More Carthay Circle pages: history + exterior views | projection and sound |
Main lobby views:
The lobby wrapping around the rear of the main floor. It's a 1926 Mott Studios photo in the California State Library collection. All ten of the Library's interior views are cataloged as set #001384380.
A view from a similar position appeared as part of a photo spread in the July 10, 1926 Exhibitors Herald. The issue also had a big article titled "Aztec [San Antonio], Carthay Circle, Reflect Pioneer Spirit in Construction." Thanks to Mike Hume / Historic Theatre Photography for finding the issue on Internet Archive. article | article continuation | photos |
Another vierw across to the house right end of the lobby. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it on Internet Archive.
One of the entrances to the auditorium. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it.
A later lobby view after the addition of a bit of merchandising. Thanks to Kenny Adamson for the photo from his collection, a post on the Facebook page The Streamline Moderne Era.
The balcony lobby:
In the lounge looking toward house left. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it on Internet Archive.
A bit later with different furniture. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926
A closer look into the Tower Room, in the area underneath the tower. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926. There's a similar view taken a bit earlier in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. The large portrait of Lola Montez is one that was loaned to the theatre by developer J. Harvey McCarthy.
Looking out from the Tower Room. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it.
A view toward house left years later. The stairs at the right go down to the main floor. One of the two entrances to the balcony seating is a bit hidden but it's just to the left of the couch. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library - 1942
The house right end of the balcony lobby. The stairs at the center of the image go down to the main lobby. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library - 1942
In the auditorium:
A main floor view. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926. The Los Angeles Public Library also has a copy. A photo from a similar angle but with the organ console in a different position appeared as part of a photo spread in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it on Internet Archive.
The proscenium with a bonus look at the grand drape. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it on Internet Archive. There's a fuzzier version in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
The organ grille area house right. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926
A closer view house right. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to
Mike Hume for finding it on Internet Archive.
A closer view of the mural in front of the house left organ chamber. The organ chamber murals as well as the asbestos were by Frank Tenney Johnson. The photo appeared with a four page article in the November 1928 issue of Architect and Engineer. It's on Internet Archive.
A very similar photo, credited to Padilla Co., appears with "Theatrical Theatres," an article in the January 1929 issue of Pacific Coast Architect. The article has three other Carthay Circle photos and also discusses the United Artists and the Dufwin in Oakland. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the article on Internet Archive.
A rare view from the stage to the rear of the house. The photo appeared in the July 10, 1926 issue of Exhibitors Herald. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding it on Internet Archive.
The balcony soffit and seating near the rear of the main floor. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926
A ceiling view. Those are the booth ports at the bottom of the image. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926
A later look at the ceiling. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library - 1942
A balcony view c.1926. Thanks to Bill Housos for the photo from his collection. It was a purchase from the Theatre Historical Society. The Padilla Co. photo had appeared with a four page article in the November 1928 issue of Architect and Engineer. A version of the photo with slightly different cropping appears in the January 1929 issue of Pacific Coast Architect. Both issues are on Internet Archive.
The Architect and Engineer article notes that the inspiration for the ceiling was a Moorish textile pattern. The seats "are of a new design, exceptionally comfortable and covered with black and taupe velour with piping of orange velvet." The proscenium is intentionally simple right near the arch and "the ornament is kept well away from the opening and the stage picture is framed merely by a huge plaster cove entirely surrounding the opening finished in old gold. Massive columns covered with a freely wrought Mexican design done in gold leaf stand at either side of this cove and uphold a great dark hood which extends across the entire proscenium opening."
Another balcony view. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926
Looking over a bit more for a peek into the pit. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1926
We see a bit of the auditorium as Doris Day takes a seat in the balcony in "Caprice" (Fox, 1967). Note the re-done side wall paneling and the beige drapes.
A ceiling view from "Caprice" after Doris falls off the front of the balcony and lands on a main floor patron below. In the extreme lower right corner of the image you get a bit of the curve of the beige curtain that enveloped the whole front of the auditorium after the 1956 TODD-AO remodel. Also note the new "modernized" treatment of the balcony soffit. See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for several more shots.
Our
only views of the theatre's backstage come from the noir drama "99
River Street" (United Artists, 1953). Here John Payne and Evelyn Keyes have
just come in the stage door and are walking behind the rigging offstage
right. 
A 1926 photo by Albert J. Kopec from the Terry Helgesen collection. It was reproduced in an article about the theatre appearing in the October 1983 issue of the magazine The Console. The issue is in the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Thanks to Ron for sharing the image.
A look into the house from "99 River Street" (United Artists, 1953). John Payne, on the left, has been brought into a New York theatre by Evelyn Keyes, on the far right. He's told that there's been a murder but it turns out to have only been an audition for Keyes. Phil Karlson directed. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for backstage shots.
Removal of the proscenium plasterwork in preparation for the TODD-AO
installation in 1956. This rare view is a Kenny Adamson photo that appeared on the Carthay Circle History Facebook page.
The front of the house after the TODD-AO installation. It's a photo from the Kenny Adamson collection added to the Carthay Circle History Facebook page. He comments: "Balcony ceiling covered, seats added to orchestra pit, projection booth moved to ground floor. Mid Mod draperage."
Terry Helgesen, in the article about the theatre in the October 1983 issue of Console, noted that the remodel included chopping off the first five rows of the balcony and closing off the front balcony exits.
Terry Helgesen, in the article about the theatre in the October 1983 issue of Console, noted that the remodel included chopping off the first five rows of the balcony and closing off the front balcony exits.
We see a bit of the auditorium as Doris Day takes a seat in the balcony in "Caprice" (Fox, 1967). Note the re-done side wall paneling and the beige drapes.
A ceiling view from "Caprice" after Doris falls off the front of the balcony and lands on a main floor patron below. In the extreme lower right corner of the image you get a bit of the curve of the beige curtain that enveloped the whole front of the auditorium after the 1956 TODD-AO remodel. Also note the new "modernized" treatment of the balcony soffit. See the Historic L.A. Theatres In Movies post for several more shots.
Backstage:
Payne in front of the dimmerboard in "99 River Street." See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for more shots from the film's sequence at the theatre.
The fate of the asbestos curtain:
An interesting view of the Carthay Circle asbestos hanging onstage at the United Artists. It's a 2010 Wendell Benedetti photo that appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page. The curtain, painted by Frank Tenney Johnson, is discussed by Hillsman Wright on Don Solosan's 2010 video about the United Artists, "Insiders Peek #9."
Jon Olivan comments: "The late Steve Markham, who was a Conservancy member and theater volunteer, had discovered it in storage at the Grosh Scenic Company in Silverlake. They had acquired it after the Carthay had closed and were trying to find it a new home. Its surface was encapsulated so not considered hazardous unless it was torn or damaged."
It got rolled up and went into storage when the church sold the building for the Ace Hotel project and still needs a new home. Jerome Adamson of Adamson-Duvannes Galleries (323-653-1015) is the agent.
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Thank you so much for this article about the theatre. I had heard about the murals painted by Frank Tenney Johnson, but never aware of the curtain. As a member of the Tenney family one of my best memories of my grandmother’s living room was a large nocturnal by my relative. Frank Tenney Johnson’s remarkable life is a treasured memory for our family.
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