Los Angeles Theatres: Rampart Theatre

2625 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026 | map |

Opened: The Rampart Theatre opened in 1924 with Constance Talmadge in “Her Night of Romance." The theatre, on Temple west of Rampart Blvd., was operated by W.A. Sobelman and John Balk. The owners of the building were L.J. Smith and Fred J. Tabor.

This fine 1936 view by Peerless Photo Service is now in the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. At one time the photo was owned by Johnny Bresnik and had also been in the B'hend-Kaufmann collection. It had remained unidentified with the "R" above the boxoffice one of the few clues. Theatre sleuth and man-about-town Bruce Kimmel solved the mystery. To a query posted on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page he responded: "Solved. The Rampart. The only time this double bill played. In May of 1936. What do I win?"

When asked what he wanted as a prize, he responded: "A time machine This one was super time consuming because 'A Voice for Bugle Ann' had only a brief run at the 4-Star and then disappeared for an entire month, played a half-week at the Belmont, and then the next sighting was finally the Rampart a full two months after its exclusive engagement. And it never had a wider release like most of the films in that period. I was so happy to finally find it - was about to give up. But this was the only time this double bill happened."

The theatre's opening was profiled in the November 11, 1924 issue of the L.A. Times. These photos of the two gentlemen operating the theatre were part of the coverage. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for including the image on a thread with other items about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. The cost of the building was about $125,000. In addition to films, vaudeville acts were sometimes on the bill as well.

The November 11 opening night ad in the L.A. Times. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Jeff Bridges for sharing it on Flickr.

A few ads from contractors that appeared along with the theatre's opening night ad. Again thanks to Jeff Bridges.

The owners boasted of "the only completely square auditorium in the West" as well as an advanced bowl shape for the rake of the floor. The sides were a bit higher, and we got an upward slope at the front -- something that became popular in the 40s as the "reverse curve."

Architect: Lewellyn J. Smith was architect, builder and a partner in owning the building. Decoration was by the Robert E. Power Studios.

Seating: 900

A December 1924 ad located by Ken McIntyre noting that the theatre still had storefronts to lease.

Status: The building is still there -- it's now used as a church. In the 60s it had been used as a movie studio for making commercials. Closing date as a theatre is not known.

Interior views:

An undated photo of the front of the Rampart's auditorium from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note the reverse curve of the floor for the front rows.

The rear of the auditorium. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.

Recent exterior views:

That's Benton Way on the left. The blue doors at the back of the house are used as the entrance by the church that has the building. On the right we're looking east on Temple with Rampart the next intersection off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

A closer look at the entrance. The marquee is the same one we see in the 30s photo at the top of the page, although stripped of all ornamentation and with plywood panels where the readerboards had once been. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

Ornament above one of the 2nd floor apartment windows. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

A look up the alley at the screen end of the building. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

The view down Benton Way. toward Temple St. On the right it's the booth end of the building. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

Los Angeles Theatres

Rampart Theatre

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