Opened: May 28, 1941 with "That Night in Rio" and "Topper Returns." There had been an invitational preview of "Billy the Kid" the night before. The Vern was initially operated by Eastland Theatres. The name is derived from Wyvernwood, a former name for the neighborhood. The building is on the north side of the street a block east of Soto St. Thanks to contributor Dallas Movie Theaters for finding this pre-opening photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.
Architect: S. Charles Lee.
Seating: 832
A pre-opening item about the new theatre appearing in the Times. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.
The cover of the opening night souvenir program. Thanks to Bill Gabel for posting it on Cinema Treasures.
A May 1941 article about the opening. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a comment to a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group.
"Make the Vern your summer resort." It's a June 1941 ad located by Ken McIntyre for a post on the Facebook group Ken's Movie Page.
Some April 1942 listings from the
L.A. Times. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating these, added as a comment to a post of some 1935 East L.A. theatre ads on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.
A December 26, 1945 ad from the Eastside Journal. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a comment to a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group.
1962 Times ads, including one for the Vern, located by Ken McIntyre.
Ken notes that by 1963 Eastland Theatres had morphed into Aladdin Theaters, a company that also operated the Belmont, Brooklyn, Jewel, Largo, the East L.A. Meralta and the Terrace in Los Angeles as well as the Linda in San Diego. Joe Vogel notes on Cinema Treasures that Aladdin also had a few drive-ins as well.
Closing: The Vern closed August 30, 1964 with "Flipper’s New Adventure" and "Wild and Wonderful" as the final films. It became a church later in 1964.
Status: This Boyle Heights theatre is now called the Don Quixote and is being used as a catering hall and event facility. It had began its restaurant/club career in 1978 as the Don Quitote East, a project of Salvador Quezada. Don Quixote on Facebook
Interior views:
An uncredited lobby view that appears on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: "The modern spiraling forms in the foyer ceiling are offset by the traditional gilt trim behind the banquette."
The self service snack bar. That program didn't work out too well. The photo is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: "Lee designed an unusual self-serve candy counter, which had a slot for customers to deposit 5c. Fluorescent lamps illuminate the plaster hood above the candy counter. The hood directs cool air from the air conditioning system over the candy, preventing chocolates from turning color."
A 1941 Julius Shulman photo from the collection of the Getty Research Institute.
A slightly different angle with the contour curtain part way up. Presumably it's a Julius Schulman photo. It's on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They note: "Two strips of neon, one blue and one white, in the ceiling cove, illuminate the auditorium. Neon is on a dimmer, which creates a theatrical atmosphere as well as controlling the light during picture operation. Pairs of buxom nudes painted in shiny metallic paint fly along the wall toward the screen."
A closer view toward the proscenium. The photo is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: "Distinctive grilles on side wall handle return air for ventilation. Shiny metallic painted designs on the ceiling and the walls, as well as the shiny surface of the elaborately draped curtain enhance the air of sleekness."
In the booth in 1941. It looks like Simplex E7s with Simplex SH-1000 soundheads and Peerless Magnarc lamps. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for finding the trade magazine photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.
It's changed a bit. This 2016 view is from a post on the Don Quixote Facebook page.
More exterior views:
1941 - A May photo with the theatre's opening attractions on the marquee. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for finding the photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.
1941 - A Julius Shulman photo, one of three views of the theatre in the collection of the Getty Research Institute where they have it indexed as job "Lee-V." Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Hoss C for including the Getty's photos in his Noirish post #33158. Bruce Kimmel notes that this program opened June 4.
A slightly different version appears, uncredited, on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. UCLA comments: "Lee developed a simplified design which relied on the porthole motif to evoke the streamlined character of the great ocean liners of the era. On the rear of the photo it is noted: 'Exterior, surfaced form concrete. Modern in appearance, it is three tones in color. The ribbed portion was created by casting concrete against corrugated forms.'"
1941 - An uncredited photo on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
1941 - A Julius Shulman photo from the collection of the Getty Research Institute. The photo is also on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Their comment: "The curving forms of the box office echo others of the same era. The porthole motif appears burnished steel or aluminum entrance doors, the neon circles on the ceiling and the circle design in the terrazzo floor."
1970s - A look west on Olympic toward what they were then calling the Vern Auditorium. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for finding the photo on eBay for his Noirish post #39632.
1983 - Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for this view.
2007 - Intrepid theatre photographer Ken McIntyre has a number of views of the theatre from 2007 and 2008 linked on the Cinema Treasures page for the Vern.
2012 - The building during its pink period. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - Another view from across the street. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - A peek at the east side of the building. Photo: Bill Counter
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Vern Theatre. Cinema Tour has a page on the Vern but with little information.
The UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection has a photo of poster cases that they identify as the Vern but it's actually at the Vogue Theatre, South Gate.
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