State Theatre
703 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
703 S. Broadway,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
24 people
favorited this theater
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Fox West Coast Theatres and United Artist Theatres had partnerships in ownership in select theatres around the country. Like the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood was owned by Fox West Coast Theatres (Wesco) and United Artists Theatres, till Joseph M. Schenck (President UA Theatres) sold his companies interest in the Chinese to Fox (Wesco). Joseph M. Schenck was also the Executive Head of Production at 20th Century Fox.
Loew’s Theatres was one of the last theatre chains to comply with the anti-trust decree. They did so sometime in the early to mid 50’s.
Fox West Coast Theatres operated in the 40’s in the Downtown Los Angeles area.
Loew’s State Theatre (First Run District)
Los Angeles Theatre (First Run District)
United Artists (First Run District)
Orpheum Theatre (First Run District)
During the 30’s they operated these theatres in the Downtown Los Angeles area.
Loew’s State Theatre
Palace Theatre
Tower Theatre
Cameo Theatre
United Artists Theatre
Criterion Theatre
President Theatre
Metropolitan Theatres pickup the leases on many of the Broadway theatres when other major chains left the Downtown movie district area for Hollywood, Beverly Hills areas.
Loew’s Inc. operates several theatres in association with United Artists Theatre Circuit and Fox West Coast Theatres (Wesco).
During the 30’s The State (LA) and Warfield (SF) was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. In the mid 40’s United Artists Theatre Circuit directly and through subsidiary companies is financially interested in the theatres listed below.
Chinese (Hollywood) with Fox West Coast Theatres
Four Star (Los Angeles) with Fox West Coast Theatres
Loew’s State (Los Angeles) with Fox West Coast Theatres
United Artists (Los Angeles) with Fox West Coast Theatres
You will see United Artists Theatres had theatres in Inglewood, Pasadena, Capital(in Glendale), UA Long Beach, UA East LA (Alameda) and a few others. These theatres were operated by Fox West Coast Theatres (Wesco).
Two comments about your post Warren. I noticed it odd in the second marquee photo from 1955 its says The State and not Loews. Was Fox west coast now the owner? Also why did the Capitol not have the Loews name on it until later on? I would think they would be proud of one of New Yorks great palaces.
The marquee in the picture is the second marquee that was installed in around the 1939. When this theatre opened it had two marquees , one on Broadway and one around the corner on 7th. Also it had a large neon display signage that ran outside the entire building.
This was the grandest of all the Loew’s theatres. The mezzanine level leading to the huge balcony was more ornate than the long narrow lobby.
I have a lobby flyer from one of Buster Keaton “Go West” It’s about a 6x5 folded flyer that has Buster on the front with more information on the inside. And on the back has in Red lettering (Rubber Stamped) Loew’s State Theatre Week Starting Saturday No 21st. My Grandmother grew up in the Los Angeles area in the 1920’s when she was just a little girl. My Great Grand Father was a big fan of the Picture Shows and this flyer was in her belongings.
Theatre opened in 1921. The State was designed by Weeks & Day, the same firm that designed the FOX in Oakland, CA. The State seats about 2380 people. The State showcased for many years the same shows that play The Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.