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The Globe Theatre pages: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | lobby areas | recent auditorium views | earlier auditorium views | attic | backstage | basement | garland building |
An attempt to get some action going again with a "Theatre For
Lease" sign up. Want it? Justin Weiss and Franc Mangana are
waiting for your call at Kennedy-Wilson: 213-538-8631. The theatre has been closed since a late 2023 dispute between proprietor Erik Chol and the building owners. Photo: Bill Counter - May 18, 2024
Broadway views from 2002 onward:
c.2002 - Two retail stores are ensconced in the lobby and the Orion nightclub in the auditorium is using the alley as their entrance. After the theatre closed in 1986 the lobby became the entrance to a swap meet venue in the auditorium. After that operation closed, the lobby was divided into the two retail spaces we see here. Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing this photo from his collection.
2007 - The entrance, unused as a lobby since the 1980s. Photo: Bill Counter
2007 - The nearly abandoned Garland building. The upper floors had been vacant for decades. Note the Chapman Building under renovation on the right. Photo: Bill Counter
2007 - The marquee after new operators came along and renamed the nightclub as Club 740. The entrance was still via the alley. Note the 1913 Morosco Theatre lettering still on the building behind the marquee. This marquee dates from around 1936. Photo: Bill Counter
2008 - Upscale merchandising on Broadway. Work has been done on the Globe lettering above the readerboards. Somebody spent money on a red paint job and installation of new tubing. Thanks to Monika Seitz Vega for her photo.
2012 - Looking south on Broadway toward the Garland Building/Globe Theatre. Beyond the theatre is the Chapman Building. Across 8th we see the the Tower, Rialto and the Orpheum. The photo was taken from the 6th floor of the Bullock's Building at 7th & Broadway. The upper floors are now parking. That's bit of the State Theatre building on the right. Photo: Bill Counter
2012 - The Garland Building at age 99. Photo: Bill Counter
December 2013 - A lonely night on Broadway. Note the banners on the marquee from new proprietor Eric Chol, starting his restoration project. The bright light down in the next block is from the just restored marquee of the Rialto Theatre, now an Urban Outfitters. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart for the photo. Keep up with his recent explorations: on Facebook | HunterKerhart.com | on Flickr
December 2013 - A Garland Building facade view. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
December 2013 - The globe at the Globe before its re-do. This revolving world was put on the marquee when the theatre was still called the Newsreel. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
January 2014 - The south face of the Globe marquee. Photo: Bill Counter
January 2014 - The marquee soffit before restoration. Photo: Bill Counter
January 2014 - Looking down onto the top of the world. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
January 2014 - Things were getting brighter on Broadway with the letters atop the readerboards getting turned on regularly. The facade was ready for some rejuvenation along with some more upmarket retailers. It would take a few more years. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
January 2014 - The view north. The garage is parking for the Chapman Building, loft apartments just south of the theatre. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
January 2014 - Looking south toward the Tower Theatre. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
January 25, 2014 - The day was the 6th anniversary celebration of the decade-long Bringing Back Broadway initiative. Down the street the Tower, Rialto and Orpheum marquees were also lit. It's a Hunter Kerhart photo that appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page where he asked: "When was the last time you saw all four of these marquees on?"
March 2014 - Erik Chol and an associate begin the restoration of the Globe's marquee. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
March 2014 - The construction fence goes up under the marquee. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
March 2014 - The marquee restoration is underway. The globe got a coat of primer. Note the vertical shaft extending down from it. There's a pulley but the motor and drive belt were missing. The framework at right is for the support arm that arches up behind the spinning globe. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
March 2014 - The view north on Broadway from on the marquee. That reddish building beyond Ross at 7th & Broadway is the State Theatre. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
March 2014 - Through the south O: the Hamburger's / May Co. Building and the Eastern Columbia. Thanks to Erik Chol for the photo, one that originally appeared on the Globe Theatre Facebook page.
March 2014 - The front and sides of the marquee have the old paint removed and the globe on top got a new paint job. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
April 2014 - Checking out the facade lettering from on top of the marquee. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
April 2014 - Prime coat applied on the front and sides of the marquee. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
April 2014 - Broadway got flashier when the finish coat was applied around the readerboard area. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
May 2014 - Brianmojo caught the sign company installing the new readerboard faces and neon trim for a post on Instagram.
June 2014 - Soon. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
June 2014 - A daytime detail of the neon at the apex of the marquee. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
June 24, 2014 - The crowd lined up for the marquee relighting. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
June 24, 2014 - The marquee gets its closeup after Globe Proprietor Erik Chol hits the switch. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
June 24, 2014 - A soffit view. Blue jeans, anyone? Photo: Hunter Kerhart
2014 - Broadway at night before the theatre reopened. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
January 31, 2015 - South on Broadway - a telephoto shot taken during the first "Night on Broadway." The theatre was open for a free show that night but months of work on the project remained to be done. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is actively involved in the study and preservation of the vintage theatres in the L.A. area. The group maintains an archive and frequently supports events and offers tours of the buildings. www.lahtf.org | group Facebook page | official FB page
July 2015 - The new entrance doors. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for his photo on the LAHTF Facebook page.
July 2015 - South on Broadway the weekend of the theatre's "soft opening." Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for his photo, one in an eight photo set on the LAFTF Facebook page.
July 2015 - The theatre's reopening concert. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding the photo. Also see a wider version of the photo that was located by Ken McIntyre.
2016 - The theatre's entrance from above. Photo: Bill Counter
2017 - Looking south on Broadway. Thanks to Sean Ault for his photo.
2017 - The building after the tenants were evicted from the storefronts. Thanks to Mike Hume for his photo.
2018 - The theatre's entrance on the day of the January "Night on Broadway" event. Photo: Bill Counter
2018 - The theatre during the final "Night on Broadway" event. These were organized by councilman Jose Huizar and it all evaporated following the emergence of various scandals swirling around him. Thanks to Mike Hume for his photo. Head to his Historic Theatre Photography site for tech info and many fine photos of the theatres he's explored in Los Angeles and elsewhere. And don't miss his page on the Globe Theatre.
July 2018 - The Globe surrounded by scaffolding during the project to convert the Garland Building into creative office space. The upper floors had been vacant for decades. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - The gleaming facade after restoration work and removal of most of the scaffolding. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - A detail of the facade after restoration work. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - The south storefronts after after removal of the scaffolding and the debris chute from the 2nd floor. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - The marquee getting some deep cleaning. Thanks to Erik Chol for his photo on Facebook. He's up on the lift on the left.
2018 - The theatre during the final "Night on Broadway" event. These were organized by councilman Jose Huizar and it all evaporated following the emergence of various scandals swirling around him. Thanks to Mike Hume for his photo. Head to his Historic Theatre Photography site for tech info and many fine photos of the theatres he's explored in Los Angeles and elsewhere. And don't miss his page on the Globe Theatre.
July 2018 - The Globe surrounded by scaffolding during the project to convert the Garland Building into creative office space. The upper floors had been vacant for decades. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - The gleaming facade after restoration work and removal of most of the scaffolding. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - A detail of the facade after restoration work. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - The south storefronts after after removal of the scaffolding and the debris chute from the 2nd floor. Photo: Bill Counter
February 2020 - The marquee getting some deep cleaning. Thanks to Erik Chol for his photo on Facebook. He's up on the lift on the left.
March 2020 - The virus has been catastrophic for the theatre business. But Globe owner Erik Chol had an optimistic message. Photo: Bill Counter
May 2020 - Police being deployed on Broadway during protests about police violence. The dumpster was there for the ongong work renovating the building's office and retail spaces. Thanks to Globe proprietor Erik Chol for the photo.
May 2020 - Detainees get loaded into a bus on the 700 block of Broadway after some individuals used protests about police violence as an occasion for property damage and looting. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the photo.
December 2020 - Theatre
proprietor Erik Chol up on the ladder doing a marquee change. Work was
still not finished on the storefronts or the upper floors of the Garland
Building that the theatre is part of. Photo: Bill Counter
March 2021 - The
Globe's marquee was once again visible when looking south on Broadway.
The scaffolding finally came down on March 6 after a 3+ year project of renovating
the Garland Building. Photo: Bill Counter
May 2021 - Erik Chol was putting his new message on the marquee. The photo was a post on Facebook.
July 2021 - Back in business. In addition to having the marquee lit we also get a view of the newly installed facade lighting and a glow from new fixtures in the restored office building lobby. Photo: Bill Counter
2023 - A good motto for a happy life. Photo: Bill Counter
2024 - The
theatre on its 111th Birthday, January 6. It had closed in
December due to a dispute with the landlord and the future of the
operation is unknown. Photo: Bill Counter. Balloons courtesy of the
photographer. No one else was celebrating.
2024 - The marquee lit again. But only for a film shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - March 14
Around the back:
2007 - A view of the stagehouse from Spring St. The star paint job was left over from a nightclub called Club Orion. Photo: Bill Counter
2010 - The look for Club 740. The stage door was the entrance to the club's space onstage and in the auditorium. Note that in addition to the loading door at center in the alley wall, there's a stage door over to the left. The fire escape above it serves the dressing rooms stacked stage left. At the top via a ladder is an exit from the grid. Photo: Bill Counter
2012 - The back of the Globe from Spring St. Above the stagehouse note the upper floors of the Garland Bldg. with its elevator penthouse on the right. Photo: Bill Counter
2013 - The view up the backwall. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
2013 - The stage entrance in the alley. This route leads directly onstage and was the main entrance for several nightclub operations. With the 2014 renovations by Erik Chol, the Broadway lobby was used as theatre's entrance for the first time since the 80s. It had been retail space since the theatre closed as a movie theatre in 1986. Photo: Hunter Kerhart. Thanks for all the great photos, Hunter!
2015 - A nice view from south of 8th from Shereen Tricky M on the Facebook page I used to rave at the Orion. Thanks!
2018 - Well, you can still go down the alley to look at the theatre but the unobstructed view from Spring St. is no more. Photo: Bill Counter
The exit passageway north of the theatre:
Outside the exit at the rear of the auditorium looking toward the alley. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
Looking toward Broadway. The red door is the exit at the rear of the main floor house left. The black door straight ahead is the bottom of the north stairs to the 2nd balcony. The 2nd balcony stairs and side exits from both balconies all lead toward the alley -- there's no exiting to Broadway. The south stairs to the 2nd balcony once had a connection to Broadway but that was abandoned around 1930. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The exit from the house left 2nd balcony stairs. In addition to the interior stairs on either side, the second balcony had two exits on either side going to the fire escapes. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking toward the alley. The auditorium is on the right. Down beyond the chain link is the current electrical service gear -- replacing earlier installations in the basement. The red doors in the distance are exit doors to the alley. Above us you can see beams from the balcony fire escapes that have been chopped off. If we were to turn around 180 degrees and head toward Broadway, we would be looking at the interior stairway to the 2nd balcony. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
An abandoned stage door. The current stage level is up about a foot from the original. This doorway would have led us downstage right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking back from the alley. Note the chopped off fire escapes overhead. In the foreground, those are tables left over from the Club 740 days. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Another view from the alley end of the passage looking west toward Broadway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
In the south exit passageway:
The west end of the passage, looking toward Broadway. There originally was a 2nd balcony entrance on the south end of the Broadway facade that connected to these stairs. And presumably a small boxoffice and restrooms tucked in there somewhere. But there's no getting to Broadway from here now. The auditorium is off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The bottom of the south stairs to the 2nd balcony. Let's go up! See the earlier auditorium views page for many photos of that level. It hasn't been open to the public since perhaps 1930. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
A construction view from under the truncated fire escapes looking toward the alley. Thanks to Sandi Hemmerlein for her 2014 photo, one appearing with "The Globe Theatre Under Construction," her fine Avoiding Regret photo essay about her adventures crawling the theatre during a LAHTF "all-about" tour.
The door to the left gets you in at the rear of the main floor. The debris here at the time of the photo was from the demo of Club 740 stuff. The red doors go into the alley. Directly behind us are the south stairs up to the 2nd balcony.
The south exit passageway after clearing out debris from the demolition project. Thanks to Rebecca Reynoso of Cap Equity Locations [323-375-4192] for the 2014 photo. The firm brokers deals between property owners and those looking for filming locations or other special uses.
A later look down the passage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
Near the alley in an early phase of Erik Chol's construction project. On the right is a window into one of the stage level dressing rooms. The alley is off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
A later look at the window. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
Looking toward Broadway from the alley end of the passage. We're looking up at the two truncated fire escapes from the 1st and 2nd balcony exits. They weren't used in the club days of the venue.
That's the Chapman Building on the left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The corner of the building near the alley. Note the spalled concrete -- much of which was caused by water damage from improperly maintained drains. We're looking up at dressing room windows closed off by previous tenants. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
A later view from the alley end of the passageway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
On the roof:
We're south of the Globe on the Chapman Building looking down to the theatre's roof. That's the Garland Building at the left, the front of the theatre's auditorium at center. At the right is the roof of the stagehouse. Photo: Cap Equity Locations - 2014
The view north toward the elevator penthouse on the Garland Building roof. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014
On the auditorium roof looking down onto the roof at the back of the 2nd balcony. The windows are on the back of the Garland building. We're at the 5th floor level. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The roof we're looking at in the foreground is that of the rear of the 2nd balcony. There's no attic above the rear portion -- it stops halfway back. At the right, with a sheet metal cover, note a lightwell going down to 4th floor windows -- in the 70s that area was a Mexican wax museum. A doorway was cut from the 4th floor into the 2nd balcony (and a few steps added) to use the south 2nd balcony stairwell as a fire exit. Originally there was no entrance to the auditorium from the office building.
Across the roof at the back of the second balcony. We're looking north with the back of the Garland Building at the left. At our right is the beginning of the attic over the auditorium. The beige wall beyond that vertical ventilator is the fan room for the auditorium exhaust fan. There's also a fan room above downstage left for stage and basement exhaust. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
North toward the fan room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking southwest. That's the the Garland Building at the right and the Chapman Building on the left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
On the auditorium roof looking west toward the fan room. The fan room sits atop the north stairs that go from the 2nd balcony down to the exit passageway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The view over the north parapet wall. At the top we see the roof deck of the parking garage north of the theatre. We're looking down onto the 2nd balcony fire escape -- chopped off over on the right end. At the far right, the red doors go out to the alley. Out of the frame to the left of theatre explorers Hunter Kerhart and Katie is the ladder from the fire escape up to the fan room and roof. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The door into the fan room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Auditorium exhaust: old fan, new motor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Another angle on the auditorium exhaust fan. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Auditorium fan room electrical. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
On the auditorium roof looking northeast. That's the stagehouse at the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking southeast toward the stagehouse and a fan room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
On the stagehouse roof looking south toward the fan room. That fan room downstage left houses an exhaust fan for dressing rooms and the basement. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The fan room atop the stagehouse. Vandals (and pigeons) had been here. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014. Many thanks to Erik Chol for his hospitality in allowing access to explore all the areas of the theatre.
The Globe Theatre pages: history | vintage exterior views | back to top - recent exterior views | lobby areas | recent auditorium views | earlier auditorium views | attic | backstage | basement | garland building |
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