Hawaii Theatre

5941 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028  | map |

Opened: May 6, 1940 with Raymond Massey in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" along with "The Courageous Dr. Christian" starring Jean Hersholt. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality who spotted the opening night photo on eBay and included it in his Noirish LA post #29400. 

Galston and Sutton Theatres was the initial operator. They also were running the nearby Marcal Theatre, a house that later was renamed the World. They were also the operators of the Center Theatre in East L.A. The building the Hawaii was in was owned by the Times-Mirror Co.

Architect: Clarence J. Smale, along with theatre designer Carl Moeller, created an interesting environment with volcanos, waterfalls and more.

 

Seating: 1,106 seats -- all on one level. 

 

The project was announced by the appearance of this rendering in the November 19, 1939 issue of the L.A. Times. The headline was "Two Extensive New Southland Projects." The other one was Eaton's Santa Anita Restaurant in Arcadia. The caption:

 

"IN HOLLYWOOD -- Presented by this architectural sketch is view of an ultra-modern motion-picture theater to rise on north side of Hollywood Blvd., between Gower St. and Bronson Ave. It will be known as The Hawaii."  

 

Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating this. Presumably this was drawn by Carl Moeller. His style of stretched cars can be seen in other drawings such as one for the Fox Inglewood. The November 19 issue also had this article with its imaginative headline: 

 

 Of course they don't mention that the building would be owned by the Times' proprietor Harry Chandler. 

 

 

  

 

This story appeared in the December 1, 1939 issue of the Los Angeles Daily News. They also included the same rendering that had run in the Times. Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating this.  

 

 

A wider version of the rendering is from the Herald Examiner Collection at the Los Angeles Public Library. The caption that appeared with this when it appeared in one of the Hearst papers in April 1940: 

 

"Artist's sketch of the $250,000 Hawaii Theatre nearing completion at 4951 Hollywood Blvd. The structure has a seating capacity of 1150 and is being leased for a long term by Albert A. Galston and Jay Sutton. Architect: Clarence G. Smale."

 

 

A February 18, 1940 L.A. Times article about the theatre's construction. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

This shot was featured in the March 2, 1940 issue of the Hollywood Citizen-News as part of a spread titled "Film City Thoroughfare Donning Building 'Spring Finery'" Also included was a view of the Admiral Theatre, under construction at the same time. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this.  

 

 

An item about the opening appearing in the May 3, 1940 issue of the Times.  

 

The Hawaii opened on May 6, 1940 with Raymond Massey in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" along with "The Courageous Dr. Christian" starring Jean Hersholt.

 

A May 6, 1940 opening day ad. Thanks to Comfortably Cool for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures. 

Michael Moran comments: 

"It wasn't 'Hawaiian' in the all-out no holds barred Chinese or Egyptian sense but it conveyed the general idea. The volcano erupted and the waterfall fell courtesy of cleverly placed lights. As a kid, I LOVED this theatre. It always smelled like jujubes, Necco wafers and Dots and, best of all, it got ALL the really good movies. Its been gone for more than 50 years, but I still get a twinge every time I drive by. The Hawaii rocked."

The eruption of the volcanoes on either side of the screen that Michael mentions was part of a light show that happened just before showtime.

 

 

A 1940 article about the theatre's blacklight murals. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.  

 

 

 

An August 1, 1940 L.A. Daily News ad for "Gone With The Wind" that was located by mystery writer J.H. Graham for her article "5939-5941 Hollywood Boulevard: The Hawaii Theater."

 

An October 1941 ad for "Citizen Kane." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a post on Photos of Los Angeles. Bruce Kimmel notes that this exclusive engagement began October 16. It had premiered at the El Capitan on May 8 with the regular run at the El Capitan and the RKO Hillstreet beginning the next day. 

 

 

"Enjoy the Unusual Photography Under the Hawaii's Famous 'Black Light' Auditorium Illumination. And: "Important: See It From The Start." It's a November 30, 1941 "7th Week" ad for "Citizen Kane" appearing on the extensive "Orson Welles Director - Phase One" page on Joseph Egan's site The Magnificent Ambersons.

"In person: the stand-ins of the Hollywood Stars." Thanks to Larry Harnisch and his blog The Daily Mirror for the 2012 story "Hellzapoppin Opens in Los Angeles." The article included this ad for the film's 1942 first run engagement at the Hawaii following the moveover run of "Citizen Kane." "Hellzapoppin" was the Hawaii's initial first run film.

 

 

A 1942 ad for a revival of "Gold Rush." Thanks to Scott Pitzer for sharing this with the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

In the mid 40s the theatre was known as the Hawaii Music Hall. A group of four theatres was booked as the "4 Music Halls." The others were the Music Hall in Beverly Hills (formerly the Elite), the Hollywood Music Hall (later renamed the Holly Theatre) and the Downtown Music Hall, later back to its original name, the Tower.

 

The Music Hall operation was listed in the 1949 film Daily Yearbook as "Music Hall Theatres" with an office at 816 S. Broadway in the Wurlitzer Building, just south of the Rialto Theatre. Sherrill Corwin, also the head of Metropolitan Theatres, was listed as the president/general manager. Also listed as general manager was Clifford E. Giesseman.   

 

"Wonderama wide screen..." This blurb about the west coast opening of "5,000 Fingers of Dr. T" at the Hawaii and the United Artists downtown appeared in the L.A. Times on September 30, 1953. It had opened in New York in June. Marilyn was there at the opening with child actor Tommy Rettig, who was in the film. See a shot of Marilyn and Tommy outside. Scroll down lower on this page to see three views of Tommy and Marilyn in the lobby. 

 

The September 30, 1953 opening day ad in the L.A. Times for "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." 

"In the tradition of Times Square." In 1955 Galston and Sutton added a vertical sign designed and installed by Electrical Products Corp. It was covered in a full page story in the Modern Theatre section of the May 7 issue of Boxoffice. They noted: 

"This spectacular vertical sign, high as a four story building, dramatizes the theatre. Four different color combinations, based on turquoise blue and canary yellow backgrounds, create constantly running changes. The sign cost $22,000."

The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice that this is from can be seen on Yumpu. 

 

At some point Galston and Sutton faded away and the Hawaii was operated by Metropolitan Theatres. Earlier they had been part of the operation when it was branded as the Hawaii Music Hall.

Status: It closed in July 1963 and gutted for use by the Salvation Army.

Lobby views: 

The lobby at the Hawaii. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute, one in a set of twelve that they index as Shulman's job #Lee-H. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Hoss C for finding the photos in the Getty collection. He has a selection of then on his Noirish post #37350. The Los Angeles Public Library also has a version of the photo.

A look at the upstairs lounge. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute, one in a set of twelve that they index as Shulman's job #Lee-H. The Los Angeles Public Library also has a version of the photo.

The Nursery. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute.

Another Julius Shulman nursery photo. She's a little big for the playpen, don't you think? It's a 1940 view in the collection of the Getty Research Institute.

 

 

 

Marilyn Monroe and Tommy Rettig getting their popcorn before the September 30, 1953 west coast opening of "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." The film also played day-and-date at the UA downtown. Tommy was in it and would appear with Marilyn in the 1954 film "The River of No Return." It's a shot by an unknown photographer that appears on IMDb.  

 

 

 

The happy duo on a lobby couch at the Hawaii. Thanks to Maria Garcia for locating the photo. Among other places, this one made an appearance in a post by Bubblenciaga on the subReddit r/MarilynMonroe. The image can also be seen on the Getty Images site where it's given an October 11 publication date and credited to Bettman Archives. The original caption: 

 

"Ten-year-old actor Tommy Rettig has a date to take a girl to the movies and what do you know? It turns out to be film star Marilyn Monroe. Photographers asked Miss Monroe to shed her coat for poses but she declined, saying it would be 'too extreme' with a ten-year-old boy in the picture. Lucky Tommy got some popcorn besides seeing the movie with popular star."

 

Another shot on the sofa. This one appeared with other views of the event in a 2007 Divine Marilyn post on the site Canalblog. The author notes that Joe DiMaggio was also along but preferred to stay out of the photos. Also see a shot of Marilyn and Tommy outside.

 

 

The auditorium: 

A peek in from the lobby. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute.

The vista from the back of the house. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. The Los Angeles Public Library has a similar shot.

A 1940 look toward the screen from the house left cry room. It's a photo by Julius Shulman in the California State Library collection. It also appears in a set of twelve Hawaii Theatre photos in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. They index it as Shulman's job #Lee-H.

The house left wall. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute.

House left down front. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute.  

 

 

 

Another look house left. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating this 1945 photo for a post on Cinema Treasures. 

Take a look at that upholstery! It's a Julius Shulman photo of the rear of the auditorium that's in in the California State Library collection. It also appears in a set of twelve Hawaii Theatre photos in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. They index it as Shulman's job #Lee-H. The Los Angeles Public Library also has a version of the photo.

A cropped version of the photo above appeared with an article on theatre seating in the June 29, 1940 Modern Theatre section of Motion Picture Herald, available on Internet Archive. The caption noted:

"The new Hawaii theatre recently opened by Galston & Sutton Theatres in Hollywood. Seating is in two sections -- a forward and a rear loge section. The forward section is seated with Kroehler chairs having retracting seats; the loge section is seated with Heywood-Wakefield chairs. The aisle form is said to produce a slight stagger effect."

A closer look at the the rear of the auditorium. It's a 1940 Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Hoss C for finding the photos in the Getty collection. He has a selection of them on his Noirish post #37350.

A 2010 view by Don Solosan of what's left of the front of the auditorium at the Hawaii Theatre. The photo was taken in conjunction with a Los Angeles Theatre Historical Foundation tour and appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

A Don Solosan photo of the rear of the auditorium in 2010, appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page. Thanks, Don!


More exterior views: 

1940 - A view taken shortly after the opening from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1940 - The theatre during the run of "Mill On The Floss," released in the United States in November, 1939. It's a photo in the California State Library collection.  It also appears in a set of twelve Hawaii Theatre photos in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. They index it as Shulman's job #Lee-H.

Martin Pal, in his Noirish Los Angeles post #37385, comments on the display case on the far left: "It says 'Newspaper Raves welcome Hawaii Theatre' and shows clippings (not readable) of newspaper reviews of the theatre itself."

1940 - A look at the Hawaii during the run of "Rebecca" after it had picked up some awards. It was initially an April release. The photo is from the site Hollywood Historic Photos, displaying several thousand images from Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives.

1941 - A shot of the theatre running "Vivacious Lady" and "Convoy" after they had picked up some Academy Awards. "Vivacious Lady," released in 1938, had played its first run engagement at the Pantages.

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the photo and posting it on Photos of Los Angeles. It's from Gregory Paul Williams' wonderful 2005 book "The Story of Hollywood, An Illustrated History." It's available on Amazon and there's also a Google Books preview to browse.

1941 - The Hawaii for the moveover run of "Citizen Kane." The first-run engagement had been down the street at the El Capitan -- which, after several more legit bookings, would close for a remodel that would turn it into a film house called the Paramount. Along with renting the El Capitan, RKO put "Kane" into a theatre they owned downtown, the RKO Hillstreet. 

 

Thanks to Arnold Darrow for finding the photo. A version of it appears on the "Orson Welles Director - Phase One" page of Joseph Egan's site The Magnificent Ambersons.

1943 - An accident scene photo that's in the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library. The Hawaii, on the right, was running "Crime Doctor." The photo ran July 17 with this caption:  "This photo shows the safety zone where pedestrians were injured by a car. Black line shows path of car, 'X's' mark the spot where the injured pedestrians stood."

1943 - A detail from the LAPL photo.

 

 

1944 - "Women in Bondage" was a November 1943 release with Gail Patrick and Nancy Kelly. "Hot Rhythm" was an April 1944 release with Robert Lowery and Dona Drake. Thanks to Texas 2 Step for locating this trade magazine photo for a post on Cinema Treasures. Note the interesting changeable letter roof sign.

 

 

 

1945 - Looking west. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating this shot for a post on Cinema Treasures.  

 

 

 

1945 - The south side of the building. The trade magazine photo was a find by Dallas Movie Theaters for a post on Cinema Treasures. 

1947 - A Burton Frasher postcard view looking west for his Frasher Foto Card series. The photo is from the Frasher collection at the Pomona Public Library and appears on Calisphere.

The Hawaii was running "The Chase" with Robert Cummings and Peter Lorre. The photo also appears in the Bruce Torrence Hollywood Photograph Collection and Mr. Ethereal Reality has it on his Noirish Los Angeles post #29401.

 

1947 - A detail from the full Frasher image.

 

 

1953 - Marilyn Monroe at the September 30 west coast opening of "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." with Tommy Rettig. He was in this film and would appear with Marilyn in 1954's "River of No Return." Thanks to Maria Garcia for locating the photo. It's appeared in many places including a post by Bubblenciaga on the subReddit r/MarilynMonroe. The image can also be seen on the Getty Images site, where it has an October 11 publication date and is credited to Bettman Archive. The film had opened in New York in June. See the L.A. Times opening day ad. Higher on this page there are three photos of Tommy and Marilyn in the lobby.  

 

 

1955 - The new vertical sign. The photo appeared in the September 3 issue of Boxoffice. Thanks to Gerald DeLuca for spotting it. Earlier it made an appearance as part of the full page May 7, 1955 Boxoffice story that's reproduced higher on the page.    

 

c.1958 - A dashboard view west toward the Hawaii. The roof sign was advertising "Around The World in 80 Days." This, of course, was not the first run engagement. That 70mm roadshow run opened at the Carthay Circle Theatre December 22, 1956.  Thanks to Sean Ault for the photo from his collection.

1959 - A terrific photo by Willy Rizzo looking west on Hollywood Blvd from Bronson. Thanks to John Lee for posting it on Photos of Los Angeles. He credits it to History in Pictures.

2007 - The Hawaii Theatre building after a slight renovation. Photo: Bill Counter

2011 - A look west on Hollywood Blvd. Just to the west is the building that was once the Florentine Gardens nightclub. The theatre marquee just beyond the three palm trees is the X Theatre, demolished in 2016. Photo: Google Maps

 
The Hawaii Theatre in the Movies:

We get a quick look at the Hawaii in the nine minute AMPAS/RKO 1948 short "Let's Go To The Movies," available on the Internet Archive. See the Theatres In Movies post for shots of other theatres featured in the film.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page for lots of interesting history. Don't miss J.H. Graham's article "5939-5941 Hollywood Boulevard: The Hawaii Theater" for a fine history of the building along with a great collection of ads.

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