Los Angeles Theatres: El Capitan Theatre: street views 1955 to the present

1955 - An August snapshot that Ruth Campbell found at a swap meet and posted on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. We're looking south on Orchid St. (a block that no longer exists) with the Hollywood Masonic Temple to the right of the theatre. It had been called the Paramount since its 1942 remodel. It didn't go back to the El Capitan name until 1991.

The photo also appears on the Water & Power Associates Museum page "Early L.A. Buildings (1900-1925) page 3." It's also been seen on Noirish Los Angeles.

1956 - Looking east toward the theatre during the run of "Guys and Dolls." It's a February 16 photo taken by Felix Paegel for the L.A. Examiner that's in the USC Digital Library collection. The caption: "Mrs. Bernice Pantages, 23, of Sacramento, jokingly thumbs ride in front of floral island set up in center of 'new' Hollywood Blvd." Robert Simonton calls our attention to the spotlight on the island. The set includes two more shots showing a preview of drawings of the stars that would appear in the proposed Walk of Fame.

1956 - A view of the premiere of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" at the Paramount. It was a June release. Thanks to Mark Donnell for locating the photo. It's also in the collection of Hollywood Historic Photos and a version appears in a post for the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. There's also a straight-on shot on the Hollywood Historic Photos site.

1956 - Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer in "War and Peace," an August release. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo for a post on Photos of Los Angeles. A version from the Tom B'Hend-Preston Kaufmann Archives appeared in the souvenir program for the theatre's 1991 reopening.

1957 - A wonderful view looking west from Tyler St. Mark on Vintage Los Angeles. The El Capitan/Paramount is in the lower left. Note the absence of a vertical sign.

c.1957 - A view from the hills that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1958 - Thanks to the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this shot of the premiere of "Teacher's Pet" with Clark Gable and Doris Day. You'll also find the photo in Martin Pal's fine Noirish Los Angeles post #22621 along with other views of the theatre. The Torrence collection also has another view of the premiere taken from slightly farther west.

1958 - A look west on the Boulevard from Ken McIntyre on Photos of Los Angeles. It's a parade by auto dealers to get their sales out of a slump.

1959 - "Imitation of Life" at the Paramount. It's a photo from the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection. The film was a March release.

1959 - The Paramount running "The Nun's Story" with Audrey Hepburn and Peter Finch, a July release. Thanks to Sean Ault for this photo from his collection.

1959 - Thanks to Sean Ault for finding this Christmas season shot. It was taken between November 20 and December 17, when "Beloved Infidel" with Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr was at the Chinese. The Paramount had "A Summer Place." Also see a version posted by Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality that he found on eBay and shared on his Noirish post # 52066.

1960 - "Elmer Gantry," starring Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons, was directed by Richard Brooks and based on the Sinclair Lewis novel. The U.S. premiere had been at the Paramount on June 29. Thanks to Jessica Litman for sharing this photo on the Mid Century Modern Facebook page.

1960 - A fine Christmas season view west. Thanks to the Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for the image. It's their #HB-280, included as one of 226 photos in their gallery Hollywood Boulevard 1941-1990.

1960 - "Cimarron," based on the Edna Ferber novel, began its reserved seat engagement with the film's L.A. premiere on December 25. It's a photo from the Tom B'Hend-Preston Kaufmann collection that appeared in the souvenir program for the theatre's 1991 reopening. A copy of the program is in the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Thanks to Ron for sharing this image. Also see a nice "Cimarron" shot taken from the west in the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection.

1961 - A postcard look at the Chinese and the El Capitan, down the block in the shadows. It's one that Ken McIntyre found for a post on Photos of Los Angeles. At the Chinese it was "The World of Suzie Wong," a film that played from December 15, 1960 until March 16, 1961.

1960s - A card from the vanished website Yesterday LA.

1962 - A fine telephoto shot by an unknown photographer. The Paramount had Vincente Minnelli's February release "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" with Glenn Ford, Ingrid Thulin and Charles Boyer. Among other places, this one can be seen on Flickr in the collection of Christian Montone.

1962 - Disney's "Bon Voyage" playing the theatre. It was a May release. Thanks to Comfortably Cool for locating this shot for a post on Cinema Treasures.

1963 - Thanks to Sean Ault for this sliver of a look down Orchid St. toward the theatre during the run of "Come Blow Your Horn" with Frank Sinatra. It was a June release.

1963 - This lovely Richard Wojcik photo on Vintage Los Angeles gives us a look at the Paramount in October running "The V.I.P.s" with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

1963 - A terrific December photo looking west toward the El Capitan on Vintage Los Angeles from the Richard Wojcik collection.

1964 - A "Night of the Iguana" view of the Paramount. Thanks to HossC who found it on eBay and included it in post #25165 on Noirish Los Angeles. He notes that the banner above is promoting "Mary Poppins," across the street at the Chinese.

1964 - The remodel done by Statewide Theatres was profiled in a Boxoffice article on February 18, 1965 headlined "Dramatic Effects in Remodeled Theatre." | article page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | Regarding the disco balls, the article notes they are: "six two-foot and three-foot diameter spheres which revolve, picking up surrounding light and reflecting it to the constantly busy, moving traffic on the boulevard." See the ticket lobby page for photos of the boxoffice area from the article.

1965 - The December 23 west coast premiere of "Dr. Zhivago." It was a 70mm reserved seat engagement. Many thanks to Woody Wise for sharing the photo on the All Movie Theatres Facebook page.

c.1966 - A postcard view looking east shared on the Classic Hollywood/Los Angeles/SFV Facebook page. It looks like a very orange readerboard for "Doctor Zhivago" at the Paramount.

c.1969 - A wonderful postcard of the theatre in its Loew's days shared by Steven Otto on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. In November 1967 Loew's had taken over the theatre, as well as other L.A. area locations that had been operated by the Statewide circuit. The Loew's vertical sign didn't go up until April 1968.

1969 - A look west at the theatre when it was Loew's. It's a photo in the collection of the Los Angeles Public Library. On the marquee: Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood in "Where Eagles Dare."

1969 - And now in color. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding this "Where Eagles Dare" shot on eBay and sending it along. Note the tail of the Loew's vertical at the top of the photo.

1969 - Thanks to Glen Norman for this photo he took during the Santa Claus Parade on November 26.

1972 - A "Valachi Papers" shot. Thanks to the Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for the photo. It's their #T-042-18. The film was an October 27 release.

1973 - Thanks to the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this shot of the theatre playing "The Battle For the Planet of the Apes." It's their #T-042-19. You'll also find the photo with other El Capitan views in Martin Pal's Noirish Los Angeles post #22621.

1970s - Looking east. Note the new Paramount vertical -- extended downward from its Loew's version. It's a Tom Labonge photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1973 - The Paramount running "American Graffiti," an August release. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the shot for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. The photo appears in the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection as their #T-042-20, with a 1974 date. It's also been on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page where it was credited to the Los Angeles Public Library.

1975 - Thanks to John Stewart for his September "Exorcist" photo, one of 25 shots appearing in his Los Angeles Theaters set on Flickr. John is the long-time projectionist at the Austin Paramount. Thanks also to Mike Hume for advising of John's collection.

1976 - Thanks to the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this fine shot of the Paramount playing "All The President's Men," an April release that initially opened at the Pantages. It's their #HB-481.

1976 - The Paramount in July running that classic "Gumball Rally" starring Michael Sarazin and Gary Busey. Ken McIntyre had it as a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

1977 - A view from Ken McIntyre on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles with the Paramount running "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The film initially opened at the Cinerama Dome.

1978 - The theatre was running "Somebody Killed Her Husband," a September release with Farrah Fawcett and Jeff Bridges. "Midnight Express" was up next. Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing the October 5 photo from his collection.

1979 - The crowd for the March 16 opening of "The China Syndrome," with Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas. It's a photo by Ken Papaleo that's in the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library.

1979 - Thanks to Sean Ault for locating this fine view east taken during the run of "The China Syndrome." Jeff Bentley also had a post of the photo on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page.

1979 - Running "Last Wave" and "Silent Partner." Julie Andrews was getting her star in the Walk of Fame the week of this photo.Thanks to the Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this shot It's their #WF-003-9. Julie's ceremony was October 5.

1979 - A Christmas season view with the Paramount running "...And Justice for All," an October release. Thanks to Richard DuVal for sharing his photo on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles. Bruce Kimmel comments: "'And Justice for All' played quite a nice long run there, opening mid-October, so almost nine weeks."

1980 - "Being There" playing the Paramount. The film was a December 1979 release that initially opened exclusively at Laemmle's Regent in Westwood. Thanks to Richard DuVal for sharing his photo on Photos of Los Angeles.

1982 - Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for this view of the theatre during the run of "Poltergeist."

1982 - Also in the American Classic Images collection was this August shot with a 70mm reissue of "Star Wars" playing at the theatre. "Star Wars" played its original engagement at the Chinese in 1977 and then a moveover to the Hollywood Theatre -- the latter an event 20th Century Fox was very unhappy about.

1983 - A fine look at the vertical at night. "One Dark Night" was a February release. Thanks to American Classic Images for the photo.

1983 - An April shot by Roy Hankey from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The Paramount was running Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life," a March release.

1983 - A Ray Hankey "The Meaning of Life" shot taken in May from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. That's Judy Holliday's star in the foreground. Also see another shot done at the same time but from the east.

1983 - "Octopussy" with Roger Moore and Maud Adams. Thanks to Richard DuVal for sharing this photo he took as a post on the page for the Movies Palaces, Theatres & Cinemas Facebook group. And thanks to Mike Hume for spotting the post.

The photo also made an uncredited appearance in a post by Michael Coate for the private Friends of 70mm Facebook group where he noted that 12 theatres were running the film in 70mm. Bruce Kimmel comments: "I saw half of it there. The first Bond film I ever walked out of. This opened on Friday June 10 and played the Paramount until the end of July." Also see a wider "Octopussy" view taken by Richard.

1983 - "Octopussy" at night. Thanks to Richard Lenoir for sharing this July photo along with a daytime look up the vertical as well as a marquee detail in a post for the Friends of 70mm Facebook group.

1987 - Another look at those lovely mirror balls. "Monster Squad" was an August release. Thanks to SusanYeager304 for posting the photo on Instagram and thanks also to Tommy Bernard for spotting it.

c.1988 - The Hollywood is on the left and the Paramount is down in the smoggy distance. Thanks to Bill Gabel for finding this photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

1988 - A 70mm run of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." Thanks to the Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for the image. It's their #HB-584, included as one of 226 photos in their gallery Hollywood Boulevard 1941-1990.

1989 - Running "The Package." Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing this photo. It was taken as part of a survey of the building prior to the Disney / Pacific Theatres restoration project. This was the last booking for the theatre before the closure.

1991 - "The Rocketeer" was the opening film after the Disney / Pacific Theatres renovation of the theatre. Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing this June 18 photo. The public opening was June 21. See Michael Coate's In70mm article "The Rocketeer: The North American 70mm Engagements."

1993 - "Hocus Pocus" was a July release. Photo: Richard DuVal

1993 - "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was an October release. Photo: Stephen Russo

1994 - The El Capitan was running "Quiz Show" when Thomas Hauerslev took this shot in early October. Also see a closer view he took that night. His website, In70mm.com, chronicles the history of 70mm presentation around the world. See his other photos of the Chinese from the visit: daytime forecourt view | daytime - "The Specialist" | night - "The Specialist" | night - west marquee detail | night - east marquee detail | Thanks, Thomas!

1994 - The marquee's daytime look during the October run of "Quiz Show" Photo: Thomas Hauerslev - In70mm.com. See the In70mm newsletter about his 1994 U.S. 70mm promotion tour. There's also a photo gallery.

1995 - Playing the Pixar hit "Toy Story." Photo: Richard DuVal

2000 - We're looking across the construction of the Kodak Theatre (now the Dolby) at the Hollywood and Highland Center toward Hollywood Blvd. and the El Capitan. The photo appeared on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles, a post by Alexander Horn.

2001 - "Atlantis: The Lost Empire." Photo: Richard DuVal. Thanks!

2002 - Thanks to Richard DuVal for this shot of the theatre taken during the run of the April release "Lilo & Stitch." Next door at the former Masonic Temple it was a "L & S Experience" with many exhibits. Richard has 23 photos in his post on the Cinema Treasures Facebook page.

2002 - A daytime "Lilo & Stitch" shot from Richard DuVal.

2002 - A nice night shot of the Disney-restored El Capitan marquee and vertical appearing on the Hollywood Boulevard page of the site Trip Savvy. "Santa Clause 2" was an October release.

2007 - Looking west along Hollywood Blvd. The tower stayed up but the letters were taken off during the 1942 remodel that turned the theatre into the Paramount. The sign was rebuilt during the 1991 Disney/Pacific Theatres restoration. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - A slack afternoon during the run of "The Game Plan." That's the Masonic Temple at the right, home over the years to many TV shows. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - An east side view of the building showing Disney's major investment in new HVAC systems, among other upgrades. Photo: Bill Counter

2008 - Thanks to Bob Davidson for this marquee detail. The photo first appeared on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page.

2009 - The view looking east along Hollywood Blvd. Note the Kodak Theatre (now the Dolby) on the left. The Chinese and the Chinese 6 are just behind us. It's a shot from Google Maps where you can play with their interactive version.

2010 - The signage at night during the run of "Up." Photo: Bill Counter

2010 - An entrance view. Photo: Bill Counter

c.2010 - A look west that Ken McIntyre posted on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.

c.2010 - A lovely shot by Don Saban that he posted on Facebook. Thanks to Steve Milner for spotting it. For more of Dan's great work head to his website DonSaban.com.

2010 - Thanks to Dave Lessig on Facebook for this photo of the El Capitan decked out for "Tron: Legacy."

2010 - A marquee shot from Cap Equity Locations, a firm that brokers deals with property owners for filming locations. See their El Capitan page for over two hundred fine photos of all areas of the building.

2011 - A view by Stephen Russo originally appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page. Thanks, Stephen!

2012 - The El Capitan vertical. It went up in 1991 with the Disney restoration of the theatre. Photo: Bill Counter

2012 - A look at the marquee by Wendell Benedetti appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page. It was taken the day of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation's "all-about" tour of the theatre. More about the organization: www.lahtf.org

2012 - Thanks to Stephen Russo for this photo of the west end of the marquee. It originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2016 - A view east with "Pete's Dragon" playing at the El Capitan. Thanks to Patrick F. Smith for sharing his photo as a post on his Through My Portland Lens Facebook page. And thanks to David Counter for spotting the post.

2016 - Just like old times: "Featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer Before Every Show Today." It's a nice promo for the pipe organ (from the San Francisco Fox) on the marquee as we look west along Hollywood Blvd. The film playing was "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Photo: Bill Counter

2017 - The marquee for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." Thanks to Stephen Russo for sharing his photo.

2020 - The retirement of longtime manager Ed Collins is celebrated on the marquee. Thanks to Doug Palmer for his photo, a post on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2020 - "Now, think of the happiest things. It's the same as having wings!" says Peter Pan. The theatre was trying to keep things upbeat during the Coronavirus shutdown. Photo: Bill Counter

2020 - Snow White's advice was "Remember, you're the one who can fill the world with sunshine." Meanwhile Dory was recommending "Just keep swimming!" and Buzz Lightyear reminded us that "The important thing is that we stick together." Photo: Bill Counter

2021 - Celebrating its 95th on May 3. Thanks to Tiffany Nitsche for sharing the photo on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2021 - The day of the May 4 premiere of "The Bad Batch," another film from the "Star Wars" galaxy. Thanks to Levi Tinker, the general manager of the Chinese, for sharing his photo on a post on Facebook.

2021 - Thanks to Gregory Johnson for this view of the boxoffice he took during the run of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas." This is one of 26 photos of his visit in a post on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page.

2022 - A look at the roof sign. Photo: Bill Counter

2023 - A fine marquee shot taken in June by Mike Hume. See his post on the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation Facebook page for an "Indiana Jones" proscenium shot plus a video clip featuring Rob Richards at the organ.

The east exit passageway:

The view in from Hollywood Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

The side of the building as we look back toward Hollywood Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

A view in from the alley with dressing room windows on the left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

The stagehouse:

A view west toward the dressing room stack stage right. The lower windows are for stage level dressing rooms. There are two dressing room floors above that. The top row of windows is at flyfloor level. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

A wider view of the back of the theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

Looking down the alley from the west. The Masonic Temple is on the left, now the home to the Jimmy Kimmel show. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

The loading doors upstage left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

The west exit passageway:

The view in from the alley. The blocked windows on the right were once into rooms at stage level off left. Note the dressing room levels above. Photo: Bill Counter - 2021

Behind the exit doors, looking toward Hollywood Blvd. That's the house right balcony exit stairs with the office building beyond. The side of the Masonic Temple is on the left. It's a c.2020 photo that appears on a photo gallery PDF. The link is one that's on the El Capitan website's locations page.

El Capitan Theatre: street views 1955 to the present

2 comments: