Hayworth Theatre

The Masque Theatre opened in 1926 as a legitimate theatre. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard, in the Wilshire area of Los Angeles. On May 26, 1950 it went over to movie theatre use reopening as the Vagabond Theatre. This was one of Los Angeles' great revival houses until the late-1980’s, when video almost killed the place. It hung on a few more years into the 1990’s, showing classic 3-D films such as “Kiss Me Kate” and “Dial M for Murder”.

The Vagabond Theatre closed in 1993 and was afterward used for some time as a church. The theatre can be seen in the 1988 film “The Naked Gun”.

Since early-2006, the former Vagabond Theatre has been hosting live theatre, and is now known as the Hayworth Theatre. It had three auditoriums, with seating for 99, 42, and 49. The Hayworth Theatre became home to the Circus Theatricals theatre company. A recording of the show “Naked Boys Singing” was filmed here. By 2017, the two auditoriums in the former balcony had been converted into office space. Seating in the main auditorium is 198. The projection booth is intact, but the projectors, speakers and movie screen have been removed.

By 2022 it has operated as a comedy club named Dynasty Typewriter.

Recent comments (view all 47 comments)

milliondollar on January 24, 2012 at 5:08 pm

What became of Tom Cooper?

meredithlee on February 7, 2014 at 12:56 pm

Yes Tinseltoes, it was the same Tom (Tommy) Cooper who owned the Vagabond and the Tiffany in those years and had made that record album you wrote of.

davidcoppock on February 14, 2017 at 6:50 am

“Was it named after Rita Hayworth?”

Joe Vogel on February 15, 2017 at 6:10 am

The introduction to this theater should note that the Masque Theatre opened as a legitimate house in 1926 and was converted to a cinema as the Vagabond in 1950.

DavidZornig on October 24, 2017 at 9:42 pm

Getting a comedy club on the first floor.

https://la.curbed.com/2017/10/24/16535662/westlake-hayworth-theatre-comedy-venue

CStefanic on October 15, 2018 at 5:28 pm

Screening movies again! On October 20th the Hayworth will be screening a 16mm film festival. Hopefully this breathes new cinematic life to the once grand house.

rivest266 on October 12, 2019 at 10:37 am

This opened on May 26th, 1950 as Vagabond. Grand opening ad posted.

Mike (saps) on March 11, 2021 at 4:25 pm

This house appears in the new release Long Weekend.

m00se1111 on January 13, 2023 at 4:42 pm

The comedy club is open, there appears to be a mix of live shows and streaming events.

The website has been updated and has an extensive history of the Hayworth.

https://www.dynastytypewriter.com/

Joseph Angier on November 11, 2024 at 11:40 am

A nifty little revival house. On my last visit I saw a double bill of The Birds and Marnie