Opened: 1924 as Jensen's Melrose Theatre by Henry C. Jensen. Since 1961 it's been the Ukranian Culture Center. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
Phone: 323-665-3703 Website: ukrainianculturecenter.org | on Facebook
Jensen was a German immigrant brick maker who prospered as Los Angeles
exploded with new construction in the teens and 20s. His firm, Henry C.
Jensen & Sons, evolved into builders and building operators.
In
addition to the Melrose, Jensen was involved in two nearby Echo Park
ventures: Jensen's Theatorium at 1624 Sunset Blvd. (later called the Holly Theatre,
now a market) and Jensen's Recreation Center at 1700 Sunset Blvd. He also operated Jensen's Raymond Theatre in Pasadena (1921) and the Palace Grand Theatre (1914) in Glendale.
Ken
Roe noted on Cinema Tour that this was "a 'better class' neighbourhood
theatre which had a 10 piece orchestra and a Link 2 Manual/4Rank organ
which accompanied the silent films." The theatre was primarily for
films and did not have a big stage.
Architect: Elimar E.B. Meinardus designed the theatre. Interior decoration was by Robert E. Power Studios.
Seating: 880
It was still listed as Jensen's Melrose in the 1929 directory. It's unknown when Jensen's involvement ended. In 1936 it was being operated by the Chotiner circuit and advertised as Chotiner's Melrose. The Chotiner circuit was later absorbed into Fox West Coast. In
the early 1950s it was leased to a church, the Fountain Avenue Baptist Church. They evidently were gone by 1952.
In 1957 and 1958 the Melrose was used as a test house for the three
projector Cinemiracle process. The only film in the process,
"Windjammer," had its L.A. debut at Grauman's Chinese, also operated by Fox West Coast.
The Cinemiracle installation at the Melrose featured a 24' x 63' screen. On Roland Lataille's In Cinerama page about the theatre he notes that a 3 strip print was made from "Raintree County" and demonstrated at the Melrose in July 1957.
Fox West Coast was evidently out of the building by 1959. The theatre was sold and remodeled into the Ukranian Culture Center, which opened in 1961.
In 1967, the theatre was briefly a concert venue was known as Capt'n Merriweather's Pickle Farm. Thanks to Adsausage Archives for this ad that appeared in the Los Angeles Free Press. Adsausage also has a Facebook page.
Adsausage reports that in the early 80s the building was again used as a concert venue: "Former Al's Bar booker Michael O'Reilly lined up The Plugz, Flesh Eaters, Gun Club and Phrast Freddie and Thee Precions for its opening." It's unknown how long that operation lasted.
Status: Most of the interior detailing remains, now with an opulent new paint job after lots of restoration work including plaster repairs. The main floor has been leveled. The upstairs got walled off into a separate room with a great job duplicating the feel of the main floor proscenium.
Interior views:
A look at the detail on the lobby ceiling. Thanks to Sandi Hemmerlein for her photos. They come from "Jensen's Melrose Theatre (Now Ukranian Cultural Center)," her lovely 2015 Avoiding Regret photo essay about a visit to the theatre. You can also track Sandi's adventures on the Avoiding Regret Facebook page.
Plaster detail work in the ladies room vestibule. The doorway leads out into the lobby. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2015
A lobby view prior to the redecorating. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for his 2008 photo.
A view of the stage from the main floor during the 2011 restoration -- with a peek backstage as well. Check out the dazzling May 2011 photo album on the Ukranian Culture Center Facebook page for 43 views of the building during and after the redecorating project.
A stage view from the rear of the main floor. The upstairs has been walled off as a separate meeting space. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2015
A view of the hall from upstairs. Photo: Ukranian Culture Center Facebook page - 2011
Backing up a bit from the position the photo above was taken from we get a look at the upstairs control booth. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - 2015
The medallion and chandelier in the middle of the ceiling. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2015
A closer view of the main chandelier. Photo: Ukranian Culture Center Facebook page - 2011
A detail of the proscenium after the 2011 re-gilding and repainting. Photo: Ukranian Culture Center Facebook page
A nice detail of the top of the proscenium posted on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page by Linda Stewart.
The view up the stage left sidestage area and proscenium column. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2015. Thanks, Sandi!
A 2006 photo from Hey Skinny on Flickr showing the look before the restoration work. Ken Roe has a similar view on the Cinema Tour page about the theatre. Skinny notes: "It's a weird mishmash in here of Egyptianate and Greco-Roman, all repainted heavily with only two colors."
A stunning shot of the capitol on the stage left proscenium column. Photo: Ukranian Culture Center Facebook page - 2011
A look toward the rear of the house in 2006. Note that the upstairs has been walled off to form a separate room. Photo: Hey Skinny on Flickr
The new space created in the former upstairs lounge and booth areas. Photo: Ukranian Culture Center Facebook page - 2011
More exterior views:
Thanks to Matt Spero for this undated photo, the only one to surface showing the building with a marquee. He reports: "I had stopped by the Ukrainian Culture Center several years ago and asked if they had any pictures of the building when it had a marquee. They gave me a soft cover book that had this one exterior picture in it with the marquee in place."
A 2009 view of the Melrose from Waltarrrrr on Flickr.
A detail of the facade. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
A detail of the facade. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
The lettering at the top of the facade. The photo by Just Above Sunset Photography is one of a set of dazzling detail views of the facade that appear on their page "Straight From 1924."
Ornament at the top of the facade. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
Another terracotta detail. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
The arch from below. Photo: Linda Stewart - Vintage Los Angeles - 2010
The top of the arch. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
Terracotta on the side of the arch. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
Terracotta on the side of the arch. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
A window detail. It's a 2012 photo by Linda Stewart that appeared on Vintage Los Angeles. Also see her facade view looking west. Thanks, Linda!
The top of one of the side windows. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
A detail of a bracket on one of the facade side windows. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
The top of one of the side windows. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
A detail of a bracket on one of the facade side windows. It's a photo by Just Above Sunset Photography on their page "Straight From 1924."
The view east on Melrose toward the theatre. Photo: Google Maps - 2011
The Melrose in the Movies:
Chester Conklin and Mack Swain walk by the Melrose a little over a minute into the 18 minute short "Cleaning Up"
(Christie / Paramount, September 1930). The film also features Estelle Bradley and
Gibson Gowland. Harry Edwards directed. The cinematography was by Jack
Breamer and Gus Peterson. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for another shot a moment later plus a view of the next bit of action, evidently shot near Melrose and Vermont.
Conklin is seen again at the Melrose in the two-reeler "Sky Scrappers" (Christie / Paramount, December 1930). Thanks to
Jeff Hamblin for locating this still on eBay. The film
was directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom and also features Eddie Baker, Doris
Hill and Blanche Payson. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a shot of Conklin out on a beam atop the Guaranty Building at Hollywood and Ivar with views of the Pantages and Music Box plus two additional stills Jeff located also using that location.
Sandi. Hemmerlein's lovely 2015 Avoiding Regret photo essay about her visit to "Jensen's Melrose Theatre (Now Ukranian Cultural Center)" has many photos of the building.
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