216 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91203 | map |
The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | auditorium | projection booths + attic | backstage |
Vintage auditorium photos:
A great look at the Alexander's original house curtain that appeared with a February 18, 1928 Motion Picture News story about the theatre decorating work of the Robert E. Power Studio. It's on Internet Archive. A cropped version of the photo also appeared on page 36 of the December 28, 1929 Motion Picture News. The page featuring Fox theatres that had been decorated by the Power Studio was part of the issue's extensive "Theatre Building & Equipment Buyers Guide."
Recent main floor photos:
A main floor view with the fire curtain in. The design was painted by Grosh Scenic Studios in the 1940s. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009
The empty stage from the rear of the house. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for his photo taken at a 2014 open house. The shot originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is active in promoting awareness of the historic theatres of Los Angeles and works toward their preservation. They frequently offer tours and sponsor other events related to historic preservation. www.lahtf.org | group Facebook page | official Facebook page
Across from house left. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - 2014
A closer look at the center section in 2018. Thanks to Shellie Winkler for sharing this as well as other photos of the theatre in a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.
The passage on the house left side of the main floor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking back toward the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Recent views up in the balcony:
A look down onto the empty stage. Note the earlier center cluster speaker system, now replaced with line arrays left and right. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009
The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | auditorium | projection booths + attic | backstage |
Vintage auditorium photos:
A great look at the Alexander's original house curtain that appeared with a February 18, 1928 Motion Picture News story about the theatre decorating work of the Robert E. Power Studio. It's on Internet Archive. A cropped version of the photo also appeared on page 36 of the December 28, 1929 Motion Picture News. The page featuring Fox theatres that had been decorated by the Power Studio was part of the issue's extensive "Theatre Building & Equipment Buyers Guide."
A c.1937 photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note the original lambrequin at the top of the proscenium and the painted traveler still in use.
A 40s look in from the back of the house at what appears to be some sort of event honoring nurses.
Note the steps covering the orchestra pit. It's a photo that appears with the theatre's 1996 application for inclusion on the National Register. It's available on the National Archives website. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating a link to the document.
Note the steps covering the orchestra pit. It's a photo that appears with the theatre's 1996 application for inclusion on the National Register. It's available on the National Archives website. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating a link to the document.
A 40s view to the rear of the house that was included with the National Register application.
The proscenium in 1948 after a Skouras-style redecoration following a backstage fire.
Note the new carvings each side of the proscenium that were a replacement for the urns. The photo from John Miller is in the LAHTF collection. It's on display
in the inner lobby.
A c.1992 photo taken for the Walt Disney Company that appears with the theatre's 1996 National Register application. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating it.
A c.1992 photo taken for the Walt Disney Company that appears with the theatre's 1996 National Register application. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating it.
Another 1992 view from the balcony. It's a photo from the Glendale Arts collection that appeared on the Alex
website when that organization was operating the theatre.
The rear of the balcony as restoration work was beginning. Photo: Glendale Arts collection
A c.1992 look at the 1948 decorative scheme. Or, rather, part of it. Much of the draping had been taken down in the intervening decades. It's a photo from the Walt Disney Company used with the National Register application. It can be viewed on the National Archives website. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating it.
A c.1992 look at the 1948 decorative scheme. Or, rather, part of it. Much of the draping had been taken down in the intervening decades. It's a photo from the Walt Disney Company used with the National Register application. It can be viewed on the National Archives website. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating it.
The rear of the house prior to the 1992-1993 restoration. Photo: Glendale Arts collection
Recent main floor photos:
A main floor view with the fire curtain in. The design was painted by Grosh Scenic Studios in the 1940s. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009
The empty stage from the rear of the house. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for his photo taken at a 2014 open house. The shot originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is active in promoting awareness of the historic theatres of Los Angeles and works toward their preservation. They frequently offer tours and sponsor other events related to historic preservation. www.lahtf.org | group Facebook page | official Facebook page
Across from house left. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - 2014
Looking across from house right. Photo: Shellie Winkler - Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group - 2018
The top of the proscenium. Photo: Shellie Winkler - Photos of Los Angeles - 2018
The proscenium with a bit of the fire curtain. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The fire curtain all the way in. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The fire curtain all the way in. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The theatre by ghost light during the Coronavirus shutdown. The photo was a March 2020 post by the theatre on Instagram. Thanks to Donavan S. Moye for spotting it.
"National Treasure" being projected from the original booth at the top of the balcony. Thanks to Los Angeles Magazine senior editor Chris Nichols for sharing this photo. He was at the Alex in the Summer of 2026 to report on a new main floor projection booth that was being constructed for the installation of
35/70 machines for the run of Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." See "The Odyssey Brings First-Run Movies Back to the Alex Theater," his July 10 story.
A look across the house in 2026 as the credits roll for "National Treasure." Photo: Chris Nichols. He is the author, with Adriene Biondo, of the 2024 Angel City press book "Bowlarama: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling."
The back of the house:
A view to the rear of from stage right. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A view from centerstage. It's a photo from the Glendale Arts collection that appeared on the Alex
website when that organization was operating the theatre.
A closer look at the center section in 2018. Thanks to Shellie Winkler for sharing this as well as other photos of the theatre in a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.
Another look to the rear. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Across the back as it was in 2019. Prior to the 1990s renovations it was a gentle slope all the
way from the front row to the lobby. The rear of the seating area was
sacrificed to provide handicap seating and create space for main floor
restrooms. Photo: Bill Counter
The side exit passageways:
The passage on the house left side of the main floor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking back toward the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the house left exit passage along side the stage. Behind us are exits onto Maryland Ave. The open doorway leads to the house left organ chamber. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the organ chamber. The plaster grille is behind the canvas. Production manager / stage supervisor Rafael Posada and master
electrician Jazzy Birdsong were troubleshooting the striplight that lights the grille. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the house right exit passage along the side of the auditorium. We're looking back toward the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Recent views up in the balcony:
A look down onto the empty stage. Note the earlier center cluster speaker system, now replaced with line arrays left and right. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF - c.2009
A view with the curtain closed. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his 2014 photo on the LAHTF Facebook page.
A proscenium shot included in Brian T. Meacham's 2007 "Last Remaining Seats: The Alex Theatre" album on Flickr.
The proscenium ornament. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Looking down from house left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A peek at the cold cathode lighting in one of the house left coves. The piece that's not lit is red, no longer working but once used to simulate a sunrise as intermission approached. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A view to house right. Photo: Brian T. Meacham - Flickr - 2007. Thanks, Brian!
Looking down from house right. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Across to house left. Photo: Glendale Arts collection
A detail of the ornament between the two columns house left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A closer look at the big urn. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The stage from the front of the balcony. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A wide view of the balcony from house right. There's no top access to relamp that ceiling cove. Photo: Glendale Arts collection
A detail of the Greek shield fixture at the house left end of the crossaisle. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A closer look to the booth. That porthole off to
the right was once the lighting control booth. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Way in the back corner. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A slide on the screen before a showing of "The Odyssey" on July 16, 2026. The image we see was digital, projected from the original upstairs booth. Note the keystoning. The film itself, in 70mm, was shown from the new main floor booth. It's a shot from a short clip on Facebook from SoCal Nation.
The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | back to top - auditorium | projection booths + attic | backstage |
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