5546 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 | map |
Opened: The first version of the Apollo Theatre opened in 1916 or earlier. It's in the 1916 city directory with an address of 5552 Hollywood Blvd. The location was just west of Western Ave., between Western and St. Andrews Place.
Architect: The architect of the first Apollo is unknown. C.S.
Albright designed the second Apollo building, under construction in 1920
and 1921.
A replacement building was planned in 1919 to be erected nearby, east of Wilton Place. Cinema Treasures researcher Joe Vogel found an article in the November 8, 1919 issue of the paper Holly Leaves, available on Google Books, that discussed the plans of architect C.S. Albright for the new theatre. Although this project didn't happen, Albright did get to do the replacement building a year or so later just east of the original Apollo.
Another item on the new building, this one appearing in the July 30, 1920 issue of the Hollywood Citizen. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
At least here we get the story right that Mr. Hall of Michigan was the owner of the property, not the one signing the new lease. And that Albright was the architect, not the contractor. Hollywood Theatres, Inc. also operated the Hollywood Theatre and other houses.
Joe Vogel found this item about the deal in the August 11, 1920 issue of Builder and Engineering News:
The new theatre opens: The second Apollo opened February 17, 1921. Again thanks to Joe Vogel for the research. He found this item in the February 9, 1921 issue of The Film Daily:
An April 29, 1921 item Ken McIntyre located in the Hollywood Citizen-News. The Bowers Museum has a fine article on their blog about Bebe's January encounter with the law in Santa Ana: "Bebe in the Woods: Santa Ana's Jailed Star."
It became the Star Theatre on April 30, 1971. It ran as a grindhouse charging 49 cents admission, later up to 99 cents before 7pm. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating the April 30 ad.
Mark Valen comments:
"I
worked for Shan Sayles when he owned the Star, the Nuart and the
Mayfair in Santa Monica. We would play double features for 99 cents.
Always had to be sure to get enough rolls of pennies from the bank on
Friday afternoons to supply the weekend. Folks got angry if they didn't
get their change."
An interior view:
Exterior views:
A 1923 trade magazine photo appearing with this copy: "A nice look at the double-line illuminated attractor at the Apollo Theatre in Hollywood which promotes both the feature and the short." Thanks to Dallas Movie Theatres for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures.
An Anton Wagner photo c.1932 looking east on Hollywood Blvd. with the Apollo over on the right. It's on the website of the California Historical Society.
Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for the find. He has it on his Noirish post #37351. He notes that the hotel building in the center of the photo (still there) is the former St. Francis Hotel.
A detail from Mr. Wagner's photo. They're running "Blondie of the Follies" with Robert Montgomery, a September 1932 release. Anton Wagner took hundreds of photos of the L.A. area in 1932 and 1933 for a thesis topic having to do with the way the area's topology influenced the character of its inhabitants.
An undated Life Magazine boxoffice photo. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for finding it in the collection. He's got it, with other Life views on his Noirish post #40455. It's on Google/Life Images where you can browse the Life Photo Archive.
The end of the Star in December 1976. The
photo is on Calisphere from the UCLA L.A. Times Photographic Archive.
More Information: Fond frequenters of the Star tell their tales on the Cinema Treasures page.
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