Bruin Theatre: interior views

948 Broxton Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024   | map | 

Also see: Bruin history and exterior views   

The lobby:

 

 

Looking toward the inner lobby in 1937. The auditorium is off to the left. It's a Luckhaus Studio photo on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Yes, that's a bear in the carpet design.

 

S. Charles Lee's design for the bear carpet. The plan is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. 

 

 

A peek into the lobby in 2007. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

 

A deeper view. Two ADA compliant restrooms are down at the end. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

 

 

The two auditorium entrances. Thanks to George Vreeland Hill for this 2022 view, one of nine photos of the Fox and Bruin in a post on the SoCal Historic Architecture private Facebook group. 

 

One of the two ADA compliant restrooms at the end the lobby. It's a photo from a 2024 "Property Condition Report" prepared by the Walnut Creek-based firm AEI Consultants.

Above the house right entrance. It's a 2010 photo by Senorsock on the Cinema Treasures page about the Bruin. 

 

 

 

The view back out toward the entrance. Thanks to Don Solosan for sharing this 2010 photo he took for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. The LAHTF is actively involved in the study and preservation of the vintage theatres in the L.A. area. The group frequently supports events and offers tours of various historic theatres. www.lahtf.org | LAHTF on Facebook

 

Looking back from deeper in the lobby. The stairs at left go up to the booth and restrooms. At the right note a bit of the Colonial Revival detailing that Lee liked to mix into his moderne designs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

 

The snackbar the day after closing. Photo: Bill Counter - July 26, 2024 

 

 

 

Closed for two years but looking almost ready to go. Photo: Bill Counter - July 2026 

 

 

The equipment room behind the bar. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

The auditorium: 

 

A 2010 view. No vintage auditorium photos have surfaced. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF

 

 

 

The aisle-level auditorium vista. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - 2010. Thanks for all your photos, Don!

 

 

 Looking behind the auditorium curtains at a 2010 LAHTF "all-about" tour of the theatre. The photo by Senorsock appears on Cinema Treasures. 

Manager Obet Maldonado talks about the theatre to visitors on a tour for the 2017 Theatre Historical Society Conclave. Thanks to John Hough and Mark Mulhall for the photo. 

 

 

 

A look to the rear of the house in 2017. Photo: John Hough 

 

 

 

Down the left aisle. Originally there were stenciled designs on the side walls and ceiling done with black light paint. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022 

 

On the house left side above the exit, a rear view of a decorative grille once part of the air distribution system. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

The portholes get their portrait. There had been some revision since 2017. At left it was a port originally used for a followspot. The tall one, uncovered when they added a second digital projector, was probably for a dual-lamp Brenograph slide/effects projector and later enlarged horizontally. At the time of the photo a Christie CP2000-X was behind it. 

 

Of the other two ports, the left one was used for the surviving Norelco when the booth was one 35/70 projector + a platter. Just to the right of the centerline it's the Christie CP2220. There's another very small port farther right, now hidden by the drapes but visible inside the booth. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

 

A peek under the valance below the screen revealing return air grilles, curtain and masking motors and a microphone jack. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 Near the center, the curtain motor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

Backstage:   

 

Looking in from house right. The current screen is mounted out in front of the proscenium. Three subwoofers are straight ahead, on the stage floor. The speakers for the five full-range stage channels are up on the platforms. This baffle wall was put in when the theatre got a THX installation. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

Two of the theatre's three subwoofers. The beast in the foreground is a Cerwin-Vega "hid" series folded horn unit. The black things on top? Kiddie booster seats. The C-V is flanked on the left by an Eastern Acoustic Works SB284C, also one out of the frame to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 Looking up to the gold proscenium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

 

A look across from one of the platforms. The five bi-amped stage channels use JBL 4508 double 15" bass cabinets and #2360 HF horns with JBL 2450J drivers. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

Across the top of the THX baffle wall. Note some rigging for the house traveler and the side masking. On the far side, beyond the two areas of plaster damage on the proscenium beam, it's the proscenium column on the house left side. That one got covered with black material. On the right, back in the corner, note supply air ductwork. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

A closer corner view. Jog to the right a bit behind the duct and you're near the house left exit doors. Going down it's duct to return air grilles at the front of the stage. In the middle there's duct coming in from outside that starts at the fresh air intake on the roof and then down to a gas furnace behind the back wall. From here it goes horizontally into the fan and compressor rooms above the house left exit passage. Just to make it more interesting, at the top there's supply air duct going both to the roof (and then into the attic) as well as a branch going across to a grille above the house right front exit. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

A look back to house right. On the back wall in the foreground the junction box with the cover open is for speaker circuits. To the left beyond the ladder it's a room for storage of janitorial supplies. The subwoofers are on the stage floor near that array of brooms and dustpans. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

Upstairs:

 

S. Charles Lee's sign pointing us upstairs. Photo: Don Solosan- LAHTF - 2010

 

 

 

The lounge area with the men's room on the left and two concession storage areas built out in what had been part of the lounge. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

 

 

 

The men's room, still with original terrazzo. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

 

The ushers' locker room, adjacent to the men's room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 Looking into storage room #1, built into what had been the south end of the lounge. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

The window once overlooking Weyburn Ave. We got nice moldings and a Colonial-Deco pediment. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

 

The ladies room entrance on the west wall. To the right it's the usherette's locker room, the manager's office and, with a sharp right, the corridor leading to the booth. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022 

 

 

In the ladies room. It's a photo from a 2024 "Property Condition Report" prepared by the Walnut Creek-based firm AEI Consultants. 

 

 

 

The usherettes' locker room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

 

A look out onto the roof. See that ladder over there? That will get you on top of the marquee. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 Looking toward Broxton in the manager's office. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

 

A closer look at the window. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

 

The north wall, perhaps once with a viewing window into the auditorium? Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

The east wall of the office. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

A look back down the stairs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

The booth: 

The hall to the booth. The theatre was THX certified in the 1980s. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

The equipment in 1994. The theatre was equipped for 70mm in 1978 with two of the Norelco DP70 projectors from the Carthay Circle that had been installed there for the run of "Around the World in 80 Days" in 1956. Here both Norelcos, #680 and #681, were still in place. Later it was one machine and a Christie platter. The xenon lamps at the time were by LP Associates, later replaced with Strong Ultra 80s. At one time the house was THX certified.

Thanks to Thomas Hauerslev for including this photo he took with the "DP70s in California" article on his wonderful site In70mm.com. It's the place to visit for information about 70mm projector history, news of 70mm festivals and more. Thomas also shot a view of Norelco #1671, a machine stripped for parts, but the caption identifies that one as #681.

Screen size: The 'scope format picture is 37' 10". Flat is 29' 5". 

Throw: About 105'

Curtain: It's a traveler.

Masking: Side masking is motorized, the top is manually operated at the right side of the screen.

Processing: The house once had a Dolby CP100, later a CP200. When it got a THX installation their proprietory crossover unit was added and a CP500. As of 2026 there's no processing gear in the racks.

Amplifiers: Ten QSC DCA 3022. Five of them feed the bi-amped stage channels, Three feed the 3 subwoofers, one does the left and right surrounds in front and another does the "EX" surrounds left and right rear. 

Stage speakers: Five bi-amped channels using JBL 4508 double 15" bass cabinets. Highs are JBL 2360T horns with 2450J drivers.

Subwoofers: A Cerwin-Vega "hed" line folded horn unit flanked on either side by an EAW SB284C, all three sitting on the stage.

Surrounds: JBL 2240

Projection as of July 2026: Regency left the booth intact when they closed in July 2024. The film equipment was removed from the booth by parties unknown sometime after the closing. Remaining are two digital machines: a Christie 2220 and a Christie CP2000-X. 

Followspot: Strong Trouperette II. 

 

 

A look across the booth in 2017. At this time it was a Christie digital unit on the left along with one remaining Norelco, #680, and a Christie platter beyond. Thanks to John Hough for sharing his photo. 

 

 

A closer look at the Norelco, at the time with a Strong lamp. Note the Sony SDDS and Dolby Digital heads on top. Thanks to John Hough for the 2017 photo. 

 

 

The "starting shows manually" sheet, still in the booth in 2026. It's seen taped to the lamphouse on the Norelco in the 2017 shot above. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

A Norelco threading diagram underneath the "starting shows manually" sheet. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

A view across the platter toward the one remaining Norelco. The event attracting all the booth tourists was the 2017 conclave of the Theatre Historical Society. Photo: Bill Counter 

The film equipment seen here was removed sometime after the theatre's 2024 closing. 

 

 

The amp racks, located at the left end of the booth. Looking through rack #2 note the panel on the front wall for audio circuits. Remaining in rack #1 in 2026: A Supermicro SMC SMCGs16 "EZ Switch 10/100/1000," a USL, Inc. Model EC1-60 "electronic cinema interface," a THX crossover/monitor and, at the bottom, an exciter supply. 

 

Presumably they got a Dolby CP 100 in 1978. Maybe a 200 later. The directory in the panel indicates that they had a CP 500 at one time. The house also had DTS and SDDS. In rack #2 it's a Component Engineering MS100 booth monitor amp and ten QSC DCA3022 amps. Five are for the five bi-amped stage channels, one for left/right front surrounds, one for left/right rear surrounds. Three amps feed the three subwoofers. Photo: Bill Counter.

 

 

Looking across from behind the racks. In the foreground it's a sliding Real-D 3D attachment on a Christie CP 2220. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

A look at the lens on the Christie CP 2220. Thanks to theatre technician Peter Kunellis for sharing his 2026 photo.   

 

 

  

A look to the left end of the booth with the Christie CP 2200 in the #1 position. The followspot is parked in the #2 position, where there had been a Norelco when the house closed in 2024. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

In the base of the Christie: A GDC "Enterprise Storage Plus" server, a Tripp-Lite power strip, an MIT IMC 2e Controller and an Appo Blu-Ray player. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

A look out the center port. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026  

 

 

Below the center port it's the slave panel for the Mann automation system. Masking controls are off to the left, curtain to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

A look across with nothing installed in position #2 and a Christie CP2000-X in what had originally been a Brenograph slide/effects projector port. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

Position #2, where the Norelco had been when the house had 35/70 capability with one machine and a platter. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

The Mann automation system, located below the observation port at position #2. Beside the port it's another set of houselight controls and a gizmo from Technicolor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

More ephemera left behind: Where to place your cues for the Mann automation system. 

 

 

A view back to the left end of the booth. No toilet or sink anymore. They were to the left of the fire extinguisher. In the base of this Christie it's a Model SX-2001 GDC server and a spare lens. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

The followspot port in the right front corner. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

On the backwall in the far right corner (well, left when you're looking at the back wall): the fire alarm panel. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

To the right of the fire alarm panel: the rewind bench with several Kelmar components and storage cabinets above. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

Continuing to the right: A single-phase booth branch circuit panel. Other single phase booth circuits are in another panel behind the wall, in the electric room. And there's also a panel for audio circuits on the booth front wall, behind the amp racks. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

Dimmers for house and curtain warmers are above the electrical panel. The Kelmar, on the left, is for house lights. The LFI "luminary series" unit is for curtain warmers. The yellow gear is the Guardian brand emergency generator controls, inverter, transfer switch. The open door goes to the electric room. On the far right it's the main booth exit to the 2nd floor lounge area.  

 

In the electric/rectifier room, behind the booth: 

 

  

Looking to the right in the room it's an IREM rectifier and the theatre's 3-phase distribution panel. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

A south wall view with two rectifiers in the foreground. On the left it's a single-phase distribution panel which, among other things, has breakers for lounge, lobby, marquee and other exterior lighting. Straight ahead it's the theatre's 400A 3-phase service on the left, 400A single-phase service on the right. The 3-phase is 120/240 V Delta. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026
 

 

Looking to the left in the electric room, down the "panhandle." The louvers go out to the roof area at the east end of the booth. On the left note the pushbuttons for shunt trip for the single-phase and 3-phase services. Just beyond is a single phase panel for booth circuits and to the right it's the single-phase distribution panel seen in the previous shot. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026 

 

 

On the patio out the east exit door of the booth:  

 

 

Looking out the door at the east end of the booth. The windows are sort of "light easements" for the 2nd floor of the building just east of the theatre. On the right we're looking south, on the left looking east. The two plastic tubs are to hold the propane tanks for the emergency generator, seen on the right. The hose in the conduit from the tubs to the generator is the fuel line. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026

 

 

Looking west, back to the booth door. The louvers to the left go to the electric room. The ladder on the right goes to the higher roof of the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2026  

In the attic: 

A 2024 look toward the screen end of the building. The two runs of duct feed supply air diffusers in the auditorium ceiling. Returns are at the front of the auditorium under the screen. It's a photo from "Mechanical and Electrical Due Diligence," a report prepared by ARC Engineering, a Burbank-based firm.

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