Alex Theatre
216 N. Brand Boulevard,
Glendale,
CA
91203
216 N. Brand Boulevard,
Glendale,
CA
91203
35 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
The Alex Theatre (Official), Alex Film Society
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres, Mann Theatres
Architects: Simeon Charles Lee, Arthur George Lindley, Charles R. Selkirk
Firms: Lindley & Selkirk
Functions: Live Theater, Movies (Classic), Stage Shows
Styles: Atmospheric, Egyptian, Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Alexander Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
818.243.2539
Manager:
818.243.2539
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 2, 2014 — Stefanie Klavens' Celluloid Dreams
- Jun 21, 2014 — Next Act for the Alex
- Jun 15, 2013 — Overhaul for Glendale's Alex Theatre
- Nov 20, 2012 — Three Stooges Festival at Glendale's Alex Theater on Saturday
- Aug 8, 2008 — Alex Theatre holds tribute to projectionist
- Jul 2, 2008 — New Pink Panther promo
- Mar 6, 2008 — Alex gets by for now
- Apr 13, 2007 — Another LRS in Los Angeles
- Sep 2, 2004 — The Movie Palace Series: Gallery (Part Two)
- Mar 18, 2004 — Crest Theatre Now Hosts Midnight Classic Film Screenings
Opened by the West Coast Theatres chain on September 4, 1925 with Jay Hunt in John Ford’s “Lightnin” plus vaudeville on the stage. The Alexander Theatre had a seating capacity for 1,460 and was modeled after the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, having an open courtyard in front. It was designed by architects Arthur George Lindley and Charles R. Selkirk in a Greco-Egyptian style, with the auditorium designed in a Greek Atmospheric style.
By June 1938 it was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. In 1940, noted theatre architect S. Charles Lee was commissioned to update the look of the Alex Theatre and the result was a complete overhaul of the marquee including the addition of a fabulous neon pole that illuminates this street in downtown Glendale.
In 1993, the theatre was renovated again to become a live performance hall and has been used almost exclusively for shows and live theatre.
It did, however, host the opening extravanganza for Disney’s “Mulan”, in place of their usual venue (the El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood). The Alex Film Society hosts classic film screenings inside the Alex from time to time.
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Recent comments (view all 48 comments)
I am Linda Gayle Langley. My father was Claude Alexander Langley, for whom the Alexander (Alex) theater was named in Glendale CA. I would very much like to hear from the person who posted as Johnny Vegas – I believe he is my cousin! Please send any further information about the theater and my father and grandfather that you have. Thank you so much!!
Linda
Hope it can stay open.Great theatre,you guys should be proud of it.
There’s a great video documentary that airs now and then on the local cable access channel GTV6. I can’t get the MS Silverlight plugin to work right now, but it might be found somewhere here. You might have to wait for the next time “Exploring Historic Glendale: Alex Theatre” comes up on the schedule and watch it off the live feed:
View link
http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/stream.asp
Alex neon and marquee for a live performance of IRMA LA DOUCE:
View link
Please feel free to visit my FLICKr album of vintage theater photos, ads, and memorabilia. Mostly includes theaters in Pennsylvania and Los Angeles but also a few international cinemas. Thank you.
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In early 2012 the State of California ‘took back’ the ability of cities to use Redevelopment to withhold property tax increases from the State.
Cities across the State sued and lost in Court. Now the State is threatening to seize projects and sell off for a one time cash infusion.
Glendale used the RD process to buy, restore and operate the Alex as a performing arts center (music, dance and occasional film screenings by the Alex Film Society).
In a few weeks the Alex’s fate may be known.
I worked there in the summer of 78 and it was perhaps the job that I had the most fun at. I remember how lonely it was to work the ticket booth, especially on those slow nights when a stinker of a film was showing, and how busy it got when you had a first rate film (we had the rerelease of Star Wars and I remember dealing with the long ticket lines). It also got really hot in there when the sun shined on it. It had a safe in there and always wondered why we never got held up in there, being so isolated.
I remember the manager getting really paranoid whenever she got word that Ted Mann might drop in to see how the theatre was doing (since it was owned by Mann Theatres).
One of the best perks was able to get in to any of the movie theatres in Glendale, Eagle Rock or Hollywood for free!
Here is a very interesting (and lengthy) video on the history of the Alex Theater.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyEFu4wd-qo
Korkis, Jim (May 13, 2015). “Disney’s Preview Palace: The Alex Theater” [sic]. Cartoon Research. http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-alex-theater/
This was a West Coast Theater when it opened. The West Coast Theaters were owned and operated by the Gore Bros. Mike and Abe Gore ran the company and also hired their relatives to manage and run other parts of the business. Mike Gore has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for West Coast Theaters. Theaters were named after friends, family, etc. They were the largest theater owners until they sold to Fox.