I was able to see the interior of the Tower Theater during the Broadway Behind-the-Scenes event. It is very sad that the seats were removed from the ground floor but the remainder of the theater remains relatively intact. It is a beautiful theater and I hope that even with the scaring caused by the removal of the ground floor seats and with the addition of tiered stages on this level that the theater does not suffer anymore damage.
In the mid 1980s during a trip into Hollywood I saw “Back to the Future” at the Egyptian Theatre. The theater had seen better days by that point but features like the covered entry way still remained. The American Cinematheque has taken out the covered walkaway and restored the forecourt to its early grandeur. The auditorium is nice for screening films in spite of the now stark lobby.
The Warner Brothers Downtown Theatre is sadly one of those theaters that has had the ground floor totally changed to make away, in this case for a jewelry mart, for retail space. You can still see the intact balcony if you walk to the back of the jewelry mart. The Westlake Theatre is another sad case of this phenomenon.
The Westlake has suffered the unfortunate fate of too many old theaters. The ground floor has been converted to create a swap meet. However the balcony remains and the ceiling is still intact, if in need of repair. The ornate ticket both also remains.
In the late 1980s I saw “The Untouchables” here on open night. Back then Westwood was very popular and attracted huge crowds. Therefor there was a massive line around the theater to enter. Unfortunately it started to rain. Luckily the National had Split-Leaf Philodendrons planted along its side. My friend improvised rain head gear using the large leaves from the plant and was quickly followed suit by others standing in line. It was quite the a sight.
I saw “El Jefe” here as part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats program. I also toured the interior during the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Broadway Behind-the-Scenes program. The relatively small exterior bellies the enormous interior with two balconies. In my opinion this is truly grandest theater on Broadway on Broadway.
Not long after the Alex Theater was remodeled I saw a live performance of the musical “Sayonara” here. The musical was not very good but the venue was nice. I have attended screenings by the Alex Film Society which are very nice. Sadly I never made it here when it was first run movie house.
As a child living in Thousand Oaks in the late 1970s I remember two small theaters I went to. This as opposed to the multiplexes (then only 4 or 5 screens) at the Janss Mall and the newly built Oaks Mall. One of the small theaters, I believe, was called the Janss Theater and was in Thousand Oaks proper on Janss Road. The other was in Newburry Park (possibly on Orchard Road). Was this last one the Fox Conejo Twin Theatre?
On the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent Broadway Behind-The-Secenes Tour the Million Dollar Theater was open for view. The balcony was open but the ground floor auditorium is closed because of “falling plaster.” The lobby has been modernized and retains none of the original features.
I was fortunate enough that just before the La Reina closed in the mid-1980s my stepfather wanted to see one last movie there so I went with him and was able to see a movie here. However I do not remember the movie.
I saw “Born on the Fourth of July” here while camping in the San Jacinto Mountains. I hope someone does purchase this theater as it was integral part of my camping experience.
In high school I watched “1984” here in the balcony. This was the first time I ever sat in the balcony to watch a movie. Sadly this theater is now closed.
On the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent Broadway Behind-The-Secenes Tour the Palace Theater was open for view and was periodically screening classic cartoons. The inside is in moderate disrepair. Remnants from its days as a Spanish language theater can be seen throughout with signs painted on the walls in Spanish. Interestingly the balcony has had closeable iron gates added to restrict access.
I remember going many times to this drive-in, both after it had been remodeled for three screens and before when it had only one with its magnificent tower painted with a cowboy riding a horse that was rearing up. One movie I remember seeing here was “For Your Eyes Only” in the 1981. A school is currently being built on the site.
I went to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at this theater in the early 1980s with my mother, her friend and her children. For the lonest time I could not remember what theater it had been and I could not find it since it had been demolished. Now I now it had been here.
In 1995 I saw the inside of this theater as part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Broadway Theaters walking tour. It was the last theater on the tour and I would have liked to have stayed to see a movie as it was a very beautiful theater. Unfortunately the movie they were showing was “Tank Girl.”
In 1979 I saw “Moonracker” here in one of the converted balconies. I remember the pich of the seats toward the screen was drastic. I returned in 1994 to see “Sirens” just before the theater closed. Even as a child in 1979, and especially as an adult in 1994, I noticed the opulence of the downstairs restrooms that harkened to an older era in Hollywood.
I went to see “Everybody’s All American” here my sophmore year of college in the late 1980’s not too long before it closed. Recently I did notice a small marquee for theater still existed just off Sepulveda Blvd.
In the mid-1980s, I when I did not quite make it to class I would go to the Old Towne for one dollar movies on Tuesdays. One movie I well remember attending in 1986 was Pretty in Pink.
In the early 1970s, as a small child, I visted this theater. My only clear memory is of a small eclosed room with a window in the back of the theater for mothers with babies to view the movie.
This theater is long closed. For a long time traces of its former presence remained. Other businesses in the mini-mall where it was located had the word holiday in their names. Only those that remember the Holiday Theatre understood this. I cannot remember the name of a nearby theater also in Chatsworth that was on Devonshire and Mason. Anyone know?
I was able to see the interior of the Tower Theater during the Broadway Behind-the-Scenes event. It is very sad that the seats were removed from the ground floor but the remainder of the theater remains relatively intact. It is a beautiful theater and I hope that even with the scaring caused by the removal of the ground floor seats and with the addition of tiered stages on this level that the theater does not suffer anymore damage.
In the mid 1980s during a trip into Hollywood I saw “Back to the Future” at the Egyptian Theatre. The theater had seen better days by that point but features like the covered entry way still remained. The American Cinematheque has taken out the covered walkaway and restored the forecourt to its early grandeur. The auditorium is nice for screening films in spite of the now stark lobby.
The Warner Brothers Downtown Theatre is sadly one of those theaters that has had the ground floor totally changed to make away, in this case for a jewelry mart, for retail space. You can still see the intact balcony if you walk to the back of the jewelry mart. The Westlake Theatre is another sad case of this phenomenon.
The Westlake has suffered the unfortunate fate of too many old theaters. The ground floor has been converted to create a swap meet. However the balcony remains and the ceiling is still intact, if in need of repair. The ornate ticket both also remains.
In the late 1980s I saw “The Untouchables” here on open night. Back then Westwood was very popular and attracted huge crowds. Therefor there was a massive line around the theater to enter. Unfortunately it started to rain. Luckily the National had Split-Leaf Philodendrons planted along its side. My friend improvised rain head gear using the large leaves from the plant and was quickly followed suit by others standing in line. It was quite the a sight.
I saw “El Jefe” here as part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats program. I also toured the interior during the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Broadway Behind-the-Scenes program. The relatively small exterior bellies the enormous interior with two balconies. In my opinion this is truly grandest theater on Broadway on Broadway.
Not long after the Alex Theater was remodeled I saw a live performance of the musical “Sayonara” here. The musical was not very good but the venue was nice. I have attended screenings by the Alex Film Society which are very nice. Sadly I never made it here when it was first run movie house.
As a child living in Thousand Oaks in the late 1970s I remember two small theaters I went to. This as opposed to the multiplexes (then only 4 or 5 screens) at the Janss Mall and the newly built Oaks Mall. One of the small theaters, I believe, was called the Janss Theater and was in Thousand Oaks proper on Janss Road. The other was in Newburry Park (possibly on Orchard Road). Was this last one the Fox Conejo Twin Theatre?
On the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent Broadway Behind-The-Secenes Tour the Million Dollar Theater was open for view. The balcony was open but the ground floor auditorium is closed because of “falling plaster.” The lobby has been modernized and retains none of the original features.
I was fortunate enough that just before the La Reina closed in the mid-1980s my stepfather wanted to see one last movie there so I went with him and was able to see a movie here. However I do not remember the movie.
I saw “Born on the Fourth of July” here while camping in the San Jacinto Mountains. I hope someone does purchase this theater as it was integral part of my camping experience.
In high school I watched “1984” here in the balcony. This was the first time I ever sat in the balcony to watch a movie. Sadly this theater is now closed.
On the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent Broadway Behind-The-Secenes Tour the Palace Theater was open for view and was periodically screening classic cartoons. The inside is in moderate disrepair. Remnants from its days as a Spanish language theater can be seen throughout with signs painted on the walls in Spanish. Interestingly the balcony has had closeable iron gates added to restrict access.
I remember going many times to this drive-in, both after it had been remodeled for three screens and before when it had only one with its magnificent tower painted with a cowboy riding a horse that was rearing up. One movie I remember seeing here was “For Your Eyes Only” in the 1981. A school is currently being built on the site.
I went to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at this theater in the early 1980s with my mother, her friend and her children. For the lonest time I could not remember what theater it had been and I could not find it since it had been demolished. Now I now it had been here.
In 1995 I saw the inside of this theater as part of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Broadway Theaters walking tour. It was the last theater on the tour and I would have liked to have stayed to see a movie as it was a very beautiful theater. Unfortunately the movie they were showing was “Tank Girl.”
In 1979 I saw “Moonracker” here in one of the converted balconies. I remember the pich of the seats toward the screen was drastic. I returned in 1994 to see “Sirens” just before the theater closed. Even as a child in 1979, and especially as an adult in 1994, I noticed the opulence of the downstairs restrooms that harkened to an older era in Hollywood.
I went to see “Everybody’s All American” here my sophmore year of college in the late 1980’s not too long before it closed. Recently I did notice a small marquee for theater still existed just off Sepulveda Blvd.
In the mid-1980s, I when I did not quite make it to class I would go to the Old Towne for one dollar movies on Tuesdays. One movie I well remember attending in 1986 was Pretty in Pink.
In the early 1970s, as a small child, I visted this theater. My only clear memory is of a small eclosed room with a window in the back of the theater for mothers with babies to view the movie.
This theater is long closed. For a long time traces of its former presence remained. Other businesses in the mini-mall where it was located had the word holiday in their names. Only those that remember the Holiday Theatre understood this. I cannot remember the name of a nearby theater also in Chatsworth that was on Devonshire and Mason. Anyone know?