Los Angeles Theatres: Larchmont Theatre

149 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004 | map |

Opened: March 15, 1922. It was between Beverly and 1st in the Larchmont shopping district. The initial film was "Flowers of the North" with stars Henry Walthall and Pauline Starke appearing at the opening. In the pit for the occasion was a 14-piece orchestra led by H.C. Von Stein, who was also one of the lessees.

This 1934 shot of the Larchmont playing "It Happened One Night" can be seen on page 50 of the lovely Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles" by Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Amy Ronnebeck Hall, and Marc Wanamaker. The photo also puts in an appearance as a post by Bill Gabel for the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

The theatre was built for investor J.J. La Bonte. The initial operators were Dorner and Von Stein. Soon Mr. Dorner was gone and later in 1922 it was just H.C. Von Stein running it. Later it was operated by silent film star Alice Calhoun. Calhoun at various times was also involved in the La Mirada/Filmarte and Marcal/World theatres in Hollywood. Fox West Coast later ran it. Selma Steiner was the final operator.

Architect: Evidently designed by the contractor Western Construction Co. Joe Vogel comments:

"Western Construction Company had made the plans for and would erect this theatre, according to an item in Southwest Builder & Contractor's issue of September 16, 1921. The project budget was $30,000. A pipe organ was mentioned in the item, but no details about it were given."

Seating: 835

An opening week ad. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theatres for locating this for a post on Cinema Treasures.

A 1922 letter listing H.C. Von Stein as the sole lessee. It was another find by Dallas Movie Theatres that was shared as a post on Cinema Treasures. The 18 episode "Robinson Crusoe" serial was released between March and July 1922.

Closing: 1952. Dallas Movie Theatres noted:

"[In 1952] the theatre celebrated its 30th anniversary under its final and independent operator, Selma Steiner. It closed later that year on November 16, 1952 with 'Sudden Fear' and 'Just for You.' Steiner then sued former operator Fox West Coast Theatres. That suit went against her in 1955. The Larchmont was torn down late in 1959 becoming a bank building."

Status: The bank building that replace the theatre is now gone. There's now a newer retail development on the site.

More exterior views:

A 1930 look north on Larchmont Blvd. toward the theatre. The photo is part of a set by Dick Whittington Studio devoted to Mr. Balzer and his fleet of delivery trucks. It's in the USC Digital Library collection.

A detail from the USC photo. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for finding the photo in the USC collection and for this detail view. See more on his Noirish post #41068.

The Larchmont was running the talkie "In Old Arizona," released in December 1928, plus "Jazz Heaven," a November 1929 release. Jeff Hamblin notes that on the far side of the marquee there's also a sign for "Hallelujah," possibly their next attraction. It was an August 1929 release.

A 1935 look at the theatre during a kids film party. It appears on page 51 of the Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles." Most of the rare photos in the book are from Mr. Wanamaker's Bison Archives. It's also been seen on the Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles as a post by Ken McIntyre.

A c.1943 look at the Larchmont. It appears that the theatre is closed and maybe there was a bit of fire action upstairs. The photo could have been yours for $9.99. Thanks to L.A. transit historian Sean Ault for locating it on eBay.

A 1950 photo of the Larchmont running "No Man of Her Own" and "The Big Hangover" that appeared on Cinema Treasures. Thanks to that site's contributor Senorsock for locating it for an October 2013 post. It's also been seen on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. Elizabeth Fuller commented about a 2023 post of the image on the Los Angeles Historic Facebook page:

"... this is a recently mocked-up version of the old photo - Jane Gilman is the former publisher of the Larchmont Chronicle, and this version of the photo, with Gilman's name on the left side of the marquee, was created to honor the paper's 50th anniversary in 2013, long after the theater was demolished."

The Larchmont in the Movies:

We get a look at the Larchmont facade in Poodles Hanneford's "Better Behave" (Weiss Brothers Artclass Pictures, 1928). It's part of the Weiss-O-Rama set of late silent era comedy shorts, available in a collection on Amazon. Thanks to the famed silent film detective John Bengtson for the "Better Behave" photo and data. Visit John's blog "Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)" for accounts of his latest investigations.

The Larchmont makes an appearance in the background of this shot in the Three Stooges short "Hoi Polloi" (Columbia, 1935). Thanks to Peter Chacona Chaconas for the post of the great screenshot on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

The Larchmont is on the far left in this shot from the two reel Three Stooges short "Pop Goes the Easel" (Columbia, 1935). Thanks to Chris Bungo for spotting the theatre in the film. He's got the various Larchmont district locations explained in his eleven minute Filming Locations video on YouTube. Two more shots showing the theatre can also be seen on the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post.

Pete Smith gives us a peek at the Larchmont in the background of this shot from his short "Pedestrian Safety" (MGM, 1952). The photo appears on page 44 in the Arcadia Publishing book "Location Filming in Los Angeles" by Karie Bible, Marc Wanamaker and Harry Medved. You can see the page with this photo on the Google Books preview.

Los Angeles Theatres

Larchmont Theatre

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