Los Angeles Theatres: Vermont Theatre

4365 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90037 | map |

Opened: It opened in late 1921 or early 1922. The initial operators of the theatre were Glenn Harper, Charles Lundade and H. Nystrom with Mr. Harper as manager. It's listed in the 1923 L.A. city directory. It was south of Exposition Park on the west side of the street just north of Vernon Ave.

Architect: Edward J. Borgmeyer. He's perhaps best known for designing the Forum Theatre.

Thanks to Joe Vogel for finding a mention of an item in the July 29, 1921 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor that listed the architect of the 65x170 foot brick building as E.J. Borgmeyer. SB&C noted that the owner of the building was Joseph Engert, the cost of construction for the project, including two stores, five office suites, and the theater with pipe organ was $100,000.

Seating: 1,000 was the announced capacity in Motion Picture News. 854 is a later number.

An article about the new theatre that appeared in the March 4, 1922 issue of Motion Picture News. It's on Internet Archive.

That pipe organ they mention was a Robert Morton brand, not Robert Morgan. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the article. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for several thousand great photos of theatres he's explored in the Los Angeles area and elsewhere.

A 1948 ad including the Vermont. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this.

An August 1948 ad for the Vermont that was located by Ken McIntyre.

The 1949 Film Daily Yearbook listed "Academies of Proven Hits" as a company run by Saul Mahler and James Nicholson. The theatres listed as being under their control at the time included the Arlington, Cinema, Jewel, Picfair and Vermont. Joe Moritz was also a part of the company. "Encore Theatres" was another booking group that was part of the same operation.

A 1949 ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting it on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

In the 1950s it was operated by Harry Vinnicof's Vinnicof Theatres circuit, also doing business as Southern California Amusement Co. He also had the Congress, Temple, Madrid and Regent theatres on S. Vermont as well as the Strand and American on S. Broadway.

Some 1951 film listings in the L.A. Times that included the Vermont.

A September 1952 news item located by Ken McIntyre.

Closing: The date is unknown. It is seen as closed in a 1955 photo.

Status: It's been demolished. The site is part of a shopping center parking lot. Some of the shopping center dates from 1967, the Vernon Bargain Center building set way back on the lot where the theatre once was dates from 1994.

Interior views:

"...the spaceous [sic] lobby, strikingly beautiful in its simplicity." It's a photo that appeared in the March 4, 1922 issue of Motion Picture News.

"The Egyptian design is carried throughout the house and is used very effectively in this artistic rest room of this new Vermont theatre, Los Angeles, Cal." It's a photo that appeared in the March 4, 1922 issue of Motion Picture News.

"Auditorium of Vermont theatre, Los Angeles, Cal., in which prevails a pleasant homelike atmosphere. The stage decorative scheme is Egyptian." It's a photo that appeared in the March 4, 1922 issue of Motion Picture News.

A detail of the proscenium from the previous photo.

In the cry room with a view of the stage. It's a photo that appeared in the March 4, 1922 issue of Motion Picture News where they commented: "The cozy little room...permits the parents to view the picture in privacy with their small children." Thanks to theatre sleuth Mike Hume for finding the article and photos.

Exterior views:

1955 - Looking north from Vernon Ave. with the theatre on the left. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. He notes that Herold's Department Store, seen on the right, was at 4370 S. Vermont.