A Teardown For The Four Star/Oasis Theatre on Wilshire?

It's not news that the Four Star Theatre was on the market.  What was news to me was that it had been sold. An e-mail this week from one of our interested readers noted that the word was out that a sale had taken place.  A bit of digging revealed that the sale was old news.

The theatre was actually sold in October 2012 with a leaseback provision that allowed the former owner, the Oasis Christian Church, to continue using the building for up to 8 months while their new property was being renovated. PRWeb had a November 2012 story on the sale.

The questions now are: Who is the new owner? What's going to happen?

Our correspondent suggests maybe a tear-down is possible and he believes those are the plans: "there aren't really any other suitable uses for that theater, and there's no parking for it. The Burger King next door may also be torn down (I've heard for a long time that they're trying to get out of there). That area of town has been transformed quite a bit, with a BMW dealership and an upscale apartment complex so it's likely whoever bought it is going to build something on that land that meshes the new neighbors."

The building was put on the market in mid-2012. Since 2001 it had been used by the church.  In 2007 it was renamed the Oasis Theatre and was available for rentals, with church services on Sundays. 

The former storefront space had been renovated into a warren of classrooms and meeting spaces. Among other uses, the building's many rooms were for a time serving as classrooms for a charter school.

The theatre opened in the early 30s as the United Artists, managed for the circuit by Fox West Coast. It was a Walker and Eisen design similar to other UA houses of the period in Pasadena, Inglewood and Long Beach. I've got more photos on the Wilshire Theatres website. See the Four Star page. The interior view above is one I took in 2010.

The Crest Back In Action! "Cinema Paradiso" FREE Monday, May 20th

It's great to see actual action at the Crest after the "reopening soon" promises.  There's a Free Show Monday, May 20th. It'll be "Cinema Paradiso" (1988). Doors open at 8:30 pm with the show at 9.

Keep up to date on the rebirth of this little Westwood gem via the Crest Theatre Facebook page.

See our page on the Crest Theatre for lots more about the building.  The photo here is a 2007 lobby view.

Thanks to Hillsman Wright for spreading the word on the LAHTF Facebook page -- always a great source for theatre news.  That's where I heard about it.

The 3pm Update: Curbed L.A. has a story about the theatre's rebirth. No significant news, but nice to get the new venture some wider exposure.

"Citizen Kane" Back on Hollywood Blvd. -- this time at the Egyptian - May 25

"It's Terrific" said the neon above the marquee for the first run engagement at the El Capitan. Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane"(RKO, 1941) is back for another viewing on the big screen. It's at the Egyptian on Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 pm.  Details are on the Egyptian Theatre website.

"Kane" has the distinction of being the last film to play up the street at the El Capitan before that theatre closed for the moderne remodel that hid the original decor for decades under sheets of wavy corrugated plaster.  The photo here of the "Kane" engagement at the El Capitan comes from the collection of Hollywood Historic Photos.

If you'd like more information on either of these two theatres check out the many web pages we've got on the Hollywood Theatres website for the Egyptian Theatre and the El Capitan.

Mid Century Modern -- "My Fair Lady (1964) at the Dorothy Chandler (1964)

As part of Curating the City: Modern Architecture in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats" program hits a new venue for the series, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.  Tickets are still available for the June 12 screening of "My Fair Lady."

Here we get a look at the Egyptian by an unknown photographer during the original roadshow run of the film.  See our Egyptian Theatre street view timeline for many more vintage views of the theatre. "My Fair Lady" had a 68 week reserved seat run at the Egyptian in 70mm beginning October 28, 1964.

Alison Martino's Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page recently showed off some of mid-century glamour with this great photo of the Dorothy Chandler's lobby in 1968.

From the L.A. Conservancy website, here's the whole 2013 series:

Saturday, June 1
To Catch a Thief (1955) - SOLD OUT!
Orpheum Theatre (1926)
Details
 

Wednesday, June 5
La Bamba (1987)
Palace Theatre (1911)
Details and tickets
Co-presented with the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles

Wednesday, June 12
My Fair Lady (1964)
The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (1964)
Details and tickets - Orchestra section
Presented as part of Curating the City: Modern Architecture in L.A.
 

Wednesday, June 19
All About Eve (1950) - SOLD OUT!
Los Angeles Theatre (1931)
Details

Wednesday, June 26
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
Orpheum Theatre (1926)
Details and tickets
Silent with live organ accompaniment

Saturday, June 29 -- two shows!
Casablanca (1942)
Saban Theatre (1930)
Details and tickets - Matinee 2 p.m.
Details and tickets - Evening 8 p.m.

Another Music Center view, this time from 1967, also on Vintage Los Angeles.   It's from the Vintage Los Angeles Collection.

"Vertigo" in 70mm at the Egyptian Friday, May 24th

Don't miss a chance to see the 70mm restoration of "Vertigo" at the Egyptian. The Egyptian Theatre website has details about the Friday, May 24 7:30 pm screening.  It's part of the theatre's "Great Movies" tribute to Roger Ebert.

"Vertigo" was filmed in 1958 in VistaVision, an 8 sprocket hole per frame 35mm process developed by Paramount to increase the amount of image area on a frame while still using standard film stock.

A few theatres in the country (including the Warner Beverly Hills) got special horizontal projectors to showcase the process in all its glory.  See the Widescreen Museum's wonderful section on VistaVision for lots of interesting discussion about the process.  The photo here of one of the horizontal projectors is from the Widescreen Museum's VistaVision page 2.

Here's a look at the original image format of several frames (minus the optical sound track) from "Vertigo" in the horizontal VistaVision format.  It's on the Widescreen Museum's VistaVision section page 5.

Since we're never going to see it projected in VistaVision, 70mm is the best possible format to see what "Vertigo" looked like in its original release.  More on vintage film formats such as Cinerama, TODD-AO and others appears on the Movie Links page of our Hollywood Theatres website.  And don't miss a chance to browse through our Egyptian Theatre web pages for more about the 1922 Sid Grauman creation.

Final Weeks For Self-Guided Tours At The Warner Hollywood

It's still a mystery as to what Pacific Theatres intends to do with the building after the church group that has been using it leaves at the end of June.  And they're not leaving by choice. They've been asked to go.

Is there a new owner on the horizon? Will the building just get locked up? Anyone who knows anything isn't talking at this point.

So perhaps you'd better take the tour while you can still get in the building.  Any Sunday at either 9:30 or 11:15 am. They even offer free parking -- details are on the Ecclesia in Hollywood website.  But the meters don't turn on until 11 so you're fine anyway if you go to the early service.

But you might want to make it a double feature.  They're a friendly group. The photo is a 2012 view looking in from the rear of the main floor as the building is readied for a Sunday service. 

If you're curious about what's in store for you before going to check it out, our various web pages on the Warner Bros. Hollywood Theatre have hundreds of photos of backstage, the basement and up in the balcony. The balcony theatres are closed but not locked up. Maybe you can sneak up for a peek. Bring your flashlight.

An upstairs view, from our web page about the auditorium.

It's Finally Official -- Urban Outfitters Has A Lease On The Rialto

Well, the talk has been going on for months. But you'd walk by the place and the same low budget retail was still going on in what had been the lobby of the Rialto as had been happening there for years.  But no, the deal hadn't been aborted.  Urban Outfitters did get a long term lease on the Rialto Theatre at 812 S. Broadway.

The Marquee, the longest on Broadway, is a landmarked item and will get restored.   In a recent Facebook post Hillsman Wright of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation noted that months ago one of the Outfitter's contractors had been furnished vintage photos of the sign for study.   The classic view here is a c.1931 shot from the USC Archives.

Richard Guzman, in a May 2 story for Los Angeles Downtown News noted that the Philadelphia based chain has 215 U.S. stores and opened 15 new ones last year.   And this won't be the first theatre project for the company. Councilman Jose Huizar's press release on the the priject mentions that the chain did a great job of adaptive reuse of the Garden Theatre in Charleston.

A Curbed L.A. story by Neal Broverman mentions that they intend to have a projection screen. No note as to whether any of the existing proscenium will be retained. Neal says look for an opening by the end of the year.  Brigham Yen also ran a story on the Project.

See our web page on the 1917 Rialto Theatre for many photos inside and out.  There's not much left of historic interest left inside.

Update 5pm May 3: Curbed L.A. put together another story with more of the history of the Rialto and some vintage as well as recent photos.

The Chinese Has Closed For Renovations...Again

Grauman's Chinese has closed.

Expect a fall reopening with improved sightlines, new projection and sound equipment and a 49' x 94' IMAX screen, the largest in the area.  It'll have a seating capacity reduced slightly down from the current 1,151 to 986. That capacity, according IMAX, will make it their third largest in the world by seating capacity.

The photo here shows the Chinese closed for its "$500,000 Reconstruction" to accommodate the three projector Cinemiracle process in 1958. It's a photo from the Richard Wojcik collection appearing on Vintage Los Angeles.

Check out an April 30 article on Curbed L.A. by Adrian Glick Kudler for a lovely final photo tour of the auditorium as it's currently configured  Here's a photo by Elizabeth Daniels, one of many great views that accompanied the article.

The theatre's announcement of the May 1 closing on their Facebook page noted: "...The renovations will not affect any of the historic architecture. We have been working closely with the Historic Resources Group every step of the way to ensure that we do not alter anything that is historically significant. We have also shared our plans with Hollywood Heritage, Los Angles Historic Theatre Foundation, and LA Conservancy and have their support for this project."

What's happening during the renovation includes:
  
Rear of the seating area gets raised--

Up to lobby level, that is. With the lobby pushed forward a few rows into the auditorium during the 2001 renovations, the last row of seats ended up down a flight of steps as you entered.  The photo here is one from Behr Browers Architects showing the rear of the auditorium after their work on the 2001 project.

After the 2013 construction the last row of seats will be at lobby level so entering the auditorium will be more like the original 1927 experience.

The floor gets re-sloped --

In addition to the rear getting elevated, the front will be excavated more deeply into the basement for a greater slope and more height at the front of the auditorium.  It'll be a modified stadium seating plan and a taller screen, ending up 49' high.

An April 2013  L.A. Times story by Richard Varrier included mention of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation's support of the project and its assurances that the essential historic fabric of the auditorium would be protected. Hillsman Wright of the LAHTF notes that the floor has been redone several times already beginning with the replacement of the original wooden flooring in the 40s and serious excavation and reconstruction during the 1958 renovations.

An April 2013 story on Curbed LA by Adrian Glick Kudler included this view from BB Architects showing a simulation of the look with the steeper slope after the renovations. The story noted:

"'[W]e're not changing anything that's historical about the building,' President and COO Alwyn Hight Kushner tells us. 'All of the beautiful character-defining features will stay as is.' The floor (changed many times over the years) will be put on a steeper slope and the enormous new screen will descend partway into what is now the basement, according to Hillsman Wright of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, who's been working with the Chinese. The projection booth will also be moved forward and lowered a bit (over the theater's fake balcony)." 

The booth gets redone--

It's uncertain what that "moved forward and lowered a bit" means in terms of the look of the "fake balcony." The booth started upstairs in 1927. A new one was built on the main floor in 1958 for Cinemiracle as the process required something close to a zero degree projection angle. The main floor booth area became part of the enlarged lobby/snackbar area in 2001 and the booth was moved back upstairs.  We'll see what happens this time around.

New projection and sound equipment--

IMAX plans to install its new laser projection system at the Chinese but it won't be available until early 2015. The current generation of IMAX digital gear will be installed until then.  Deadline Hollywood and L.A. Times both had April 2013 articles about the project.  It's unknown if film capability will be included as part of the project.

Although most projection at the Chinese has been digital in recent years, the booth at the time of the closing still had a Norelco 35/70mm projector and a Christie platter. See our page on the projection booth for recent photos.

A bigger screen --
What won't be happening is any damage to the theatre's proscenium.   The new 94' wide screen will be be about the same width as the 1958 Cinemiracle installation, although that one had a much deeper curve than that favored by IMAX. The Cinemiracle screen size was 40' x 100' with an actual image size of 38' x 92' The full width has seldom been used in recent years.

 Here's a 2007 view of the 1.85 to 1 masking at showing how little of the available width and height was being used at that time. In scope format the image width in recent years has been approximately 75'. The basement will be affected by the renovations as the auditorium floor gets sloped downward to make more room for the taller screen.

Much of the original front of the auditorium  including the orchestra pit and the front of the stage were already demolished during the 1958 renovations so there's nothing historic there to be lost.  See our basement page for photos of the current situation there.

More about the Chinese --
See our main Chinese Theatre web page, where there are links to other pages about different areas of the theatre.

Update 5/2: The L.A. Times ran a story about the closure of the theatre.

"Chinatown" with Nicholson and Dunaway at the Alex Theatre in Glendale Saturday, April 27th.

The Alex in Glendale is running Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" (Paramount, 1974) on Saturday, April 27.

The photo here of Grauman's Chinese running "Chinatown" during its first run engagement in 1974 is from the Richard Wojcik collection and appears on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

The Alex is screening the film at both 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are $15 or $11 for seniors and students. It's a presentation of the Alex Film Society.  More data is on the Alex Film Society web page.  It's also listed on the Alex Facebook page events section.

For more about the theatre, see our web page on the Alex Theatre.   And if you're interested in more Chinese Theatre exterior views, head to the Chinese Theatre street view timeline page.

A Free Backstage Tour of the Alex in Glendale April 27th

 Glendale Arts offers the opportunity to explore the Alex, which opened in 1925 as the Alexander Theatre. It's Free but limited to 30. You must call for a reservation.  From the organization's Facebook page announcing the event:

"Throughout the year, the historic Alex Theatre opens its doors for free backstage public tours sponsored by Glendale Arts. This is your opportunity to see the Alex as you have never seen it before! A volunteer guide will provide an overview of the venue's 82-year history, restoration process and current activities and programs. The guide will explain the background of the architecture, sculpture and other art objects that grace the interior and exterior.

This will be a walking tour that includes climbing many stairs and each tour is limited to 30 people. This tour is not recommended for small children. Tickets -- Free: For reservations, call 818-243-7700, ext. 216."   

More events are on the Alex Theatre Facebook page.  The photo above is by Tommy Ewasko and appears on the Alex Facebook page.  

 For more about the theatre, see our web page on the Alex Theatre.

Check out the Warner Grand in San Pedro -- "There's No Business Like Show Business" screens May 4th

The 1954 20th Century Fox release starring Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Marilyn Monroe gets a screening at the Warner Grand on Saturday, May 4 at 7 pm.  Walter Lang directed from a screenplay by Phoebe and Henry Ephron.

In the photo here we see how it looked on the dazzling Cinemascope signage at Grauman's Chinese during its first run engagement.  It's a detail from a much larger Dick Whittington Studio photo.  Click on it for a larger view or head to the full photo in the USC Archives where you can use the slider to enlarge and then pan around.

 Admission to the screening at the Warner is $10.   The Warner Grand website gives you more information on this screening and other films on their schedule.

The screening offers a great opportunity to explore this art deco gem designed by famed theatre architect B. Marcus Priteca. Some of the glory is captured in the view from the balcony seen here. It's a photo by Stephen Russo of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation and appears on the LAHTF Facebook page.

See our web page on the Warner Grand for lots more about the theatre, including many photos. And if you're interested in more Chinese Theatre exterior views, head to the Chinese Theatre street view timeline page.

TCM Takes Over Hollywood April 25-28 -- Chinese, Egyptian, Avalon, Cinerama Dome

TCM is taking over many of the historic entertainment venues in Hollywood for the 2013 Festival running from April 25 through 28. Ground central for the event is the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, diagonally opposite from Grauman's Chinese.

Highlights at the Chinese include a restored "Funny Girl" (digital) as the opener as well as "Ben Hur" (digital, not 70mm) and "Giant" (a digital restoration). The Chinese 6 gets "Ninotchka" (35mm), ""Summertime" (35mm), "Hondo" with John Wayne (in digital 3-D), "Dial M for Murder" (in digital 3-D), "Kismet" (35mm) and lots more.

The Egyptian is running "It" (35mm), "On the Town" (35mm) and many more titles, most in 35mm versions. The El Capital has a digital version of "My Fair Lady" and "Guys and Dolls" (digital). At the Dome there's a digital simulation of the 3 strip Cinerama title "Cinerama Holiday" as well as a 70mm presentation of the title that opened the theatre in 1963: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Mad World."

All the details about individual tickets, passes and the full schedule are on the TCM website.

The photo here is an early Mott Studios view of the top of the Chinese from across the street at the rooftop terrace at the Roosevelt Hotel. The photo was posted on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page by Brian Michael McCrea.

The interior of the Chinese with Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" on the screen in a photo from a 2012 screening that appears on the TCM website and the Chinese Theatre Facebook page.

The photo gives you a nice view of the present Chinese Theatre screen and how far back onto the stage it has been pushed. Soon to change again with the upcoming IMAX installation.

More about the Hollywood Theatres:

See our web pages on the Chinese, the Egyptian, the Cinerama Dome, the El Capitan and the Avalon.

The 2013 Chinese Theatre renovations: 

After the Festival the Chinese closes to turn it into the largest IMAX theatre in the world, by seating capacity anyway.  There will be an upgrade to the projection and sound equipment. The floor gets a re-slope raising the back row to lobby level and lowering the front to allow the installation of a modified stadium seating plan and a taller screen, ending up 49' high  x 94 ' wide. Projected seating capacity will be 986, down from the 1,151 that was the number after the 2001 remodel.

Update: See our May 1, 2013 post on the renovations for more details.

AMC's Criterion Theatre Closed: Santa Monica's Screen Count Down By 6

The 1924 vintage Criterion Theatre closed as a theatre March 28, 2013. It's going to be a flagship store for some retailer. It was last operated by AMC as a 6 screen complex. The facade is original but most of what is behind it had been reworked over the years. The original theatre was gutted when it was rebuilt as a 6 plex.

Last operated by AMC, who was until recently in talks to build a new complex in downtown Santa Monica. Those negotiations were called off late last year. Other chains expressing an interest in doing a deal with the City reportedly include iPic (slated to open its Westwood location soon) and ArcLight.

A sad look at a blank marquee: the Criterion after closing captured by Larry Ziff on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

For lots more on the theatre, including several interior views in its original 20s single screen look, see our web page on the Criterion Theatre.

Janet Gaynor wishing there was an LAHTF Chinese Theatre tour in "A Star is Born" - 1937

Right off the bus, suitcase in hand, Janet Gaynor heads to the Chinese Theatre to stand in the footsteps of the stars in the 1937 version of "A Star is Born."

Janet didn't get the tour -- only the forecourt. You can go to the booth, private boxes, backstage and more. Noted theatre historian Ed Kelsey will give a presentation about the theatre's history on the Chinese's big screen. It all happens Saturday, April 20 at 10am.

 It's a "last look" tour as the Chinese closes for serious renovations at the end of April to re-slope the floor and install a larger IMAX screen along with a projection and sound upgrade.  On the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation website you'll find an easy way to make tour reservations via PayPal in the left column.

For more about the building see our 10 web pages on it. The main Chinese Theatre page is a good place to start.

Over the Top Partying: "La Dolce Vita" at the Los Angeles Theatre April 27

Cinespia and the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation present a restored 35mm print of Federico Fellini's 1960 epic "La Dolce Vita" in Los Angeles' most "over the top" movie palace, the Los Angeles Theatre.














The film stars Anita Eckberg, Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg and Anouk Aimee. It's not Marcello in that fountain.

From the Cinespia website: "The Los Angeles Theatre is our city's most gorgeous and spectacular movie palace, a hidden gem rarely open to the public. Opened in 1931, the theatre is the most opulent ever imagined, with soaring ceilings, breath-taking chandeliers, gold leaf angels, and a cascading crystal fountain. Join us for a magical evening as we watch a fully restored 35mm print of Fellini's dreamy and glamorous masterpiece.

Mastroianni stars as a journalist who covers the rich and famous of Rome and must choose between the debauchery of the glamorous and his higher writing aspirations. Amazing performances from a very sultry Anita Ekberg, a cool and gorgeous Anouk Aimée and Fellini's signature supporting cast of misfits, beauties and clowns, all orchestrated in a circus of delirium and grace. La Dolce is alternately haunting, lyrical and wild: it is Fellini at his best. Nominated for four Academy Awards and the Palm D' Or at Cannes.

Full bar with mixologists, this screening is 21+ only. Mixologists provided by Temple Bar Concepts. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation DJ spins before the screening."

Ticket are available on Ticketfly.

The cute intimate setting for the screening: The Los Angeles Theatre, seen here in a 2009 photo by Michelle Gerdes of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundaion.

For more about the building see our many web pages -- with hundreds of photos. Michelle's view appears on the page about the Los Angeles Theatre auditorium.

Horrors! Cows in the Chinese Lobby. Don't miss the 2013 LAHTF Tour!

Cows in the lobby at the Chinese! Well, they won't be back for the upcoming LAHTF "last look" tour like you see them in this shot from Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" (1974). The tour happens Saturday, April 20 at 10 am.

Buying a ticket in advance is recommended. It's being billed as a "last look tour" as the Chinese will close for renovations at the end of April. For more information and reservations head to the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation website: www.lahtf.org

See our web pages on Grauman's Chinese for more information about the theatre, including hundreds of photos.

The Philharmonic Auditorium

We get a nice look at the west side of the Philharmonic Auditorium Building in this undated view of a Shriner's parade crossing 5th as they head south on Olive. Click on the photo for a larger view or head to it on Ken McIntyre's Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

The photo is now on our web page about the Philharmonic Auditorium, a 1906 building demolished in 1985 without much outcry.

Guarding the Doors at the Chinese

The longtime Chinese Theatre doorman Joseph Lockard Martin, Jr. is seen here in a c.1949 photo. Click on it for a larger view or head to Christopher Crouch's profile of Martin on Cinelog. Crouch's blog usually details Orange County theatrical happenings but he occasionally makes an interesting foray to Hollywood.

Crouch reports that "Lock" Martin had a role in "The Day The Earth Stood Still" as well as television work. Thanks, Christopher!

The photo now also appears on our page devoted to the Chinese Theatre forecourt.

North on Vine in 49

This wonderful view north on Vine St. toward Hollywood Blvd. gives us a look at the side of the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, here as the CBS Studio Theatre, with KNX painted on the side of the stagehouse. That's it nestled in just this side of the Plaza Hotel. The photo was discovered by Ken McIntyre. Click on it for  a larger view or go to Ken's post on Photos of Los Angeles.

This one is now on our web page for the Montalban Theatre, which has gone under many names since its opening as a legit venue, Wilkes' Vine St., in 1927.

Peeking into Loew's State

The State Theatre, at 7th & Broadway, is currently leased out to a church group that doesn't exactly encourage photographers. So it's always nice when someone pokes their nose in and comes back with photos instead of getting threatened with camera confiscation.

Here's a look at the plasterwork and curious painted detail by Facebook contributor Roundtwo Dtla on Photos of Los Angeles. There's also a boxoffice view.  The photo you see here is now on our web page devoted to recent State Theatre exterior views.

Our brave photographer also ventured in a bit farther for a lobby view which also appeared on Photos of Los Angeles.

More more interior views of the State, check out the web pages we've done on the State lobby and State auditorium.