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Del Mar Theatre

5036 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019 | map |

Opened: April 8, 1939 with Penny Singleton in “Blondie” and Jean Arthur in "You Can’t Take It with You." Thanks to Chris Nichols for the data. The location is two blocks west of La Brea. This new look for the facade was for Perrotin's show of works by Izumi Kato, opening February 28, 2024. Photo: Bill Counter
 
 

The big ad in the Times on April 7, 1939, the day before the grand opening. 



The Times ad on opening day - Saturday April 8, 1939.

Architect: Not known. The building was converted into a theatre from what had been used as a furniture store and a boating supply company.

Seating: 600

Marleen Rubin Capell, the daughter of the owner, Herman Rubin, notes that she was the "Mar" in the theatre's name. Marlene was born in 1932 and was named for Marlene Deitrich, who was famous at the time for "Blue Angel" (1930). Marleen notes: 

"They charged about 7 cents for kids. They showed a cartoon, full length movie, a western (because I told my Dad I wanted a western) and a serial and probably a newsreel. There was a drawing at intermission for large cans of popcorn and 6 packs of soda. My cousins also went every Saturday. I remember going up on the stage to draw the winning tickets. When we left everyone received a free Abazaba Bar." 

Bruce Kimmel adds: 

"I worked there for three or four weeks one summer. When I worked there we showed 'The Pink Panther,' 'Viva Las Vegas' and, I think, 'From Russia With Love.' Summer of 1964 - 'Pink Panther' was probably a double bill with 'From Russia.' It was a horrid little place - smelly, ill run by its manager who didn't care when I reported the infestation of bugs that were all over the candy in the room where that was kept."
 
 

It was no longer a family film house at the time of this 1967 Times ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. Note that they skipped the space between the two syllables of the theatre's name.



Another 1967 Times ad located by Ken McIntyre.

Closing: It closed as a film theatre in the mid 80s.

After a spell as a church, the building sat vacant for several years. It was rented from 1997 until 1999 for use as a studio shooting stop-motion commercials. The operators called it The Other End. They noted: 

"It was a good space, but the local area was terrible. We had cars broken into regularly." 

A new owner, Ron Davis, then leveled the floor and turned the space into a photo studio called Kaboom!

In August 2001 Joe Milner leased the theatre for use by his company Puget Sound, Inc., a studio specializing in post production audio work. Some of the renovation work to modify the space was planned by Delta H Design. Also using space in the building was a graphic design studio, La Artista Design, run by Laura A. Mendoza.

Under Joe's watch the marquee and vertical sign were restored in the Spring of 2003. The facade was repainted and there was also refurbishment on the showcases. The exterior work was helped by the city's Pico Revitalization Project, running from 2003 to 2005.

Joe bought the building from Ron Davis in August 2004. For years he lit the marquee and vertical nightly. He sold the building in 2016 to a gentleman who had bought the corner property a few months earlier. Joe comments:

"Shortly after we sold in 2016, the western half of the block was completely demolished: Oki Dog,  a former bar called The Cottage, a furniture refinishing shop and a floral design company all gone to make way for the multi-story residential property that now occupies that land."

On the marquee as late as early 2020: "Puget Sound - Audio For Motion Pictures." And also on the west readerboard "& La Artista Design."

It was offered for lease in 2022. The broker was Jay Luchs of Newmark at 310-407-6585. There's a listing on Loopnet, but no longer active. They were offering a complex of three properties as a possible creative campus. The corner building is at 5030 W. Pico, the theatre is at 5036 and the building to the west is at 5040. That 5040 space had been used for a period by a club called Comedy Union. Of the three buildings, at least the theatre space was leased by the end of 2022.

Status: Beginning in early 2023 the Paris-based gallery Perrotin has used the theatre as an exhibition space. | Perrotin website | Perrotin on Instagram |

In February 2023 Jonathan Wells had commented on Cinema Treasures:

"In conjunction with the recent Frieze art fair in LA, global art gallery Perrotin announced that they will open their first gallery in LA in the old cinema. As a teaser they presented a film from Danish filmmaker Jesper Just on a video wall. They plan to make one sheet posters for each art show to display in the theater’s original poster boxes."

The gallery's digital media manager Jean-philippe Persici commented from Paris in February 2024 that they had done various renovation projects in the space. It reopens February 28 with a show by Izumi Kato that runs through March 23.  

Perrotin also uses the building just to the west of the theatre, at 5040 W. Pico. "Earthworm," an exhibit of works by Barry McGee, was in the space in March 2023. See an interior photo of 5040 taken during that show.


Interior views:


A c.2012 look toward the screen end of the auditorium space. Photo: Joe Milner, Puget Sound, Inc.



Looking back toward the booth. Photo: Joe Milner, Puget Sound, Inc. - c.2012
 
 

A view to the booth in February 2023. Thanks to Jonathan Wells for sharing his photo on the Cinema Treasures page about the theatre.  
 
 

On the big screen in February 2023 it was the film "Interfears" by the Danish artist Jesper Just. Photo: Jonathan Wells.  See a page about the show on the Perrotin website. 
 
 

The lobby of the former theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - February 2024
 
 
 
A look toward the screen end of the space. Well, actually toward a new wall. There's a large storage area between that and the end of the building. The occasion was the opening of the Perrotin show of works by Izumi Kato. Photo: Bill Counter - February 28, 2024
 


Toward the booth. Photo: Bill Counter - February 28, 2024


More exterior views: 


2002 - A pre-restoration shot. Thanks to Bob Meza for posting this one on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre. 



2007 - Looking west on Pico toward the Del Mar. It's a shot by the omnipresent photographer, Waltarrrrr. Thanks! See lots of his fine work on Flickr.
 
 
 
2009 - Photo: Michelle Gerdes



2009 - Thanks to Mark Peacock for this photo on Flickr. Visit his Vintage Theatres photo set for lots more great work. Also see his blog: On the Road With Mark Peacock.



2009 - A sign detail by Corey Miller. The photo appears in his Theatre Signs set on Flickr.



2009 - A marquee detail. Photo: Michelle Gerdes. Her photos seen here are part of the "Theatres - California" set on Flickr. Also see her "Theatre" page on Flickr for a listing of other sets detailing her explorations. Thanks, Michelle! 
 


2010 - Another Puget Sound view.  Photo: Bill Counter



2015 - The Del Mar neon at dusk. Photo: Joe Milner, Puget Sound, Inc.



2015 - Another look at the vertical. Photo: Joe Milner, Puget Sound, Inc.



2015 - A marquee detail. Photo: Joe Milner, Puget Sound, Inc. Thanks for the photos, Joe!
 
 

2022 - The vertical abides. Photo: Bill Counter
 

 
2022 - A wider view taken in August. Photo: Bill Counter 
 
 

2022 - A neon detail. Photo: Bill Counter
 
 

2022 - The boxoffice. Photo: Bill Counter
 
 

2022 - Looking across the ticket lobby. Photo: Bill Counter
 
 

2022 - A terrazzo detail. Photo: Bill Counter
 
 

2022 - A corner view. The theatre as well as the buildings on either side are under common ownership. Photo: Bill Counter 
 
 

2022 - The back of the three buildings. Photo: Bill Counter
 

2023 - A photo taken for Perrotin in February 2023 when they started using the theatre as a gallery space. The show at the time was "Interfears" by Jesper Just.   
 
 

2024 - Work underway for the February 28 opening of the Izumi Kato show. Photo: Bill Counter - February 21
 
 

2024 - A closer look. Photo: Bill Counter - February 21
 
 

2024 - The facade on the night of the reopening. Photo: Bill Counter - February 28 

 

2024 - Gallery goers at the entrance. Photo: Bill Counter - February 28
 
 

2024 - A boxoffice view. Photo: Bill Counter - February 28
 

 
2024 - The new neon as seen from the west. Photo: Bill Counter - February 28

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page for a few stories about the Del Mar. Cinema Tour has several 2002 Bob Meza photos.

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6 comments:

  1. Lived across the street on Sycamore Ave. for years. Say many movies at the Del Mar.

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  2. We rented this space in 1997 for 2 years. We used it to shoot stop motion commercials. We called it, The Other End. It was a good space, but the local area was terrible. We had cars broken into regularly.

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  3. I actually owned it and turned it into a photo studio and leveled the inside. I revitalized the marquee and neon with the city and then sold to Puget Sound after owning it for about 5 years. Studio was Kaboom!

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    Replies
    1. Joe Milner here. The theater marquee was restored in the spring of 2003 as part of the Pico Revitalization Project, I had been leasing the building since August 2001 and purchased it in August 2004.
      I sold the building in 2016 and I believe it is now an art gallery space.

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  4. Hi, Joe -- Thanks for checking in. As you can see, I had difficulties trying to integrate your timeline with that of Kaboom! I went back and redid the text -- see what you think. Several questions: Do you have a name for the Kaboom! owner that you bought the building from? Did it cease being a sound studio when you sold the building in 2016, or did that use continue? Who did you sell it to? Obviously I need to drive by and see what's currently happening with the property. Cheers!

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  5. Grew up in the neighborhood on Dusmuir Avenue, attending movies regularly at the Del Mar in the 1950s. I earned $.50 a week for mowing our back lawn and another $.50 for our front lawn. I allowed myself to spend $.25 going to the movies with my brother and cousins who lived in the neighborhood. Entry was nine cents for a double feature plus cartoon, newsreel, and coming attractions. i’d buy popcorn for a dime for the first feature, and spend a nickel on a treat like Milk Duds or Good and Plenty licorice candies. That left me with a penny, which I’d spend on a piece of Double Bubble gum to chew on the walk home. Many wonderful Saturdays and movie memories at the Del Mar!

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