11611 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 | map |
Opened: The
Brentwood Theatre opened c.1935. It's in the 1940 city directory. The location was on the north side of Wilshire about two and a half blocks east of Barrington Ave. The c.1938 photo from the MGM art department is now in the
Los Angeles Public Library collection.
Architect: Not known
Seating: Estimates range from 414 to 525.
George Halligan operated the theatre at one point. He evidently took this house over after selling his interest in the
Hawthorne Theatre in 1937. For part of its life the theatre was operated by Fox West Coast.
The theatre got a remodel and a change of ownership in 1947. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating this May 2 ad for a post on
Cinema Treasures.
The theatre was offering free babysitting service in 1948. Thanks to the Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page for locating this news item for their post about the theatre. The post can also be seen on Instagram. Some of their comments:
"Looking to boost grosses for their Saturday matinees, the Brentwood
Theater hired twenty in-house babysitters to take care of people’s kids.
Just bring ‘em by, drop ‘em off, and make ‘em wear signs around their
necks bearing your rules. Oh, but cowboys and cowgirls are going to need
to check their guns at the door…The babysitting service ran at least
seven months, from December 1947 through June 1948, possibly later..."
Running Spanish language product in 1950. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating this ad for a post on Cinema Treasures.
Closing: Evidently the theatre closed around 1952.
Status: The building has been demolished.
Lobby views:
Inside the front doors. You had to surrender your cap pistols. It's a photo taken by Allan Grant for Life in January 1948. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating ten of the Life photos for a post on his
Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page. He also has the set on
Instagram.
"No Candy Please." As part of the babysitting service some kids got a sign around their neck. Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948
Some of the available signs. Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948
"Hold Till Called For." Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948
"Take To Toilet 11 a.m." Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948. A cropped version of this one appears on Google/Life Images.
More exterior views:
A closer look at the entrance from the LAPL photo that's at the top of the page. "Air Devils" was a May 1938 release from Universal. "The Main Event" was out in June 1938 from Columbia.
A 1948 photo taken by Allan Grant for Life that appears on
Google/Life Images. For the kiddie matinee it was undoubtedly a different program than the evening show that's on the marquee. "It Had To Be You" was a December 1947 release with Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde. "Desert Fury" with John Hodiak and Lizabeth Scott was out in August 1947. Bruce Kimmel notes that this program opened January 14. Note a poster for "Fantasia" to the right of the entrance.
Another view of the line. Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948. Thanks to Forgotten Los Angeles for locating this photo and the three below for their post on the
Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page.
A shot taken from just west of the theatre. Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948
In the ticket lobby looking toward Wilshire. One of the features coming next was "Her Husband's Affairs" with Lucille Ball and Franchot Tone. Photo: Allan Grant / Life - 1948
More Information: See the
Cinema Treasures page on the Brentwood for a few comments.
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