Writers' Club Theatre / Center Stage Playhouse / Hollywood Center Theatre

1445 N. Las Palmas Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028 | map | 

Opening: This building, constructed as a residence, first saw theatrical use in the early 1920s as the Writers' Club Theatre. The city gives a 1905 construction date for the building and it certainly had many remodels in later decades. Thanks to Brad Stubbs for capturing this July 13, 2022 photo of its demise.  

 

This small legit operation and occasional film house was located on the west side of Las Palmas just south of Sunset Blvd. The original address was 6716 Sunset Blvd, by 1923 it was listed as 6700 Sunset. After development on the north end of the property, the 1445 Las Palmas address was used. Sometimes it appears as 1451 N. Las Palmas. 

Over the decades it operated under a number of different names including the Actors Center, the Comedy Playhouse, Center Stage Playhouse, Hollywood Playhouse, Hollywood Center Theatre, and the Theatre VII. The Sunset Blvd. end of the property later became the location of the Hollywood Center Motel.

Seating: At the end of the building's life it was 244 in the larger space. There was a second space upstairs with a capacity of 24. Amenities included a kitchen and a large patio.

Architect: Unknown. At the time of construction this block of Las Palmas south of Sunset was called Estelle Ave. It's not a block that is mapped on the 1907 Sanborn Real Estate Map that's in the Library of Congress collection. 

 

 

The building is the top one seen in this detail from image 30 of the 1913 Sanborn Map that's on the Library of Congress website. Estelle Ave. (now Las Palmas) is two blocks east of Highland. That's Sunset Blvd. at the top of the image. The map doesn't indicate any particular use for the building at the time. Until the Writers' Club purchased it in 1921 it was just a residence.

 

Floorplans c.2016:

 

 

A main floor plan with Las Palmas Ave. running along the bottom of the drawing. The cross hatched areas evidently had been rented at the time the plan was drawn. Dennis Effle notes that the 702 SF space in the upper right was used as a rehearsal hall. These plans are from the building's 2016 listing on Loopnet.

 

 

The 2nd floor area, running along the north side of the building. Las Palmas is again on the bottom. Access was via the stairs along the north side of the building, seen on the right both on this plan and the one above. The "control room" was the booth for the main theatre space. The 548 and 795 SF areas toward the top were a two bedroom rental apartment at the rear of the building overlooking the garden area seen on the main floor plan. 

 

 

The basement area under the south side of the building. Dennis Effle notes that 576 SF storage area was under the stage and that the kitchen opened onto the garden area.  

History: The first theatrical use of the premises was in 1922 as the Writers' Club Theatre following purchase of the mansion in 1921 for use as a clubhouse by the social arm of the Screen Writers' Guild. 

 

Writers Guild Foundation archivist Hilary Swett discusses the building, and the theatre addition of 1922, in "The Screen Writers’ Guild: An Early History of the Writers Guild of America," her 2020 article on the Foundation's website. Some of her comments: 

 

"When the SWG [Screen Writers' Guild] was formed in 1920, writers made it clear that they not only wanted to improve their professional prospects but also wanted a place of their own to socialize and network. In addition to being the first elected Vice President of the SWG, Mary O’Connor was an organizer of the social arm of the Guild called The Writers’ Club. She was the majority shareholder in a company called The Las Palmas and Sunset Corporation, the company under which the SWG transacted business. One of the first activities of this company was the purchase of a mansion at 6716 Sunset Boulevard, which was then converted into a clubhouse. (By 1923, the address of the building became 6700 Sunset Blvd.) This clubhouse would serve as a gathering place and SWG headquarters until 1933, when the newly revitalized union moved to 1655 N. Cherokee.

"The clubhouse was outfitted with a dining room, pool tables and a other amenities and christened with a Halloween party on October 29, 1921. Membership was open to anyone working in the Hollywood community... In 1922, a small theater was built on an adjacent lot. In October 1923, the Writers and SWG officially split into two bodies, each with their own board and officers. From that point on, the Screen Writers' Guild was open only to scenario writers, while The Writers' Club membership opened up to the Hollywood community at large.

"Over the years, club members put on numerous one-act plays, dinners and other social events which brought together writers, directors and actors to celebrate talent and facilitate networking. In 1930, Samuel French published 'Hollywood Plays: Twelve One-act Plays from the Repertory of the Writers' Club of Hollywood.' The Writers’ Club continued staging plays until the mid-1930s. Board members of the club included Mary O’Connor, Frank Woods, Thompson Buchanan, June Mathis, Marion Fairfax and Richard Willis. Rupert Hughes served as President throughout most of its existence. The O’Connor collection at the WGF contains play and event programs from 1921-1935 as well as administrative documents related to the financials and administration of the club." 

 

The Guild's early history was chronicled by Realart Company scenario writer Percy Heath in "The Screen Writers' Guild," an article on pages 17 and 18 of the July 1921 issue of The Photodramatist. Thanks to Hilary Swett for locating it on Internet Archive. From the article: 

 

"The Guild is about to perform a startling piece of legerdemain known as turning itself into a club. At No. 6716 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood -- corner of Las Palmas -- is a spacious and beautiful residence structure, ideally suited to the purposes of a club. It has been purchased with the intent to transform it into a club house and the home and headquarters of the Screen Writers' Guild. At the annual meeting of the Guild, the project and the property will be offered to the Guild membership. 

 

"The Club-house property was purchased by the Las Palmas and Sunset Corporation, whose officers are members of the Guild and whose stock is for sale only to members of the Guild. The purchase was not made for profit but in order to be able to provide now what the Guild would sooner or later demand -- a club house. Preparations for the proper furnishing and equipping of the club house are in the hands of competent members of the Executive Committee and Council, and the formal opening of the Club at a not long distant date will be an event of much greater significance than a mere 'house-warming'; it will be a testimonial to the success of the Guild itself. And it will be the first motion picture professional club to be established in the capital of the industry...

"Use the old car for another year and put the money in Las Palmas and Sunset Corporation stock. As a member of the Screen Writers you will be helping your Guild; as an investor you'll be helping yourself. Drive around to 6716 Sunset Boulevard, look the Club House over, and see if you wouldn't like to be part owner of it!..."

 

"Screen Writers' Guild Elect New Officers," an article Hilary Swett located in the August 6, 1921 issue of Motion Picture News noted "Guild Opens Club House." At their July 14 annual meeting the Club membership discussed:

 

"... the expense of furnishing, redecorating and enlarging the attractive quarters at the corner of Los Angeles [sic] and Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood.... the members voted on the question of enlarging the membership to include various people who are successful in the four arts, music, painting, architecture and acting as well as all members of the Lambs Club now in Los Angeles and various other people identified with the film industry who have achieved success...

 

"The new home for the Guild was made possible by the formation of Las Palmas and Sunset Corp., capitalized at $50,000, of which more than $30,000 has been paid up... The quarters consist of a commodiuos residence occupying one of the most desirable lots in the better residence section of Hollywood, centrally located with respect to the studios and the business district and in every way favorable as a home for the club. With slight alterations it can be materially enlarged to meet the later needs of the organization and its enlarged membership."    

An item located by Hilary Swett in the August 26, 1922 issue of Motion Picture News as part of their article "California Again Leads States in Number of New Houses." It's on Internet Archive. 

 

A September 1922 Barker Bros. acknowledgement of an order for draperies and tracks for the auditorium and stage of the new clubhouse. Thanks to Writers Guild Foundation archivist Hilary Swett for including it with her 2020 article "..An Early History..."

This item about construction of the "miniature theater" addition to the building appeared on page 85 of the October 1922 issue of "Photoplay." Thanks to Hilary Swett for locating it on Internet Archive.

 

 

"Palatial Club To Open With Eclat" appeared in "The Script," a Guild newsletter appearing as page 24 of the October 14, 1922 issue of "Camera! The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry." Hilary Swett located the article on Internet Archive.   

 

In the late 1920s the Troupers Club, an association of retired vaudevillians and actors, held their dinners at the clubhouse before they got a venue of their own. Their early history is recounted on the Hollywood Community Theatre / Troupers page. 

The unstable later history of the theatre was commented upon in one of Roger Delfont's articles archived on Ad Sausage, a site that analyzes ads for different theatres that appeared in the Los Angeles Free Press:

"The Hollywood Center Theatre moved between film and legit theatre, depending on who rented its facilities. Primarily, community theater was its bread and butter. Everything from 'The Caine Mutiny' to the musical-satire 'Unisex '72'..."

 

 

 

It was called the Center Stage Playhouse in this September 1955 item that was located by Ken McIntyre for a thread about the theatre on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

 

 

 

It was called the Hollywood Center Theatre in 1958 when Sammy Davis, Jr. appeared in a production of "The Desperate Hours." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this October ad. He commented: "The Desperate Hours" was a Bogart film, inspired by true events. I had no idea that Sammy Davis did the stage version.

 

In 1964 the theatre had a production of "Cyrano de Bergerac." 

 

 

In 1965 Gerald Gordon's Los Angeles Youth Theatre production of "The Fantasticks" moved over from the Le Grande Theatre (the former Hollywood Canteen). This ad appeared in the L.A. Times on December 5, 1965. 

 

The world premiere of the children's musical "Wind in the Willows," with music by Academy Award winning composer David Raksin, opened in the spring of 1966. In 1967 the Youth Theatre's annual Christmas production for children was a Gerald Gordon musical version of "Rumpelstiltskin." Dennis Effle comments: 

 

"Ah yes, my actual home when I was in the 'Phantom of the Opera' stage of my career. Part of the Los Angeles Youth Theater's production of 'The Fantasticks' playing there, I first rented a room, with toilet and sink, on the second floor above the box office and next to the old marquee. Later, I rented the two bedroom apartment accessible from the stairs by the front entry of the theater. 

 

"That apartment had a huge patio area covered by the large avocado tree that shaded the entire interior courtyard. I was there between early 1965 thru mid '68 and we rented our rehearsal hall to many of the up and coming music groups from the Laurel Canyon scene back then.... This Theater was always rumored to house the ghost of Bella Lugosi, who once performed there, although I never ran into him while living upstairs." 

 

 

Another run of "The Fantasticks" in 1968. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this June article.

 

And then toward the end of 1968 the venue was running porno.

A September 1968 ad for the Hollywood Center running films for unshockable adults.  

 

Roger Delfont has more:

"The next chapter for the Hollywood Center Theatre started in 1969, when the venue became Theatre VII ('Where friendliness is Contagious') and acts such as Charles Pierce (The Master of Camp) hit the boards. 

 

"A year later, and now advertising itself as 'The only gay theatre like it anywhere!' -- the Mark VII offered Live Male Stage Shows. The name didn't hold; the new moniker was gone a few years later, but male oriented material continued from the likes of Casey Donovan 'The Back Row' (Doug Richards), Gary Yuma 'Fun Farm' and Calvin Culver 'Tubstrip.'"

 

 

 

A January 1970 ad for the venue as Theatre VII appearing on an Ad Sausage page.

 

 

 

An April 1970 ad spotted by Ken McIntyre. 

A 1971 ad for the Hollywood Center showing Mitchell Brothers porno. If you didn't want that, you could show up for their next festival of early Chaplin films. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding various ads for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

 A play called "El Floppo" was onstage in 1979. This ad ran August 31.

Roger Delfont again: 

"In the mid-70's, all sorts of esoteric theater groups staged shows. The Media Center for Community Action staged 'Soul Alley', featuring Felton Perry... Adding to yet another chapter in the building's history, the venue was home to the Sherwood Oaks Experimental College (once located at Crossroads of the World on Sunset) in the early-80's; offering workshops and record engineering classes. 

"Various name changes occurred throughout the next decade; the Actors Center, the Comedy Playhouse and back to the Hollywood Playhouse."

In the mid-1980s the building got a million dollar remodel resulting in a new theatre space and a restaurant. It was intended to be the anchor for a new development but nothing else transpired. It was a project of the Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Development Corporation and the F.H.M. Corporation with Budd Friedman, Michael Nouri, Stan Handman and Norman Maibaum as principals.

 

In later years the building had been used as the Howard Fine acting school and as an events space. By 2019 it was vacant.  

 

Status: The theatre was destroyed by fire on July 13, 2022 and was later demolished. ABC 7 News had good aerial footage. Thanks to Jason Vega and Russ Jones for spotting the story. It was also on the ABC 7 Facebook page. Nathan Solis did a followup story for the L.A. Times about two people being detained as a result of the fire. 

 

The building was vacant and available for lease at the time of the fire. The broker listed on the signage was Kris Peterson at Denley Investment and Management, 213-463-4100. The firm, which has had all sorts of issues about code violations at some of its buildings, is headed by Mehdi Bolour. 

 

 

Interior views: 

 

The set for an unidentified production at the theatre. Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo from his amazing collection. It's on Flickr. He's located 13 photos of various sets and groups of performers at the theatre, none identified so far. Start at his first photo and you can page forward through the rest of what he's found. 

 

 

A shot with the actors, from the same production. Thanks again to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing the photo on Flickr. He's the author, with Tom Zimmerman, of the Angel City Press book "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965." He's also the author of "Signs of Life: Los Angeles is the City of Neon."

 

A photo from the building's 2016 listing on Loopnet. Thanks to Jason Vega for locating it.

 

More exterior views: 

1920s/30s - "The Writers - Members Only." An undated view from Sunset Blvd. of the building as the clubhouse and theatre for the Writers' Club. Thanks to Writers Guild Foundation archivist Hilary Swett for locating the photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. 

 

 

1961 - "Parade - A Hit Review." A view of the building as the Hollywood Center Theatre from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1961 - Another photo from the Los Angeles Public Library. We're looking north toward Sunset Blvd.

1976 - Thanks to the Bruce Torrance Historic Hollywood Photographs collection for this view. It's their #T-022-1. On the readerboard: "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been."

 

c.1985? - An undated Los Angeles Herald Examiner photo of the building as the Hollywood Playhouse from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The caption was:

"Exterior view of the Writers' Club Theater in Hollywood. This historic theater dated back to the days of Charles Chaplin and Mary Pickford reopened as the Hollywood Playhouse & Cafe following a million dollar remodeling. Located at Sunset and Las Palmas Boulevards, the complex centers on a new 220-seat theatre and restaurant that are to serve as the cornerstone for a shopping center and office complex planned by the Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Development Corporation. Heading up the theatre-restaurant complex are Budd Friedman, Michael Nouri (for Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Development), Stan Handman and Norman Maibaum, under the banner of the F.H.M. Corporation."

 2008 - A photo by Andreas Praefcke that appears on Wikipedia.

2019 - The view south along the vacant building. Photo: Bill Counter

 

2019 - The facade from the post office across the street. Sunset Blvd. is less than half a block off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter

 

2022 - On fire on July 13. It's an image from the ABC7 News footage. Thanks to Jason Vega and Russ Jones for spotting the story. It's also on the ABC7 Facebook page. 

 

2022 - A wider view from the July 13 ABC7 footage.  

2022 - Looking south from Sunset. Photo: Bill Counter - July 20

 

2022 - A closer view from the north. Photo: Bill Counter - July 20

 

2022 - A peek in through two of the windows. Photo: Bill Counter - July 20

 

2022 - The red tag and notice of demolition on the front porch. Photo: Bill Counter - July 20

 

2022 - The vista back up to Sunset. Photo: Bill Counter - July 20 

 

2023 - Looking toward Sunset after the demo. Photo: Bill Counter - April 15 

 

 

2023 - The view south on Las Palmas. Photo: Bill Counter - April 15 

 

The theatre in the Movies: 

 

 

Dinah Manoff's character is taking classes at the Actors Center Hollywood in the Herbert Ross film "I Ought To Be In Pictures" (20th Century Fox, 1982). She's come west to be in the movies but also to reconnect with her long-absent father, played by Walter Matthau. She was under the impression that he's a famous writer but he's definitely on the far fringes of the business. Ann-Margret plays Matthau's girlfriend. It's based on a Neil Simon play. The cinematography was by David M. Walsh. 

 

Another look at the building, here with the signage calling it the L.A. School of Dramatic Arts. Thanks to Jason Vega for spotting the IMD listing that noted the theatre was a filming location. The facade got a big remodel later in the 1980s.  

 

More information: See the page about the Marquis Theatre on Melrose, once owned by the Writers Guild, and the page on the current Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills, a venue that had opened in 1970 as the Doheny Plaza Theatre. 

The other Hollywood Playhouse: See page on the other Hollywood Playhouse if you're looking for information on the theatre on Vine Street that started as a legit venue, later was known as the Hollywood Palace, and is currently a music venue called Avalon. 

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