The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | auditorium | booth + attic | backstage |
A view across the pit. A Gagnon LaForest tubular thrust screw lift was installed in 1999. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A $6 million 2013-2014 backstage renovation added 6,600 s.f. of additional space. The project included a loading dock, an expanded stage entrance area, additional dressing rooms, a freight elevator and a passenger elevator. For more details than are on this page see the theatre's Tech pdf.
- Proscenium: 46' wide, 27' high
- Stage depth: 28' 9" Apron depth: 5' 6"
- Stage surface: Black painted masonite over wood. The stage level was raised about 2' during the 1990s renovations.
- Orchestra pit: It's on a lift
- Centerline to SR lockrail: 31'. Centerline to stage left: 36' clear, 47' to the wall.
- House curtain: Operates stage right -- either flies or travels
- Asbestos: A curtain painted by Grosh Scenic Studios with a fairly simple design is still in place, now encapsulated. It's motorized with Clancy equipment. The design on the curtain in 1925 was a more elaborate scene. It's unknown whether the current curtain is a new one installed following a stage fire in August 1948 or the original that just got repainted.
- Grid height: 57' 6". Access is via a ladder off left on the back wall.
- Counterweight sets: 42 sets on 8" centers with 5 lift lines and 52' long pipes. There's also a motorized set for a cyc against the back wall. It's largely Clancy equipment. Ropelocks are by Atlas Silk.
- Lockrail: Stage right at stage level. Sets up to #6 are double purchase operated from a platform about 8' above stage level.
- Arbor capacity: 1,000 lbs.
- Hemp capability: Some belaying pins on the lockrail allow spot lines when necessary.
- Traps: none
- Pit: 20 musician capacity, 8' below stage level. The front section is on a lift.
- Road power: 1 400 amp 3 phase, 1 200 amp 3 phase
- Dimmers: 324 2.4Kw with an ETC ION console
- Lighting control position: A booth top of the balcony house left. Other control locations are also used.
- House mix position: Front section of balcony, house right
- Sound console: 48 channel Yamaha PM5D-RH
- Speakers: L'Acoustics KUDO line array, stereo - no center cluster. Subs are at stage level outside the proscenium.
- Film capability: 35mm and digital with DCP capability. Screen size is 21'6" x 46' with a 110' throw to the booth. Projection throw is 110'. The three stage speaker channels use JBL 4648 LF speakers, JBL 2446 HF horns. There are two JBL 4642 dual subs.
- Loading: Dock on Maryland Ave. on the south (stage left) side of the building. The dock is 12' above stage level. A freight elevator goes from the dock to stage and basement levels. The original loading door in the back wall at center is also used. The stage is 8' below street level.
- Stage entrance: Off left with parking beyond.
- Dressing rooms: Everything's in the basement, with stairs DSL and DSR as well as a passenger elevator off left.
A $6 million 2013-2014 backstage renovation added 6,600 s.f. of additional space. The project included a loading dock, an expanded stage entrance area, additional dressing rooms, a freight elevator and a passenger elevator. For more details than are on this page see the theatre's Tech pdf.
- Proscenium: 46' wide, 27' high
- Stage depth: 28' 9" Apron depth: 5' 6"
- Stage surface: Black painted masonite over wood. The stage level was raised about 2' during the 1990s renovations.
- Orchestra pit: It's on a lift
- Centerline to SR lockrail: 31'. Centerline to stage left: 36' clear, 47' to the wall.
- House curtain: Operates stage right -- either flies or travels
- Asbestos: A curtain painted by Grosh Scenic Studios with a fairly simple design is still in place, now encapsulated. It's motorized with Clancy equipment. The design on the curtain in 1925 was a more elaborate scene. It's unknown whether the current curtain is a new one installed following a stage fire in August 1948 or the original that just got repainted.
- Grid height: 57' 6". Access is via a ladder off left on the back wall.
- Counterweight sets: 42 sets on 8" centers with 5 lift lines and 52' long pipes. There's also a motorized set for a cyc against the back wall. It's largely Clancy equipment. Ropelocks are by Atlas Silk.
- Lockrail: Stage right at stage level. Sets up to #6 are double purchase operated from a platform about 8' above stage level.
- Arbor capacity: 1,000 lbs.
- Hemp capability: Some belaying pins on the lockrail allow spot lines when necessary.
- Traps: none
- Pit: 20 musician capacity, 8' below stage level. The front section is on a lift.
- Road power: 1 400 amp 3 phase, 1 200 amp 3 phase
- Dimmers: 324 2.4Kw with an ETC ION console
- Lighting control position: A booth top of the balcony house left. Other control locations are also used.
- House mix position: Front section of balcony, house right
- Sound console: 48 channel Yamaha PM5D-RH
- Speakers: L'Acoustics KUDO line array, stereo - no center cluster. Subs are at stage level outside the proscenium.
- Film capability: 35mm and digital with DCP capability. Screen size is 21'6" x 46' with a 110' throw to the booth. Projection throw is 110'. The three stage speaker channels use JBL 4648 LF speakers, JBL 2446 HF horns. There are two JBL 4642 dual subs.
- Loading: Dock on Maryland Ave. on the south (stage left) side of the building. The dock is 12' above stage level. A freight elevator goes from the dock to stage and basement levels. The original loading door in the back wall at center is also used. The stage is 8' below street level.
- Stage entrance: Off left with parking beyond.
- Dressing rooms: Everything's in the basement, with stairs DSL and DSR as well as a passenger elevator off left.
A basement plan from the 2013 expansion project designed by PMSM Architects, Santa Barbara. Also see a wider version.
A plan at stage level showing the 2013 addition. At this level you're 8' below the street in back of the stagehouse. The freight elevator gets you up to a loading dock. The passanger elevator downstage of it goes to basement dressing rooms, the stage level, and up to a stage door level above. Also see a wider version of the plan. In addition, see a first floor plan, a lower balcony plan and an upper balcony plan. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating these.
Looking off right toward the counterweight system T-wall. The crew had just repainted the stage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A downstage look across toward stage right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Another view to stage right. Photo: John Hough - OrnateTheatres.com - 2017
The vista from upstage left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The T-wall stage right. The downstage six linesets are double purchase and operated from the
platform on the left. The doorway leads to stairs to the basement. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Looking to downstage right. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Another view along the lockrail. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A ropelock detail. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The prompt area downstage right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A deeper look into the prompt area. Audio racks are in the room at the right. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Looking upstage from under the operating platform for the downstage sets. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Upstage right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Stage right looking up to the loading bridge and grid. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The full height view from farther onstage. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A view from upstage right. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Looking to stage left. The new freight elevator is through the upstage
doorway. The old loading door is behind the cyc wall at the left. The
downstage doorway gets you to stairs and an elevator to the basement
dressing rooms. It's a photo that had appeared on the Alex Theatre website when Glendale Arts was operating the theatre.
Another view to stage left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Speakers stored upstage left. That's the ladder to the grid to the right of the speakers. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The new freight elevator to the basement and up to the loading dock. The stage is 8' below street level and the loading dock is about 12' below. Through the elevator we see ramps down to a storage area. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Looking up to the stage left end of the grid. That side lighting truss is motorized. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A grid view from stage left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Downstage left. That's part of the theatre's orchestra shell to the right of the elevator. Photo: John Hough - OrnateTheatres.com - 2017
Stage left near the proscenium. Stairs to the dressing rooms are out of the frame to the left. Through the doorway is a shop and electrical room with switchgear, company switches and dimmer racks. Lighting control is to the left of the doorway. The red dashpot is for the asbestos curtain. The lattice track arbor for it is on the wall above. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The switchgear for the stage in the room beneath the organ chamber. At the right of the switchboard is a 400A company switch. A 200A switch is behind us just inside the room's door. The dimmer racks are on the right. At the time of the photo it was a busy work day with lots of projects underway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The dimmer racks on the right side of the space with 324 2.4Kw dimmers. Just beyond is a door out to the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking onstage from down left. The door up the little ladder is a former organ chamber, now used for cable storage. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Note: Access to the stage right organ chamber is via a door in the exit passageway along that side of the building. See the auditorium page for several photos.
In the stage left organ chamber. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Note: Access to the stage right organ chamber is via a door in the exit passageway along that side of the building. See the auditorium page for several photos.
The view from off left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Out farther on the stage left landing at stage level. There's a security office one floor up as well as balcony exits from the auditorium. The door at the center connects with the exit passage along the house right (south) side of the auditorium. From here, dressing rooms are down one level. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
On the landing looking back toward the off left corridor. Through the doorway we see the passenger elevator. Above that ceiling on the right it's the corridor coming in from the stage door. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking onstage through the freight elevator. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Head straight off left and you hit a door leading to this room on the offstage side of the freight elevator. We're looking upstage with the elevator out of the frame to the left. On the right are ramps down to an equipment storage area. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Up to the grid:
A look down during the climb. The ladder is upstage left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2019
Looking across from upstage left. The installation dates from 1993. The decking is original. Originally
the sets only used three lift lines. New wells were created to
accommodate the five lift lines of the new system. The only way to the
loading bridge is to come up the ladder upstage left and walk across
the grid. Note the new steel for the headbeams. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The Clancy motor mechanism for the asbestos downstage left. It dates from 1993. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking back across from upstage right. On the lower right it's a cable reel for one of the side lighting trusses. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Up to the grid:
A look down during the climb. The ladder is upstage left. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2019
The Clancy motor mechanism for the asbestos downstage left. It dates from 1993. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking back across from upstage right. On the lower right it's a cable reel for one of the side lighting trusses. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The loading bridge as seen from grid level up right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking downstage on the bridge. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The view out from downstage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The view out from downstage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A view back upstage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the basement:
Dressing rooms are in all directions. The freight elevator is just around the corner to the left. The stairs up to the stage and street are out of the frame to the right. The corridor to the trap room is behind us. The board left of the passenger elevator has the signatures of many performers who have appeared at the Alex. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Upstage left near the freight elevator. This is part of the new addition completed in 2014. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Electrical storage. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A dressing room corridor in the new addition. We're stage left pointing toward the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
One of the new chorus dressing rooms. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A shot of one of the new dressing rooms included with "Glendale's Alex Theatre Is Ready For Its Closeup," a June 2014 Variety article discussing the $6 million backstage upgrades.
A basement star dressing room with private bath. We're upstage a bit left of center. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The staff at the Alex when Glendale Arts was operating the building had been extremely generous in devoting time for our exploration of the theatre. Thanks to then managing director Maria Sahakian, production manager / stage supervisor Rafael Posada, and master electrician Jazzy Birdsong.
Under the stage in one of the older rooms. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A basement star dressing room with private bath. We're upstage a bit left of center. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the trap room/green room. The green door goes to the orchestra pit. Photo: John Hough - OrnateTheatres.com - 2017. Thanks, John!
Another look at the downstage part of the trap room. The gray control box is for the Gagnon LaForest orchestra pit lift. The main fan room is on the other side of the wall at right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The main electrical service upstage right, just off the trap room. Continuing on to the left gets you to the stairs up to stage level. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Downstage right is through the upper doorway. Around the corner to the left from the doorway is a set of stairs going up to the street as an exit. The small door we see in the lower center of the image goes into that plenum space seen in the previous photo. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018. Thanks, Mike! 
Outside:
We get a view north on Maryland Ave. toward the theatre's stagehouse in Andre de Toth's "Crime Wave" (Warner Bros., 1954) Note the roof sign: "Alex - The Place To Go." The film stars Sterling Hayden and Gene Nelson. See the Historic L.A.Theatres In Movies post for shots of other theatres seen in the film.
The big dig for the 2013-2014 backstage expansion. It's a photo from the Glendale Arts collection.
Another look at the downstage part of the trap room. The gray control box is for the Gagnon LaForest orchestra pit lift. The main fan room is on the other side of the wall at right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Under the pit. At the time it was all the way up at stage level. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A wider view, with a peek back into the trap room. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2019
A detail of part of the mechanism. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the main fan room just to the right of the trap room. On the left are coils that replaced a 1925 vintage air washer system. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The main electrical service upstage right, just off the trap room. Continuing on to the left gets you to the stairs up to stage level. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking back toward the trap room from the stage right stairs. The doorway on the right leads to a plenum space. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
In the plenum area accessed from the stage right stairs. The main fan room is off to the left. The boxes straight ahead house return air dampers. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
In the plenum area accessed from the stage right stairs. The main fan room is off to the left. The boxes straight ahead house return air dampers. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Another plenum room view. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2019
Downstage right is through the upper doorway. Around the corner to the left from the doorway is a set of stairs going up to the street as an exit. The small door we see in the lower center of the image goes into that plenum space seen in the previous photo. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018. Thanks, Mike!
A vintage view:
We're looking off right toward the rigging as firefighters finish putting out the stage fire in 1948. It's a photo from the Glendale Historical Society appearing on a video they did about the theatre. It can be seen via their The Past Virtual Events page.
Outside:
We get a view north on Maryland Ave. toward the theatre's stagehouse in Andre de Toth's "Crime Wave" (Warner Bros., 1954) Note the roof sign: "Alex - The Place To Go." The film stars Sterling Hayden and Gene Nelson. See the Historic L.A.Theatres In Movies post for shots of other theatres seen in the film.
The big dig for the 2013-2014 backstage expansion. It's a photo from the Glendale Arts collection.
The south side and rear of the building after the backstage
renovation project. Thanks to Scott Hutchinson for his August 2014 photo appearing on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
A 2015 photo by Scott Hutchinson. There's now an apartment building on the lot at the left. Scott's photo was one in a set of eighteen Glendale photos appearing as a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
A view east toward Maryland Ave. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A 2015 photo by Scott Hutchinson. There's now an apartment building on the lot at the left. Scott's photo was one in a set of eighteen Glendale photos appearing as a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
The back wall with the original loading doors. The stage is down 8' from street level. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A detail of the original loading door. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The loading dock, part of the 2014 stagehouse expansion. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A view east toward Maryland Ave. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Another south wall view looking east. The doors at the left head into the inner lobby. The stage door is behind the silver car. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
A closer view toward the stage door. That's theatre explorer Mike Hume removing his gear from the car to get ready for a busy afternoon's adventures. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Inside the stage door. At this point the stage is down one level, the dressing rooms two levels down. The stairs are through the door at the left. The passenger elevator straight ahead was installed in 2014 as part of the stagehouse expansion. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The staff at the Alex when Glendale Arts was operating the building had been extremely generous in devoting time for our exploration of the theatre. Thanks to then managing director Maria Sahakian, production manager / stage supervisor Rafael Posada, and master electrician Jazzy Birdsong.
The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | auditorium | booth + attic | back to top - backstage |
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