528 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013 | map |
The Cameo Theatre pages: history | exterior views | interior views
The ticket lobby:
A c.1910 card giving us a fine look at the ticket lobby. The photo the card is based on appears with a February 11, 1911 Moving Picture World article. It's a card from
Cezar Del Valle's collection. See what he's been exploring lately on
his Theatre Talks website and his Brooklyn Theatre Index page on Facebook.
The ticket lobby in 1981. Note the dropped ceiling. The boxoffice had been moved out to the street sometime around 1930. This picture by Anne Knudsen of the theatre in its quadruple feature grindhouse days is from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
Looking into the ticket lobby from the street in 2018. The original boxoffice was about where the "h2o" mat is on the floor.
Above the mat, look at the remnant of a wall that's on the line of the
entrance doors that were either side of the boxoffice. Photo: Bill Counter
The
view in from Broadway when the space was readied for a new tenant. The gentleman in blue stands at the 1910 boxoffice location. The entrance doors were either side of that center opening. The main lobby is beyond. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The surviving parts of the 1910 ceiling and walls were revealed when a dropped ceiling and wall treatments were removed. Here we're looking at the portion of the east wall above the entrance doors. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The north (house left) wall. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
A closer look at the north wall ornament. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The northeast corner a day later after more drywall had been installed. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
Looking toward Broadway. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
A better look at the inside of the original Broadway arch. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
A detail of ornament on the Broadway end of the space. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The south (house right) wall. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The top of the south wall. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
A south wall detail. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The southeast corner a day later. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The main lobby:
The view from just inside the line of the original entrance doors. The guitars are on the wall where the doors separating the lobby from the auditorium once were. On the far right of the image is a curtained entrance into the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018
Looking over to the house right side of the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018
Again we see the guitars on the wall where the doors to the auditorium
would have originally been. Later the doors were removed and the lobby
area expanded by
building a bulbous enclosure into the auditorium where the last couple
rows of seats in the center section had been. The partition seen here
that's several feet farther back from the "guitar wall" was added when
this became a retail space. The bulbous enclosure is several feet in beyond that.
The view back out toward Broadway. There would have been a pair of entrance doors either side of the two center columns. Note the exit sign where the left pair would have been. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018
Looking in with a different scene as the long-time retail tenant was packing up to move. The auditorium is through the doorway on the right edge of the image. In 1910 the boxoffice was between the columns and in the 1920s it was moved out to the sidewalk line. When the theatre got a snackbar it was between the columns with a window facing this direction so non-ticket buyers could purchase from the bar without going inside. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2020
Looking out toward the street. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2020
A look in as the space was being readied for a new tenant. The auditorium is straight ahead. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
Another view toward the auditorium. There were once doors in the big archway. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The exciting north (house left) wall. The vaulted ceiling is original but it's unknown what the decorative scheme was like for this space. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The view to Broadway from the back of the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The standee area:
The main lobby is through the archway on the left. In 1910 there would have been doors. We're in a space once open to the back of the auditorium looking to house left and into the men's room. The temporary wall on the right, dividing this standee area, was added by retail tenants long ago to control access to the auditorium and upstairs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The men's room, at the back of the main floor house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
Looking across from the door of the men's room to house right. Through the opening in that temporary partition on the left we can see the stairs to the second floor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A view across to house left from behind the temporary partition. Take a right at the archway for the aisle. That's a little storage room straight ahead that was added where the last couple of rows of seats once were in the side section. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
At the top of the house left aisle looking into the part of the standee area that's behind the temporary partition. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Moldings salvaged from the ticket lobby remodel lying on the floor behind the temporary partition. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A somewhat earlier view across the back of the standee area toward house right. Originally there would have been a railing in line with
the wall at the left. This area has been enclosed with a bulbous ceiling that can also be seen from in the auditorium. The back wall of the
auditorium (and the front of the booth) is actually in line with the red
column to the left of the stairs. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2020
A closer look at the stairs up to the cry room, ladies lounge, booth,
and the suite of offices. The auditorium's house right aisle is through the
curtains. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
Heading upstairs:
The
stairs on the right side of the standee area. The
doorway at the left is to a storage area that had been carved out of the
back of the auditorium house right at some time when the theatre was
still operating. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A view down from the landing to the standee area. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A look down from the top. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Top
of the stairs, looking toward Broadway. Four options at this point.
Take a hard right around the railing and you're at the cry room. The
open door on the left is an electrical room. Through the glamorous
beaded curtain you're at a few stairs leading to the ladies lounge. That
doorway on the right leads to the booth and a suite of offices
overlooking Broadway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A peek into the cry room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Another cry room view. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The electrical equipment room on the south side of the landing. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Behind
the beaded curtain: the stairs to the ladies lounge. The lounge appears
to have once been bigger. A look at the cove moldings and baseboards
suggests that the space extended toward Broadway, occupying what is now
the south office of the suite of three. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The ladies toilet and sink area with two stalls. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The stairs back down. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking
out to the landing from the beaded curtain. The door on the right is
the electrical room. That open door on the left heads to the booth and
offices. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking
in to the corridor that takes a left and goes behind the booth. That
room straight ahead, in addition to the sink, has an electrical panel on
the far right end, toward the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Take a right for the corridor behind the booth. Or head to the attic. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking
north in the corridor behind the booth. That first door on the right
goes into the booth. So does that second door, up at the height of the
offices. There's a toilet room at the far end. Or take a left to head
into the north office. Note that little access door open on the left.
Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking
in the access door to the space above the inner lobby and ticket lobby
ceilings. Note that these aren't plaster ceilings hung from a flat
surface above. All the curved areas are lath and plaster on curved
wooden beams. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The
north office in a suite of three. The doorway on the left goes to the
center office. Beyond the right wall it's second floor space for the
north storefront -- there's no access from the theatre. No, that's
nothing interesting in the right corner -- just a storage cabinet built
around a drain pipe. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The view from the north office. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
In
the center office, on the building's centerline. Back farther on the
left wall is a doorway going to the south office. Photo: Bill Counter -
2023
An
exciting view of the south office window. The suspicion is that this
area was once part of the ladies lounge. Beyond the left wall there's
second floor space for the south retailer, not accessible from the
theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
In the booth:
An article in the February 11, 1911 Moving Picture World
noted that the original equipment included "three Edengraph
projectoscopes and two stereopticons." The article is on Internet
Archive.
A photo of the Cameo's projection booth that appeared in the December 23, 1911 Moving Picture World. Note the open front switchboard on the booth's front wall. They had already replaced the Edengraph projectors. With the photo is a letter sent by Frank Chartrand, chief operator at the theatre:
"...Have seen several pictures of operating rooms but none equal to our
own. It is up to date in every respect. Every convenience possible is
employed, even to toilet and wash room. We have two Hallberg
motor-generator sets supplying current from 110 volt D. C. circuit,
three Motiograph machines, two being in use, alternating to avoid any
wait between pictures. We also have dissolver, cyclopticon for rain,
snow, fire and cloud effects, color wheel and spotlight.
"Picture is 25 x 22, projected 110 feet. Can pull 30 to 50 amperes, but only use 32 to 35 on account of having a very bright screen. The switchboard shown in one of the pictures, was built by Mr. Loper, our manager, who is an electrician of note. It is the best of its kind I have seen for some time. We can throw over from generator to rheostat or vice versa, without any stop. We also have a motor re-wind and many other conveniences. Size of room is 18 x 22 feet by 22 in height. House seats about 990, has nine-piece orchestra. Show runs 11 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.'"
"Picture is 25 x 22, projected 110 feet. Can pull 30 to 50 amperes, but only use 32 to 35 on account of having a very bright screen. The switchboard shown in one of the pictures, was built by Mr. Loper, our manager, who is an electrician of note. It is the best of its kind I have seen for some time. We can throw over from generator to rheostat or vice versa, without any stop. We also have a motor re-wind and many other conveniences. Size of room is 18 x 22 feet by 22 in height. House seats about 990, has nine-piece orchestra. Show runs 11 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.'"
Part of the reply from the Moving Picture World editors:
"It certainly is a pleasure to look at that room. It is, of course,
larger than is really necessary but that is a mighty good fault and one
not often found. Lack of space obliged me to trim top and bottom of
photo so realization of the height (22 ft.) is lost.” I must correct you
as to size of picture. If it is 25 feet wide it would be 18 3/4 high.
Height is approximately 3/4 of width, you know." Thanks to
Brooklyn-based theatre historian Cezar del Valle for finding the 1911
article for a Theatre Talks post.
An article in the July 10, 1915 Moving Picture World ran with the heading "One of the Popular Photoplay Houses of Los Angeles." Regarding the booth they noted that the equipment had been changed yet again: "...There is a spacious projection room in the Broadway. In size it is about 15 by 20, with a 17-foot ceiling. The throw is 112 feet. Two Powers 6A machines and a double dissolver constitute the chief features of the equipment. A third projector is to be added. In the roof is a big skylight -- it must be at least 5 1/2 by 6 feet at the base -- for ventilation in summer."
An article in the July 10, 1915 Moving Picture World ran with the heading "One of the Popular Photoplay Houses of Los Angeles." Regarding the booth they noted that the equipment had been changed yet again: "...There is a spacious projection room in the Broadway. In size it is about 15 by 20, with a 17-foot ceiling. The throw is 112 feet. Two Powers 6A machines and a double dissolver constitute the chief features of the equipment. A third projector is to be added. In the roof is a big skylight -- it must be at least 5 1/2 by 6 feet at the base -- for ventilation in summer."
A
July 20, 1924 article in the L.A. Times that discussed the renovations
prior to the theatre's reopening as the Cameo noted that the projection
booth would be widened.
The booth view from the upper door, at the end of the office corridor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The front wall as seen coming in the regular door. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A 2011 front wall shot by Joël Huxtable.
The view from the booth's spot port. The projection throw is about 110 feet. Thanks to Joël Huxtable for sharing his 2011 photo.
The back corner on the left. A nice door location in case you need to exit. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The
rewind bench. It's a c.2008 photo by David Blumenkrantz, one of 52
terrific Broadway shots he shared in a post on the Facebook page Lost Angeles. More of his Broadway photos can be seen on the site The One Of Us Project.
The back wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The back corner on the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A closer look up at the rectifier room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The right wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The auditorium:
An early view of the proscenium and the little "singer's boxes" on either side, up a couple steps from stage level. Thanks to Brian Michael McCray for sharing the card from his collection. A version of it can also be seen as part of the Broadway Part 3 tour in Brent C. Dickerson's "A Visit to Old Los Angeles" on the website of Cal State Long Beach.
The painting on the curtain is of the harbor at Avalon, Catalina Island. The musicians' locker and lounge rooms were under the stage. Original seating capacity was 900. The photo the card was based on appears with a February 11, 1911 Moving Picture World article, which also gives an extensive description of the theatre. It's on Internet Archive.
A postcard look at the rear of the house. Note the raised loge section at the very back. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for sharing the card from her collection. There's a black and white version on Councilman Jose Huizar's "Bringing Back Broadway" set on Flickr.
A slightly different view that appeared with an article about Clune's Broadway in the July 10, 1915 issue of Moving Picture World. It's on Internet Archive. Note the added cry room window upstairs and the revised back wall.
A look in from the back of the house. Thanks to Chris Roman for his 2012 photo. It once appeared on Flickr but seems to have vanished from that platform.
We get a bit more of the ceiling in this 2011 photo. Thanks to Julia Solis for this view that once appeared with a post on her website Stages of Decay.
She commented:
"'Are you sure you don’t want to take my picture too?'
said the owner of the electronics store when I asked for permission to
photograph his storage room. Most people wouldn't be too thrilled about
strangers wandering between their stacks of merchandise, taking photos. But perhaps the employees here are used to sight-seers, since no one
paid the least attention when he pointed the way to the back of the
building. A generous man, even if he didn’t let me take his portrait
after all. Hardly a stage of decay, this theater has been kept in
excellent shape since its closure. Opened in 1910, it was California’s
longest running theater until it folded in the 1990s. Like several other
original Broadway theaters in Los Angeles, it’s hanging on as a
warehouse space."
A closer look toward what was once a 21' x 28' proscenium. The decorative plasterwork at the top of the proscenium remains, hidden by a valance. The sides were removed to make room for a larger screen. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007
A view toward house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A sidewall view. Thanks to Julia Solis for her 2011 photo. Her
expeditions in various theatres led to many photos and a 2013 book
called "Stages of Decay." It's available on Amazon. Also see the posts of many of her terrific photos of abandoned theatres on the site Dark Passages.
A sidewall pilaster and fixture detail. The capitals are original but the lighting fixtures were added later. Originally there were concealed lamps lighting the ceiling coves as well as some hanging fixtures. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007
Another sidewall detail. This fixture still has the bowl on the bottom. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A closer look at the capital. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
One of the fixtures of unknown vintage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
The center of the ceiling. It was art glass at one time. Perhaps it's still there above the paint. A 1915 Moving Picture World article refers to it as a skylight that can be used for ventilation in the summer. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007
A detail of the plaster around the center of the ceiling. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
The rear of the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A closer back wall view. The bulbous area at the center was added in the distant past to provide a bit more lobby space. The angled enclosures left and right were added at some later time to provide storage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A look to the booth. It's unknown what that curious construction on the ceiling out in front of the booth is all about. Perhaps an area for mechanical equipment. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007
A closer look at the back wall house right. The window goes to the cry room near the ladies lounge. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020
A view to the screen after a bit more cleanup. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2023
The stage:
A look along the front. The orchestra pit has been filled in. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The house left side of the rebuilt proscenium, enlarged for a wider screen. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The footlights. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The center portion of the proscenium plasterwork remains. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A proscenium detail. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The electrical installation offstage right. The original gear would have been farther onstage but that chunk of the proscenium wall was removed when a larger screen was installed. This is in front of what was the entrance to the stage right singer's box. Note the socket for the curtain rod in the upper right corner of the frame behind the panel. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking off right. The black void at the lower left is the door out to the exit passageway. The ladder gets you to the upper levels. That filled-in arch in the center was evidently once the loading door. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A view off right up to the "grid." The back wall ladder got you up to a storage room on the 2nd level and on to a platform on 3 to jog across to the ladder farther downstage to go higher. In the alley one can see bricked-in arches where there were once windows on the 2nd and 3rd levels for these off-stage rooms on both sides of the stage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A detail from the previous shot showing sheaves remaining from early rigging. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking across to stage left. The stage is about 9' deep. The original screen would have been on the
back wall. Outside one can see a filled-in arch on the centerline,
evidently the location of an enclosure for the speaker system when the
house first went to sound. Yes, that's an old borderlight hung on the back wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A closer look at the borderlight on the back wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking off left. On the back wall that junction box has speaker and DC field coil lines from the booth. The door with the hasp and padlock goes to the exit passage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The entrance to the house left singer's box around the left end of the screen frame. That's a curtain motor sitting on one of the steps. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The upstage left corner. Behind the wooden railing it's the stairs to the basement. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
In the basement:
The stairs down from upstage left. The wisps on the left are spider webs. No, that's not popcorn. Those are packing peanuts from the days of the auditorium's use as a warehouse for an electronics retailer. The theatre didn't have a full basement, only under the stage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The bottom of the stairs, more or less looking toward the back of the building. The trap room, toward the center of the basement, is through the arch on the left. Off to the right is a dressing room area. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
In the dressing room area at the stage left end of the basement, looking toward a toilet room up against the building's back wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Looking into the trap room from the bottom of the stairs. On the left it's the stairs to the orchestra pit. The passage at the the right leads to the fan and furnace room. That cement colored circle in the upper center plugs the hole where a duct was once running from the fan to the air grille in front of the stage house right. The original furnace was later replaced with rooftop units. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The orchestra pit entrance. It got filled in decades ago. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Surplus marquee letters stashed upstage center. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
On the centerline, more or less, looking toward downstage right. The fan is behind the panel at the left, the furnace to the right. That upper hatch goes to a coal feeder. Continue farther to stage right to see the front of the furnace. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
A water heater in the downstage right corner. On the right it's the north wall of the building. The sloped ceiling reflects the angle of the house left exit passage above. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The front of the furnace and a look back to the center of the basement. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
Back in the trap room. The orchestra pit entrance is out of the frame to the right. The stairs are through the doorway. You look for the packing peanuts to find the exit. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
The stairs back up to stage level. And more cobwebs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2023
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