La Reina Theatre
14626 Ventura Boulevard,
Sherman Oaks,
CA
91403
14626 Ventura Boulevard,
Sherman Oaks,
CA
91403
13 people
favorited this theater
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The actual closing date was Thursday, April 3, 1986. The film showing was Police Academy 3.
1945 photo added, photo credit Hollywood Historic Photos.
Okay so I sold the projectionist’s phone but relisted the two Art Deco light fixtures that came from the projectionist’s booth as well. http://www.ebay.com/itm/261194679354?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Just in case anyone’s interested, I was there on the second day of demolition. I was lucky enough to get a few items from La Reina’s projection booth back in the mid-1980’s. I wanted to build a movie theter in my home and use the items but that never happened. If anyone is interested, I’m selling them on Ebay – auctions end April 1, 2013. My Ebay seller name is “MuddyPartsOffroad” – One auction link is http://www.ebay.com/itm/261191035180?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Wonderful photos of the La Reina Theater, enjoyed working there in 1965!
The marquee of this theatre (and possibly the interior) appear in the “Fire Man” episode of “The Greatest American Hero.” They are the scene of an arson that figures in the story line.
A good daytime photo dated Sept. 2008 has just been posted in the Wikipedia article for Sherman Oaks. See this URL: View link
Nice photos of the LaRenia.
Here is part of a February 1985 article from the LA Times:
Developer Dennis Bass has agreed to try to preserve the neon marquee of the 46-year-old La Reina Theater in Sherman Oaks. The proposed demolition of the theater has prompted some community opposition.
Jackie Brainard, a spokeswoman for Bass, said Thursday that the developer has consulted with the theater’s architect, S. Charles Lee, and hopes that he can incorporate the marquee into his proposed project at Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue. Bass is planning a complex of retail stores and restaurants.
Bass, who is in the process of purchasing the theater from the Mann Theatre Corp., met Thursday night with representatives of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. to discuss his plans and seek community response. The strongest opposition, however, is expected to come from a group called Save the La Reina, headed by Sherman Oaks resident Lee David. David has filed an application with the city’s Cultural Heritage Board, asking that the art deco theater be declared a historic monument.
David said his group will lobby to have the building maintained as a movie or performing arts theater, or developed into a restaurant and retail complex with the exterior left intact. Brainard said that Bass has consulted with his architects and does not believe that it would be feasible to incorporate the theater building into his project.
Here are some more 1982 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/lqeoff
http://tinyurl.com/luc785
http://tinyurl.com/mek6d8
Here the theater is being used for retail, before the spa:
http://tinyurl.com/rx6s6x
Here are some 1982 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/oc9ztk
http://tinyurl.com/qlv49l
Here are some November 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/682tcq
http://tinyurl.com/5rbnls
http://tinyurl.com/5byozo
http://tinyurl.com/5vv2jr
I get it. Thanks.
ken mc, it’s listed as demolished because the main part of the theatre is long gone, only the marquee facade was saved. The vertical sign was removed after the Northridge earthquake.
Here is a 1939 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics46/00042589.jpg
This bar was next to the theater in 1951. You could park for free, but poachers going to the La Reina had to pay a quarter:
http://tinyurl.com/3237nk
This should be listed as closed but not demolished.
This article was in the LA Times on ¼/85. It turned out OK, at least:
La Reina Theatre Developer’s Ax Poised Over Landmark Movie House
The news saddened Encino resident Anna Tulanian Boyajian, 61, who grew up with La Reina. She recalled that her parents used to take her there to see Shirley Temple films and that a beau escorted her to a matinee on her first date.
If La Reina is demolished, it would leave only two other single-screen theaters in the Valley showing English-language pictures-the Studio in Studio City and the Holiday in Canoga Park. Seven other large Valley theaters have featured Spanish-language films since the late 1970s. It was then that theater chains began vacating single-screen theaters because they were too difficult to keep filled.
Dennis Bass said he sympathizes with members of the community who would like to see La Reina stay, but added, “It’s totally impractical. From the standpoint of the theater in today’s marketplace, you cannot operate with one screen.”
Lee David spearheaded the effort to save the La Reina theatre. A native and long time resident of Sherman Oaks, the La Reina theatre was in his “backyard” growing up. Devastated that a piece of historically significant architecture as well an icon of old LA, was slated to be razed, he led the fight against demolition. Such a stand out for preserving what was once was, he was able to get the developers, at minimum, to keep the facade in tact — as much as a developer could. The fact that as the fight to preserve the La Reina ensued, the trend was for small theatres in multiplexes. Ironically, the trend in the 21st century is a return to the grandeur of the old single screen theatres, like the La Reina. Lee David had the passion and the forsight to fight to save the La Reina theatre.
The La Reina Theatre did not have a stage or balcony. Only a few theatres in the valley had stages. One being the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
Aloha Everyone,
During the summer vacations in the 1960’s, we would buy discount coupons for the matinees at the La Reina. We could go to double features with cartoons for 35 cents. Loved that theater with the big stage and balconys.
The correct address to the La Reina Theatre is 14626 Ventura Blvd.. The address Charles places the theatre west of the 405 freeway at Firmament Ave. The theatre was one long block west of Van Nuys Blvd. across the street from Tower Records. And having worked at the nearby GCC Sherman Oaks Theatre, I passed it La Reina everyday.
The La Reina Theatre was located at 14626 Ventura Blvd..
I was fortunate enough that just before the La Reina closed in the mid-1980s my stepfather wanted to see one last movie there so I went with him and was able to see a movie here. However I do not remember the movie.
I recall those wonderful times I went to the La Reina in the 1960s and 1970s, and enjoyed this Art Deco Picture Palace so much. It is truly one of the most beautiful Deco Neon showplaces in the world.
I am so glad that it was restored and not destroyed, although sadly, it is no longer a theater.