Hollywood Theatre

6764 Hollywood Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA 90028 | map | 

The news: The Guinness Book of Records Museum that had been a long time tenant closed up in mid-2024. The interior is getting renovated for something new. See several construction views lower on the page. Wendell Benedetti of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation did the research:

"According to permits: Change of use from Museum to Special Amusement Area (Commercial Exhibits) and tenant improvements to existing museum. Includes new maze exhibits, new elevators located at the north side of the building, removal of existing rear elevator, infill of existing center stairway, and (2) new toilet rooms.  

"Structural updates for alternate wall reinforcement and added special concentrically braced frame supporting a thickened elevator pit wall. Subpanels, power, and lighting for new special amusement area and museum TI. Plan check for power and energy for place of assembly. Note: A3 occupancy per building permit 24016-10000-03537 . Tenant improvement for new mirror maze exhibit."

Long-term news: Metro may want to demolish the theatre, the adjoining Ripley's/Bank of America building and the Owl Drug building on the southwest corner of Hollywood and Highland - plus one to the west at 6808 - as part of a future extension north of their K rail line to connect with the Red Line subway in Hollywood. It's discussed in their 2,000 page Draft Environmental Impact Report. Thanks to Marc Chevalier and Lisa Kouza Braddock for being on top of the news. 

The alert was shared in an August 2024 Hollywood Heritage Museum Facebook post where they note that they'll be advocating for the buildings. Metro is looking for comments: https://thesource.metro.net/2024/07/23/read-the-draft-environmental-impact-report-eir-for-the-k-line-northern-extension/

Opened: December 20, 1913 as Hollywood's second theatre with the initial admission price of 10 cents. The owner of the project was Herbert W. Lewis. The Idle Hour had been the first theatre to open in Hollywood, in late 1910 or early 1911. There are no more movies at the Hollywood. From the early 1990s until a 2024 closure for a renovation the building had been used as a Guinness Book of Records Museum. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010

Architects: John P. Krempel and Walter E. Erkes of the firm Krempel and Erkes were the architects. The original facade was of white glazed brick with marble tile in the lobby. The auditorium featured Corinthian columns and a coffered ceiling.

Evidently there was a minor remodel in 1927. Claud Beelman and Clifford Balch (together?) supposedly did a renovation in 1936 and replaced the original white brick facade with a deco version. The marquee and vertical currently on the building are from that remodel although some sources credit the marquee to S. Charles Lee. Stories about who did the 30s remodel work (and when) are sketchy and contradictory. 

Seating: In an opening day article the L.A. Times gave the capacity as 633. It had 750 seats at the end.

 

Pipe organ: It's not known what the original installation was. A 2/10 Wurlitzer style 215 "Special," opus 697, was installed in 1923. It gets a listing on Pipe Organ Database. Parts of it ended up combined with a different console as well as pipes from a Kimball at the Calvary Christian Assembly in Seattle. The website of the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society has a page about the installation. The console was used for several years at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem before being replaced.  

History:

 

The project was announced in this June 13 story in the Hollywood Citizen-News. Thanks to LAHTF board president Mike Hume for locating this. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for technical and historic data along with thousands of great photos of the theatres he's explored in the L.A. area and elsewhere.  

 

 

 

The L.A. Times followed up with this June 15 story that Mike located. Here we get the data that H.L. Lewis, the son of the owner will be managing the house. 

 

 

This item that Mike Hume spotted in the August 9, 1913 issue of the L.A. Evening Express was a bit late with the news about the sale of the lot. No, they didn't make that November 1 completion date.   

 

A facade illustration that appeared in the August 17 issue of the Times. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating this. The story that accompanied it: 

"Fine 'MOVIE' HOUSE. Construction Begun Upon Handsome Hollywood Picture Theater. Will Seat About Seven Hundred. Construction has begun in Hollywood upon one of the finest and most elaborate moving-picture theaters yet projected in the city. The building, planned by Krempel & Erkes for H.W. Lewis, will occupy a site on the south side of Hollywood boulevard near Highland avenue. It will follow the Romanesque style of architecture. 

"The structure will be 50x135 feet in size and of brick construction. The front will be faced with white semi-glazed brick and terra cotta and the lobby will be finished in marble and tile. The main entrance, which will be covered by an attractive marquise, will be flanked on either hand by stores. An elaborate lighting scheme has been designed for the exterior. 

"The auditorium will have a coffered ceiling supported by Corinthian columns and will seat about 700 persons. Concealed wall lights, handsome ceiling drops, a sunken orchestra pit, rich wall hangings and leather-upholstered chairs will be features. The cost of the improvement complete is given at $25,000."

 

Opening day was December 20, 1913. The Times gave this preview of the theatre in their issue that day. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the article.

 

 

An excerpt from a 1924 article that appeared in the Hollywood Citizen. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a thread about the Windsor Theatre for the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. The Windsor was built in 1917. While the firm was still running the Windsor in 1921 it evidently was dropped sometime after this 1924 article appeared. 

 

In 1921 Hollywood Theatres, Inc., in a partnership with Arthur Sanborn, built the Rivoli Theatre, 4521 S. Western Ave.

 

A 1927 ad in the Citizen for Hollywood Theatres, Inc, at the time managed by J. Leslie Swope, John M. Young and Frank A. Grant. Not mentioned in the ad as shareholders were the Gore brothers and Sol Lesser. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting it. 

 

The Hollywood was the only one of the bunch that didn't change its name. The Carmel ended up as the Paris, the Granada became the Oriental, the Paramount became the Loma, the La Mirada was soon the Filmarte and the Apollo finished its days as the Star. West Coast Theatres, a partner in the venture, became Fox West Coast in 1929 after William Fox bought a controlling interest. 

 

 

The cover of a West Coast Hollywood Theatres program for July 1931. Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this from his collection on Flickr. Also see the back cover, where they were advertising foreign films playing at the Filmarte.

 

 

 

The inside of the 1931 program, on Flickr from Eric. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for spotting Eric's posts and including this in the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation Group Pool on Flickr.  

 

It appears that there were labor troubles in the early 30s. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this June 1933 article for a thread about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

The Hollywood was operated for decades by Fox West Coast and its successor company National General Corporation. It was a grind operation for a while under NGC. Mann Theatres bought the remnants of the Fox circuit from NGC in 1973 and frequently used the Hollywood as a moveover house from the Chinese. Mann did a remodel in 1977 (including a 70mm installation) for a moveover of "Star Wars."

 

A June 24, 1977 Times ad for the ill-conceived moveover of "Star Wars." Mann hastily remodeled the theatre for this as the Chinese had been contracted for a six week run of William Friedkin's "Sorcerer." Thanks to Michael Coate for sharing two ads and a photo with the Friends of 70mm private Facebook group. He notes that when "Star Wars" moved back to the Chinese on August 3 the new booking for the Hollywood was "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger."

"Blade Runner" had a good 70mm run here beginning June 25, 1982.

Closing: The theatre closed in 1991 and was remodeled as a Guinness World Records museum.

 

 

An ad for the opening of the museum in the building. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this in the July 17-23 issue of the L.A. Weekly.  

Status: It closed as a Guinness Museum in June 2024. The marquee, vertical and some exterior details are the only features remaining. The interior is currently under renovation for a new attraction of some sort.

Interior photos: There are none except what we see in the movies. Screenshots from films featuring the theatre are at the bottom of the page.  

2024 construction views:

A look in the back door house left. The auditorium got double-decked when it was converted into a museum. Photo: Bill Counter - July 2024 

 

 

A deeper look toward Hollywood Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter - July 2024

 

 

A look over toward house right. The door goes to an exit passage along the west side of the building. Photo: Bill Counter - July 2024

 

 

 

Looking in the house right back exit. Photo: Bill Counter - July 2024

 

 

The back stairs up to the second level. Photo: Bill Counter - July 2024 

 

 

 

The view in from Hollywood Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter - August 2024

 
More exterior views:

 

1913 - An early postcard view looking west toward Highland. It's from the collection of Hollywood Heritage. A blowup of the card is on display at the organization's DeLongpre Annex, 6411 Hollywood Blvd. 

 

 

 

c.1914 - Construction underway on the lot west of the theatre. It's a photo from the great Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection. They have over 800 images of theatres to browse. Included are nine views of the Hollywood Theatre. Bruce is the grandson of legendary Hollywood developer C.E. Toberman, who built the El Capitan, Egyptian and Chinese theatres, along with many other landmark buildings. The photo collection is now owned by the McAvoy family. 

1914 - A look at the theatre running "Detective Craig's Coup," a 1914 release with Francis Carlyle, Pearl Sindelar and Jack Standing. The photo appears in "Hollywood, The First 100 Years" by Bruce Torrence. Published by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 1979, it's available on Amazon.  

 

1914 - The wider view the detail above was taken from. Highland Ave. is over on the right. The photo, #HB-039, is on the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs website. It's included in the site's terrific "Hollywood Blvd. 1899-1940" gallery of 214 photos.

 

1924 - A nice look east on Hollywood Blvd. with the theatre on the right. Thanks to Tommy Dangcil for sharing the card from his collection on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page. The photo appears in smaller format on the cover of his Arcadia Publishing book "Hollywood 1900-1950 in Vintage Postcards." The 2002 book, in their Postcard History Series, is available on Amazon. There's also a preview on Google Books. 

 

They were running "Why Men Leave Home" with Lewis Stone. Glen Norman notes in a Facebook post, part of an album about Hollywood street lights, that the film played the theatre from April 19 to April 25. The image is also on the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs website as their #HB-078-1.

 

 

c.1926 - A fine view east on the Boulevard. The theatre marquee is hiding in the gloom on the right, a bit beyond Highland. The First National Bank's building seen on the northeast corner would be replaced in 1929 by the tower designed by Meyer & Holler. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. 

 

 

1928 - This was the first year for decorating the street and they used real trees. The Hollywood Theatre is hiding beyond the trees on the right. This December photo from the California Historical Society collection appears on the USC Digital Library website.  

 

 

1928 - The marquee located through the trees. It's a detail from the December photo. The theatre was running "Show Girl," an October release starring Alice White.

 

 

1933 - A January view east across Highland from the California Historical Society that appears on the USC Digital Library website. 

 

 

1933 - A detail from the January photo giving us a good look at the Hollywood's new vertical and the signage for the Egyptian beyond. The Hollywood was playing the October 1932 release "Three on a Match" with Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak and Bette Davis. The co-feature was something with Robert Montgomery. Also see another "Three on a Match" view in the CHS collection taken from up in the air a bit. 

 

Bruce Kimmel comments: "The second feature was 'Faithless.' This double bill opened on December 29 - what's fascinating is that at this point in time double bills played four days at the Hollywood and were gone. This one played through Jan 1."

 

1933 - A lovely look at the Hollywood from Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives that's in the Hollywood Historic Photos collection.

 

 

1936 - Our last good look at the theatre prior to the facade remodel, probably taken in June. They were running "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town," an April release with Jean Arthur and Gary Cooper. The co-feature was "Gentle Julia" with Jane Withers. Down the street the Egyptian had "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford." The photo appears in the terrific book "Hollywood, The First 100 Years" by Bruce Torrence. Published by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 1979, it's available on Amazon. The photo is also on the Getty Images site where they credit it to Popperfoto.

 

1936 - Looking east during the run of "Mr. Deeds." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo, a post of his on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

1936 - Yet another "Mr. Deeds" view. Thanks to Martin Turnbull for locating it for a page on his website. It can also be seen in the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection, their #HB-178.  Also see two additional "Mr. Deeds" shots in the collection from the same angle, their #HB-171 and #HB-172.

 

Glen Norman comments: "The Bank of America building seen on the southeast corner was originally a four story structure. The upper floors were removed in 1935." Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating "Bank Building Remodeling to Cost $60,000," a June 21, 1935 article in the Hollywood Citizen News. The remodeling was necessary due to a Highland Ave. street widening project. 

1937 - An "Angeleno Card" with a photo taken by Bob Plunkett. The Hollywood had a second run engagement of "Captains Courageous" with Spencer Tracy and Freddie Bartholomew. It had run a week at the Chinese from July 14 until July 20. Down the street the Egyptian had a banner out for the August release "Artist and Models" with Jack Benny and Ida Lupino. It's a card from the Ernest Marquez collection at the Huntington Library.  The Huntington also has another version from the same week using a horizontal shot.

1938 - A night view showing off the new marquee. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

1938 - Another look at the new marquee. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

 

 

1938 - The Hollywood was playing "The Great Waltz," a November release with Luise Rainer and Fernand Gravet. It's a Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection.  

1938 - The night of the Christmas Parade. That's the Hollywood over on the right, again with "The Great Waltz" on the marquee. It's a Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection that's indexed with the previous photo.

 

1938 - A marquee soffit snapshot. Photo: Herman Schultheis, Los Angeles Public Library 

 

 

1938 - A change of program. Here the Hollywood was running "The Cowboy and the Lady," a November release with Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon. Photo: Herman Schultheis, Los Angeles Public Library

 

 

1938 - Another Christmas angle shot taken during the run of "The Cowboy and the Lady." Photo: Herman Schultheis, Los Angeles Public Library

 

1939 - A lovely view east while the theatre was running the April release "Love Affair" with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer along with "The Three Musketeers" starring Don Ameche. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a Facebook post on Ken's Movie Page.  

1939 - A photo from the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection, their #HB-207. It's included in the site's "Hollywood Blvd. 1899-1940" gallery of 214 photos. Penny's was celebrating their 3rd anniversary on Hollywood Blvd.

 

 

1939 - A look east on Hollywood Blvd. from Highland. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this one for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. This year they had garlands over the street, something they didn't have up in 1938.  The Hollywood was running the November release "Another Thin Man" with William Powell and Myrna Loy. The photo is included in the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection as their #HB-199. 

1940 - Looking west toward Highland. On the left it's the original Christie Hotel building. It's a photo from the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection, their #HB-226. Also see a view east across Highland from the same set, their #HB-227. These shots make an appearance in the site's "Hollywood Blvd. 1899-1940" gallery of 214 photos.

 

1940 - A Christmastime look east on the Boulevard by Herman Schultheis. The decor for the season was polka dots. The Hollywood was playing September release "The Howards of Virginia" with Cary Grant. The photo is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1942 - A fine view of the redone facade, part of the 1936 remodel. It's a photo by Nate Singer on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. There's also a copy of this one on Flickr from the Eric Lynxwiler collection. The main feature was "My Gal Sal" with Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature. Bruce Kimmel notes that the film played at the Chinese, the Egyptian, and the Vogue before ending up briefly at the Hollywood around June 21.  

 

 

1942 - A detail from the Nate Singer photo. 

1943 - A superb shot looking east on Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood was running "You Were Never Lovelier," the November 1942 release with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. Beyond the Christie Hotel there's a glimpse of the Egyptian Theatre vertical. Thanks to Bobby Cole for locating the photo for a post on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page.

 

1945 - A Christmas look east on Hollywood Blvd. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this one for the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

 

 

c.1945 - Looking east on Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood is hiding over on the right side. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library.

 

 

1946 - A cool Christmas season view looking east with the Hollywood Theatre at the right. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

1946 - A photo looking west on Hollywood Blvd. during Christmas season added to the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page by Alison Martino. We miss the Egyptian (it would be just off to the left) but get a glimpse of the Hollywood Theatre vertical farther down the street on the left. And farther down there's the tower atop the El Capitan.

 

1947 - Thanks to Alison Martino for locating this noirish Christmas view. It was a post on her Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1950 - A Bob Plunkett postcard view from the Ernest Marquez collection that appears on the Huntington Library website. 

 

1950 - A detail from the Bob Plunkett shot. The top of the bill was "Mother Didn't Tell Me" with Dorothy McGuire, William Lundigan and June Havoc. The co-feature was "Chain Lightning," a February release with Eleanor Parker and Humphrey Bogart. Kurt Wahlner notes that "Mother..." had played a week at the Chinese and four other theatres from February 24 until March 2 along with "The Blonde Bandit."

1950 - A photo by Ralph Crane for Life looking east that gives us the Vogue on the left with the towers of the Warner beyond. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Tourmaline for spotting the shot in the Life collection -- it's in the Noirish post #35733 along with other Hollywood views.  

 

The Hollywood was playing "No Man of Her Own," a February release with Barbara Stanwyck, along with "No Sad Songs For Me," an April release with Margaret Sullavan and Wendell Corey. Bruce Kimmel notes that this double bill opened at the Hollywood on June 28. 

 

1950 - A photo by Weegee (Arthur Fellig). The Hollywood was running "Mister 880," a late September release with Burt Lancaster, along with "Three Secrets." It's on the website of the International Center of Photography with the title "Miracle on Hollywood Blvd." Michael Jordan spotted it for a post for the SoCal Historic Architecture private Facebook group. Bruce Kimmel comments: "Hollywood, from this era right through 1970 was always my favorite place to walk in the rain. As to this double bill, it opened on Wednesday, November 8. Now I think I'll go browse at Pickwick."

The "Mister 880" photo appears in the 1953 book "Naked Hollywood." In this c.1952 shot by Bob Parent we see Weegee and his co-author Mel Harris in Harris' L.A. apartment sorting images for the book. Thanks to Paul Ayers for locating this photo for a Facebook post. It can be seen on the International Center of Photography site.

 

 

1950 - The Hollywood with the October release "The Miniver Story" starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. The co-feature was John Ford's "Rio Grande," a November release with Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo from his amazing collection. It's on Flickr. He's the author, with Tom Zimmerman, of the Angel City Press book "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965." Also see Eric's "Signs of Life: Los Angeles is the City of Neon."

 

1951 - A great look at the marquee during the run of "Pagan Love Song" with Esther Williams and Howard Keel and the co-feature "Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone." Ken McIntyre located it for a post on Photos of Los Angeles. Bruce Kimmel notes that this program played the week of February 7. "Love Song" opened at the very end of December 1950 at the Egyptian and Loew's State and then went wide in February.

1951 - A Life magazine view by Ralph Crane looking west on Hollywood Blvd. Note that, among other theatres, we get a glimpse of the Vogue neon on the right and the Hollywood on the left. The Hotel Drake you see here was earlier the Hotel Christie. Later it was the Hollywood Inn. The building is now part of Scientology's many holdings in Hollywood. 

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the shot above in the Life collection and posting it on Photos of Los Angeles. On the same Facebook page Bill Gabel also has added another version. You can
also find it on Tourmaline's Noirish Los Angeles post #35733.

1952 - A Julius Shulman photo looking east on Hollywood Blvd. toward Highland. He was out photographing various branch offices for Bank of America. It was his Job #1268, consisting of three photos -- this one above plus views up and down Highland. The photos are in the collection of the Getty Research Institute where they also have a few more Shulman photos -- like about 3,000.

 

1952 - A detail from Mr. Shulman's photo. Coffee Dan's has moved in next door to the theatre. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Hoss C for finding the shot in the Getty collection. It's part of his Noirish post #31044.

 

 

 

c.1952 - A view looking east toward the Hollywood Theatre. Ken McIntyre added it to the Photos of Los Angeles collection.  Glen Norman comments: "The Pacific Electric line on Highland ended service in December 1952. The Hollywood Blvd. line lasted until September 1954." 

1953 - A classic Hollywood postcard from the Steven Otto collection. He notes: "Hollywood Blvd. in 1953, judging from the double feature at the Hollywood Theater (‘Salome’ and ‘The Girl Next Door’). The radio towers atop Warner Bros.Theater spell CINERAMA in yellow neon." Thanks, Steven! He had it as a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. A different version of the card appears in Eric Lynxwiler's Paper Ephemera set on Flickr.
 

1953 - A colorful postcard using a larger version of one of the images seen on the previous card.  Note the Vogue Theatre signage in the center of the image and, on the right, the green neon of the Egyptian down the block from the Hollywood. The card is one that appeared as part of the collection of the now-vanished website Yesterday LA. 

"Salome" at the Hollywood was a March release with Rita Hayworth and Stewart Granger. It had begun its first-run engagement April 15 at the Pantages, RKO Hillstreet and the Four Star. "The Girl Next Door" was a May release starring Dan Dailey, June Haver and Dennis Day.

1957 - Cinemascope! "The Sea Wife" was an October release with Joan Collins and Richard Burton.   Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo from his collection on Flickr. With co-author Tom Zimmerman, Eric is responsible for the Angel City Press book "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965." Also see Eric's 2016 book "Signs of Life: Los Angeles is the City of Neon."

1957 - A detail from Eric's "Sea Wife" photo.

1961 - A look east from Highland along Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood was running "Vera Cruz" with Gary Cooper -- a reissue. The photo appeared as a find by Ken McIntyre on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. It's also part of Ethereal Reality's Noirish Los Angeles post #5198, an extensive survey of the use of banners across L.A.'s streets.

1962 - On the right it's Nixon campaigning for Governor. It's a photo taken by Ralph Crane for Life magazine. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating it. He's the curator of the Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page. It's also on Instagram.

 

"Sad Sack" on the Hollywood marquee wasn't intended to be a comment on Nixon. They were running a reissue Jerry Lewis double bill with two of his 1957 films: "The Sad Sack" with Jerry and Phyllis Kirk along with "The Delicate Delinquent" that featured Jerry with Martha Hyer. This election was the one where the the incumbent Pat Brown beat Nixon, who then told the press in his November 7 concession speech "You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore."

1960s - Thanks to Martin Pal for spotting this shot from Vicky Valentine's collection looking east from Highland Ave. Martin shared it on his Noirish Los Angeles post #33734. Thanks also to Hoss C for his post #33735 where he had done some color correction for us.

 

 

1960s - A view east across Orchid Ave. from the Adsausage Los Angeles Photo Archive. Thanks to Phillip Cutler for spotting it to share on his Classic Hollywood/Los Angeles SFV Facebook page. 

 

 

1965 - East across Highland. Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing this photo from his collection. 

 

 

1966 - A look west from McCadden Pl. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo.

1966 - Looking west past the Egyptian toward the Hollywood Theatre and Highland Ave. In the distance there's the tower of the El Capitan building. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

1966 - Another vista looking west toward Hollywood and Highland found by Ken McIntyre for the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group. Note the black hulk of the El Capitan beyond.

 

1972 - Note the signage still partially up from Nixon's presidential reelection campaign. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this Christmas season shot when it was offered for sale online. Bruce Kimmel comments: "Week of December 6. The Hollywood is playing 'The Sin of Adam and Eve' and 'Sweet Sugar.'"

 

 

1973 - A world premiere in May for "Terror in the Wax Museum." Also see another opening night view. Thanks to Richard Wojcik for locating these two as well as the shot below for a post on the Mid Century Modern private Facebook group.  

 

 

1973 - Later in the run for "Terror in the Wax Museum" along with the co-feature "Asylum." Thanks, Richard.

1973 - A nice view of the Hollywood's neon from the now-vanished Flickr account of Douglas 606. "Showdown" was a June 1973 release, "Winning" was out in May 1969.

1973 - Another photo from Douglas 606, this time looking east.

 

1974 - A tourist getting a snapshot. "Magnum Force" was a moveover. The initial run had been six weeks at the Chinese from December 25, 1973 until February 5, 1974. "The MacKintosh Man" was July 1973 release. The photo from the Richard Wojcik collection appeared as a post for the private Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.  

 

 

1974 - A photo by Ave Pildas. Posters in the cases at the time included "It's Alive" and "Gone With the Wind." His images of Hollywood Blvd. taken between 1972 and 1975 appear in the book "Star Struck" from Deadbeat Club Press. This image also appears with "The Seedy Glamour of Nineteen-Seventies Hollywood," a January 2023 New Yorker story by Michael Schulman. The photo also appeared on the New Yorker Facebook page. Schulman's article begins with this: 

 

"The photographer Ave Pildas arrived in Los Angeles in 1971, not a high point for Hollywood glamour. Smog choked the city, the Hollywood sign was crumbling, and the old movie palaces had become porno theatres. But Pildas was entranced by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where he would run errands and eat lunch while working at Capitol Records, as an artistic director. 'I was looking around and saying, My goodness, this is like Times Square West!' Pildas said recently. 'It was just full of life.'"

1975 - Thanks to John Stewart for this photo, one of fourteen 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. 

1975 - In this vista east on Hollywood Blvd. from Highland the Hollywood Theatre is at the lower right with the Egyptian up the street. Ken McIntyre located this one for a post on private Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group. You can find it on the website of the Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection as their their #HB-455, included as one of 226 photos in the gallery Hollywood Boulevard 1941-1990. Also see a daytime Christmas view down closer to street level, their #HB-456.

 

 

c.1976 - A view east across Highland. That first "Hollywood" vertical is for the theatre, the second is for the Hollywood Inn. It's a photo by Roy Hankey that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. It's also been featured on the LAPL Photo Collection Facebook page.

1977 - A view of the Hollywood while closed for its remodel. It's a Gary Graver photo. He was a filmmaker and cinematographer who took many photos of theatres. More can be seen on You Tube in "Second Run - part 1" and "Second Run - part 2." Thanks to Sean Graver for use of the photo. Wikipedia has an article about Mr. Graver.

 

 

1977 - Marquee and facade work during the renovations. Thanks to the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for the photo, their #T-026-8-1. And thanks to Phillip Cutler for spotting it in the collection. He curates the Classic Hollywood/LosAngeles/SFV Facebook page.

 

1977 - The first day of the infamous moveover of "Star Wars" on June 24. Mann hastily remodeled the theatre for the booking as the Chinese had been contracted for a six week run of William Friedkin's "Sorcerer." Thanks to Michael Coate for sharing the shot by an unknown photographer on the Friends of 70mm Facebook page. 

 

Sal Gomez comments: "That's where I first saw Star Wars before it moved back to the Chinese. It was a Sunday matinee right after the family had gone to church. We drove into Hollywood from East L.A. and there were probably 100 people in the theater for that screening. When I went back to see it the following weekend, it had already moved back to the Chinese Theatre and I was blown away by the crowds. There was a line with ticket holders walking in, a line for buying tickets for the next showing and a line to buy tickets for the showing after the next one. It was insane." 

1977 - The Hollywood playing "Suspiria," an August release. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

1978 - A look at the theatre (and a lovely RTD bus) during the run of "Grease." The photo was shared with the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group by Robert Juzefski. Note the facade's new paint job from the 1977 remodel. 

 

1980 - A photo by Edward Colver of a midnight showing of Penelope Spheeris' "The Decline of Western Civilization" at the Hollywood. She says LAPD's Darryl Gates asked her to never show the film in Los Angeles again.

1980 - Another premiere night photo by Mr. Colver. The two photos and an article by Ms. Spheeris about the making of " The Decline of Western Civilization" appear on the website This Long Century.

1982 - Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for this April "Chariots of Fire" view.

1983 - "48 Hrs." at the Hollywood in January. Thanks to American Classic Images for the photo. The film was a December 1982 release.

 

 

1983 - A "48 Hrs." detail shot by Elisa Leonelli that's in the Claremont Colleges Digital Library collection. Thanks to Chris Nichols for spotting it. 

 

 

1983 - Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders," playing with "Spring Break." It's a photo by Roy Hankey in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Thanks to Donavan S. Moye for spotting it on the LAPL Photo Collection Facebook page. Bruce Kimmel comments: "The Outsiders opened here on March 25, but this double bill is from April 20ish."

 

 

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." Also see another take the same evening.

1983 - A shot taken in May by Roy Hankey that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

 

 

1984 - The theatre playing Bob Fosse's "Star 80." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. Bruce Kimmel comments: "Opened November 11, 1983 at the National in Westwood. It didn't play the Hollywood until mid-February 1984."

1984 - A look at the neon during the Hollywood Christmas parade. It's from the Richard Wojcik collection on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.

c.1987 - Thanks to Sean Ault for this great shot of the side of the building with its original 1913 signage once again exposed. The building formerly housing Coffee Dan's had been demolished and the McDonald's that was to replace it hadn't yet been started.

 

 

1988 - Thanks to the McAvoy family's Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this image. It's their #HB-582, included as one of 226 photos in their gallery Hollywood Boulevard 1941-1990.

1988 - A view looking west. Bruce Kimmel notes that "Nightfall," an April release, played the Hollywood beginning September 23 and on the 30th was demoted to co-feature status with "Cocktail" added for the top of the bill. Thanks to Monique Rardin Richardson for posting the photo on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.  

c.1988 - The Hollywood is on the left and the Paramount is down in the smoggy distance. The Paramount closed in 1989 for the Disney/Pacific Theatres restoration and a return to the El Capitan name. Thanks to Bill Gabel for finding this photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. 

c.2006 - A colorful view looking southeast. Glen Norman notes that it's the summer of 2005 or later as the streetlights got their current twin drop configuration then. The cross street is Highland. Note the blue Hollywood Theatre sign sticking up above a palm tree. The theatre was already the Guinness Museum when the photo was taken. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting the shot on Photos of Los Angeles. 

2007 - A view west.  Photo: Bill Counter

2009 -  East on the Boulevard. It's a view from Google Maps.

 

 

 

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

2017 - Thanks to Brandon Tyler Williams for his great photo appearing on Photos of Los Angeles. We're looking down on the Hollywood and Highland intersection with the Hollywood Theatre building over on the left. 

 

 

2023 - A fine view up the street appearing "Restoring the Historic Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles," a two minute video from Netflix that's on YouTube. 

 

 

2024 - Time for a look at the back of the building. There are bricked-in windows down near the pavement for what had once been basement dressing rooms. Behind us the alley goes south to Hawthorn Ave. Off to the right we're headed toward the Christie Hotel/Scientology building.  Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2024 - The Guinness World Records Museum closed in June for a renovation and "MaXXXine" took over. Photo: Bill Counter - July 4

 

 

The Hollywood Theatre in the Movies:

 

We spend a lot of time at the Hollywood in the Lois Weber film "Idle Wives" (Universal, 1916). In this view we see the theatre running "Life's Mirror," the film-within-the-film, also directed by Ms. Weber. Long thought lost, 29 minutes of the seven reel film were found in the holdings of the New Zealand Film Archives.

A fine look at the theatre's act curtain from "Idle Wives." Thanks to John Bengtson for the screenshots. He notes that the curtain we see is advertising Hollywood businesses. Head to the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for more views of the Hollywood from the film.

The Harold Lloyd film "Luke's Movie Muddle" (Rolin Films, 1916) was shot at the Hollywood Theatre. Well, at least the exterior views. We see quite a different theatre interior than the one in "Idle Wives." In the nine minute film Lloyd plays a theatre owner who is running the boxoffice but also has to take tickets, usher, and fight with the projectionist. Featured are Bebe Daniels as a customer and "Snub" Pollard in the booth. Hal Roach directed. See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for more about the film.

 

 

The theatre's marquee is seen on the right in this footage from the beginning of King Vidor's "Show People" (MGM, 1928). In the foreground that's Marion Davies and her father, played by Dell Henderson, newly arrived by car from Georgia. He's going to make her a star. The film also features William Haines, Pail Ralli, Tenen Holz, Harry Gribbon and Polly Moran. We get uncredited cameos by John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Charlie Chaplin and others. The cinematography was by John Arnold.

 

 

The Hollywood Theatre appears in four different scenes in Rouben Mamoulian's "City Streets" (Paramount, 1931). The action starts with a caravan of beer trucks rolling by the theatre right after the credits. This shot is from a much later scene. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the theatre in the film, based on a story by Dashiell Hammett. It stars Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney in a tale of a man who joins a gang to somehow get his girlfriend out of prison. The cinematography was by Lee Garmes. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for five additional shots showing the theatre.

We almost get a streetcar view of the marquee and vertical of the Hollywood in the documentary short "Hollywood: City of Celluloid" (1932). It's hiding behind a Christmas tree. The film was produced and photographed by Sten Nordensklold. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a couple shots of the Warner from the film.

We get the vertical signs of the Egyptian and Hollywood theatres behind the opening credits for "Nocturne" (RKO, 1946). Later we pay a visit to the Pantages as George Raft checks out an alibi for murder suspect Lynn Bari. Edwin L. Marin directed. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for more shots. 

 

 

 

Eartha Kitt and Henry Scott go out on the town in "Anna Lucasta" (United Artists, 1958). The Hollywood is down there in the center of the frame. On the far left it's the Egyptian with neon up for "South Pacific." In addition to the footage this shot is from we see some other Hollywood signs and take a stroll by a few storefronts. The film, about a young woman who had been kicked out of the family home and the complications of her return, also features Sammy Davis Jr., Frederick O'Neal, Rex Ingram, Isabel Cooley and John Proctor. Philip Yordan, who fronted for many blacklisted writers, is credited with the screenplay. Arnold Laven directed. The cinematography was by Lucien Ballard.    

 

 

Annie Girardot takes a drive west toward Highland in Franco Rossi's "Smog" (Titanus/Gala Film Distributors, 1962). Well, we almost get a look at the marquee. It's the mess of lights seen inside the steering wheel. The male lead of the film, Enrico Maria Salerno, is an Italian attorney and we follow his adventures during a layover. We get views of many area locations including LAX, Wilshire Blvd., Pasadena, Culver City oil wells, the Stahl House and Hollywood Legion Lanes. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for shots of the Four Star and Ritz on Wilshire Blvd. 

 

 

The verticals for the Hollywood and Loew's/El Capitan make a brief appearance in Paul Mazursky's "Alex in Wonderland" (MGM, 1970). Here film director Donald Sutherland is up on a crane in the middle of a dream sequence involving all sorts of carnage on Hollywood Blvd. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for twenty more shots from the film including views of the Vogue Theatre, New-View/Ritz and the Los Angeles Theatre.

Our serial killer is helping an old lady across the street with the Hollywood in the background near the end of Tom Hanson's unappetizing film "The Zodiac Killer" (Audubon Films, 1971). See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for shots of the New-View/Ritz and the Warner/Pacific Cinerama.

Leslie Ackerman sings her way down the street in a great number from "The First Nudie Musical" (Paramount, 1976). Here she's under the marquee at the Hollywood Theatre. The book, music, and lyrics for the movie are by Bruce Kimmel. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for sixteen more shots from the film including views of Hollywood marquees and a look at the lobby of the Fox Venice.

We see a lot of Hollywood Blvd. in Robert Vincent O'Neill's "Angel" (New World, 1984) including this view east with part of the Paramount vertical and the Hollywood Theatre signage. Fifteen year old Molly is a high school student by day, a hooker by night. The film stars Donna Wilkes, Cliff Gorman, Dick Shawn and Rory Calhoun. John Diehl is the killer preying on teenage girls. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a dozen shots from the film.   

 

We get lots of low altitude shots on the boulevard including this view with the Hollywood across the street in David Winters' "Thrashin'" (Fries Entertainment, 1986). It's about two skateboard gangs battling for supremacy. The film features Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler and Pamela Gidley. Thanks to Eitan Alexander for the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for shots of Grauman's Chinese, the Chinese Twin, and the El Capitan Theatre.   

 

 

A van from a San Francisco Catholic high school drives by the Hollywood on its way to a music competition at the Trinity Auditorium in "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" (Touchstone, 1993). Gee, if they can only win this maybe the Archdiocese won't close the school. The film features Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy, Lauryn Hill, Maggie Smith, Barnard Hughes and James Coburn. Bill Duke directed. The cinematography was by Oliver Wood. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for six shots of scenes at the Trinity.  

 

 

 

Various criminal groups pick up maps at the Hollywood directing them to a secret meeting with Demi Moore, an Angel gone bad, in McG's "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" (Columbia, 2003). Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore foil the plan to bomb a movie premiere. Russell Carpenter did the cinematography. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for 28 more theatre shots from the film including more views of the Hollywood, the Chinese (as a fake "Los Angeles Theatre"), the real Los Angeles, the El Capitan, Rialto, Tower and Orpheum.

 

 

We get this shot in a montage of various sights as Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed roam the boulevard in Catherine Hardwicke's "Thirteen" (Fox Searchlight, 2003). Also featured are Holly Hunter, Jeremy Sisto, Vanessa Hudgens and Brady Corbet. The cinematography was by Elliot Davis. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for two shots at the Chinese and four views of the Galaxy 6.  

 

 

The theatre is in the distance in this shot of the Hollywood Blvd. action in F. Gary Gray's "The Italian Job" (Paramount, 2003). Edward Norton had betrayed his colleagues after a heist in Venice. Mark Wahlberg figures out he's got the $35 million in gold in Los Angeles and comes looking for it. The film also stars Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def and Donald Sutherland. The cinematography was by Wally Pfister. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for six shots of action at the Chinese plus quickie partial views of the Wiltern and the El Capitan.

 

Harrison Ford, a cop with a side gig as a real estate agent, is in front of the former theatre on a bike chasing a suspect in Ron Shelton's "Hollywood Homicide" (Sony, 2003). See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for several Chinese views as well as a look at the Pantages when an evil music mogul pops up from the Metro and aerial shots of the Music Box/Fonda and the towers of the Warner. Josh Hartnett and Lena Olin costar.  

 

 

 

A shot from some c.1962 footage appearing in "Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed" (HBO, 2023).  They were running "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The World of Suzie Wong." Stephen Kijak directed the documentary. Thanks to Donavan S. Moye for spotting the theatre in the film and getting the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a shot from the 1956 premiere of "Giant" at the Chinese.

 

 

We get a 1988 shot of the Hollywood in footage that's used in Alex Gibney's documentary "Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos" (HBO, 2024). On the marquee it's "Fatal Attraction," a film that had its initial Hollywood run at the Chinese: ten weeks ending November 24, 1987. Down the street it's the Egyptian, Vogue and Hollywood Pacific. Thanks to Donavan S. Moye for spotting the theatres and getting the screenshot.

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page for lots of comments.

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