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Warrens Theatre
401 W. 7th Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
401 W. 7th Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90014
19 people
favorited this theater
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Became the Warrens theatre on September 1st, 1960
That Texaco commercial
September 26th, 1929 reopening as Warner downtown
Warner Downtown theatre opening Thu, Sep 26, 1929 – 11 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
Reopened as the Pantages theatre on August 16th, 1920. Another ad posted.
Warrens Theatre is seen a few times in this `60s Texaco commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPk-lRVpDq4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3RJBQ1NoeceR_VPAyChQAbVXXjtEOo5pHYXd2E6S2H1bth8p1edOCxLMA
I feel it was a kind of an honor to go to the Warrens near it’s demise, of course I did not know it at the time. It was the early 1970’s and I saw “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight” and “She Freaks” plus another I can’t recall. The snack bar backing was glass and you could see the movie from the lobby. Beautiful and useful!
Not similar to the (Loew’s) State in St. Louis, which was designed by Thomas Lamb. I saw many films at this theatre, from “Arena” to “Autopsy.”
This theatre has been a jewelry store since at least the late 1970’s – they’re maintaining the interior architecture beautifully – the auditorium is very ornate – white with lots of gold leaf. Design is similar to the State theatres in New York and St. Louis.
Here is a link to a view of the Warner Brothers Downtown Theater – seen from the Hill Street side in 1931. www.guidodeiro.com/vitaphone.html
Yes indeed, that is the interior of the Warner Brothers Downtown theater in the opening scenes on 1968’s “Funny Girl”. While Barbra Streisand is sitting alone in an orchestra seat, shots are taken from the stage looking out and from an upper balcony looking down. Also, in the 1933 film “Lady Killer”, James Cagney briefly plays a Warner Bros theater usher. There is a short sequence shot on the roof of the Warner Brothers Downtown theater (usher inspection). Also a quick view of the marquee – even though it says “Strand” -it is clearly the Warner Brothers Downtown in all its blazing glory
You can see the former theatre’s marquee in a current Fios / Verizon commercial. It’s the one with people caught in traffic in large type phones and a faster drives by.
Warrens in 1963:
View link
(Associated Press, August 10, 1929)
Alexander Pantages Involved with 16 Year-Old Dancer at Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 10.â€"
(AP)â€"Alexander Pantages, millionaire theatre magnate, today was charged with two offenses against a 16-year-old dancer, Eunice Prince, in a complaint issued by District Attorney Buron Fitts. Pantages' attorneys immediately announced they would
institute habeas corpus proceedings.
Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 10. â€" (AP) â€" Alexander Pantages, millionaire vaudeville theatre operator, was in the city jail today, charged with suspicion of committing a statutory offense against Eunice Pringle, 16-year-old dancer and daughter of a
Los Angeles physician.
Miss Pringle, who graduated from high school last year, the youngest in her class, and entered the University of Southern California, was placed in the custody o£ juvenile authorities after she had told the police that Pantages had attacked her.
Pantages was taken into custody yesterday when the girl ran out of his office screaming, her clothes disarranged.
One witness to the occurrence said Miss Pringle fell fainting out of the theatre magnate’s office. Other witnesses declared the clothing of both Pantages and the girl
was torn and disarranged. Several persons reported hearing the girl’s screams emanating from Pantages' office.
Denies Girl’s Charges.
The theatre magnate denied the girl’s charges and hinted that it was a “frameup.” He told police he had booked Miss Pringle two weeks ago for a dancing act, but that she
had proved a failure. He said she had frequented his office for two days, begging for another chance.
Pantages declared Miss Pringle asked him for an interview yesterday afternoon. After a preliminary conversation he said, she leaned close to him and said, “I’ll make you
take my act.” Pantages asserted the girl then pushed him into another room and ran down the hall.
Fred Weise, who was in the hall, told officers he heard the girl screaming and saw Miss Pringle emerge from Pantages' office with the theatre magnate chasing her. Weise
said the clothing of both Pantages and Miss Pringle was in disarray.
Got $15,000,000 Recently.
Chief of Detectives A. E. Taylor said Pantages told him that Miss Pringle, realizing she was not to be re-employed, forcibly removed his coat and then tried to tear the remainder of his clothing into a state of disarray.
District Attorney Buron Fitts said a formal complaint would be issued today, pending which the wealthy theatre operator was to be held in jail. Pantages recently sold six of his theatres to the Radio-Keith-Orpheum circuit for a reputed price of $12,000,000. This week he sold two others to a Hollywood corporation for $3,000,000. Pantages' wife, Mrs. Lois Pantages, is scheduled to go on trial here Sept. 2, on charges of second degree murder, resulting from the death of Joe Rokumoto, a Japanese, following the collision of their automobiles.
Another old postcard:
View link
Was it a smoggy day,LOL KENMC.
Here is a 1987 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y5kuw6h
At the Chinese and LOEWS STATE ,The Wizard of Oz.
Here is an August 1939 ad. Also note the preview for Wizard of Oz at the Chinese:
http://tinyurl.com/noq68s
Here is a May 1939 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/lpvvfq
Here is a photo taken this morning:
http://tinyurl.com/nuw25t
Here is a 1926 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068292.jpg
This 1952 photo shows the Warner Brothers logo on the marquee. Not sure if I’ve seen that before.
http://tinyurl.com/danolg
Here is a photo, maybe early 1960s, from USC:
http://tinyurl.com/c4gfq2
Here is a 1939 photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/cb7dww
Here is part of a 4/10/54 story in the LA Times:
FORMER DOORMAN ARRESTED AFTER THEATER HOLD-UP
George Rae, 38, was held in City Jail yesterday on a charge that he robbed the Warners Downtown Theater, where he once was employed as s doorman. He was surprised by police as he tried to flee with approximately $60 in cash.
Rae was caught walking out of the theater shortly after he pointed a gun at Lou Schirmeister, 45, theater manager, and demanded some money. Schirmeister noticed the man loitering in the lobby and tipped off an usher to notify police.