Los Angeles Theatres: Belasco Theatre: early exterior views

January 19, 1926 - The Belasco location as work begins. Behind the site are the Case Hotel, the Los Angeles Railway Co. Building and the Herald Examiner Building (1914, Julia Morgan). It's a photo by George F. Adair Photo Service, one of 16 in the California State Library set # 001378567 covering the period up until August 24.

June 15, 1926 - Framing and concrete formwork rising. Photo: George F. Adair Photo Service - California State Library set # 001378567

September 21, 1926 - Excavation has begun for the Mayan Theatre next door. It's a photo by George F. Adair Photo Service, one of 6 in the California State Library set # 001496390 covering the period September 7 until November 3.

October 5, 1926 - The facade's scaffolding is down. Photo: George F. Adair Photo Service - California State Library set # 001496390

See Noirish Los Angeles contributor Greybeard's Noirish post #13336 for a nice time lapse sequence using some of these construction views. And, even better, check out Don Solosan's terrific "Belasco Theatre Construction Montage," a one minute thirteen second tour via the construction photos.

November 1926 - A view from the south with the opening attraction on the marquee, the play "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" by Anita Loos and John Emerson. The theatre opened November 11. That vertical sign was neon, not incandescent. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library set # 001415683

November 1926 - A facade view with airbrushed clouds for Life magazine. Note the builder's sign still in one of the as-yet unrented storefronts. The photo appears in the Amer(USA) collection of Life images on Google. The same photo, but with different clouds and "Mott Studios" in the lower right, is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. That second version, but without the Mott's tag, made an appearance in the August 1927 issue of Architectural Record.

November 1926 - This is one of two versions of the Mott Studios photo in the California State Library set # 001415683. The photo appeared in the February 1927 Architect and Engineer as part of an ad for Calacoustic sound absorbing plaster. A cropped version appeared along with an auditorium shot in the January 1928 Architect and Engineer. The A&E issues are on Internet Archive.

Also from 1926: There's a Dick Whittington facade photo in the USC Digital Library collection.

late 1926 / early 1927 - The readerboard is advertising David Belasco's production of "The Son-Daughter." This was the second production at the theatre, opening December 25. One of the theatre's operators, Edward Belasco, was a brother of David. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library set # 001415683

The California State Library has over 80 early views of the theatre indexed somewhat haphazardly (and with many repeats) in the following seven sets: set # 001415568 - 16 auditorium photos | set # 001415683 - 17 photos | set # 001415656 - 16 photos | set # 001415584 - 10 photos | set # 01411639 - 3 ticket lobby photos | set # 001378567 - 16 exterior construction photos | set # 001496390 - a rendering and 5 exterior construction views |

early 1927 - A view of the Belasco stagehouse as we look north. Note the stagehouse of the Mayan rising next door. They opened in August. It's a California Historical Society photo in the USC Digital Library collection.

1927 - Looking south across the not-quite-open Mayan toward the Belasco, here running "The Great Necker" starring Taylor Holmes. The production opened in June. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo but seems to have gone missing during a website makeover. It was indexes as their #00058764.

Also from 1927: Also see a view north on Hill taken from the roof of the Chamber of Commerce Building. It's a California Historical Society photo on the USC Digital Library website.

1929 - "The Bachelor Father" playing the theatre in June. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.

1929 - The Belasco is seen down the street in the top photo of this item from the Metro Library and Archive. Thanks to David Wentink for spotting this when it was posted on the Facebook page Los Angeles Relics. Their caption: "The first 'talking' motion picture filmed on a moving streetcar is shot in Los Angeles, August 16, 1929. 'The Saturday Night Kid' stars Clara Bow, Jean Arthur, James Hall, and Jean Harlow in her first credited role. The film was released on October 25, 1929."

c.1929 - A view of the south side of the Belasco from the California Historical Society appearing on the USC Digital Library website. One can see a bit of the RKO Hillstreet up at 8th & Hill.

1930 - A California Historical Society photo taken from the roof of the Chamber of Commerce Building in January. It's on the USC Digital Library website. On the side of the side of the theatre: "Belasco Theatre - Now Playing - Stratford-Upon-Avon Co."

1930 - Looking north on Hill with the war drama "Journey's End" running at the Belasco. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo. The film version of the play had an engagement next door at the Mayan in May 1930.

1931 - A California Historical Society photo appearing on the USC Digital Library website. At the Belasco: "Topaze." The production starring Mary Duncan closed in early April.

1931 - A view of the Belasco and Mayan stagehouses. In the distance to the left of the Western Pacific Bldg.is the Trinity/Embassy auditorium. The photo is part of a three segment panorama in the USC Digital Library collection.

1932 - Looking north from the Chamber of Commerce Building in February. It's a California Historical Society photo appearing on the USC Digital Library website. The signage: "Belasco Theatre - Now Playing - Legitimate Drama."

1937 - Looking north from the Chamber of Commerce Building in May. It's a California Historical Society photo appearing on the USC Digital Library website.

1938 - A view from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. They're advertising a Federal Music Theatre production of "Androcles and the Lion" with an "All Negro Cast." The show opened January 20. Note the "Dancing Academy" copy on the second floor awnings.

1938 - Eugene O'Neill's "Days Without End" at the Mayan and "Androcles and the Lion" at the Belasco. It's a Herman Schultheis photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1939 - A view of the back of the Herald Examiner Building as we look north toward the Belasco. Note the signage on the side of the theatre: "Legitimate Drama." The photo by the Dick Whittington Studio is in the USC Digital Library collection.

1939 - A closer look at the theatre. It's a Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection.

1939 - A detail from the previous Dick Whittington photo. Note the "Dancing" vertical sign for the second floor studio space. The sign on the front over their entrance calls it the "Deluxe Dancing Academy" and offers the special deal of a 1 hour dance lesson for 50 cents.

1939 - Looking east on 11th toward the Case Hotel. It's a Dick Whittington studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection. Also on the collection is a 1939 view north on Broadway.

February 1944 - Looking north on Hill St. Yes, that's snow on the ground. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for spotting the photo on eBay. He had it on his Noirish post #3326.

1945 - Sorry about the watermark but photos from this decade are rare. The show at the Belasco was "Maid in the Ozarks," what the banner was calling a "Naughty Comedy Smash!" Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting this one for a post for the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

early 50s - A rare photo located by Sean Ault showing the theatre's vertical after it was redone by the church. Also note that through the windows of the Pacific Electric car we can see a bit of a marquee that was on the theatre at the time. Thanks, Sean!

c.1970 - A Broadway view from Councilman Jose Huizar's "Bringing Back Broadway" set on Flickr. He doesn't credit the photo but note the tag on it saying it's from Port City Studios.

c.1974 - We get a look west across the Belasco stagehouse in this view from the Sean Ault collection. Below the faded Belasco letters on the back wall one can still see a bit of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," the theatre's opening attraction.

c.1979 - Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing another stagehouse signage view from his collection.

Los Angeles Theatres

Belasco Theatre: early exterior views

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