Los Angeles Theatres: Mayan Theatre: vintage exterior views

1927 - Almost ready to open. It's a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1927 - The Mayan and Belasco theatres during the run of the Mayan's first attraction, "Oh, Kay!" with Elsie Janis. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library

The California State Library has 63 Mott Studios pictures of the Mayan in their Mott-Merge collection, including many alternate takes. Their set #001442998 has 17 photos, set #001412054 has 16 photos, set #001412080 has 14 photos and set #001386186 has 16 photos.

1927 - Another early view that had been on the Los Angeles Public Library website as #00015386 but has gone missing. At the Belasco it was "The Great Necker" with Taylor Holmes. The USC Digital Library has a copy of a cropped version. As in the previous photo, Elsie Janis is on the end panel of the Mayan marquee. "The Great Necker" was at the Belasco.

1927 - A photo from the California Historical Society that's in the USC Digital Library collection. With it there's also a second slightly less cropped version.

1927 - A detail of the neon roof sign from the previous photo. In the 30s this sign was replaced with a readerboard atop the northwest corner of the building and a vertical sign was added on the north corner of the facade.

1927 - The facade from across the street. The photo appears in the USC Digital Library and Los Angeles Public Library collections. The readerboard under the marquee: "Elsie Janis in the musical comedy 'Oh, Kay.'"

1927 - A look toward the Belasco from under the marquee. On that readerboard above the Mayan's entrance is the theatre's opening attraction "Oh, Kay!" Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library

1927 - A Padilla Co. photo of the ornament at the exit from the passageway along the south side of the auditorium. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The USC Digital Library also has a version of it.

1928 - A view down Broadway as well as a look at the Mayan's roof sign (on the lower left). Also visible is the side of the Belasco and its dance studio windows just to the left of the Herald-Examiner Building. It's a photo in the USC Digital Library collection.

c.1930 - A look north on Hill from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1934 - Ballyhoo for the revue "Take a Chance" with Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this photo as well as the one below for a post on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.

1934 - More antics with Olsen & Johnson for "Take a Chance." Thanks, Ken! Note the "School of Costume Designing" next door in a Belasco storefront.

1937 - In the late 30s the Mayan was used by the Works Progress Administration for a number of Federal Theatre Project productions. This photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection was taken during the February run of Eugene O'Neill's "Days Without End."

Note that the original roof sign was gone but the theatre had gained a new vertical as well as the readerboard atop the corner of the building.

1937 - Another "Days Without End" view from the Los Angeles Public Library. This one is by Herman Schultheis.

1938 - A Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection. At the Mayan it was "Run, Little Chillun." The Belasco readerboard announced the "New York Comedy Hit 'Excursion.'" See a photo of the ticket lobby from the Los Angeles Public Library collection that was taken by Herman Schultheis during the 38th week of the run of "Run, Little Chillun." USC notes that one sign advises that you can have a one hour dance lesson for fifty cents in the Belasco's upstairs dance studio.

c.1938 - A Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection. On the readerboard: "Back again 'Pop Goes the Weasel' Now playing."

c.1938 - A view of the stagehouses as we look north on Broadway from 11th St. The Dick Whittington Studio photo is in the USC Digital Library collection.

1948 - The line for that great epic "Whirlpool of Desire" at the Mayan. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for finding the trade magazine photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.

1949 - "Home of Mexican Films." It's a Julian Mitchell photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1949 - The signage from across the street. It's a Julian Mitchell photo from the Los Angeles Public Library.

1950s - It's hard to believe this is the 1000 block of S. Hill St. These buildings north of the Mayan have now been gone for decades. Note the sign up on the side of the fan room saying it's "Frank Fouce's Mayan Theatre." Many thanks to transit historian Sean Ault for finding this gem.

1970 - Giving the facade the exotic paint job we still see today. It's a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. On the marquee is "101 Acts of Love," a film that opened at the Mayan in August 1970 and ran for months. Later demoted to 2nd feature status, it finally left in March 1971. Well, not finally. It was back again in June 1975 with "Refinements in Love" and "Erotic Bull Fighter" as added attractions.

1977 - Thanks to Bob Chaney and Chris Carlo for their photo. It's one in a set of seven that they posted on the Theatre Architecture private Facebook group.

1978 - A "world premiere" at the "Fabulous Mayan," as it was styled in its porno days when operated by Carlos Tobalina. Thanks to American Classic Images for the photo. Note that the ticket lobby at this time was still open to the street. Doors were later added at the sidewalk line and the island boxoffice was removed.

early 80s - The look at night. Note the use of the rooftop readerboard. It's a photo that appeared on the now-vanished the American Classic Images website.

1983 - A photo by Michael Edwards from the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library.

1988 - A Los Angeles Times photo taken by Mike Meadows before a Los Angeles Conservancy "Last Remaining Seats" screening. It's on Calisphere from the UCLA L.A. Times Photographic Archive. Well, it used to be. They seem to have lost track of it.

Los Angeles Theatres

Mayan Theatre: vintage exterior views

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