Mayfair Theatre

Lost Memory – Thank you for posting that outstanding, extra large and crystal clear photo of the old Majestic. She’ll be 100 yrs old in 2012 (only 5 years from now). It’s a shame Santa Monica (or all of L.A. for that matter) doesn’t understood the lure of a preserved artifact/structure; that brings the old back to remember and the young to discover the beauty and grace that once was. I pray that I’m wrong, but like so many old landmarks in L.A., I have a feeling this grand old theater will be replaced by an urgently needed high-end sports bar.

Simon..I took a look at the FOX POMONA on the website Cinematour.com(more pictures). It’s a beautiful building. I am sure when Joe gets done it’s going to be FANTASTIC!!!!

Simon…I think the Mayfair needs Joe to work his magic on her..what do you think?

From the Santa Monica Library website:

http://www.smpl.org/archive/0259/IMG0053.JPG

locationfan: Mel Brooks says it was the Mayfair in his commentary track on the DVD. Hopefully that puts the rumour to rest!

One of the greatest comedy moments ever filmed must be Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle tap-dancing to “Puttin' on the Ritz” in “Young Frankenstein.” This classic scene was filmed at the Mayfair.

The Majestic Theater opened on December 12th, 1911, as a live theater and opera house. The architect was Henry C. Hollwedel.

The Spanish colonial revival style of the theatre’s current facade was very rare prior to its popularization by architect Bertram Goodhue, who used it for many of the buildings (some still extant) at the California Pacific Exposition of 1915 in San Diego’s Balboa Park. I suspect that the Mayfair’s facade may be the result of a later remodeling, perhaps done at the time it was converted into a movie house.

The Fox Belmont Theatre in Los Angeles was damaged by a fire in 1973 (and subsequently demolished), and some of the surviving movable decorations of that theater were used by Milt Larsen when he renovated the Majestic and converted it into the Mayfair Music Hall that same year.

This is Stinger again – Back in December one of you requested my pics of the theatre. I had sent some, but had intended to send more of the Santa Monica beach and surrounding area. My computer crashed late in Dec. and I lost all my old email info.

If any of you are the persons whose mother once lived on SM Blvd., please email me at so that I can send you the pictures.

Thanks, Stinger (Dennis)

I frequented the Majestic/Mayfair Theatre from the mid-60’s to early 70’s, the theatre would show a lot of the standard Hollywood fare when it hit neighborhood theatres after it’s initial first run engagement in Hollywood or Beverly Hills. I recall seeing a variety of films there, from the mainstream such as BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID and THE LOVE BUG to more exploitation type films like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and THE CORPSE GRINDERS. Don Knotts comedies always seemed to open here for some reason or other. The posting by rigoldst above is accurate, there did tend to be a seedier/rowdy crowd attending the Mayfair than the more upmarket crowd at the Criterion and El Miro. Occasionally the theatre would put on a special all night show that began at midnight and I remember going to see an all-nighter of 200 MOTELS, WATTSTAX, GIMME SHELTER and one other rock type of film of which title I can’t recall in 1972. The theatre was absolutely packed and they served some kind of breakfast at the end of the marathon. I guess I was too tired to recall what was on the menu but it must have been something quite minimal.
I worked briefly as an usher at the Mayfair just prior to it closing down as a movie theatre in 1973. I recall changing the marquee for double features like HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and PLAY MISTY FOR ME, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and PERFORMANCE, to name a couple. The theatre was still in pretty good condition and there were kind of spooky corridors that would run along the outside of the auditorium to the back stage area that only staff had access to. The projection booth was a tiny room at the very top of the steeply inclined balcony that would be quite a chore to carry film cans up to. The balcony had little alcoves on either side of it with about 8 seats in each alcove, sort of like Royal Boxes. But no royalty ever used these seats to my knowledge, so they were open to the public. When the theatre closed in the summer of ‘73 I was transferred to the nearby Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles to continue my usher duties (both theatres were then owned by the Sales (sp?) Brothers, who also had a side business in adult films.)

Prior to its renovation as The Mayfair, The Majestic hosted the Westside’s rowdiest group of teens and pre-teens for Saturday matinees during the late ‘50s and early '60s. Particularly when horror films were screened, flattened popcorn boxes filled the air, and soda pop and other liquids fell from the balcony onto the unfortunates seated below. The place had a dumpy, raunchy feel, and was considered inferior to the Criterion, Fox Venice, Picwood, Culver, even lower than the Meralta, Palms, or Bundy. I remember The Majestic with fondness.

It’s an interesting question. There may not be evidence of a direct connection, but both screenwriter Michael Sloane and director Frank Darabont were long-time locals, so it wouldn’t be out of the question that some inspiration may have occurred. Was Sloane aware of The Mayfair/Majestic? Sloane was actually a boyhood friend of Darabont. Both graduated from Hollywood High School, are almost exactly the same age (having been born only one day apart in the same year) and worked as theater ushers on Hollywood Boulevard at the Egyptian and Paramount movie houses during their student years.**

Any inspiration, if it indeed occurred, would have been solely in the realm of imagery, memories and ideas at best, as the screenplay doesn’t parallel the history of the Mayfair/Majestic.

Set in 1951 the Majestic of the film’s title is the name of an aging, neglected movie palace in the fictional California community of Lawson that is resurrected and restored to its former glory when this screenwriter fatefully arrives there after his accident. His appearance in the town touches the hearts of many of the local residents, who presume Appleton to be Luke Trimble, one of the their long-lost (and feared dead) WWII heroes. Darabont does not shy away from confessing his devotion to one of Hollywood’s early masters, and you could say his new film recalls Capra’s 1946 masterpiece, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” in its sensibilities and small-town setting.**

** View link

Theatre still abandoned – stuck behind lots of plywood boards currently and unless one does one’s Human Fly thing, impossible to see into.

“J. Euclid Miles, a prominent realtor and civic leader was one of the creators of the Mayfair Theatre (214 Santa Monica Blvd., originally called the Majestic Theatre), which was made uninhabitable by the Northridge earthquake and remains condemned."
Is this theatre still abandoned?