Ravenna Theatre
233 N. Vermont Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90004
233 N. Vermont Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90004
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Here is part of an LA Times story dated 9/20/51:
Two San Quentin escapees were sought by police yesterday in connection with two daylight hold-ups within a couple of hours, which involved an estimated $5,000 cash loot.
The pair have been identified sa the ones who held up the Ravenna Theater at 233 N. Vermont Ave. Tuesday evening and escaped with $130 after threatening with a shotgun John Bish, assistant manager, and Frances Lavelle, cashier.
Arian: There were several Los Angeles area theatres owned by the Chotiner circuit. The one at 8th and Vermont was Chotiner’s Parisian, later operated as the Fox Parisian.
Incidentally, Max Chotiner was married to silent movie actress Alice Calhoun, who was herself half-owner of the Marcal Theatre (listed here under its final name, the World Theatre) in Hollywood.
I have letterhead for “Chotiner’s Theatre” that shows it located at Vermont and 8th. I assume this is the same theater. The letter is dated Sept. 19, 1922, and signed by M.C. Chotiner.
Virgil Junior High School (now called VIrgil Middle School) is only a block or so away from this site. Former students were Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard, and Richard Crenna. It is said all 3 used to go to movies in this theater and also at the El Capitan a few blocks to the south. Both are gone now.
I worked there as a young adult..ushering…I watched in sadness as it was demolished ca.1985….(Had been used as a church for a few years) It is indeed a parking lot for GM new/used cars…I live on NH ave..almost at the same address …I could see it from my porch.
Im pretty sure that the empty lot is where this theatre would have been if you look on terraserver.
Joe, it seems you are absolutely correct. I am sure this theater was there when I atended Virgil Junior High School in 1962-1965. Does anyone know when it was knocked down?
A search on 233 N. Vermont at Terraserver fetches a recent aerial view of the area, and there are no buildings that resemble a theater (at least from directly above) there today. The shadow of that pitched roof on the front of the building would surely show in an aerial view. I think that this theatre must have been demolished.
The address for this theater is listed for
Vermont GM Certified Used Cars
233 N. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone:Â (213) 251-1414
Not sure if the theater building is still there and used by the dealership or not.
Southwest builder and contractor of 2/13/1925 says that Richard D. King was the architect for the Ravenna Theatre, and that it was being built for Chotiner Theaters.
As in the photograph above, it was also known as Chotiner’s Ravenna Theatre in the 1930s.
The Ravenna Theatre was located at 233 N. Vermont Ave., it seated 798 people.