Nuart Theatre

11272 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 | map |  

Opened: August 21, 1930 with "Sweethearts on Parade" starring Alice White, Marie Prevost and Lloyd Hughes. White was there for the opening as were Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Photo: Bill Counter - October 21, 2022

The theatre was a project of Forrest W. McManus, who had operated the nearby Tivoli Theatre (now called the Royal) since 1926. The location is on the south side of the street just west of the 405. The current marquee was installed in 1939. The Nuart ran for decades as a typical sub-run neighborhood theatre before becoming an art house.

Phone: 310-473-8530      Website: www.landmarktheatres.com | on Facebook  

Seats: 660 at one time. Now down to 303. New seats were installed during a 2022 renovation.

 

 

"Cloud Piercing Lights - World Famous Motion Picture Stars In Person." It's the ad in the Santa Monica Evening Outlook that ran August 20, 1930, the day before the opening. Thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for locating this. For lots of fine fine research about the Sawtelle neighborhood see his blog Sawtelle California 1897-1950.

 

An article that appeared in the August 20, 1930 issue of the Santa Monica Evening Outlook. Thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for locating it. The last paragraph mentions that McManus had associates. In July 1930 he had teamed up with M.E. "Scotty" Baylis and Edward A. Johnson to form the Independent Theatre Corp. with the Tivoli (now the Royal) and Nuart becoming the firm's first two theatres. Johnson was president, McManus was vice-president, and Baylis was secretary. The theatre mentioned as being under construction was the Wilshire Theatre, to open in November 1930.

 

 

A publicity photo of Alice White for the Nuart's opening attraction "Sweethearts on Parade." It's a shot appearing on IMDb. 

 

An item appearing in the Santa Monica Outlook on September 9, 1930. At the time they were running "Strictly Unconventional" with Lewis Stone, Paul Cavanagh and Catherine Dale Owen. Thanks to Landmark Theatres for including it in a 2022 post on the Nuart Facebook page commemorating the theatre's 92nd birthday. Samuel de la Torre Dórame also tracked it down for "1930 - August 21 - The Nuart Theatre Opens," a post on his Sawtelle blog. The Outlook's caption:

"This photograph shows the front of the Nuart theater, the newest Bay district showhouse, which was opened recently in West Los Angeles. The new playhouse reports large crowds nightly and much comment on the modernistic silver and black design of the exterior as well as the richly furnished interior and excellent sound equipment."

 

A photo of co-owner Forrest W. McManus from the November 25, 1930 issue of the Outlook, part of the extensive press coverage for the opening of the Wilshire Theatre. Thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for finding the image. 

 

 

McManus was gone in 1932 when the operation was sold to 'Scotty' Baylis and his new partner George Bourke. Baylis had initially been a partner in the Independent Theatres Corp., formed in 1930 shortly before the Nuart opened. When the company started falling apart the Tivoli, Nuart and Wilshire went to the different partners. Thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for finding this February 12 article. 

 

A November 1936 flyer. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a Facebook post on Ken's Movie Page.

In 1939 Baylis and Bourke did a remodel that included a new facade, lounge area upgrades and a new marquee, the one still on the building. At the time the duo were also running the Tivoli, but Baylis no longer had an interest in the Wilshire. Baylis and Bourke planned to build a third house, the Bee Bee, on Santa Monica Blvd. just east of where the 405 now is. That didn't happen. See the page about the aborted project for a drawing and article. In 1941 they built the Bundy Theatre on Pico Blvd. 

 

The new marquee and other remodeling work resulted in a full page spread in the December 15, 1939 issue of the West Los Angeles Independent. Thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for hitting the microfilm at the Los Angeles Public Library to get the image. It's on his "1930 - August 21 - The Nuart Theatre Opens" post. It's unknown why they were celebrating "Anniversary Week" in December.

The text "Remodeled Nuart Now Most Modern Theater in Bay District," one of the Independent's articles:

"$12,000 Improvements Create New Showplace. West Los Angeles residents who last night attended the initial anniversary festivities at the Nuart theater, 11272 Santa Monica boulevard, today had nothing but praise for the extensive alterations which have turned the Nuart into the theater showplace of the bay district. $12,000 recently was invested by the theater's owners into making the Nuart the finest theater in the area, and patrons unanimously praised the results. 

"The theater's new five-color marquee takes second place to none in Southern California. Black letters on the light green background with an ultramodern design in brilliant neon lights put it in a class by itself for beauty and legibility. Distinctive features are the new lounge rooms on either side of the foyer. Each is equipped with modern chrome furnishings. Carpets harmonize in color and luxury with the blue crushed velour drapes. In the ladies powder room individual chrome vanity tables with large plate glass mirrors and carefully planned lighting facilitate milady's makeup. Both restrooms are walled and floored in Persian brown tile with chrome plated fixtures. 

"All electrical fixtures and lighting effects were especially adapted to bring out the striking tones in the theater's decoration. Even the front of the theater harmonizes with the interior. The building is faced with Persian brown Vitrolite glass, which is the last word in theater construction. The sunburst design of the terrazza [sic] sidewalk along the front stands out as unique in modern approaches." 

 

They were running split weeks in the 1940s with some Spanish language product screened. This November 1946 article appeared in the Santa Monica City College newspaper The Corsair. Thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for locating it. 

At some point the Nuart was rolled into the Fox West Coast circuit. It was an independent house after Fox left in 1954. Roy H. Wagner, who used to be projection supervisor for the Parallax, the company that became Landmark Theatres, notes that Flack Theatres had the theatre before the lease to Landmark and had pretty much run it into the ground. He notes that they also had the Royal at the time. In the early decades of the Landmark management (the chain's first Los Angeles theatre) it was a renowned repertory house programmed by Gary Meyer with changes of double bills every day or two.

 

 

A November 1974 calendar. Thanks to Landmark Theatres for sharing this and other calendars in a 2022 post on the Landmark Facebook page. 

 

A May and early June 1975 calendar from Landmark's collection.

 

 

The back of the 1975 calendar for June 16 through July 31. Thanks to Dave Hunter for sharing this from his collection. It appeared, along with two other Nuart, items as a Facebook post. 

 

 

The film listings for March 1976. Thanks to Dave Hunter for sharing this.

 

A June, July and August 1979 calendar from Landmark's collection.

 

A March, April and May 1981 calendar. Thanks to Landmark for sharing this.

Status: The Nuart has been operated by Landmark Theatres since 1974. It runs a mix of first run indie, foreign, and art releases along with occasional revival programs. Cult films are offered at midnights on weekends.

The Nuart got an extensive renovation in 2006. In late 2018 Landmark Theatres owners Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner sold the chain to Charles S. Cohen of Cohen Media Group. Hollywood Reporter had the story. The Nuart, along with all L.A. theatres, closed in March 2020 due to Covid restrictions. It reopened in Spring 2021. 

They shut down for a 30 day renovation in June 2022 with a reopening July 29 after new seats were installed. New doors were installed out at the sidewalk line in mid-August. After another closure for a second phase of the renovation the theatre reopened on October 21, 2022 with a ten day "Nuart Festival."

 

The new logo for 2022. 

 
Lobby views:

The Nuart's lobby in 2010. Photo: Bill Counter

Another 2010 lobby view. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

The lobby was expanded out to the sidewalk in August 2022, during a phased renovation project. Thanks to Tony Joe Stemme for this photo looking out toward the new outer doors. It's one of four photos in an August 28 post on the Cinema Treasures Facebook page. 

 

 

A wider view to the street. On the next phase of the lobby work the inner doors were removed and several walls knocked out to provide an expanded lounge area. The ladies room is on this side, the men's room through the arch on the left. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2022

 

Looking in toward the snackbar in the midst of renovations. Note the black visqueen on either side of the bar. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2022

 

 

A view across the unfinished inner lobby toward the house left entrance to the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2022 

 

 

The not-quite-finished area on the west side of the entrance that had earlier been the boxoffice. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2022 

 

 

The lounge on the west side of the lobby after work was completed. Photo: Bill Counter - December 2022

 

 

A look toward the street during reopening festivities. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2022

 

 

A view in from the entrance. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2022

 

 

The new bar. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2022

The auditorium:

The look of the auditorium in 2010. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

A photo appearing on the Nuart Facebook page in 2021.  

 

 

A look to the rear in August 2022 after a re-do of the seats in July. Thanks to Landmark Theatres for the photo, one included in a Nuart Facebook page post about a Q and A following a screening of the Lena Dunham film "Sharp Stick."

 

 

A view in August 2022. Thanks to Tony Joe Stemme for sharing his photo in a post on the Cinema Treasures Facebook page. He comments: "... NEW SEATS! And, they recline some. Plus, a new wheelchair accessible stadium type row in the back. Also, no more triple sections of seating. The two aisles are gone and the seats are all arranged in the center. There used to be a lot of wasted space.."

 

 

A September 2022 look in from house right. The lighting was still temporary and work was still underway on the walls. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

 Lovely to see the curtain in use after a show. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2022

 

 

The rear of the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2022 

 

 

New lighting and side wall covering installed. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2022

 

 

A 2021 booth photo from the Nuart Facebook page.  

 

 

A port view appearing on the Nuart Facebook page in 2021.

More exterior views:  

 

1931 - Thanks to Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives for this great shot taken during the run of "Young Donovan's Kid," a June release. Our appreciation to Margot Gerber for including it in a collage on an Art Deco Society of Los Angeles Facebook post. 

 

 

1931 - A "Young Donovan's Kid" view east from Bison Archives. Thanks Marc and Margot!  

1939 - A view of the theatre's original signage before the facade and marquee revamp. "Captain Fury" was a May release. The photo appeared in the December 15, 1939 issue of the West Los Angeles Independent with this caption:

 

"Niht [sic] picture of the old Nuart front before $12,000 remodeling program was started."

 

1939 - The first look at the new marquee. "Blackmail" with Edward G. Robinson was released in September. "Fast and Furious," an October release with Franchot Tone, wasn't about fast cars. It was about a beauty pageant taking place in a seaside town. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for locating the image for a post on Cinema Treasures. It appeared in the December 15, 1939 issue of the West Los Angeles Independent under the heading "Nuart Theater's New Five Color Marquee." The caption: 

 

"Night picture of the new remodeled front and streamlined neon lighted marquee of the Nuart theater on Santa Monica Boulevard. The changes have made this theater the most modern in the bay district."

 

 

1942 - A photo of the Nuart running "Sons of the Pioneers" and "I was Framed." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the post on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.  It's also been seen on Vintage Los Angeles. Note the fine view of the deco facade, later trimmed off.

 

1959 - A wonderful view of the Nuart running a mixed art house / Mexican / Japanese policy. The photo appeared on the now-vanished website of American Classic Images. 

 

1979 - A photo by Elisa Leonelli from the Claremont Colleges Digital Library.

1982 - A photo from the American Classic Images collection.

 

 

1982 - A photo taken by Scott Alexander when his short film "Myron" was shown at the theatre. Thanks to Scott and also thanks to Landmark for sharing the photo in a post on the Nuart Facebook page. Scott was back with the film as part of the 2022 Nuart Festival.

 

1983 - Thanks to American Classic Images for the photo.

 

1991 - Thanks to Dave Hunter for sharing his April 12 photo in a Facebook post about the Nuart. Also see his Theatres album. 

 

Dave comments: "The opening night of the 1991 AFI Fest, my fifth and final one as the film festival’s catalog editor and publicist. You can’t find it on the marquee, but the movie was Jean-Luc Godard’s 'Nouvelle Vague,' which brought out a good crowd. Many times I went to the Nuart for double bills of classic foreign and independent films before and after I took this photo on April 12."  Matt Yuen adds: "Godard, yeah fine. But what I really want to see is 'Blonde Emmanuelle' in 3D!"

 

 

2004 - The theatre running "Eros," a film with segments by Wong Kar-Wai, Steven Soderbergh and Michelangelo Antonioni. The shot appears in the Arcadia book "Route 66 in California" by Glen Duncan and the California Route 66 Preservation Society. The book credits the photo to Glen and the Preservation Society. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for locating this.

2007 - Photo: Bill Counter 

2009 - Thanks to Mark Peacock for this look at the marquee. See his Vintage Theatres photo set on Flickr for lots more great work.  Also visit his blog: On the Road With Mark Peacock.

2009 - Another delicious view of the Nuart marquee from Mark Peacock.

2010 - A terrazzo detail. Photo: Bill Counter 

2011 - Thanks to Don Solosan for this photo taken for the Los Angeles Historic Thestre Foundation. The LAHTF is active in promoting awareness of historic theatres in the Los Angeles area. The group offers tours, supports various events in vintage theatres and lobbies for historic preservation. www.lahtf.org | LAHTF on Facebook

 

 

2018 - A fine turnout on April 13 for the documentary "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami." Thanks to Mark Valen for sharing this photo he took.  

2018 - A fine shot by Mike Hume. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for thousands of great photos of the many theatres he's explored in Los Angeles and elsewhere.  

2020 - A lockdown view by Ian Logan that appeared with "LA's Shuttered Movie Theaters and Venues Are Using Their Marquees to Speak to the City," an April 2020 Los Angeles Magazine story by Mr. Logan and Cindy Whitehead that included eleven additional photos. Thanks to Yasmin Elming for spotting it.  

 

 

2022 - "Oscar Shorts." Photo: Bill Counter - March 16

 

 

2022 - A look into the ticket lobby. The circle in the terrazzo marks where the boxoffice once was. Photo: Bill Counter. New doors were installed out at the sidewalk line in August 2022.

 

 

2022 - The boxoffice windows to the right of the entrance. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - A neon detail. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2022 - West on Santa Monica Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - A fine view that appeared with an April 15 post on the Nuart Facebook page.  

 

 

2022 - A late night July 28 view, the evening before the theatre's reopening after the month-long closure for phase 1 of the renovation. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - A September look at the new entrance doors. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

2022 - Thanks to April Wright for sharing this October 18 shot of the neon tubing off the marquee so it could get a paint job. April was one of the speakers at the theatre's reopening and is the director of several documentaries including "Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace" and "Back To The Drive-In." Visit her website: www.goingattractions.com

 

 

 

2022 - A view of the new gray look for the facade as work was still underway on the marquee the day before reopening. Thanks to Conor Holt for sharing this photo he took on October 20. 

 

 

2022 - Thanks to April Wright for sharing this October 21 photo. It's one of four images in a post about the reopening on her Going Attractions Facebook page. 

 

 

2022 - The crowd starting to gather for the reopening. Photo: Bill Counter - October 21

The Nuart in the Movies:

We get an ambulance ride by the Nuart an hour and 39 minutes into Robert Altman's "The Long Goodbye" (United Artists, 1973). Elliott Gould stars as Philip Marlowe. Also featured are Nina van Palandt, Henry Gibson, Sterling Hayden and Mark Rydell. Leigh Brackett wrote the screenplay based on Raymond Chandler's novel. The film's cinematography was by Vilmos Zsigmond. Thanks to Tommy Bernard for spotting the theatre in the movie and getting the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a reflection of the Royal Theatre's marquee in the ambulance windows a moment later. 

 

 

In "Foul Play" (Paramount, 1978) Goldie Hawn has a bad first date at the Nuart. The guy shows up late, dies in his seat and later his body vanishes. The film also stars Chevy Chase, Burgess Meredith, Brian Dennehy, Dudley Moore, Billy Barty and Rachel Roberts. Much of this crime comedy, directed by Colin Higgins, was shot in San Francisco including a wonderful finale at the War Memorial Opera House. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for six more shots from the scene at the Nuart as well as backstage shots from the finale, partially filmed at the Shrine Auditorium. 

 

We see a marquee change during a drive-by of the theatre in Wim Wenders film "The State of Things" (Gray City, 1983). The director of a film that ran out of money while shooting in Portugal comes to L.A. in search of his missing producer. Patrick Bauchau, Allen Garfield, Samuel Fuller, Roger Corman and Isabelle Weingarten are among those featured. Henri Alekan was the cinematographer with Fred Murphy doing the L.A. portion. The film was released in Germany in 1982 with the title "Der Stand der Dinge." Thanks to Eric Schaefer for the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for views of the Cinerama Dome and Warner Hollywood from the film.

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Nuart for lots of discussion. Expert researcher Joe Vogel has contributed some badly needed historical data on the theatre.

The site Public Art in LA has a marquee shot.  Wikipedia has an article on the Nuart. Yelp, of course, has many photos.

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