Los Angeles Theatres

Navigating Your Tour of Historic Los Angeles Theatres

On a Mobile Device: If you're missing the right column navigation bar or links at the top you can go to the bottom of any page and click on "View Web Version." Still can't find what you're looking for? Send me an email at counterb@gmail.com. See you at the movies! -- Bill Counter

Downtown L.A. Historic Theatres

The survey page gives a rundown on the 20 major surviving theatre buildings in the Downtown Theatre District. There are links to pages about each of them for more detail. You might also want to consult alphabetical rundowns on pages for Hill St. and farther west, the Broadway Theatres, Spring St. Theatres and Main St. and farther east. Those pages give you more detail, including discussions about all the theatres that have vanished. In addition, there's a downtown alphabetical theatre list with alternate names and a theatre list by address.

Historic Hollywood Theatres

Hollywood wasn't just about the movies. Starting in the mid 20s it was also a center for legitimate theatre and musical revues at four newly built playhouses. You'll find an alphabetical list of the theatres in the district on the Hollywood Theatres overview page that includes a bit of data on each and links to pages for more details. Down below this list there's also an alternate name directory. Also of possible interest is a separate page with a list of theatres by street address.

Westside Theatres

The Westside started booming with retail and housing in the mid 20s and the theatres followed. Many theatres along Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills, and in other neighborhoods became prime venues for everything from small foreign films to major roadshows. It's a huge territory. The Westside Theatres overview page gives you both a list by neighborhood as well as a survey arranged alphabetically. Also see the list of Westside Theatres: by street address and the Westside Theatres: alphabetical list page which includes alternate names.

Westwood and Brentwood

Westwood Village was the third significant theatre district to evolve in Los Angeles, after Downtown and Hollywood. With the construction of the UCLA campus beginning in the late 20s there was a chance to develop a unique shopping and entertainment district for faculty and students. By the 1970's the area had evolved so that Westwood had the largest concentration of first run screens of any neighborhood in Los Angeles. The Westwood and Brentwood Theatres overview page will give you a tour of the area.

Theatres Along the Coast

Santa Monica had a vibrant theatrical life even in the days when it was a small town isolated from the rest of Los Angeles. And that's just the beginning. The Along the Coast section will give you links to discussion of theatres in Ocean Park, Venice, Hermosa Beach, San Pedro, Long Beach and other communities.

[more] L.A. Movie Palaces

This section fills in all the other areas of Los Angeles County. Hundreds of terrific theatres were being built by the studios and independents all over the L.A. area in the 20s and into the 30s. You'll find coverage of theatres north and east of Downtown as well as in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona, Whittier, Long Beach and many other far flung locations. Some of those listings have been upgraded and appear on this site, many other links will take you to pages on an older site hosted on Google. The index page has links to all these theatres organized by area.

Searching by theatre name

If you don't find it in the right hand column, head for the Main Alphabetical List, which also includes the various alternate names each venue has used. This list includes those pages recently updated for this site (in bold face) as well as the write ups on an older website. For a narrower focus you'll also find separate lists for Westside and Downtown. As well, there are lists by name on the 10 survey pages for more limited areas like Pasadena, North of Downtown, Long Beach, etc. that are listed on the [more] Los Angeles Movie Palaces page.

Searching by address

If you know an address or street head to either the Main Theatre List by Address, the San Fernando Valley List by Address, the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona and Whittier List by Address or the Long Beach List. If what you're looking for isn't there, you should find a link to take you to a more localized list by address for Downtown, Westside, Hollywood, etc. Also see the survey pages for more limited areas that are listed on the [more] Los Angeles Movie Palaces page.

1927 - Exotic destinations: Grauman's Chinese | Mayan Theatre |

1948 - 1951 - Skouras-ized older theatres: California - Huntington Park | El Portal | Fox Westwood Village | Mesa Theatre |

Troupers Club - N. Highland Ave.

1723 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood (Los Angeles) 90028 | map |

Opened: This location for the Troupers Club debuted in 1943.

The Troupers Club was formed in November 1926. Or was it 1925? Stories differ. In 1929 they took over the Hollywood Community Theatre at 1742 N. Ivar. In the 1930 city directory it was listed as Troupers Green Room. Originally they required 30 years experience on stage or screen to join. By 1930 that had been reduced to 20 years. That year they had 700 members.

By 1931 they were in a Troupers Club House at 1634 N. El Centro. In 1934, to recruit new members, they dropped the experience requirement to five years. By 1940 they had taken over the Las Palmas Theatre and had renamed it the Troupers Theatre. The 1942 city directory still lists that Las Palmas location as "Troupers Inc."

In 1943 members of the Troupers Club and their guests attended a dinner and ribbon cutting for an upstairs club room at the new Highland Ave. home of the organization. Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating this grand opening shot that appeared in the in the May 17 issue of the Hollywood Citizen-News. It was part of a post Lisa did about the Troupers for the Lost Angeles Facebook group. The paper's caption:

"RIBBON CUT - While 200 Troupers and guests cheered from banquet tables last night, Judge Benjamin Scheinman, center front, cut ribbons to give access to an upstairs clubroom at 1723 N. Highland Ave., new Troupers home. At his right arm was the Rev, George Fox, and at his left hand, Tom Regan, president of Troupers. Holding the ribbon, at right, was Adabelle Driver, secretary, standing with other officers. At left, in light dress, stood Louise De Vatney, 'emcee' for the entertainment which followed dinner. -- Citizen-News photo"

In the 1942 city directory 1723 had been listed as Shikani's Restaurant. 1725 was an optometrist. On the second floor a couple buildings up the block was the Movie Parade Theatre, a revival house at 1737 N. Highland. It was later known as the Comoedia Theatre and Highland Playhouse.

An early single-story building on the 1723-25 site is indicated in green in this detail from page 10 of the 1913 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map that's in the Library of Congress collection. At that time the tenant was a grocer. Also see page 5 of the 1907 Sanborn Map in the LOC collection where the address is shown as 123-125. There's also a 1921 Baist map of the block on the David Rumsey Map Collection site.

A c.1920 look at the territory from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. That's Highland going up the right side. The photo makes an appearance on "A Charming Hostelry: The Hollywood Hotel Story," a KCET page by Hadley Meares.

A detail with the location indicated of the earlier single-story 1723-25 building on the site. It was later replaced with a longer two-story building before the Troupers arrived in the 40s.

A 1939 view east toward the back of the building the Troupers occupied. "Stanley and Livingstone" was at the Chinese and the El Capitan was running a production of "The Mikado - In Swing." Thanks to the Historic Los Angeles Facebook page for sharing this version of the photo.

A detail with the newer two-story 1723-25 building indicated.

The building that the Troupers were in at 1723-25 N. Highland is indicated in this detail from page 1018 of volume 10 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from the Library of Congress collection. The LOC has this page as image 21 of the volume as reproduced on their site.

The map was originally drawn in 1919 and updated as late as 1950. If you look at the full page on the LOC site you also get Grauman's Chinese farther to the left. The Movie Parade revival house was up the block at 1737 N. Highland, the building seen at the top of this detail.

Moving on: In 1948 the club moved to a new Troupers Clubhouse and Auditorium at 1625-27 N. La Brea, just south of Hollywood Blvd.

Status: The building the club was in on Highland has been demolished. The Hollywood Hotel and several buildings north of it on Highland came down in 1956. A building for First Federal Savings later went up on the corner. That was demolished for the 1999 construction of the Hollywood and Highland Mall, now rebranded as Ovation.

| back to top | Earlier Troupers locations: 1929 - Hollywood Community Theatre - 1742 N. Ivar. | 1931 - Troupers Club House - 1634 N. El Centro | 1940 - Las Palmas Theatre - 1642 N. Las Palmas |

Troupers Clubhouse and Auditorium - La Brea Ave.

1625-27 N. La Brea Ave. Hollywood (Los Angeles), CA 90028 | map |

Opened: In 1948 this became the home for Troupers Club and Auditorium. This 1983 photo appeared on eBay. On the left is the auditorium at 1625 N. La Brea. The clubhouse was at 1627. The buildings were on the west side of the street just south of Hollywood Blvd.

A clubhouse detail from the photo.

An auditorium entrance detail taken from the 1983 photo. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for spotting the photo on eBay and sharing it, along with these two details, on his Noirish post #59662.

The Troupers Auditorium and the house in front are indicated in green. It's a detail from sheet 1045 of a Sanborn Fire Insurance Map that's on the Library of Congress website. It's their image 48 out of 94. Note the El Patio/Music Box Theatre in the upper right on Hollywood Blvd. The LOC's copy of the map had been updated as late as 1950. Looking for something in Hollywood? See the index page for this version of the map which gives a list of the drawings by street address.

Seating: 300. It said so right on the clubhouse front porch.

Earlier locations: The Troupers Club was formed in November 1926. Or was it 1925? Stories differ. In 1929 they took over the Hollywood Community Theatre at 1742 N. Ivar. In the 1930 city directory it was listed as Troupers Green Room. Originally they required 30 years experience on stage or screen to join. By 1930 that had been reduced to 20 years. That year they had 700 members. By 1931 they were in a Troupers Club House at 1634 N. El Centro. By 1940 they had taken over the Las Palmas Theatre and had renamed it the Troupers Theatre. In 1943 the group had moved into a new Troupers Club House at 1723 N. Highland Ave. That building has been demolished.

The grand opening was announced in this item that appeared in the May 3, 1948 issue of the L.A. Times. Thanks to Brent C. Dickerson, aka Odinthor, for locating this and several other Troupers items for his Noirish Los Angeles post #59665. Visit his extensive historical site "A Visit To Old Los Angeles."

A November 1950 dance and buffet featuring Mae Murray.

An October 1960 ad in the Times for "The Boy Friend."

"The Drunkard" with Joe Adair "and a cast of 25" at the Troupers in 1961. The flyer appears on the USC Digital Library website. The show's L.A. run had begin in July 1933 at the Theatre Mart on Clinton St. It closed there in October 1959.

A flyer for the March 25, 1966 show with the Grateful Dead and Tiny Tim. Del Close did the light show. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for locating this and the photo below for his Noirish post #59667.

The Dead onstage at the Troupers in March 1966. Ethereal Reality notes: "At the last minute they had someone run out and buy bolts of fabric to decorate the stage." The photo and the poster appear on pages about the engagement on the dead.net/archives and Truckin' With the Dead websites.

A photo of the Dead onstage that was taken by Rose McGee. She has published two books of her photos: "My Grateful Dead Photos – 1966-1991" and "Dancing with the Dead – A Photographic Memoir." Her website: rosiemcgee.com. Thanks to Gregornot for sharing this on a Grateful Dead subReddit.

The entrance for the SPREE Awards in the auditorium in 1972. The shot by an unknown photographer is in the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives and appears on the USC Digital Library website. They note: "Spotlights, banners, and the full red-carpet treatment greet the sold-out crowd that attended the SPREE Awards at Trouper's Hall. SPREE (The Society of Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts) was a primarily gay male theatrical company and social organization."

Photos taken by Michael J. Varegas during a "Zero to Success" benefit in October 1975. It's from the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives and appears on the USC Digital Library website.

A "Free the Slaves" show and dance in 1976. It was to raise funds for those arrested in a police raid on a health club. The Pat Rocco photo from the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives is on the USC Digital Library website.

The L.A. police chief was hung in effigy at the 1976 "Free the Slaves" event. This story appeared in the April 24 issue of the L.A. Times. Thanks to Brent Dickerson for locating it.

Michael Snider notes that there were also punk shows in the Troupers Auditorium in the late 1970s. Donna Edwards adds: "Omg I remember that place used to be a dance club in the 70s then in the 80s bands would play there like X and Dwight Yoakam, etc. Always a rowdy place many fights, etc."

Brenda Weathers, Carol-Lynn Fillet and Carolyn Weathers hanging a banner for a bingo event in 1982 in an attempt to raise funds for a Women's Arts and Services Foundation. This scrapbook page is on the USC Digital Library website.

The San Andreas Motorcycle Club invites you to their stage show and initiation of officers in March 1984. The flyer appears on the USC Digital Library website. Also from the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives on the USC site: Griff's 1st Anniversary party - 1973 | Kingmasters 6th Anniversary Party flyer - 1977 | Gay and Lesbian Rap Halloween Party flyer | Golden Buns flyer - 1979 | Real Man flyer - 1983 | Wrestling Meet flyer - 1984 |

Closing: It's unknown when the Troupers Club stopped using the properties. Or what happened to the organization.

Status: The buildings have been demolished. The house was gone by 1992. The auditorium survived until around 2005. There's now a big apartment complex on the site that went up in 2007 and 2008.

A 2024 Google view showing the two buildings of the complex now on the site. That's La Brea slicing up through the middle.

The site is on the left in this 2024 view north toward Hollywood Blvd. Image: Google Maps

More information: See Lisa Kouza Braddock's post about the Troupers for the Lost Angeles Facebook group.

| back to top | Other Troupers locations: 1929 - Hollywood Community Theatre - 1742 N. Ivar. | 1931 - Troupers Club House - 1634 N. El Centro | 1940 - Las Palmas Theatre - 1642 N. Las Palmas | 1943 - Troupers Club House - 1723 N. Highland Ave. |

Troupers Club - El Centro Ave.

1634 N. El Centro Ave. Hollywood (Los Angeles), CA 90028 | map |

Opened: The Troupers Club moved into this building in 1931. The location was on the east side of the street just south of Hollywood Blvd. It was adjacent to the American Legion Stadium. The Music Box Theatre was just around the corner on Hollywood Blvd. The photo comes from a 1934 L.A. Times article that's reproduced below.

The Troupers Club had been formed in November 1926, initially meeting in the back room of a restaurant. Or was it 1925? Stories differ. In 1929 they took over the Hollywood Community Theatre at 1742 N. Ivar. In the 1930 city directory that location was listed as the Troupers Green Room. Originally they required 30 years experience on stage or screen to join. By 1930 that had been reduced to 20 years. That year they had 700 members. In 1934 the experience requirement became five years.

This new location on El Centro had once been a church. The 1934 Times article about the club commented:

"This they have transformed -- just how, no one knows -- into a cosy clubhouse. It contains a tiny stage where the pulpit used to be, and the former choir loft is the 'gallery' with the 'box office' in front for their business dealings, if any. A kitchen is installed, and from hither and yon they have accumulated scenery, a curtain, piano, lights, a lot of chairs, tables and other accessories. They cost just about nothing, but -- they'll do."

At various times this location was referred to as the Troupers Club, the Troupers Theatre, the Troupers Clubhouse, Troupers' Greenroom Theatre, Troupers' Green Room Club and Troupers Hall.

A review of "Hand-Cuffed," an early show at this new Troupers Club location. This appeared in the February 7, 1931 issue of the L.A. Times.

An item about a visit from the Mayor appearing in the Times on February 14, 1931.

Shakespearean Day in 1931. This was in the Times on April 17.

Another item about the tribute to the Bard. This one appeared April 19.

The Buddy Cole Players were doing Booth Tarkington's "Seventeen" at the Troupers Club in 1931. This item appeared in the August 9 issue of the L.A. Times.

News about a 1931 production of "His Potential Wife" at the Troupers.

A Society of Magicians meeting was noted in the Times on March 26, 1932.

Carnival time in 1932. This story appeared in the Times on September 25. It's unknown if the club ever built anything on their tract of land in Riverside.

The Troupers got a big writeup in "Lost Hosts of the Footlights," a March 11, 1934 L.A. Times story by William Hamilton Cline:

This article gives a November 1925 date for the club's founding. A January 29, 1929 Times story said it was December, not November, and that the original membership was eleven, not nine. A May 30, 1930 Times article said the founding date was November 1926.

Although the place of the initial meetings is noted as Dinty Moore's Restaurant in Hollywood, various city directories have not been helpful in revealing its location. Perhaps it actually used another name. There were, however, Dinty Moore's locations downtown in the mid-20s at 214 W. 8th St., 524 S. Spring and 742 S. Hope. These were licensees of the Dinty Moore chain of New York restaurateur James "Dinty" Moore. The January 1929 Times story noted that after a spell at the Writers Club, the group also met at an Elks lodge before settling on Ivar Ave. at what had been the Hollywood Community Theatre.

A Troupers Green Room Bazaar in 1933. This item appeared in the Times on December 11.

An April 1, 1935 item about a production of "College House" at the Troupers.

"The theater knows no yesterday..." The Troupers Club was being used as a rehearsal hall for a 1936 production of "The Old Woman's War" that was to be presented at the Shrine Auditorium. This story appeared in the Times on February 11.

Calling all guppy lovers. This item appeared in the Times on July 5, 1937.

Closing: It's unknown when the club left this El Centro location.

Later Troupers locations: By 1940 they had taken over the Las Palmas Theatre and had renamed it the Troupers Theatre. In 1943 the group moved into a new home at 1723 N. Highland Ave. Beginning in 1948 the Troupers Club was located at 1625/27 N. La Brea where they occupied a house and an adjacent auditorium building. There's now an apartment complex on that site.

The location is seen as a vacant lot just north of the Stadium in the center of this detail from sheet 1054 of a Sanborn Fire Insurance Map that's on the Library of Congress website. This copy had been updated as late as 1950. That north/south arrow is in the middle of El Centro Ave. Gower St. is over on the far right. That "Fox Guild Theatre" on Hollywood Blvd. had been called the Music Box. It's now going by the name Fonda Theatre.

Status: The lot is now occupied by a cube-like addition to the back of the building on the southeast corner of Hollywood Blvd. and El Centro.

The lot that that been the Troupers location is now occupied by an addition onto the end of that black building. On the left we're looking north toward Hollywood Blvd. At the center it's the back of the Music Box/Fonda Theatre. On the far right it's part of what had been the Hollywood Legion Stadium, now a branch of L.A. Fitness. Image: Google Maps - 2024

Another look at the Troupers' former location. Image: Google Maps - 2024

More information: See Lisa Kouza Braddock's post about the Troupers for the Lost Angeles Facebook group.

| back to top | Other Troupers locations: 1929 - Hollywood Community Theatre - 1742 N. Ivar | 1940 - Las Palmas Theatre - 1642 N. Las Palmas | 1948 - Troupers Club and Auditorium - 1625/27 N. La Brea |