Vern Theatre

CJ1949 on November 12, 2019 at 7:02 am

From 1953 U.S. Senate hearing:

Mr. NooNE. Will you state your full name, address, and business affiliation for the record?

Mr. BERMAN. My name is Isadore Berman. I live in Los Angeles. I have been an exhibitor since 1930. I am in partnership with my brother, Jack Y. Berman. Prior to the year 1948 we operated 14 theaters. Since that time we have closed 6 of these 14 theaters. We now operate 8 conventional theaters and 3 drive-ins.

Mr. NOONE. They are all in the Los Angeles exchange district?

Mr. BERMAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. NOONE. Do you have some testimony with relation to zoning which you wish to offer to the committee?

Mr. BERMAN. Yes, sir. The system of zoning as set down by the distributors has been gerrymandered around so that the only purpose, as I see it, is to help them get increased film rentals. I have a case here of the picture Quo Vadis. I received a letter from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, dated August 19, 1952, in which they asked me, or they offered me the opportunity of bidding competitively for the picture Quo Vadis on our Vern Theater.

Senator SMATHERS. May I interrupt right there to try to get somethinf on the record? ‘Vhen you say “they” offered you, who offered you.

Mr. BERMAN. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Senator SMATHERS. Who represented Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer?

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Aspell, resident manager.

Senator SMATHERS. Where is he located?

Mr. BERMAN. He is located in Los Angeles.

Senator SMATHERS. Mr. Aspell contacted you about it?

Mr. BERMAN. Yes. The availability for this run would be September 10, 1952. The bid letter was due in the office of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on August 25.

Well, I submitted a bid for this run before the proper time, and I didn’t hear again until September 3, which is exactly 1 week before the picture was to play, if I did win the picture.

Mr. NooNE. What run were you bidding on, first run?

Mr. BERMAN. No, a subsequent run. The Vern Theater is located in the Boyle Heights section, which is a neighborhood out on the east part of town, sort of isolated.

Patsy on November 2, 2011 at 11:55 pm

This theatre recently showed up on FB’s Vintage Los Angeles with a vintage exterior photo and lobby photo!

William on May 7, 2011 at 3:53 pm

The Vern Theatre opened on Wednesday, May 28, 1941. The opening night features were “That Night in Rio” and “Topper Returns”.

kencmcintyre on December 12, 2008 at 2:20 am

This item in Boxoffice magazine dated 4/29/50 may refer to the Vern:

Another shuttering was that of the Vernon-Vogue Theater in East Los Angeles by Gladys McLean. A 700-seater, it’s being closed because of lack of business.

Joe Vogel on November 2, 2007 at 6:10 am

I remember Aladdin Theaters. They ran a number of drive-ins, too. Their logo, as I recall, was a lamp with a chubby genie rising from it. In fact I think the Floral may have been one of their drive-ins for a while. Ron Pierce says the Anaheim Drive-in was built by Aladdin. I also have a vague recollection of the Aladdin logo on the Vineland when it was first opened (I was about ten years old, I think, so it’s hazy.)

kencmcintyre on July 9, 2007 at 9:35 pm

Here are some July 2007 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/25wnq2
http://tinyurl.com/yq5ly4
http://tinyurl.com/2y47vd
http://tinyurl.com/2g8f7a
http://tinyurl.com/ytbve4
http://tinyurl.com/27s8sh

kencmcintyre on July 3, 2007 at 10:59 pm

It looks a lot different now, but it’s still the same building. The portholes are still there. The marquee and blade are long gone. It’s currently a restaurant/banquet hall. I took some pictures which I will post soon.

kencmcintyre on September 29, 2006 at 10:54 pm

There are some interior photos on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/mj7xv

William on February 25, 2003 at 9:43 pm

The Vern is located at 2811 E. Olympic Blvd..