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.
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.
Exterior views:
1955 - A detail from the photo above.
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the Vermont.
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