Pages about the Fox Wilshire/Saban Theatre: history + exterior views | lobby areas | recent auditorium views | vintage auditorium views | stage | booth |
The original decorative scheme was to be Beaux Arts rather than deco. This drawing showing that design is from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. See Calisphere for the 25 Fox Wilshire items in the collection that have been digitized.
A sectional drawing of the auditorium with Scheme 2, the deco design. It's from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Yes, it's a huge balcony.
A rendering of the auditorium treatment: "modernistic without resort to extremes." Note the very unimaginative drapery treatment compared with what the theatre actually got. The rendering appeared in the December 29, 1929 issue of Motion Picture News. It's on Internet Archive.
Section Two of the issue is the "Theatre Building and Equipment Buyers Guide" featuring photos and drawings of many different theatres. Included is an article by S. Charles Lee about the Tower and Fox Wilshire: "Stretching The Building Fund and the Plot Area." A similar drawing but not in color is in the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
A detail of the Scheme 2 proscenium from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Also in the collection is a photo of a plaster ornament but it doesn't appear to have ended up at the Fox Wilshire.
A look at the proscenium and the main drape fully closed showing one set of the curious traveling curlicues. It's a 1930 Mott Studios photo in the California State Library collection. It's also in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
More from the California State Library: In addition to what's shown on these pages, there are many more 1930 Mott Studios photos in the collection. They are cataloged rather haphazardly in six sets -- each with a mix of shots from different areas of the theatre: # 001386306 - 17 views | # 001386542 - 18 views | # 001386544 - 17 views | # 001443449 - 11 views | # 001443782 - 2 views | # 001443784 - 8 views |
The main drape opening to reveal more of the act curtain -- and the second set of curlicues. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930. The photo is also in the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
The main drape open a bit more. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930. The shot is also in the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
The theatre's painted act curtain. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
The house right organ grille. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
The normal screen size in 1930. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library. The photo is also in the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
The enlarged image size with top and side masking opened to full Magnascope size. Note the ornate teaser and the fancy side tabs to frame the screen. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
What was Magnascope? Most deluxe theatres of the period had motorized masking on their screen frames so the picture could be suddenly enlarged for certain scenes of a film -- especially those involving action, like a ship coming toward the audience.
An orchestra on stage c.1931. Check out the grand drape -- and that scalloped teaser. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library
An organist in 1931. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library
A chance to check out the end standards. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
A chance to check out the end standards. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
The plush loge seating at the rear of the main floor. This area is now part of the expanded lobby. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
A view back from house left. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
The rear of the house from onstage. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
A wonderful view of the Fox Wilshire Theatre's proscenium and house right wall. On stage we see the painted act curtain. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
The front balcony exit house right -- and a great look at the fantastic array of detail above it. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
A balcony view with the main drape partially opened. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library
A detail of one of the chandeliers -- now lost. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
A view of the dazzling side wall of the balcony. WOW! Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
Looking back at the booth. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - 1930
The view to the rear of the house from center stage -- after Fox West Coast had painted out some of the decorative work. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.
A nice view of the main floor loge seats taken before the June 1939 premiere of "Young Mr. Lincoln." Thanks to Claudia Mullins for spotting the photo on a post of the Facebook page Metro's Stars Jeanette and Nelson. On the left it's Pat Peterson and her husband Charles Boyer. In the center are Wayne Morris and his wife Bubbles Schinasi. On the right it's Gene Raymond and his wife Jeanette MacDonald.
The rear of the auditorium in a photo dated by the Los Angeles Public Library as c.1942.
A balcony photo from the Los Angeles Public Library that they date as 1942.
The enticing view from the top of the Fox Wilshire balcony. Note the darker areas between side wall pilasters -- there's been some somber repainting. It's a 1930 Los Angeles Public Library photo.
A look toward the screen after the house was outfitted for 70mm in 1959. The first film they ran in the process was Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." The shot comes from a Boxoffice article of unknown date that discussed the improvements that Fox West Coast made during their renovations. The first 70mm film to play the theatre was Disney's "Sleeping Beauty," opening January 29, 1959.
A balcony shot from Taylor
Hackford's "The Idolmaker" (United
Artists, 1980).
A look to house right from "The Idolmaker." The color palate soon got much gloomier with the 1981 renovation for the Nederlander Organization. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for more shots from the film.
A 2002 shot of the proscenium when it was in its red period. The color dates from the 1981 restoration designed by Richard McCann. Thanks to Ken Roe for the photo on Flickr.
A 2002 view of the side wall and organ grille area. Photo: Ken Roe on Flickr.
A balcony sidewall detail. Photo: Ken Roe on Flickr - 2002
The rear of the auditorium in 2002. Thanks to Ken Roe for the photo he shared on Flickr. Also see a view off to house left from the front of the main floor. Don't miss Ken's huge Movie Theatres - USA set of over 700 photos.
Many thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for this 2008 photo that appears on Flickr. Also see another auditorium view -- and from there you can page through some lobby photos as well. For a real treat, browse Eric's Los Angeles Theatres set on Flickr consisting of nearly five hundred photos.
Pages about the Fox Wilshire/Saban Theatre: history + exterior views | lobby areas | recent auditorium views | back to top - vintage auditorium views | stage | booth |
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