Las Palmas Theatre

1642 N. Las Palmas Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028  | map |

 

Opened: The building, originally a market, dates from 1927. It was remodeled in 1936 into a playhouse named the Hollywood Little Theatre. This June 7, 1951 photo by Earl Leaf is from the Michael Ochs Archive and Getty Images. "Hocus Pocus" was comedy by Harold Sherman. Thanks to Torbjörn Eriksson for sharing this version of the image on the private Facebook group Southern California Nostalgia. 

The building has had a number of different lives including stints as a legit theatre and movie house. It's now a music club called Sound. 

 

Website: www.soundnightclub.com

Seating: It was listed as 388 in 1949. It's now a flat-floored music venue. 

History: The Las Palmas was a noted legit venue for many years. A Daily Variety item located by Joe Vogel noted that in June 1941 it was being called the Hollywood Troupers Theatre.

In 1943 it was branded Dante’s Troupers Theater for a run of about six months of the touring magic show "Sim Sala Bim" starring Dante (Harry Jansen). Later in 1943 it become the Playtime Theatre.

 

This ad for a revue called "Play Time" appeared in September 1943.

 

 

The delightful paper ephemera collection of Eric Lynxwiler on Flickr includes this ad for the revue "Insults of 1944" at the Playtime. It appeared in an issue of Playgoer magazine distributed at the Biltmore. The show was produced by Billy Berg and starred Ray Bourbon. The rest of the cast, which changed at times, included "jive singer" Betty McCabe, puppeteer Don Stone, Sherman "Scatman" Crothers and dancer Vera Richkova.

The Hume Cronyn production of Tennessee Williams' "Portrait of a Madonna" starring Jessica Tandy played at the theatre in the mid-40s.

 A 1945 ad for something called "Strange Love Story." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it for posting as a comment on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

Sometime before 1946 it got the Las Palmas name. In 1946 the Actors' Laboratory leased the theatre for productions of "Awake and Sing," "Volpone," "Home of the Brave" (with Barbara Bel Geddes) and Gogol's "The Inspector General."

 

"Awake and Sing," with most of the original Group Theatre cast from New York, opened June 25, 1946 for a four week run. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the flyer for a post on Photos of Los Angeles. The cast included John Garfield, Edward Bromberg, Alfred Ryder, Phoebe Brand, Morris Carnovsky, Robert Lewis, Art Smith and David Clark. 

In 1947 the theatre got a remodel and was then briefly a film house. Ken McIntyre found a mention in an LA Times article dated May 10: 

"...Reopening Thursday night as a picture theater in a blaze of glory and lights, with any number of film celebrities present, and with handsome new decorations and freshly upholstered seats, Las Palmas is showing 'Nais,' a French-made film with English subtitles adapted from Emile Zola’s 'Nais Macoulin.' Stars present at the premier included Claudette Colbert, Charles Boyer, Denise Billincord, J. Carrol Naish, Marla Montez, Robert Stack and others."

 

 

Back to legit later in 1947. The RKO Players appeared in "Out of the Frying Pan." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the November ad.

Carol Channing made her west coast debut at the Las Palmas in the 1948 revue "Lend an Ear," directed by Gower Champion. The show, with words and music by Charles Gaynor, also featured Gene Nelson. It later moved to Broadway playing for 460 performances and led to Channing's casting in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding this L.A. Times ad for the show.

The program cover for "Lend An Ear," from the now-vanished site TheaterPrint. The next show up at the Las Palmas was "Tongue in Cheek," not a success.

A 1948 L.A. Times ad for a legit show called "Angel Face" located by Ken McIntyre.

 

Would you believe an ice show playing the theatre in January 1949? Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding this ad for "Icelandia." It was a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

 

"Strange Bedfellows" with Barbara Britton playing in March 1950. 

 
A 1950 L.A. Times ad.  

 

In November 1950 Cesar Romero was appearing in "Slightly Dishonorable." Following that it was Vincent Price and Jane Wyatt in "The Winslow Boy."  

 

Harold Sherman's comedy "Hocus Pocus" opened June 6, 1951. It was a production of Jack Carnes and Paul Chambers that featured Walter Kingsford, Marjorie Bennett and Mildred McCoy. The Times gave it a review on June 14. Also in 1951: Arthur Kennedy took over the house for a repertory season.

 

A September 1951 ad for the play "The Beaustone Affair." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting it on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. The production closed December 1. 

 

 

A production of "Mister Roberts" opened June 25, 1953. This ad was in the Times on June 24. 

 

In 1954 the show "That's Life" had a good run. This ad is from August 3.

 

"The Billy Barnes Revue" played the theatre in 1958. The show, with music and lyrics by Barnes, featured Joyce Jameson, Bert Convy, and Ken Berry. The L.A. run was followed by a transfer to Off-Broadway, then to Broadway (for 87 performances), then another Off-Broadway run. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this October 1958 ad. 

 

 

Billy Barnes was back with a new show called "The Billy Barnes People" in 1960. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this December 30 article, part of a thread about the theatre for the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

"Under the Yum Yum Tree" with Robert Vaughn and Richard Long had a nearly year-long run in 1961. It then moved to the Ivar with a different cast. 

 

A December 1962 ad for "Come Blow Your Horn." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a post for the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group. 

In 1964 Billy Barnes was back at the Las Palmas with "Billy Barnes' Hollywood." "Nobody Loves an Albatross" was one production playing in 1965. "Barefoot in the Park" had a run of several months in 1967. Michael McClure's "The Beard" played in 1968 as well as a bill of the two one-acts "The Private Ear" and "The Public Eye." 

"An Evening with Pat Collins" was an attraction in 1969. The rock musical "Salvation" also had a run around that time.

The theatre began running adult films in 1970. At the time it was operated by Carlos Tobalina, who also had the X and the Mayan. Presumably it was all 35mm from the booth that had been installed in 1947.  

 

 

 

A January 1970 ad in the Times for "I am Curious... Tahiti" and another Tobalina hit "101 Acts of Love." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a thread about various adult theatres on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group. A December 1970 listing in the Times showed the theatre running the same double feature. 

 

By late 1971 it had been turned into an automated gay porno house -- you'd put a $5 bill in the slot and go through a turnstyle. Matt Spero notes that during this period they were using rear projection with a 16mm booth set up onstage. 

 

A June 1972 ad located by Ken McIntyre. 

 

 

A March 17, 1974 ad for something called "Lialeh" that was located by Ken McIntyre.

 

Later in 1974 the theatre was back to 35mm following a renovation by Great Western Theatres. The idea was that it would become an art house like the Bleeker Street Cinema in New York. Thanks to Steven Otto for locating an article about the new operators written by Ralph Tribbey, at the time the circuit's VP of operations. Ralph's exhibition adventures also included ten+ years with Loew's, General Cinema and National Cinema. He tells the story in a post about the documentary "I Am Divine" on his blog DVD & Blu-Ray Release Report:

 

"I was at that time the vice president of operations for a small SoCal theatre chain — about 30 screens as far north as Concord and all the way south to El Centro and Yuma. The chain’s president [Steve Lane] would go on to become a film producer of some note with such films as 'The Howling,' 'Lawnmower Man' and 'Phantoms.' His partner [William Ward] had some interesting contacts in the entertainment business and he too would dabble with film production (of a somewhat different ilk — anyone remember 'The Health Spa' starring Abigail Clayton?). 

 

"Among these 'interesting contacts' were business associates from the east coast who provided funding for our little enterprise through the concession business. Their representative from back east was far more interested in other things (which shall go nameless here) than dealing with the day to day of supplying candy, popcorn and soft drinks to our chain of theatres, so I ended up managing that side of the business (it was in our best interest to make sure that things ran smoothly).

"He also had some equally 'interesting' contacts when it came to taking over certain theatres. But that’s a whole other story … however, one such theatre that did come our way was the Las Palmas in Hollywood — between Hollywood Blvd. and Selma. At the time it was a gay porn venue of somewhat dubious operating procedures, but he [the company's president] envisioned this uniquely located cinema as being the west coast version of the Bleecker Street Cinema. It would become the greatest art house venue in Hollywood! We closed it down, cleaned it up and did a little remodeling..."

 

But decent bookings were scarce and the house was soon running second-run double bills. One program in July 1975 was "American Graffitti" and "M*A*S*H*," closing July 22. On July 23 the house had a preview of the John Waters film "Female Trouble," followed by an exclusive run the next day. Mark Valen comments about the booking: 

 

"Yes, you are correct about 'Female Trouble' having its exclusive first-run engagement here at the Las Palmas in 1975. 'Pink Flamingos' had opened the year before at the Nuart for midnight shows and was still running when 'FT' opened as a regular engagement in Hollywood. They were expecting bigger business, which it deserved. But I saw it one weekday matinee with 6 other friends and we were nearly the only people in the theater. 

 

"It was run on 35mm. Must have been summer as I recall we were all wearing T-shirts. Hopefully they did more business on weekend nights but I don’t recall it played long here so they went back to 2nd run double features and porn bookings thereafter."

Rlph Tribbey talks about the opening of "Female Trouble" on July 23, 1975:

"Since the Las Palmas was destined to be the next Bleecker Street Cinema, it was decided that we’d rip a page from the playbook of the nearby Grauman's Chinese Theatre. A four-by-four foot chunk of sidewalk in front of the theatre was jackhammered out and four inches of fresh concrete was poured (all without permits) late in the afternoon on the day of the film’s grand opening. The plan was for Divine to place her hand and feet impressions in the fresh cement for future visitors to marvel at. It was a good plan, but …

"We got the necessary permit to have Las Palmas closed between Hollywood Blvd. on the north and Selma Avenue on the south. We even had a Klieg light rolled up in front of the place and as the sun set it lit up the sky … a large crowd of curious onlookers began to gather. Many more than anticipated!!! At the appropriate moment a trash truck lumbered up Las Palmas and stopped in front of the theatre. The hydraulics kicked in and the entire backend suddenly opened up to reveal eight Cycle Sluts — men dressed in leather, bustiers and fishnet costumes — who came pouring out and began dancing and prancing around the street. The crowd went wild. They would be the honor guard for Divine.

"Next came the limo with our honored guest. It pulled up in front of the theatre. One of the motorcycle cops, who we were required to have there to provide security, opened the door to her limo and out she stepped, turned … and walked right through the fresh cement! It was a disaster! No feet or hand impressions, but a path of complete destruction leading to the open doors of the theatre. I can, however, report that Divine was a good sport about it. The premiere went well, but alas the Las Palmas didn’t become the next Bleecker Street and we soon closed it up. Over the years it would become all sorts of things … eventually gutted and turned into different clubs."   

Cycle Sluts at the July 23, 1975 "Female Trouble" premiere. Thanks to Ralph Tribbey for the photo.

 

"Female Trouble" was still running in August 1975, at the end double-billed with "A Very Natural Thing." By September 1975 the theatre was still running films but was then a $1 bargain house.  

 

 

Stage productions were back in early 1976 at the "New Las Palmas Theatre." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this May ad for "Boy Meets Boy," then in its 5th month.

The L.A. Mime Company had an open-ended run at the theatre later in 1976. There was a fire in March 1977 but the place was patched up and soon back in business. L.A. Stage Co. was a tenant in the early 80s. "Pump Boys and Dinettes" had a good run in 1986 and 87.

Other productions in the 80s included Sam Shephard's "True West" starring Randy and Dennis Quaid, "The Normal Heart" starring Richard Dreyfuss, Tom Topor's play "Nuts," and Christopher Durang's "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You." It was later used as a music club by a number of different operators.

Stage specs: 

Proscenium width:  29'8"    

Height: 11'2"    

Stage wall to wall: 39'4"    

Fly lines: none 

 

Footlights to curtain: 1'     

 

Curtain to backwall: 20'     

 

Dressing rooms: 2    

 

Power: AC only

The data is from the 1949 ATPAM Theatre, Arena and Auditorium Guide. Thanks to Bob Foreman for posting the contents of the book on his blog Vintage Theatre Catalogs.

Status: The theatre is back in business again but the interior has been gutted. It's now a nightclub that has gone through several names and operators. From 2006 until about 2010 it was a club called Element. Since late 2012 it's been an operation called Sound.

 

 

A 2007 view of the club action at Element. It's a photo by R.C. that appears on Yelp. 

 

A night at Sound in 2017. It's a photo by Kobi D. that's on Yelp.

More exterior views:

1967 - A look down Las Palmas Ave. from Hollywood Blvd. It's a photo by Kolchak Ans. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for sharing it on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. David Zornig  posted a smaller version of it on the Cinema Treasures page about the Las Palmas.  

1967 - A detail from the photo above. Nope, can't read what's on the marquee. Something about "Summer Theatre" on the third line?

 

1971 - A photo from the terrific McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection, their MISC-1971-49. They were running "Selma and Her Boys" along with "Gay Shorts." Also in the collection is a 1972 view, #T-034-1. On the marquee for that one was "The Insatiables - Summr Fireworks." They had run out of space on the bottom line.

1975 - Running as a $1 bargain house with "The Devil's Rain" and "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud." It's a photo that was located by Cinema Treasures contributor Granola. It's on the site's Las Palmas page. It's also been on the All Movie Theatres Facebook page. Bruce Kimmel comments: 

"This double bill played from September 10 to 16. Pat Rocco's movie 'Drifter' played for a week beginning on the 17th and would then disappear for almost fifty years until its recent Blu-ray release on Kino. I had no idea the Las Palmas was showing movies back then. What's interesting to me is how fast 'Peter Proud' hit the skids - it was playing at the Pix in late May."

 

1982 - "Uncommon Women and Others." It's a photo taken when the L.A. Stage Co. was mounting their productions at the Las Palmas. Thanks to the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for the photo, their #T-034-2.

2005 - Thanks to Ken Roe for sharing this photo he took on Flickr.

2006 - Thanks to Toomas Losin for this photo of the building as the Element nightclub. It's one appearing on his web page Angel Filming Locations Part 3, about theatres appearing in the 1984 film "Angel."  

2007 - The Element again. Photo: Bill Counter  

 

 

2007 - A June marquee shot from R.C. on Yelp. The Element was in business until around 2010.

 

2012 - A marquee soffit view. It's a Ken McIntyre photo that appeared on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

2012 - An entrance view with the building between tenants. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting this for the Photos of Los Angeles group. The vertical sign was removed from the building around 2010.

2016 - The theatre as the Sound Nightclub. It's a Google Maps view. Head there for the interactive version.

 

 

2021 - A photo by Myung J. Chun that appeared with the June 22 L.A. Times article "From Silver Lake to Boyle Heights to Agoura Hills clubgoers celebrate L.A.'s reopening."

The Las Palmas in the Movies: 

 

 

We get a scene on the sidewalk in the Carlos Tobalina film "Refinements in Love" (Hollywood International Pictures, 1971). Polynesian dancers and a fire act are promoting "I Am Curious Tahiti," a 1970 Tobalina epic. Thanks to Scott Favareille for spotting the theatre in the film. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for several more Las Palmas shots plus views of the Mayan, the X Theatre and the World Theatre.   

 

 

We get a quick look down the street toward the pizza sign of Micelli's and the Las Palmas beyond when Paul Le Mat and Dianne Hull take a drive on Hollywood Boulevard in "Aloha, Bobby and Rose" (Columbia Pictures, 1975). The film also features Tim McIntyre, Leigh French, Noble Willingham, Martine Bartlett and Robert Carradine. Floyd Mutrux directed. William A. Fraker did the cinematography. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for shots of the Pantages, Loew's, Pix, Egyptian and New-View from the film. 

 

 

A shot from the 1980 TV move "The Munsters' Revenge." Ken McIntyre located this for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. Thanks to Royce Mathew for identifying the source of the image. 

The final shootout in Robert Vincent O'Neill's "Angel" (New World, 1984) takes place in the alley just north of the Las Palmas. Here we see the theatre with posters up for "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You." Shooting was in the summer of 1983. The film stars Donna Wilkes as fifteen year old Molly, a high school student by day and working the street at night. Cliff Gorman, Dick Shawn, Rory Calhoun and John Diehl are also in this tale of a killer preying on teenage hookers. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a dozen shots from the film including glimpses of the Chinese, Vogue, Hollywood, Warner, Pantages, Cave and X theatres.

 

The theatre appears as the Harem Room where a stripper played by Claudia Christian works in “The Hidden” (New Line Cinema, 1987). She goes on a rampage and is evading the police. Her body has, of course, been taken over by an alien creature who will soon migrate to yet another body. Jack Sholder directed the film starring Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Nouri. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for three more Las Palmas shots as well as views of the Westlake, the Pantages, the Palace and the United Artists. Thanks to Don Solosan for the data on this one. 

 

 

This shot of the Las Palmas during a vacant period is one of many views of abandoned theatres appearing in Paul Schrader's "The Canyons" (IFC Films, 2013). There's a montage with the opening credits and others, like this one, scattered throughout. The film, written by Bret Easton Ellis, is a thriller about some sad people on the fringes of the film business and features Lindsey Lohan, James Deen, Nolan Funk and Amanda Brooks. The cinematography was by John Paul DeFazio. See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for shots of the Egyptian, Regent, X Theatre, and Fox Inglewood. 

More information: See the Las Palmas page on Cinema Treasures for lots of stories. There's a Yelp page for the Sound nightclub with several hundred photos.

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