Opened: The Vienna Garden opened around 1885. The address for the site before the 1890s street renumbering would have been 144 S. Spring. A March 18, 1885 L.A. Times ad noted that their attraction was the Arlington, Girard and Wyatt's Minstrels. Admission was 25 cents. An April 16, 1885 Times ad noted it was on Spring St. between 2nd and 3rd. An October 1 Times ad called it the Vienna Garden Family Theater and announced a grand reopening and added that it was "Entirely remodeled and redecorated - A strictly family resort for ladies, families and Children." The reopening attraction was a five act comedy-drama called "Among the Pines."
In January 1886 there was an auction held using the theatre space. The January 22 Los Angeles Herald announced the event as being at the Vienna Theatre and gave the address as 144 Spring St. In February 1886 the theatre was running a play called "The Convict's Daughter." The February 25 Los Angeles Herald mentions this production and other offerings at the Vienna. In early 1886 the lessee was H. Frank. The issues of the Herald are on the website of the California Digital Newspaper Collection.
The March 13, 1886 Los Angeles Herald ad for the Vienna noted it was "Conducted as a strictly first-class theatre at POPULAR PRICES." Evenings were 25 and 50 cents, there was a matinee Saturdays for 15 and 25 cents. "The charming little actress Minnie F. Young" was appearing March 8, 9 and 10 in "Fanchon, the Cricket." March 11 and 12 plus a matinee March 13 were to be "The Convict's Daughter" and that Saturday and Sunday evening program was "A Dangerous Woman." "No smoking or drinking. Large and fashionable lady audiences at every performance."
A March 16, 1886 L.A. Times ad gives the address as "Spring St. near 3rd." In a June 5, 1886 L.A. Times ad J. L. Walton was listed as manager. Programs that week included a special engagement of Miss Isabel Morris as well as the plays "Pygmalion and Galatea" and "The White Slave." The July 4, 1886 issue of the Times noted that Zamloch the magician would be appearing at the Vienna that night.
The Vienna didn't make it into the 1886-1887 city directory. Harold C. Wyatt was reported to be the manager at one point. Later he ran the Los Angeles/Lyceum Theatre and Mason Theatre.
Closing: The closing date is unknown.
Status: The building has been demolished. There's now a parking lot on the site.
The site of the Vienna. The lot is just this side of Joe's Parking Garage. We're looking toward Main with 3rd St. off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
More information: The Vienna name surfaced twice again but presumably without any connection to the 1880s legit operation on Spring. There was a venue called the Vienna Buffet at N. Main and Requena, a street later renamed Market St.
Later a theatre at 114 Court St. that at other times was called the Tivoli and the Cineograph got a redo in 1891 and reopened as the New Vienna Buffet. No, not a family restaurant. It gained quite a reputation as a den of vice.
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