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Shubert Theatre

2020 Avenue of the Stars  Century City (Los Angeles), CA 90067 | map

Opened: 1972 with a production of "Follies." It was operated, as the name would suggest, by the Shubert Organization. This view of the drop off area is a c.1984 photo by Michael Haering in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. We're looking over toward the Shubert,  where "42nd Street" was in residence.

The theatre, along with the Century Plaza Theatres across the plaza, was part of what was called the ABC Entertainment Center. Initially there was a Playboy Club on the lower level, under the theatre.

Shows to play the house included "Lorelei" (1973), "Irene" (1974), Marcel Marceau (1974), "Chorus Line" (1976-77), "Beatlemania" (1978), "Sly Fox" with George C. Scott (1978), "Annie" (1979), "Evita" (1980-81), "Sophisticated Ladies" (1982), "Amadeus" (1982-83), "Dreamgirls" (1983), "Cats" (1985, 1991), "42nd St." (1984), "Les Miz" (1988-89), "Sunset Boulevard" (1993),  "Ragtime" (1997), "Mamma Mia" (2001), "Kiss Me, Kate" (2001) and many, many more.

Seating: 1,830

Architect: Henry George Greene

Status: Closed in 2002 and was demolished. A new office tower is now on the site.


A Gil Cooper / L.A. Times photo of the installation of one of the lobby chandeliers in 1972. Thanks to Eitan Alexander for spotting it in the UCLA / L.A. Times Photo Collection.



A David Zanzinger lobby photo. Thanks to Kevin Miller for posting it on the Mid Century Modern Los Angeles Facebook page. He notes: "When you entered the theatre from the street level, that was the Mezzanine, and you had to take the stairs down to get to the Orchestra level."


A look to the rear of the house by David Zanzinger.  Again thanks to Kevin Miller for locating the photo. More of Mr. Zanzinger's work can be seen on the site PhotoShelter. Also pay a visit to his Facebook page.

 
More exterior views:

 
c.1975 - A postcard of the fountain in front of the ABC Entertainment Center from the site Card Cow. Thanks to Alison Martino for finding the card in the site's collection.
 

1978 - "Beatlemania" on the marquee. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing this photo on the private Facebook group Shubert Theatre Los Angeles Century City.


1979 - A look down on the complex. Thanks to Alison Martino for her May 2011 post of the photo on Vintage Los Angeles where it elicited many comments. There's also a September 2011 re-post with many additional responses.

A slightly different version of the photo had been seen in a post on the Mid Century Modern Los Angeles private Facebook group in 2010 and made a reappearance on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page in 2013. "Annie" was at the Shubert with the films "Meteor" and "Fiddler On The Roof" at the Plitt Century Plaza Theatres.


 
1980 - A photo of the complex from the Richard Wojcik collection appearing on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page. "Evita" was at the Shubert. Thanks, Richard!
 

1980 - A closer look at the complex when "Evita" was playing. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing the photo on the Shubert Theatre Facebook page. 
 
 
 
c.1982 - A view south on the Avenue of the Stars -- that's the Shubert nearest us. Thanks to Alison Martino for the photo. It was a post on the non-public Facebook group page Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.
 
 
 
1983 - Thanks to Kevin Miller for this shot taken before the run of "Dreamgirls" began. It was a post on the Shubert Theatre Facebook page. 
 
 
 
1984 - "42nd St." was playing. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing the photo on the page for the Shubert Theatre Facebook group. 


1985 - A photo from Alison Martino's collection looking over toward the Shubert during a run of "Cats." Thanks, Alison! It was a post on the private Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.
 

1988 - Thanks to Kevin Miller for this photo taken during the run of "Les Miz." It was a post on the page for the Shubert Theatre Facebook group. 
 
 

1990 - "Jerome Robbins' Broadway" on the marquee. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing this photo along with two others in a post on the Lost Angeles Facebook group. 
 

 
2001 - A "Dame Edna" marquee shot from Douglas McEwan taken during the theatre's final season. He had it as a post for the Mid Century Modern Los Angeles Facebook group. The show played from May 15 to May 27. 
 

2001 - "The Who's Tommy." It was the last show to play the theatre, running December 18 through 30. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing the photo with the Shubert Theatre Facebook group. 
 

c.2001? - A look at the boxoffice. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing his photo, a post for the Shubert Theatre Facebook group. 
 

2004 - Working on the roof slab as demolition begins. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing this photo along with two others in a post on the Lost Angeles Facebook group. 
 

2004 - Looking down onto the balcony risers. Thanks to Kevin Miller for including the photo in his Lost Angeles post. 

More Information: On Facebook there's a group devoted to the Shubert Theatre. Wikipedia has a page on the Shubert.

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5 comments:

  1. It was an incredible shame the Shubert Theater was demolished and so soon after it’s major renovation in 1994 for the opening of SUNSET BOULEVARD. The color palette was changed throughout the theater, the mezzanine was extended forward by six rows and box seats were added. Whenever a theater is destroyed in Los Angeles or anywhere else for that matter, it is a time for mourning.

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  2. Yes, want a shame it's gone. Saw Sunset Blvd there three times in '94. There was a restaurant there too. I can't remember the name though.

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    Replies
    1. There were a lot of restaurants in the Entertainment Center over time. The two fine dining
      ones were Harry's Bar & Grill and Jade West. There was also a Playboy's Club in the early
      years.

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  3. ...I just accidentally ran across this post and photos. Wow, I remember going to the Shubert many times over the years after moving to Santa Monica in 1982. I originally moved here from small town Michigan to open the Beverly Center whose owners were from the Detroit area (still own it I believe). I ended up at Santa Monica Place overseeing Tenant Design & Construction until we sold it in 1999. It’s been replaced also. I moved on to other shopping center developments that are no longer the same too. Progress moves on to make new memories. My mother used to come and visit a couple times a year and we always ended up seeing a show at the Shubert. Time never stands still and from a young mid-twenties young man to a retired "older" man, I at least can say I have great memories of LA looking back over my life! Still have both 80's young parents back in Michigan too!

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  4. I worked there backstage during "A Chorus Line" run and made a lot of beautiful memories and met a lot of great people.

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