Academy Theatre

3141 W. Manchester Blvd. Inglewood, CA 90305 | map |

Opened: November 9, 1939. Opening night was a world premiere press screening of "Another Thin Man" with William Powell and Myrna Loy in attendance. The film's regular run began November 22 at Grauman's Chinese and Loew's State. Starting on the 10th, the program at the Academy was "At the Circus" with the Marx Brothers along with "Dancing Co-ed" starring Lana Turner and Artie Shaw. "Another Thin Man" returned to the Academy beginning December 13.

The theatre is on the north side of the street a block west of Crenshaw. Note the original look of the tower. The inspiration was evidently that of a spool of film unwinding. It later got skinnier. The story is that it acted as a wonderful chute for rainwater. In addition to the "Academy" lettering, the tower had neon that said "Preview." A November 6, 1939 ad in the local paper Southwest Wave noted: "Watch the flashing TOWER for Important Major Previews."

The photo was taken by Julius Shulman on Wednesday, December 6, 1939, the opening night of the one week sub-run of "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" along with "The Return of Dr. X." The center of the marquee said "Tonight Cash Club 500 Dollars" and they did that event on Wednesday nights. The photo is in the collection of the Getty Research Institute, one of 18 photos they have of the theatre, which they date as 1940.

Seating: 1,156

Architect: S. Charles Lee.

The Shulman photo is also on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: "The Academy Theatre was Lee's most fully realized design in the Streamline Moderne mode. The extensive use of glass block, stainless steel, curved forms and modern graphics gave the building an image of modernity that suited the transitory commercial building type of the motion picture theatre, but was not often attempted in residential architecture or most commercial architecture."

There are over 600 photos of Lee's various projects on Calisphere from the UCLA collection. These photos are also indexed on the UCLA Library Digital Collections site. Most of the collection has not been digitized but can be requested for viewing at the UCLA Charles M. Young Research Library Special Collections department. See the finding aid to the collection on the Online Archive of California site.

An undated floorplan appearing on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Revisions would include squishing down that foyer and adding cry rooms. Click on the image for a larger view. 

 

   

A section and reflected ceiling plan. It's a detail from a drawing on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.

Early drawings of the tower appearing on the same sheet the previous detail was taken from. Note the sprocket holes. The drawing is dated May 22, 1939.

A later tower drawing from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Also in the UCLA collection: lobby door detail drawing | drawing of alternate exterior |

 

A facade detail appearing on a page of S. Charles Lee's drawings at the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.   

 

This column of facts about the Academy was included in a three page spread in the July 1940 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor. Thanks to Dan Seat for locating it. He curates the Facebook group Last Remaining Seat, devoted to vintage theatre seating. The article was reprinted beginning on page 68 of the 1941 "Theatre Catalog," an annual volume from Jay Emanuel Publications, that trade magazine's publisher. It's on Internet Archive. 

 

There are stories told that the theatre was built for the Oscar presentations. It's in an unlikely location, has no stage facilities, and was never intended for that purpose. A Citizen-News article noted that it was "Dedicated to the annual honor awards of the Academy..." The theatre did host many previews and was a major suburban venue for its operator, Fox West Coast Theatres.

 

 

A Monday, November 6, 1939 news item. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a thread about the theatre on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group. 

 

 

November 7, 1939 coverage in the Hollywood Citizen-News. Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating it.  

 

A February 1940 ad located by Ken McIntyre.

 

A March 1940 article discussing the Academy's popularity as a preview house. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this. 

In later years the theatre was operated by National General and Mann Theatres, the successor companies to Fox West Coast.  

 

 

A Mann Theatres ad from October 1974 that was located by Ken McIntyre.

Closing: October 1974 was the last month of operation. That was also the last month that Mann operated the Fox Inglewood.

Status: The building has been used as a church, the Academy Cathedral, since 1975. 

 

Some comments from June 1975 about the big changes happening in Inglewood. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this. 

Vintage lobby views:

A look across from house left in 1939. It's a Julius Shulman photo on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.

This undated Julius Shulman photo is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. This image, and the one below, make an appearance on page 28 in the 1949-50 edition of "Theatre Catalog" from Jay Emanuel Publications, publisher of Motion Picture Exhibitor. Twenty-five years of the Catalogs are on Internet Archive. See the lead article for this particular year: "The Work of S. Charles Lee." The Catalog's caption: 

 

"The graceful folds of a heavy drapery surround the main entrance portal to the auditorium of the Academy, Inglewood, Calif., to aid in keeping out disturbing light. A peach-colored mirror flanks the sides."   

 

The two photos are with a article titled "The Light Trap." They discuss the problem with light from the lobby and having the center aisles clogged with patrons when lobby doors head directly into the aisles: 

 

"A panacea for these evils has been devised and employed by Architect Lee in the design of many of his theatres. This device, known as a 'light trap,' consists merely of a depressed entrance at the center axis of the foyer with doors at each side opening into the auditorium at right angles instead of directly into the rear. Thus, a baffle is left between light in the foyer and the screen at all times. As patrons enter through the 'light trap,' they are able to see for themselves whether or not seats are available in the center section. If so, they can double back through the standee area to the center rows of seats. If not, however, they are led on a natural tangent by the 'light trap' type of entrance to the side aisles. In addition to these advantages, the 'light trap' provides a lobby focal point for decorative themes."  

 

Thanks to Chris Nichols for spotting the Academy in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog. He is a senior editor at Los Angeles Magazine. His latest book, written with Adriene Biondo, is "Bowlarama: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling," a 2024 Angel City press release.

 

A closer look at the etched glass panel by Millard Sheets of the lady holding her Oscar. It's still there but the church that has the building usually has drapes hiding it. The 1939 photo by Julius Shulman is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: "Main entrance to the auditorium. No matter what aisle one is to be accommodated at, he enters thru this main portal. All ushers' resistance has been overcome by this mode of entrance." Lee evidently tried to patent something about this layout. The Theatre Catalog caption: 

"The vibrant glass mural at the rear symbolizes the Motion Picture and the Theatre. Within, a glass screen separates the rear cross-aisle from the main auditorium so available seats are visible."  

 

 

A perhaps 1950s Nate Singer photo of the snackbar. It's in the Tom B'hend and Preston Kaufmann Collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library.

The ladies lounge as seen in a c.1939 photo by Kako. It's on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. When this photo appeared with the article about the theatre in the 1941 edition of "Theatre Catalog," this was the caption: 

"The ladies lounge room is just off the foyer and its entranceway is draped with heavy curtains with no doors to be opened. A screen with full length mirror hides the view from the foyer. Walls are covered in blonde Avodire wood with walnut trim."

 

 

A light fixture in the ladies lounge. It's a Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. The Getty has a set of 18 photos of the Academy taken by Mr. Shulman. They date these as 1940 but some, if not all, were taken in 1939. It was his job #5905. Also see their page detailing over 4,000 photos in their Julius Shulman Photo Archive. The Getty site also has a page of Julius Shulman Resources.


Recent lobby views:

The wide angle lobby panorama. The auditorium entrance is in the center of the photo. The statuary garden at the right is the former snack bar location. The place got an unneeded Skouras/ Fox West Coast re-do in the 40s, thus the neo-Baroque gold swirls. The purple drapes were installed by the church that now has the building. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart for his 2014 photo. Keep up with his latest explorations: HunterKerhart.com 

The event was a tour by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. The LAHTF is involved in the study and preservation of the vintage theatres in the Los Angeles area and occasionally offers tours.  

 

 

A closer look at the remains of the Skouras era snackbar. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014 

The terrazzo in the area in front of the snackbar. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2014. See her full ten photo Academy Theatre album on Facebook. Thanks, Michelle!

Looking across from house left. Photo: Donavan S. Moye - 2010

The lobby ceiling. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - 2014. See Sandi's Avoiding Regret photo essay "The Art Deco Theatre Inside Academy Cathedral, Inglewood" about her adventures at the LAHTF "all-about" tour. Also visit her Avoiding Regret page on Facebook.

The wall above the entrance doors. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2014

The last remaining etched glass door. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2014. See the drawing of this design from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. 

The undulating entrance to the men's room. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2014

A makeup mirror in the ladies lounge. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2014

An HVAC grille. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2014

The entrance to the auditorium. Thanks to Senorsock for his 2010 photo, a post on Cinema Treasures.

The big reveal of the etched glass panel when the drapes are pulled aside. The lady is evidently a bit too risque for the church's taste. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014

The panel by Millard Sheets. He signed it in the lower right corner. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2014

A closer look at the lady and her Oscar. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014

Vintage auditorium views:

 

A view from the rear before the chandelier was installed. Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute - 1939

 

A look in from the rear of the house in 1939 after the chandelier had been installed. The chandelier area and proscenium were redone when the theatre installed CinemaScope. The areas with decorative painting were lit with UV light during screenings. It's a photo by Julius Shulman that's from the archives of the Los Angeles Conservancy. A version of this shot can also be seen on on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: 

"The overlapping wall and ceiling surfaces, illuminated by indirect lighting, create a powerful perspective that focuses on the screen... Oversize leaf forms decorate the walls. Dark borders edging the ceiling panels accentuate the perspective."

This image, as well as one looking to the rear of the auditorium, appear on page 31 in the 1949-50 edition of "Theatre Catalog" from Jay Emanuel Publications, publisher of Motion Picture Exhibitor. Twenty-five years of the Catalogs are on Internet Archive. See the lead article for this particular year: "The Work of S. Charles Lee." The two photos of the Academy's auditorium are with a two-page article titled "Black Light":

 

"One of the more recent tools in the hands of the nation's design and decorating specialists is 'black light,' a seemingly anomalous term referring to the fluorescing of various treated materials when exposed to the more or less invisible rays of concealed ultraviolet lamps. Obtainable in numerous paints, lacquers and dyes, its theatrical nature and theatre possibilities were obvious to its original exploiteers.

 

"Architect Lee was one of the first to embrace this new material and to realize its possibilities by working out some of the earliest theatre installations. The Academy, Inglewood, Calif., became virtually a black light laboratory for the first installation of lamps and the evaluation of effective distances. Both the wall decorations and the carpets glowed under black light with spectacular effects. The lamps themselves were concealed in the petals of the floral ceiling fixtures, while ceiling step-offs concealed neon tubes cleverly arranged on dimmers with startling effects that contrasted to the black lighting. 

 

"Following in quick order was the tower, Fresno, Calif., where the entire auditorium could be illuminated by black light alone with ultra violet lamps in urns beneath large medallions that served also as the sidewall decorative accents. The modern treatment of the walls of the State, San Diego, Calif., the baroque decorations of the Carlos, San Carlos, Calif., which lent themselves beautifully to highlighting, and the startlingly effective decorations and carpets of the Lido, Mexico City, Mexico, are further evidence of Mr. Lee's continuing use of black light where its particular properties have structural or boxoffice merit." 

 

Thanks to Chris Nichols for spotting the Academy in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog. He is a senior editor at Los Angeles Magazine and is the author of the Taschen book "Walt Disney's Disneyland."

 

 

A proscenium view. Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute - 1939

The screen revealed. There were big changes in 1953 for CinemaScope. Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute - 1939. When this photo appeared with the article about the theatre in the 1941 edition of "Theatre Catalog," this was the caption: 

 

"The proscenium is richly draped, with the main curtain being lifted from the bottom to festoon at the top, as shown here, rather than traveling from side to side in the orthodox manner. The overdraping is in gold and blends with the background color of the walls flanking the stage. The color of the screen masking is burgundy and matches the burgundy colored carpet which covers the stage and steps." 

The house left wall. Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute - 1939. This photo appeared in the article about the theatre in the 1941 edition of "Theatre Catalog," an annual volume from Jay Emanuel Publications, publisher of Motion Picture Exhibitor. It's on Internet Archive. Their caption: 

 

"The auditorium walls are finished in shades of ochre and carry modern themed decorations in tones of soft blue, red and gold executed with a fluorescent paint. Particularly effective is the concealed lighting troughs which extend from the wainscot to the ceiling and then form an interesting pattern around the ceiling lighting fixture. In this fixture, the black light bulbs that create the radiation of the fluorescent paint, have been concealed." 

A view to the rear. Note the cry rooms. Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute - 1939. The 1949-1950 edition of Theatre Catalog commented about the decor: "Black lighted decoration was combined with the controlled brilliance of neon tubed recesses in the Academy." 

Recent auditorium photos: 

A view down the left center aisle. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2014

A look in from house right. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014

 

The house left wall. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014

The ceiling toward the front. All the fun is hiding behind those draperies the church put up. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014

A fine view across the front near the screen. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014

The front of the ceiling. Photo: Stephen Russo - LAHTF Facebook page - 2014

Looking toward the rear of the auditorium. Photo: Stephen Russo - LAHTF Facebook page - 2014. Thanks, Stephen!

A view along the house left wall. Photo: Donavan S. Moye - 2010

Up in the booth:

They had Magnarcs, Simplex sound and Simplex E-7 heads. Note the lower magazine -- it's a preview attachment so they could run previews with picture and sound on separate 1,000 foot reels. Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute - 1939

More exterior views:

1939 - A lovely construction view appearing with a story in the L.A. Times. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

 

1939 - A view of the newly completed theatre taken by Julius Shulman. The photo appeared on the site of the auction house Mutual Art. This is one that John Bernstein also included in his post about the theatre on the LAHTF Facebook page. 
 

1939 - The Academy running "Eternally Yours" with Loretta Young and David Niven along with "Pride of the Blue Grass" starring Edith Fellows and James McCallion. This bill was playing the third week in November. The photo headed a three page spread that Dan Seat spotted in the July 1940 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor. It was reprinted on pages 68 to 70 of the 1941 "Theatre Catalog," an annual volume from the magazine's publisher, Jay Emanuel Publications. It's on Internet Archive. Their copy: 

"In Inglewood, California, a delightful suburb of Los Angeles, Fox West Coast Theatres, several months ago, opened this more than delightful deluxe, neighborhood house. Los Angeles architect S. Charles Lee was commissioned by the circuit to design and build the house for them. Much was gambled on the architect's imaginative powers, but as can be seen in this presentation, it was not foolhardy. The originality of design alone puts this house well out in front.  

"The exterior as shown in this twilight view is a novel exhibition of architectural originality. A spiral tower rises heaven-ward to a height of 125 feet with the outside rim of the spiral being illuminated with blue neon. On the top of the fins concealed light troughs have been built bringing into play three different colors  of lighting. A flasher system sends this lighting up the tower  with one color following the other to terminate in a neon spike ball at the very top of the tower. The modernly designed front of the house is 110 feet wide with the marquee covering 70 feet of this width."

 

1939 - An entrance photo by Julius Shulman on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. On the back of the photo: "Glass brick and mirrored glass trim entrance towards street...Inside of doors is in wood to match wood paneling of walls. Poster case built into wall of foyer in such a way as to be seen altho inoffensive."

The poster seen in the "Now Playing" case is for Jed Prouty and Spring Byington in "Too Busy To Work," the co-feature that played with "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington." That bill opened Wednesday, November 29 for a one week run. 

 

1939 - A closer look at the boxoffice. It's a Julius Shulman photo in the collection of the Getty Research Institute. The Getty has a set of 18 photos of the Academy taken by Mr. Shulman. It was his job #5905. Also see their page detailing over 4,000 photos in their Julius Shulman Photo Archive. The Getty site also has a page of Julius Shulman Resources. 

 

A different boxoffice photo appeared in the article about the theatre in the 1941 edition of "Theatre Catalog," an annual volume from Jay Emanuel Publications, publisher of Motion Picture Exhibitor. It's on Internet Archive. They noted:  

"The boxoffice is extra large in scale and is of a beautifully streamlined design. The base is stainless steel and bronze. Plate glass is circular, having been bent to fit the design."

 

 

1939 - The west side of the building during the run of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Photo: Julius Shulman - Getty Research Institute

 

1939 - A dizzying look skyward. On the side of the tower facing us to the right of the "Academy" letters there are additional neon letters that could be lit to say "preview." It's a photo by Julius Shulman on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. They comment: 

"This night view shows the power of the illuminated image to draw customers into the theatre. The indirect illumination of the pylon creates a glowing tower that can be seen from afar. Glass block walls make the building glow from within."

1939 - "Last Big Day." The view from across the street on Tuesday, December 5. It's a photo by Julius Shulman from the Getty Research Institute collection. Thanks to Dan Gutierrez for correcting the distortion in the version appearing on the Getty site.

 

1939 - A facade image appearing on the site Architecture of Our Century. They were running "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" along with "The Return of Dr. X," a bill that opened Wednesday, December 6. It's a detail from the Julius Shulman photo that's at the top of the page.

 

1949 - What a deal! The film was "Johnny Allegro," a May release with George Raft and Nina Foch. Plus, on the day of the photo there was to be a studio preview. And they were giving away a 1949 Chevy sedan. It's a photo taken by Doug White for Southern California Edison that's in the Huntington Library collection. 

 

1956 - A view east in June from the now-vanished American Classic Images website. Bill Gabel notes that they're running "The Great Locomotive Chase" with Fess Parker along with "The Wizard of Oz."

 

c.1978 - A shot by Marvin Rand taken for the Historic American Buildings Survey. Thanks to the National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Service Facebook page for posting the image. See the HABS documentation of the Academy on the Library of Congress website. They comment: "The interesting cylindrical forms crescendo to the main pylon, which provides an advertising feature of adequate scale to attract automotive traffic along the thoroughfares of the vicinity." The building became a church in 1976. 

1982 - Thanks to the American Classic Images collection for this photo.

2009 - The Academy neon at night. Photo: Mark Peacock. See his Vintage Theatres photo album on Flickr for more great work.

c.2010 - A night view by Debra Jane Seltzer appearing on page six of the section about California theatres on her immense site Roadside Architecture. Her book "Vintage Signs of America" was published in 2018.

c.2010 - A detail of the neon at the center of the marquee. Photo: Debra Jane Seltzer - Roadside Architecture

2010 - A great view by Wendell Benedetti. It's part of his Historic Los Angeles Theatres album on Flickr.

c.2010 - A tower detail. Photo: Debra Jane Seltzer - Roadside Architecture

c.2010 - A fine view of the marquee. Photo: Debra Jane Seltzer - Roadside Architecture

2010 - The theatre at dusk. Photo: Bill Counter

2010 - The entrance. No longer with a boxoffice. Photo: Bill Counter

c.2010 - A terrazzo detail. Photo: Debra Jane Seltzer - Roadside Architecture. Thanks, Debra! 

2011 - Another look to the top of the tower. It's a photo by Escott O. Norton appearing in a Sign Details album on the Facebook page Old Sign Art.

2012 - Thanks to Escott O. Norton for this view. It appears in a Theatre Signs album on the Facebook page Old Sign Art.

2012 - A shot by Ken McIntyre appearing as a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

2014 - A panoramic view of the entrance. Photo: Hunter Herhart

2014 - Up in the bucket lift doing restoration work on the tower. Photo: Stephen Russo - LAHTF Facebook page - 2014. Thanks, Stephen!

2014 - Looking east across the facade. Photo: Hunter Kerhart

2014 - The west end of the front of the building. That lovely rock-covered area was originally glass block. Photo: Michelle Gerdes.

2014 - The tower at dusk. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his photo, one originally appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2014 - Thanks to Don Solosan for this shot taken for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation.

 

2014 - An original light fixture still surviving in the parking lot. Photo: Michelle Gerdes. Thanks, Michelle!

 

2015 - Thanks to Geoff Goddard for this photo. It's one of three he shared as a post on the Theatre Architecture private Facebook group.

 

2016 - Thanks to George Chialtas for this view looking west. It appeared as a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

 

The Academy in the Movies:

 

We get a quick drive-by of the Academy when we're supposedly in Dallas in "What's Love Got To Do With It" (Touchstone Pictures, 1993). The film about Tina Turner (Angela Bassett) and her abusive husband Ike (Laurence Fishburne) was directed by Brian Gibson. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for views from the film of the State Theatre, the Warner Grand in San Pedro, the Hollywood Playhouse and the Chinese.

 

Shameik Moore cycles past the Academy Theatre in Inglewood in "Dope" (Open Road Films, 2015). In addition to the theatre, we see lots of other major landmarks of Inglewood including Randy's Donuts, the Thurgood Marshall Justice Center and The Forum. The film, written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, also features Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Zoë Kravitz, Kimberly Elise and A$AP Rocky. The cinematography was by Rachel Morrison. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for three more shots of the theatre from the film.

The Academy on Video: The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation has a nice 24 second clip of the Academy Exterior -- including a nice scan up the tower. Don Solosan's Insider's Peek #2 is a 2 1/2 minute tour of the building in 2010 featuring LAHTF's Hillsman Wright.

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Academy for a nice discussion of this theatre as well as other historic theatres in Inglewood.

Don't miss Sandi Hemmerlein's 2014 photo Avoiding Regret photo essay "The Art Deco Theatre Inside Academy Cathedral, Inglewood."

The 2016 book "The Incredible History of the Academy Theater" by James Thomas features the photos of Julius Shulman. It can be viewed on Issuu. 

The Library of Congress has two black and white exterior photos taken for a Historic American Buildings survey sometime after the theatre became a church.

Maggie Valentine's "The Show Starts on the Sidewalk" (Yale University Press, 1994) is a fine history of the movie palace with an emphasis on the work of S. Charles Lee. It includes lots of references to various Los Angeles theatres. There's a preview on Google Books.

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