Warner Beverly Hills Theatre

During the 50’s thru the early 70’s, the Warner Beverly Hills was one of the Best Places to see Roadshow movies. They were one of the best equipped theatres in the city. They had 70MM and was one of the only theatres to have true VistaVision projection. During the 30’s they had a neon tower that read Warner. But was later removed because of re-zoning of signs. But the way the theatre was designed and located at Canon Dr and Wilshire Blvd., you could see the theatre from 6 blocks away. The Warner Beverly Hills was part of the Warner Bros.chain then part of the Stanley Warner chain till late 1970 when Pacific Theatres bought the Southern California part of the chain. In this sale they picked up the Warner Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Wiltern, Huntington Park and the Topanga. The Warner’s Forum Theatre was part of Pacific owned Cinerama division. During it’s last years it played host to many local concerts and shows. The theatre was still in great shape at the time it was razed. But the owners Glendale Federal Savings did not want to put any more money to Earthquake refit the building. (around 12 million dollars)When they were razed the building they started from the rear of the building, so if you were passing it looked like they were just working on the front.

Today the Warner Beverly Hills has become the parking lot for the Rolex Beverly Hills offices.

I worked as an usher and later an assistant manager there from March 1973 thru Spring 1975. Pacific Theatres had the lease at that time. Although I never counted all the seats, we said the capacity was 1314. The night janitor started working there in 1947. What a nice guy! Most of the movies booked there were sub-runs, but a few times we would have exclusive engagements for reissues. Both “The Sound of Music” and “Gone With The Wind” were there for several months each during my employment. I still have several “Lawrence of Arabia” road show programs that I found in one of the old dressing rooms backstage. What a great place to see films. I couldn’t believe Beverly Hills, with all it’s money, couldn’t save that wonderful palace,