Los Angeles Theatres: Belmont Theatre

126 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90004 | map |

Opened: March 2, 1926 as the Belmont, a West Coast-Langley Theatres operation. The location is five blocks north of Wilshire Blvd. The theatre was on the east side of the street between 1st and 2nd. After 1929 it was advertised as the Fox Belmont. The photo is an early 60s view looking south on Vermont toward 2nd from the Sean Ault collection. Thanks, Sean!

Seating: 1,680

Architect: Lewis A. Smith, who did many projects for West Coast Theatres.

C.L. Langley, in his partnership with West Coast Theatres, had at that time 24 other theatres in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Altadena, Glendale, Huntington Park, Taft and Riverside. A February 15, 1925 L.A. Times article:

Thanks to Mike Hume for locating the article. For a wealth of historical data and thousands of fine photos of the theatres he's explored, see his Historic Theatre Photography site.

The Belmont got a major remodel in 1946 by Fox West Coast Theatres resulting in a Skouras-style interior.

Status: It closed in 1973 after a fire and was demolished the same year.

Interior views:

A look at the lobby. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library - 1942

The auditorium in 1926. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

More exterior views:

A 1926 pre-opening look at the Belmont's facade and amazing rooftop sign. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

The Belmont in 1926 running "It Must Be Love" with Colleen Moore. It's a photo by the Dick Whittington Studio in the USC Digital Library collection. The photo is part of a set of 21 pictures of theatres and other buildings. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Godzilla for finding the set for his Noirish post #17461.

A facade detail from the 1926 USC photo.

A roof sign detail from the 1926 USC photo.

A 1930 view south on Vermont toward 1st St. That's the Belmont with its huge roof sign on the left. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. This nicely cleaned up version appeared on the Library's Photo Collection Facebook page.

Looking toward the Belmont from 4th in 1931. Yes, it's down there in the center of the photo. The photo is from the Dick Whittington Studio in the USC Digital Library collection. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for including this one in his Noirish post #12289.

A detail from the USC photo above. On the right note the the Rainbow Ballroom, earlier called the El Patio and then after being the Rainbow was named the Palomar. It was reputed to the birthplace of swing in 1935. The ballroom burned in October 1939.

All of these 1931 shots were probably taken in early March. The billboard on the right is advertising the film "Aloha" at the Los Angeles Theatre and notes that it's playing for one week beginning March 6. See two Mott Studios shots of the film advertised on the theatre's marquee that are from the California State Library collection: image 1 | image 2 |

A 1931 panorama along Vermont from the Dick Whittington Studio in the USC Digital Library collection. We get the Belmont way over on the right.

A detail from the panorama above.

Zooming in a bit more to look at the billboards. And, in case you didn't like what was playing at the Belmont, there's a directional sign on the left pointing you toward the Carthay Circle, also operated by Fox West Coast.

The vista at night, with the same billboards. It's another 1931 Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating this in the collection and featuring the full set of seven night shots of the 4th and Vermont intersection in a Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook post. It's also on Instagram.

Looking north in 1939. The photo is from the Blackstock Negative Collection of the Los Angeles Public Library.

A 1941 look north on Vermont from 3rd toward the Belmont. It's from the Blackstock Negative Collection at the Los Angeles Public Library.

"Turn in Your Rubber!" The theatre in 1942. They were running "My Gal Sal" starring Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature. The co-feature was "Who Is Hope Schuyler?" with Joseph Allen and Mary Howard. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

A shot taken in 1946 when the theatre was running "Two Sisters from Boston." It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Bruce Kimmel comments: This opened on June 5 and played here for a couple of weeks."

A look at the great L.A. Smith facade at night in another "Two Sisters From Boston" shot. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

The theatre in 1951 when comedian Lou Holtz had leased the house to stage a Broadway style revue. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

A 1962 view south toward the theatre. Photo: Sean Ault Collection.

Looking north from 6th St. in 1963, the last year of rail service on Vermont Ave. The theatre's famous roof sign appears a bit right of center, above the back of the trolley. Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing this photo from his collection. That green fin on the upper left is part of the signage for a Carolina Pines Jr. restaurant.

Prior to demolition in 1973. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Fox Belmont for all the known information. Also see the Cinema Treasures list of other projects by L.A. Smith.

Also in the Los Angeles Public Library's collection: looking north on Vermont toward 1st - 1938 - Herman Schultheis | another look north - 1941 | another pre-demolition view - 1973 |

The other Fox Belmont: There was also a Belmont Theatre in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach.

3 comments:

UnknownNovember 3, 2017 at 7:19 AM
My father and partners acquired the Wurlitzer pipe organ from the New York Paramount and began moving it into the Belmont. (I photographed the organ chambers in New York and watched the activity at the Belmont.) Then the deal with the theatre fell through and we moved it out again. I was told at the time that the neighboring car dealer wanted the lot it occupied. The Wurlitzer was stored awhile and eventually ended up in Wichita, Kansas. [Richard Simonton, Jr.]