Los Angeles Theatres: La Reina Theatre

14626 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks (Los Angeles), CA 91403 | map |

Opened: The La Reina opened in 1938. In the photo the theatre is running "Just Around The Corner," a November 1938 release with Shirley Temple. The photo appears on page 69 of "The Show Starts on The Sidewalk," Maggie Valentine's fine 1994 Yale University Press book about theatre architecture and, particularly, the work of S. Charles Lee. The book, now out of print, is available from Amazon and there's a preview on Google Books.

The La Reina is on the south side of the street a block west of Van Nuys Blvd. It was built as a Fox West Coast house and was later operated by its successor companies National General and Mann Theatres. The theatre got equipped for 70mm in the early 1980s.

Architect: S. Charles Lee

This item appeared in the September 12, 1937 issue of the L.A. Times.

Seating: 900, all on one level.

From a January 4, 1985 article in the L.A. Times:

"La Reina Theatre Developer’s Ax Poised Over Landmark Movie House. The news saddened Encino resident Anna Tulanian Boyajian, 61, who grew up with La Reina. She recalled that her parents used to take her there to see Shirley Temple films and that a beau escorted her to a matinee on her first date. If the La Reina is demolished, it would leave only two other single-screen theaters in the Valley showing English-language pictures - the Studio in Studio City and the Holiday in Canoga Park.

"Seven other large Valley theaters have featured Spanish-language films since the late 1970s. It was then that theater chains began vacating single-screen theaters because they were too difficult to keep filled. Dennis Bass said he sympathizes with members of the community who would like to see La Reina stay, but added, 'It’s totally impractical. From the standpoint of the theater in today’s marketplace, you cannot operate with one screen.'"

An excerpt from a February 1985 Times article:

"Developer Dennis Bass has agreed to try to preserve the neon marquee of the 46-year-old La Reina Theater in Sherman Oaks. The proposed demolition of the theater has prompted some community opposition. Jackie Brainard, a spokeswoman for Bass, said Thursday that the developer has consulted with the theater's architect, S. Charles Lee, and hopes that he can incorporate the marquee into his proposed project at Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue. Bass is planning a complex of retail stores and restaurants. Bass, who is in the process of purchasing the theater from the Mann Theatre Corp., met Thursday night with representatives of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. to discuss his plans and seek community response.

"The strongest opposition, however, is expected to come from a group called Save the La Reina, headed by Sherman Oaks resident Lee David. David has filed an application with the city's Cultural Heritage Board, asking that the art deco theater be declared a historic monument. David said his group will lobby to have the building maintained as a movie or performing arts theater, or developed into a restaurant and retail complex with the exterior left intact. Brainard said that Bass has consulted with his architects and does not believe that it would be feasible to incorporate the theater building into his project."

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the Times articles.

Closing: The theatre closed in April 1986. Mann Theatres was the last operator. The final week they were running "Police Academy 3," which closed April 3. On Friday, April 4 there was a privately organized farewell double feature of "The Robe" and "There's No Business Like Show Business." This article appeared in the Times on Sunday, April 6:

L.A. Times - April 6, 1986.

Status: The tower and vertical sign were removed after suffering damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The facade, marquee, entrance, terrazzo and boxoffice remain but the auditorium was demolished for construction of retail space. The spa currently advertised on the marquee opened in 2001.

Interior views:

A 1938 view of the auditorium appearing on page 103 of "Theatres in Los Angeles," the superb 2008 Arcadia publishing book by Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Amy Ronnebeck Hall and Marc Wanamaker. Most of the rare photos in the book are from Mr. Wanamaker's Bison Archives. There's a preview of the book on Google Books.

A look over toward the house right wall. Thanks to Elmorovivo for finding this one to include on the Cinema Treasures page about the theatre.

The area out in front of the screen. Thanks to Mr. Comfortably Cool for posting the trade magazine image on Cinema Treasures. It's a photo by H. P. Woodcock. See this and two other views that are in the AMPAS B'hend-Kaufmann Collection.

A look along the back wall. It's a photo from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection that appears on page 69 of Maggie Valentine's "The Show Starts on The Sidewalk." The book is available from Amazon and there's a preview on Google Books. Over 600 photos from the collection are on Calisphere. Also see a Finding Aid to the collection on the Online Archive of California.

The auditorium on day two of the demolition. Thanks to K9Jeeper for the photo he took. It was a post on Cinema Treasures.

More exterior views:

c.1938 - The theatre running "You Can't Take It With You," a September 1938 release along with "Mr. Doodle Kicks Off, " an October 1938 release starring Joe Penner and June Travis. Thanks to Texas2Step for spotting the trade magazine photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.

1939 - A photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection with the theatre playing a second-run engagement of "Trade Winds" and "Thanks For Everything." This double feature played first-run at Grauman's Chinese in January 1939 according to Chinese Theatre historian Kurt Wahlner.

1945 - A terrific photo of the theatre running "State Fair" with Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews. It's from the superb Marc Wanamaker collection. The photo was once on the Hollywood Historic Photos site but this version seems to have now vanished. See the cropped version below. Bruce Kimmel notes that this was taken the week of September 20.

1945 - A detail from the "State Fair" photo. At last look this version was still on the Hollywood Historic Photos website. Also see more Sherman Oaks photos on the site. Thanks, Marc!

1945 - A boxoffice view view by Western Photo Co. It's in the Tom B'hend and Preston Kaufmann Collection, part of the AMPAS Margaret Herrick Library Digital Collections.

1946 - "Queen." This shot of the theatre appeared as part of a pictorial survey of San Fernando Valley landmarks in the November 23 issue of the Valley Times. Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating it. On the marquee is the September 1946 release "Gallant Journey" with Glenn Ford and Janet Blair. The co-feature was "A Scandal in Paris." Also running that week was the 1930 film "The Bat Whispers."

1981 - A screenshot from the "Fire Man" episode of the TV show "The Greatest American Hero." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting it on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

1982 - Running "Blade Runner," a June release. Thanks to the Valley Relics Museum Facebook page for sharing the photo.

1982 - Thanks to the now-vanished American Classic Images website for this photo from their collection. "Airplane II" was a December release.

1984 - The theatre during a 70mm run of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." It's a photo from the American Classic Images collection. Michael Coate comments: "I believe 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' was the only 70mm print La Reina ever booked."

1985 - "White Nights" playing in December. It's a photo taken by Ken Simon that he posted on Cinema Treasures. It's also appeared, uncredited, on the Facebook page All Movie Theatres.

1986 - A lovely shot of a farewell evening at the theatre on Friday, April 4. "The Robe" and "There's No Business Like Show Business" were the final films. The photo was once a post on the All Movie Theatres Facebook page but seems to have vanished from there. When Bill Gabel reposted it for the private Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group Bruce Kimmel commented:

"I was there for that final screening of 'The Robe.' Ken Kramer (now deceased) put it together and it was his IB Tech 35mm stereo print that was shown. Jay Robinson was there. It was fun and it was sad and sadder still is that every wonderful neighborhood theater like it is gone or a church or swap meet.

"And that's LA for you, but everywhere else, too, because people would rather go to shitbox theaters with twelve screens in one building and their fat-ass tubs of popcorn and burritos or whatever the hell they sell now. I mean, look at that marquee."

c.1986 - A shot of the closed theatre taken by director and cinematographer Gary Graver. He took many photos of dying single-screen theatres in Los Angeles. A compilation can be seen on YouTube: "Second Run - part 1" and "Second Run - part 2." Thanks to Sean Graver for use of the photo.

c.1990 - The theatre for lease and temporarily being used as some sort of clearance outlet. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for his photo, one appearing as a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

early 1990s - A shot of the rebuilt site from the Valley Relics Museum Facebook page. It's fron the Valley Relics Archives. They note that the tower was taken down following damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

2008 - A view from across the street. The uncredited photo appears on Wikipedia and also is part of their article about Sherman Oaks.

2008 - Thanks to Debra Jane Seltzer for this look at the boxoffice. See the great fifteen page section of California theatre photos on her immense site Roadside Architecture.

2008 - The west display cases. Photo: Ken McIntyre

2008 - A view from the Blue Medi Spa on Flickr.

2010 - Looking west on Ventura Blvd. Photo: Bill Counter

2010 - The ticket lobby. Photo: Bill Counter

2011 - The ticket lobby with the lights on. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2011 - A terrazzo detail. Photo: Michelle Gerdes

2011 - A look at the neon. Photo: Michelle Gerdes. Thanks, Michelle! Visit her Theatres - California album or the Theatres index page on Flickr for lots of documentation of her explorations of various Southern California theatres.

2019 - The view west on Ventura Blvd. Photo: Google Maps

2019 - Looking east toward the former theatre. Photo: Google Maps

The La Reina in the Movies:

We get a fine tour of Los Angeles in Jacques Deray's "The Outside Man" (United Artists, 1973). Jean-Louis Trintignant (here from France) and Roy Scheider (in from Detroit) are hit men who soon find out they're working for the same guy, a Los Angeles mobster who wants them both dead. Ann-Margret is the former owner of a sleezy bar who gets caught in the middle. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the La Reina and getting the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for shots of the Music Box/Pix, the Vine Theatre and WeHo's Cinematheque 16 from the film.

On the marquee it's Henri Verneuil's 1971 film "Le Casse" (The Burglars) with Jean-Paul Belmondo, Omar Sharif and Dyan Cannon. It opened at the La Reina June 26, 1972. See the opening day ad from the L.A. Times. The co-feature was "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight."

Bruce Kimmel comments: "The geography in this film is hilarious. Just prior to this shot is a shot on Moorpark, but just prior to that, he's exiting the building on Sunset Blvd. From this shot, it then cuts to him in the Ralph's parking lot a mile to the east of this, and after he picks up Georgia Engel there, they get in his car and are suddenly walking to the building on Sunset with her carrying her groceries. Only the French."

The La Reina marquee is used in the opening credits of "Coming Attractions" (Cinema Finance Associates, 1978). Ira Miller directed the film, retitled "Loose Shoes" for a 1982 reissue. It's a comedy structured as a series of skits and trailers. Featured are Bill Murray, Buddy Hackett, Royce D. Applegate, Lewis Arquette, Tom Baker and Dorothy Van. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for marquee shots of the Whittier, Wiltern, Palace, Orpheum and Rivoli in Long Beach. The Gilmore Drive-In is seen at the film's end.

We get the premiere of the film version of "The Happy Hooker" at the La Reina in Alan Roberts' film "The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood" (Cannon/Golan-Globus, 1980). The comedy about the hooker getting a movie deal stars Martine Beswick, Chris Lemmon and Adam West. Thanks to Eitan Alexander for the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for two more views of the La Reina, several shots of other premiere views done at the El Portal, and a look at the Chinese.

In the spirit of Christmas Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long are adding up the profits from a film they wrote that's playing across the street at the La Reina in "Irreconcilable Differences" (Warner Bros., 1984). Drew Barrymore plays their kid, who's in court asking to be emancipated from them and their endless fighting. Charles Shyer directed with cinematography by William A. Fraker. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for two more La Reina shots as well as views of the Palace, Rialto, Globe and Orpheum theatres from the film.

James Marsden and the Easter Bunny take a drive by the theatre in Tim Hill's "Hop" (Universal, 2011). We also see the Pantages and spend a bit of time at the Orpheum. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for those shots.

The La Reina on TV:

Bruce Kimmel comments: "I watched the pilot episode of 'Police Story' on YouTube - it's called 'Slow Boy' (1973). Watch the first ten minutes, all shot in front and behind the La Reina Theatre - incredible marquee shots. They're supposedly playing Joseph Wambaugh's 'The Choirboys,' but of course, they weren't - just a nod to the creator of 'Police Story.'"

See a La Reina shot from the "Fire Man" episode of the TV show "The Greatest American Hero" (1981). Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting it on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the La Reina for lots of comments and links to photos. Cinema Tour has a drive-by facade view from Scott Neff.

There's a 2011 shot of the marquee by Robert Garcia on Flickr, part of The City Project, a photo collection documenting city monuments. Wikipedia has an article on Sherman Oaks.

Los Angeles Theatres

La Reina Theatre

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