Hollywood Boulevard, represents another important structural project in the Hollywood program. The structure, constructed by the Vogue Theater Company of which Howard Sheehan is president, represents an investment of about $50,000, and inclusive of equipment, a total expenditure of about $95,000, it was stated.
(July 02, 1935)
Hollywood’s newest first-run motion picture theater, the Vogue Theater, 6669 Hollywood Boulevard, is being rushed to completion for an opening set for Tuesday evening, July 9. The modernistic theater, first of its kind to be built in Souther California, is being erected at a cost of $60,000. With the smartly sophisticated styled furnishings and latest equipment, a total expenditure of over $95,000 will be realized when the doors open. Under the direction of Howard Sheehan, the new Vogue Theater will establish a policy of first-run pictures of the highest type, it is announced.
(July 03, 1935)
Vogue Theater, slated to open next Tuesday night, at 6669-77 Hollywood Boulevard, will present “Ladies Crave Excitement” as one-half of a double bill.
(July 08, 1935)
VOGUE THEATER’S OPENING WILL BE THEATRICAL EVENT
Amusement seekers will attend the gala premiere of Hollywood’s newest first-run picture palace, Vogue Theater, tomorrow. Stars of the stage and screen will be on hand to pay their respects to Howard Sheehan and his new theatrical venture. Two pictures will make up the initial program. One is “The Phantom Fiend,” a mystery drama made from the novel, “The Lodger,” by Mrs. Belloc Lowndes.
Here’s an article that states the original businesses that occupied the Vogue Theater Building.
(May 5, 1935) Los Angeles Times
FIVE LEASES FOR STORE AREAS IN NEW STRUCTURE
Announcement of the leasing of all the store areas in the Vogue Theater Building now nearing completion at 6669-77 Hollywood Boulevard has been made by Coldwell, Cornawall & Banker. The rentals total $57,000, it was stated. Musso and Frank Grill Company have leased, for a long period, a portion of the building in the rear of the easterly stores for an addition to their present dining-room at a total rental of $15,000 and are expending $11,000 for interior decoration, the report says. Sam Kessler has leased the store at 6669 Hollywood Boulevard for a period of five years at a rental of $15,000, it was announced. Armin Richter has leased the storeroom at 6671 Hollywood Boulevard for a period of five years at a total rental of $9000, according to the report. The storeroom at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard has been leased to Angeline Jahnke for a period of five years at a rental of $9000, and Sally’s Candy Company has leased the storeroom at 6677 Hollywood Boulevard for a period of five years at a rental of $9000, the report states.
After this theater was turned into a parking lot, a law was passed that if a building was torn down it had to be replaced with another building and not just a flat parking lot. At least that is what I was told on a LA Conservancy walking tour.
wow, you found it….the money to loan places on either side probably explain some of the other things above. It looks tiny. I wish i could get that zoom feature to show up and work on this photo. thanks ken
I went in this theater last weekend after getting a chance to freely wander around the Elks Club on the other side of the park…spooky but beautiful. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I doubt any restoration will be done on the Westlake since it is full to the hilt with swap meet junk and the floor has been leveled to the height of the stage. The murals are still beautiful and there are many architectural details surviving, but the building would have to be vacated and used for a different purpose. The tenants there now are trying to make a living and don’t seem to look up or have much interest in where they are and the history of it.
Are we sure this is the same building? I guess so but i’m so confused now because our info is spread out over a few theater pages. I want to make a timeline for this place. Maybe it will get the record for the theater with the most names.