Little / Egan / Musart Theatre

1320 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015 | map |

Opened: It opened as the Little Theatre on January 26, 1913. It was on the east side of the street just south of Pico. The building was owned by a Mrs. L. Ducommun. In this March 1949 photo from the Saxon Sitka collection that's actor Emil Sitka posing with displays for the play "The Viper's Fang or The Virgin's Dilemma."

The theatre was later known as the Egan Theatre and the Egan Little Theatre after the building became the home for The Egan School, operated by drama teacher Frank C. Egan. It didn't become the Musart until 1933.

Architects: Morgan, Walls & Morgan. In addition to the theatre, the building also had other studio and classroom spaces for rent and a large ballroom on the east end of the building, behind the stage. Plans for the building are in the archives of the successor firm, Morgan, Walls & Clements, at the Huntington Library. Start with drawing #3013 on their website and you can page forward to see them all. The plans for this project, from microfilm reel 13 in their collection, end at drawing #3042, a sprinkler plan. 

 

Thanks to Mike Hume for locating these. Visit the Index to the MW&C Drawings that he's been compiling for his Historic Theatre Photography site. There's also an index by Mike Callahan on Internet Archive.

 

 

The Figueroa St. facade. 

 

The ballroom facade on the east end of the building. These two elevations appear as drawing #3018 in the Huntington's collection. This plan was dated with a revision on March 29, 1913. Click on any of these for a larger view or head to the pages on the Huntington's site where you can either zoom in or download high resolution versions. 

 

A section through the building. We're looking south with the ballroom on the left and Figueroa St. on the right. It's drawing #3021. See drawing #3023 for views looking toward the proscenium from the west as well as from backstage.

 

 

 

A basement plan, drawing #3013. Dressing rooms are seen on the far left, under the ballroom.

 

 

 

The first floor. That's the ballroom on the left, behind the stage. The stage had flyfloors both left and right. It's drawing #3014 in the Huntington's Morgan, Walls & Clements Archive. 

 

 

The mezzanine plan, drawing #3015. 

 

The 2nd floor with studio space along Figueroa and classrooms along the back of the building. That's the upper part of the stagehouse left of center. It's drawing #3016.  

Earlier drawings by the architects that appeared in the 1913 Los Angeles Architectural Club Exhibition Catalog. It's included in "R. M. Schindler, Edward Weston, Margrethe Mather, Anna Zacsek, Lloyd Wright, Lawrence Tibbett, Reginald Pole, Beatrice Wood and Their Dramatic Circles," a fascinating Southern California Architectural History article from 2012 by John Crosse.

In addition to discussing Frank C. Egan and the Little Theatre, the stories related by Cross involve a number of other performance buildings as well as Rudolf Schindler, Edward Weston and many other interesting personages. Thanks to Birthe Lauchengco for finding the article.

Seating: 334

We see mentions of the theatre in reviews as early as 1914. Evidently things weren't going well. The California Outlook had an article in 1914 about Frank C. Egan reviving the fortunes of the sinking Little Theatre which had opened the previous season.

Mr. Egan was evidently an acting teacher of some note. His Egan School of Drama merged in 1909 with the Morosco School which had earlier been founded by Oliver Morosco and Hobart Bosworth. By 1911 the Morosco name had been dropped and it became just the "The Egan School." In 1912 a music department had also been added.

Before moving to studios in the Little Theatre building, Egan's school was in the Majestic Theatre building on Broadway. The USC Digital Library has a c.1915 photo of the Majestic with Egan's signage on the side of the building.

Although Egan presented many plays at the theatre, one early idea after his taking over the venue was to turn it into a film house. In the summer of 1914 the school was taking a break and movies were offered. An article in the August 29, 1914 issue of Motion Picture News detailed the shift:

Thanks to Brooklyn-based theatre historian Cezar Del Valle for finding the article. For other interesting material from his collection visit his Theatre Talks blog, Theatre Talks website and visit the Brooklyn Theatre Index page on Facebook.

In the Southern California Architectural History article John Crosse reports that the theatre also got a mention in an "In the Theater Foyers" item in the August 7, 1914 L.A. Times. It's unknown how long the film programming ran at the theatre. Perhaps just that one summer. The theatre is in the 1914, 1915 and 1916 city directories as the Little Theatre. The 1914 address is listed as 1322 S. Figueroa.

John Crosse reports that Aline Barnsdall leased the Little Theatre for 6 months for the 1916-1917 season of her Players Producing Company. The shows are listed in an issue of Theatre Arts that's on Google Books. She engaged Norman Bel Geddes to design the sets and signed Richard Ordynski to a ten-week contract to direct the plays.

This is the program cover designed by Norman Bel Geddes for the Little Theatre season of 1916-1917. Thanks to John Crosse, who includes it in his 2012 Southern California Architectural History article where the Players Producing Co. season is discussed.

 

A 1917 ticket for "Jan" by John Steven McGroarty. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding this on Amazon. McGroarty was a Times columnist who also served two terms as a Democratic Congressman. Wikipedia has an article about him. His biggest theatrical claim to fame was as author of "The Mission Play," the pageant that the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse was constructed for. 

 

An ad for a concert series in 1920, promoted in conjunction with the Philharmonic Auditorium. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad for a comment to a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

In 1920 Frank Egan was listed in the book "Where and How to Sell Manuscripts" as being in the market for plays for his Little Theatre. It's on Google Books. By the 1921-22 season they were advertising it as the Egan Theatre in their L.A. Times ads with the line "The House of New Plays" and using "Figueroa and Pico" to describe the location.

Starting in the 1923 city directory the theatre is listed as the Egan Theatre, 1318-24 S. Figueroa. It was also sometimes referred to as the Egan Little Theatre.

A postcard mailed in 1925 advertising the production of "White Collars," then in its second year. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding the card.

The back of the card reveals the theatre's scheme. They gave them out and asked you to comment on the performance to a friend. Then the theatre stamped and mailed them.  

A ticket for the Egan in 1931. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding it.

Becoming the Musart: The theatre was renamed the Musart in 1933 according to a Wikipedia article on actress Louise Glaum who had appeared there. See their note #20. The theatre is in the 1936 city directory under the Musart name. In the 30s it was used for a number of WPA Federal Theatre Project productions. The program lost its funding and wound down around 1938.

A poster for "Twilight of the Theatre" from the Library of Congress collection. The show played the Musart in 1936. It got a mention along with other Federal Theatre productions in the May 24 issue of the Times. 

 

 

A WPA production of "Enemy of the People" played in June 1936. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the poster for one of his threads about the theatre on Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

 

A June 1936 ad located by Ken McIntyre. 

  

 

A news item announcing the opening of "The Last Night of Don Juan" on June 24, 1936. This item about the programming of the WPA houses was a find by Ken McIntyre. 

A poster for the 1936 Federal Theatre Project production of "The Devil Passes." It appeared on a now-vanished website. There's also another version of a poster for the show in the Library of Congress collection.

 

 

A poster for the November 1936 production of "Class of '29." It's in the Library of Congress collection. 

 

 

A January 1937 poster for "Help Yourself" that's in the Library of Congress collection. 

 

 

Another Federal Theatre Project  "Help Yourself" poster, this one a find by Ken McIntyre for one of his threads about the theatre on Photos of Los Angeles.  

 A poster for "Wisdom Tooth" from March 1937 at the Musart from the collection at George Mason University. See the main page for their Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection, a huge trove of posters and other memorabilia, all searchable by city or theatre name. Another Musart poster in their collection is "Mary Stuart," from May 1936. 

A c.1938 poster for "Roadside" appearing in the Library of Congress collection. George Mason University also has a poster for the show. 

A Library of Congress collection poster for the Federal Theatre Project production of "Wild Birds." There's also an "Opens August 12" version. Evidently they weren't ready. Also in the Library of Congress collection: "Last Night of Don Juan" - June 1936 | "Uncle Vanya" - 1936 | "The Treasure" c.1937 | 

One of the building's tenants beginning in the 30s (and lasting into the 50s) was the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and Arts. Earlier, they had been in the Walker Building, home of the theatre called the Grand (as well as going by a dozen other names during its interesting history). The organization, later merging with the Chouinard Art Institute (in 1961) and becoming CalArts, is mentioned on page 46 of "Musical Metropolis: Los Angeles and the Creation of a Music Culture, 1880-1940," on Google Books.

The Musart in the 40s: In 1941 John Harvey and Rae Whitney appeared at the Musart in the comedy farce "Getting Gertie's Garter." It got a review in the February 28 issue of the L.A. Times. 

 

 

John Harvey's play "She Lost it in Campeche" ran for over 70 weeks beginning June 5, 1941. The run gets a mention in the Wikipedia story about Harvey. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this 1942 ad. This one and many others appearing below appear in a thread about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. 

 

Playwright John P. Cousin, formerly spelled Cussen, managed the theatre in the early 40s. His play "Two in a Bed" ran there in 1943 and 1944. His grandson, Scott Brady, has a letter from the playwright's father commenting on the performance. It's on Facebook. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this 1944 ad. The play would be back for another run at the theatre in 1946.

A matchbook from the run of "Two in a Bed" by John Cousin. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding it.  There's also a photo of the matchbook in Eric's Lynxwiler's delightful Paper Ephemera collection on Flickr.

A pass for "Fun in a Bedroom." Perhaps it was a sequel to "Two in a Bed." Thanks to Sean Ault for finding the ticket.

A production of Emlyn Williams' "Night Must Fall" opened in June 1944 starring Howard Johnson and Lillian Fontaine, mother of Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland. Edwin Schallert gave it a good review in the June 15 L.A. Times. "Petticoat Fever," the theatre's next production, opened September 12.

 

 

"The Town's Torrid Stage Show." This March 1945 ad was located by Ken McIntyre.

 A 1945 ad in the Times for "Motel Wives." It ended up running 26 weeks, closing February 3, 1946. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. 

 

 

"Two in a Bed" was back with a new production starring Louise Beavers that opened February 20, 1946. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this and the five items below for a post on Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

 

A February 20, 1946 article.  

 

 

Louise Beavers and her father William Beavers after the opening night performance of "Two in a Bed." It's a photo taken by Walter Lear Gordon, Jr. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating it in the UCLA Digital Library collection. More backstage views that night from UCLA: Mae Johnson | Louise Beavers, Leonard Reed and Lee Gaines | Dorothy Mundy and Louise Beavers |

 

 

Lena Horne backstage at the "Two in a Bed" opening congratulating co-star Mae Johnson. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating the photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection and determining that it was taken by Walter Lear Gordon, Jr. In a post on his Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page, Scott notes that that the Library originally identified this as being at the Mayan after a different show. The Library's updated caption, based on Scott's research: 

"Friends and well-wishers backstage on the opening night of 'Two in a Bed,' a 1946 play staged at the Musart Theatre, located at 1320 S. Figueroa Street. Identified in the group seen here are: Lena Horne (in white fur coat), singer and composer Lee Gaines (smiling, directly behind Horne), Mae Johnson, star of the show (to right of Horne, wearing pearl necklace), arranger Jimmy Mundy (in top hat), Billy Williams, member of the Charioteers (to the left of Horne), and M.C. and host Leonard Reed (at right, in suit and tie)."

 

 

Charles Slaughter and Ms. Beavers in a promotional shot for "Two in a Bed."

 

 

The cover of the program. 

 

 

An inside page of the 1946 "Two in a Bed" program.

 

 

The "Spicy Boudoir Frolic" was closing soon. Thanks for the research, Ken! 

 

 

Celebrating Pan American month in 1947. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this item for one of his threads about the theatre on Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

 

 

Casting "What-a-man an Pinkus" in 1947. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting this. 

 

Billboard ran a review of the play "Declaration" opening in April 1948. It's on Google Books.

 

 

A June 1948 ad for "City of Angels." It was another find by Ken McIntyre. 

Looking south along the facade in March 1949. Emil Sitka, Symona Boniface and Jack Fedder are there for a run of the play "The Viper's Fang or The Virgin's Dilemma." Ms. Boniface was the author of the melodrama. Thanks to Saxon Sitka for sharing the photo from his collection. 

 

Emil Sitka and author Symona Boniface, in front of the Musart in March 1949. For more on the production and Mr. Sitka see an extensive page on EmilSitka.com. Other pages on the site detail his many film and television credits. Sitka was known as "The Fourth Stooge" for his extensive film work with the Three Stooges. Thanks to Saxon Sitka for the photo from his collection.

 

The theatre became the Teatro Fine Arts in 1950. Thanks to Mike Rivest for that data as well as locating this page 7 ad in the January 1 issue of La Opinion. It's on Google Books with the page indexed by them as page 15. Visit Mike's site: movie-theatre.org

 

 

"THEATER for lease. Legitimate, large stage..." Evidently it didn't last long as the Fine Arts. Ken McIntyre found this listing in the classifieds later in 1950. He added it as a comment to a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. Nice to get a count on the number of dressing rooms. 

 

A 1965 ad looking for a tenant. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

 

A c.1975 aerial view with part of the Musart building in the lower left. Note the bump-up of the stagehouse on the roof and its two smoke vents. Nathan Marsak notes that the arched building to the right of the Musart was a 1929 design by Dodd and Richards to house a Willys-Knight and Whippet auto distribution facility. It was demolished in 2005.

 

The tall white building in the upper left is the California Medical Center at 1401 Hope St. In the lower right it's the 10 freeway. The large building at 1540 S. Figueroa, just this side of the freeway, was a Kaiser Brothers auto showroom, as of 2022 in temporary use by a Nissan dealership. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this photo for an interesting thread about the neighborhood on Photos of Los Angeles.  

 

 

Nathan Marsak shares this detail of the Musart's stagehouse from the photo above. He comments: 

 

"I like how it still says 'Conservatory of Music' as a ghost sign, despite having been turned into a dance hall. If I had to guess I'd date the slide about 1975."

 

The building was still in use in 1979. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding this announcement.  

 

 

A c.1993 view with the building, minus its columns, in use as a ticket agency and "Danceland." The photo comes from a 2008 post on the blog Ranting Russell. 

 

 

Thanks to Ranting Russell for this 90s foyer view. He was in a band that in 1991 recorded several songs in a studio in the building that was occupied by Biff Sanders' Motiv Communications.

 

Many thanks to Nathan Marsak for sharing Russell's images as comments in the thread on Photos of Los Angeles that began with the aerial view. Nathan is the author of the 2020 book "Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Essence of Sunshine and Noir." It's available at your local bookseller or from Amazon. 

Closing: The closing date as a theatre is unknown. 

Status: The building has been demolished. Nathan Marsak comments: 

"The structure held on to 2005. It kills me that I never took photos of it or got inside. Apparently it was going to be retained as a structure and its bottom floor turned into a parking garage in 2004—but then I guess they nixed that idea in favor of a surface lot in 2005."

The location is across the street from the L.A. Convention Center. The theatre's site, just south of Cameron Lane, is now part of a glorious parking lot.

The Musart location. The alley to the right of the brown building on the left is Cameron Lane. The first parking lot is the site of the theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018 

More information: The Musart name was also in use on S. Central Ave. with a music conservatory run by a professor Gray calling his establishment the Gray Musart. It shows up between 1936 and 1940 as being at 3720 S. Central and later at 4068 S. Central. There was some street renumbering during this period. The New Negro Theatre also used the venue.

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