The Main Theatre was a porno house running from the 70s into the 80's. Here we've caught the "Grand Opening" in this c.1978 photo by William E. Ault. Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing the photo taken by his grandfather. Just a bit south of the Main note the venerable Regent Theatre at 448 S. Main, here on a $2.00 porno policy.
The theatre was located in a storefront in the Canadian Building, a 1909 structure by Parkinson and Bergstrom. It was a conversion from retail space.
Cinema Treasures contributor describes a 1983 visit, with perhaps some elaboration. "...Flashing neon outlined the Main Theatre...Admittance was through a single set of hammered glass doors. The lobby was a long and narrow hall, decorated in 1940’s bright modernist design. An elongated chrome trimmed boxoffice/concession counter guarded the mirrored right wall. At the far end of the lobby were four steps that lead up to the auditorium entrance. Steps necessary to provide a slope the auditorium floor. One tufted leather door opened onto the one and only auditorium aisle that ran along the left sidewall. All chair rows dead ended against the right sidewall. Back rows were of the loge variety. All other rows were typical upholstered metal theatre seats. Walls were veneered in knotty pine. Scalloped plumb velvet covered the worn ceiling. A bunched purple velvet valance dressed up the proscenium arch, but no other stage drapery was apparent. "
Captain Bazzark added: "I always thought the auditorium pine paneling gave the Main Theatre an informal, relaxed feeling, and those loge seats were very comfortable. The lobby was not all that narrow, maybe ten feet wide by twenty feet deep. There was a narrow hallway with restroom doors between the lobby and auditorium..."
1974 - A fine shot of the building before 438 became the Main Theatre. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this one on eBay. That's Winston St. on the far left. And, for you Tarantino fans, note The Red Apple over near the corner.
1983 - A view from the American Classic Images collection.
1983 - The Regent and its neighbor to the north, the Main Theatre, are captured in this photo from the American Classic Images collection.
2010 - Looking north along the facade toward Winston St. That's a bit of the Regent on the far right of the image. Photo: Bill Counter
2010 - The storefront that was used as the Main Theatre. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - The pinkish storefront was once the Main Theatre. That's a bit of the revitalized Regent Theatre on the right. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - Looking north toward Winston St. On the far left that's the San Fernando Building on the southeast corner of 4th & Main. Photo: Bill Counter
More Information: The Regent Theatre page has several earlier photos of the block in which the Canadian Building can be seen.
See the Cinema Treasures page on the Main Theatre for a lively discussion.
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