Opened: November 26, 1930 as the Wilshire Theatre with the Independent Theatre Corp. as operators. The building is on the south side of Wilshire between Euclid St. and Euclid Ct., a block west of 14th St. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007
The principals of the company were Edward A. Johnson as president, Forrest W. McManus as vice-president and M.E. Baylis as secretary. McManus had been operating the Tivoli (now called the Royal Theatre) in Sawtelle since 1926. He had the Nuart underway when the company was organized in July 1930. These became the firm's first two theatres and with the Wilshire opening they had three. Harry H. Belden and Ira Marshall were the project's developers.
Architect: It was designed and built by John Montgomery Cooper. He also designed the Roxie Theatre downtown, a 1931 house.
Seating: Originally 1,189. In 1961 it was reseated to hold 836. After the 1977 twinning it was 317 + 307.
The November 25, 1930 edition of the Santa Monica Evening Outlook had rosy predictions about the number of stars that would be in attendance for the opening. Opening night festivities included a concert by the Santa Monica Evening Outlook Newsboys Band and Mickey McGuire and His Gang, both in person and on the screen.
This discussion of the theatre's decor was another article from November 25 edition of the Evening Outlook.
An article about the stage from the November 25, 1930 edition of the Santa Monica Evening Outlook.
Snappy uniforms for the ushers. It's another item from the November 25 edition of the Evening Outlook. They note that a "colored maid will have charge of the women's lounge room" but somehow the staff for that part of the theatre wasn't included in the photo. Many thanks to Samuel de la Torre Dórame for the research on the theatre's early history and finding the items from the Outlook. He specializes in researching the history of the Sawtelle neighborhood. See his blog Sawtelle 1897-1941 for many fine articles.
Fox West Coast did a big remodel in mid-1961 with a reopening in the fall. Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating this copy from a trade magazine article:
"During this remodel Fox West Coast Theatres spent nearly $100,000 in modernizing the theatre. In this they did a complete revision of the front and entrance area and a reseating of the auditorium. In this remodeling the capacity was reduced to 836 from the 1,189 in the past. In the reseating they installed American Bodiform chairs in a new plan for improved sightlines and comfort. In this plan it provided a distance of 36 inches back to back on the main floor and 38 inches in the loge section.
"Auditorium redecoration features new draperies for a screen extending almost to the walls and modern luminaries. A new facade has been erected with imported tile into which the box office has been integrated on the right side. The new lobby scheme also incorporates large aluminum poster cases. Remodeling included general modernization of illumination, a new ladies cosmetic room, completely refurbished wash rooms and new Alexander Smith carpeting through the theatre as part of a fresh decorative scheme colorful and lively with pattern.
"A new
colorful concession stand is opposite the metal framed glass doors. In its
decorative aspects, the renovation was pointed, as expressed in a
statement by the circuit, 'to provide atmosphere of color, glamor and
luxury tastefully combined with one of relaxation.'"
A February 18, 1977 reopening day ad. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. Visit his site: Movie-Theatre.org
A sad chapter in the theatre's history occurred in 1987 when cashier Henry Cuesta was killed in a bungled robbery. Thanks to John Torrens for sharing the April 6 L.A. Times story. He notes that Henry was a close friend. The Times copy:
"A 17-year-old Santa Monica movie theater cashier was shot and killed execution-style and an assistant manager was wounded during a robbery at the Wilshire Theater. Henry Cuesta died at Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center from gunshot wounds to the neck. James Randell, 24, the assistant manager, was reported in serious but stable condition at the hospital, also with bullet wounds to the neck.
"Santa Monica Police Detective Ray Cooper said the shooting occurred while patrons watched screenings of 'Platoon' and 'Blind Date.' Cooper described the shootings as 'a business robbery that apparently went foul.' He said some patrons were being questioned, but most did not witness the shootings, which took place in a remote office. Police Sgt. Russ Martin added that the robbery did not net the assailant much money because the night’s final receipts had already been stored in a safe."
A grand opening ad for the theatre as a Landmark operation with Jean Couteau’s "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lunatic" as the initial films. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it.
Closing: The NuWilshire closed November 4, 2007. The last films were the documentary "Sharkwater" and "Into the Wild." The facade was landmarked by the City of Santa Monica in 2008.
In March, 2009 the interior was gutted and converted to retail space. The Santa Monica Daily Press ran a 2009 article about the conversion: "Rehab begins for NuWilshire Theater." As part of the
project the floor was removed and a basement excavated for underground
parking. It sat vacant for a long time waiting for a tenant. Performance Bicycles eventually moved in. They went out of business in 2018.
Status: Vacant again. Well, except for a couple of Spirit Halloween rentals.
A 1961 Boxoffice magazine auditorium view of the theatre with a covered up proscenium but still as a single screen house. Thanks to Chris1982 for posting the shot on the Cinema Treasures page about the NuWilshire. National General had just given the theatre a big remodel.
A 2007 look at the lobby by Nick Illes appearing on the Cinema Tour page about the NuWilshire. On the site you'll find more photos including another lobby view and a booth shot.
The house left stairs to the booth and restrooms. Photo: Marilynn on Flickr - 2007
A stair detail. Photo: Marilynn on Flickr - 2007
An upstairs shot. Photo: Marilynn on Flickr - 2007
The view down from the house left stairs. Photo: Marilynn on Flickr - 2007
A look toward the booth in one of the shoebox auditoria. Photo: Marilynn on Flickr - 2007.
A sidewall view. Photo: Marilynn on Flickr - 2007
A peek into the booth in 2007. Thanks to Marilynn for sharing her photo on Flickr.
A few more exterior views:
1930 - A closer look at the entrance. It's a detail taken from Eric's copy of the photo above. Check out the Angel City Press book Eric wrote with Tom Zimmerman: "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965." Also see Eric's 2016 book "Signs of Life: Los Angeles is the City of Neon."
1969 - Running "The Stewardesses" in 3-D. It's a photo from the L.A. Conservancy's collection that's on their NuWilshire Theatre page. It got many comments when Joshua Mark shared it for the You know you grew up on the Westside of L.A. if... Facebook group.
1979 - A post-twinning view of the theatre by Anne Laskey that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. They also have another view taken the same day by Ms. Laskey from a bit farther east.
2008 - A facade detail from Dean Chen on Flickr. He has about ten additional exterior views you can page through.
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page for lots of data. And go to Cinema Tour for more photos including lobby and booth views.
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