Los Angeles Theatres: Metropolitan/Paramount Theatre: auditorium

A pre-opening view of the proscenium. The seats haven't yet been installed. Note our spectator in the photo for a sense of scale. There's no orchestra pit -- the musicians were onstage on a big lift. The photo appeared in the May 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer. It's also in the AMPAS B'hend-Kaufmann Collection.

Mr. Woollett talked about the building in his article in the May 1923 Architect and Engineer issue titled "Concrete and Creative Architecture." In the same issue see "Grauman Theater, a Work of Art" by E. Bingham and an article about the stage lift: "Notable Stage Elevator Installation..." It's on Internet Archive.

A detail from a different take the same day as the previous photo. In this photo appearing in in the September 1923 issue of The Building Review the lone spectator is up on the stage. It's of interest for the look we get of the very strange configuration at the front of the stage. The asbestos just comes down to hit a narrow ledge. In the lower right it's one of the four strange bowls positioned across the front of the stage.

The September 1923 issue of The Building Review has a plates section with twelve full page photos plus drawings and plans. Five small photos appear with the article "Pioneers." Also in the issue is "The Metropolitan Theater - A Digest From the Local Press." There's a continuation of the Press Digest on page 36. It's on Internet Archive

The original organ chambers were on either side, above the top of the proscenium. Publix later added additional ones lower down. Commenting on the original installation, Architect and Engineer said: "Note open trusses, beam decorated by mural in support of organ grille."

A clay model for the ornament seen in the previous photo on top of the column to the left of the proscenium. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

The Metropolitan's asbestos curtain. Note the organ console in its upper position, above stage levrel. It's a photo from the September 1923 issue of The Building Review. This photo is also in the June 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer.

In a postscript to Bernard Maybeck's "Reflections on the Grauman Metropolitan Theater, Los Angeles" in the June 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer, Woollett commented on his design for the asbestos curtain:

"The asbestos curtain is painted in a free, open style in patches of vibrating color. The subject is a satire on Wells' History of the World. At the bottom appears the intertidal scum out of which the world as we know it is supposed to have come. In the band depicting the intertidal scum is seen claw and crawly forms and conventionalized waterfowls. Above the intertidal scum are great worm forms, birds of paradise, sabertoothed tiger, and long-horned cattle.

"At the center and dividing the intertidal scum are two human figures upholding with their hands the human heart. Out of the center also comes the tree of life, from which springs the poppies of self-sacrifice. In the center of the tree of life are branches of fire, out of which comes the Red Cross motif. Adam is seen handing back the apple to the serpent. This is covered the period of life in the earth up to date."

The main floor plan. Hill St., with its own entrance, is at the bottom, 6th St. is along the right side. Note the seats right up to the stage in this original layout before a conventional orchestra pit was added. Source: The Building Review - September 1923

The plan at the balcony lobby "Promenade" level. Note at the top of the plan there's a connection from the lobby to the theatre's Broadway entrance via a bridge across the alley. Source: The Building Review - September 1923

The full balcony plan plus a booth area plan. Note how far upstage the original screen location was. Source: The Building Review - September 1923

A section with 6th St. at the right. Source: The Building Review - September 1923

William Lee Woollett's elevation drawing of the proscenium. Source: The Building Review - September 1923

A proscenium detail that appeared in the May 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer with the caption: "This theater is provided with a movable orchestra platform, electrically controlled, and the organ console is also disappearing in a separate compartment." The issue is on Internet Archive.

Woollett's drawing for the design above the center of the proscenium arch: "Not By Might, Not By Power." It's in the May 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer.

A light fixture hanging within the left side of the proscenium arch. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

The giant urn and proscenium grillework house right. "Exedra and grille near proscenium arch, all constructed of concrete." Note that the grille doesn't appear in the earlier photo at the top of the page. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

A c.1923 view down from the balcony taken by Albert J. Kopec. Note the seats up close to the proscenium. Onstage we can see the chairs for the orchestra on the lift and scenery farther upstage. It's a photo in the New York Public Library collection.

A view of the 3,600 seat auditorium from the stage by Albert J. Kopec. Note the open standee area at the back of the main floor. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923. There's also a copy in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

The photo once appeared somewhere with this text but it wasn't in Architect and Engineer. It's reproduced in the 1996 Theatre Historical Society annual devoted to the Metropolitan.

The standee area as seen from the foyer at the back of the main floor. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

The auditorium ceiling: "Doily and exposed truss work." The photo appears in the May 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer and the September 1923 issue of The Building Review. The doily was open grillework with lights above that revealed various patterns of the concrete slab and roof trusses, the patterns changing depending on which colors and circuits were employed.

The chandelier and surrounding ornament at the center of the ceiling. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

A pendant on the outer edge of the ceiling. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

A model for the Pan figure on bottom of the pendant seen in the previous photo. "A new conception of Pan -- so old that his first crop of horns is dropping off -- second crop just sprouting. Modeled by Mr. Woollett." Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

Another ceiling pendant. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923. The photo also appears in the September 1923 issue of The Building Review.

The back of the balcony house right. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.

The back corner house left. It's a photo that appeared with a 3+ page article with eight other views in the February 17, 1923 issue of Moving Picture World. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating the article on Internet Archive. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for thousands of terrific photos of the many theatres he's explored.

Mid-balcony sidewall ornament house left. Note the use of exposed, un-plastered concrete with the form marks still evident. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

A color version of the previous photo. The photo appeared in the publication "Concrete in Architecture" (Portland Cement Association, 1927) which features an article by Mr. Woollett along with eleven full page photos of the Metropolitan. It's on Internet Archive. The other color plates included are all lobby views. The caption with this one:

"This unusual treatment of a large wall space is impressive in its simplicity and massiveness; it holds a hint of ancient architecture and the splendor of pagan temples. An added ruggedness was given to the surface by the uneven placing of the form lumber."

Ornament at the lower balcony crossaisle house left. "Niche and Totem pole in black leaded glass." Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923

A balcony sidewall light fixture. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923. It also appears in the 1927 publication "Concrete in Architecture."

Near the front of the balcony house left. The photo appears in the May 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer as well as the September 1923 issue of The Building Review and in the 1927 publication "Concrete in Architecture."

A wall hanging: "Be Jubilant My Feet." Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923. "Made on Panne velvet from designs by Mr. Woollett."

After the 1926 Publix renovations:

A c.1926 view by Mott Studios showing the new orchestra pit and other effects of the Publix renovations. Note the added grilles cut into the proscenium for improved sound from the organ, formerly all up in the ceiling. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo. There's also a copy in the California State Library collection.

A c.1926 Mott Studios view out over the new orchestra pit. The photo is one of ten of the theatre in the California State Library set #001407235.

A detail of the chandelier from the previous Mott Studios photo. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for doing the work on the image.

A look across the main floor. Note the new proscenium treatment with organ grilles. And check out the nice view of the construction of the coves across the top of the proscenium. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - c.1926

Another main floor view, this time with the drapes closed and the proscenium coves lit. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library - c.1926

Another mid to late 20s look across the main floor. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding this one.

The big urn house right. It's a c.1926 Mott Studios photo in set #001407235 of the California State Library collection. And if you need more urn photos the set has two additional ones.

Later views:

A 1939 look to the rear of the house by Dick Whittington Studio. It's on the USC Digital Library website where you can zoom in and pan around to check out some of the interesting details.

A c.1953 photo of the "new look" for the proscenium. From the 30s up until 1952 Fanchon & Marco had been running the theatre. The ABC Paramount circuit took it back in 1952 and gave it a modernization. Note the draped areas down low on either side of the proscenium. Perhaps those were for the left and right channels of the WarnerPhonic sound for "House of Wax." It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.

A 1961 photo of former Metropolitan Theatre bandleader Rube Wolf in the stripped theatre. It's an L.A. Times photo by John Malmin. Thanks to Gary Simon for posting it on the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation Facebook page.

See Gary's video with Rube Wolf doing "Daylight Savings Time." It's on You Tube. Rube was a brother to the Fanchon & Marco duo that operated the theatre for decades. There's lots more about the team on the website FanchonAndMarco.com.

A sad 1961 look at the proscenium of the doomed theatre with Rube Wolf onstage. Note the counterweight system T-wall offstage right. Demolition was in 1962. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

The Metropolitan Theatre pages: history | exterior views | Broadway entrance | lobby areas | back to top - auditorium | stage | projection booth | news coverage: LA Express 1/25/23 |

Metropolitan/Paramount Theatre: auditorium

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