Carlton Theatre

5409 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90220 | map |

Opened: May 1924. It was operated by West Coast Theatres, the firm that became Fox West Coast in 1929. This location southeast of Leimert Park was on the west side of the street five blocks north of Slauson Ave. The perhaps c.1970 photo, taken after the building had been abandoned, is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

Seats: 1,192

Architect: Unknown 

 

A convention of some sort, perhaps theatre managers, visited the new theatre in July 1924. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this item and the other California Eagle news items on the page for a thread about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

Troubles noted in another 1924 California Eagle item. 

 

A Southwest Wave ad from October 20, 1931. Ken McIntyre notes: "The day Mickey Mantle was born." This ad, as well as many other items appearing here, were located by Ken for a post about the theatre on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.

 

It's unknown when Fox West Coast dropped the Carlton from the circuit. Perhaps when they headed into bankruptcy in 1932.  

 

A November 1932 ad located by Ken McIntyre. At the time the Graff Brothers were also operating the Rivoli at 46th and Western. 

 

 

A February 14, 1933 ad in the Southwest Wave. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this. 

 

The Eagle reported a 1933 judgement over a loss from a "machine" in the theatre's parking lot.  

 

 

In March 1934 this Southwest Wave ad was promoting a "gas cookery" lecture.   

 

 

A remodel! This November 1, 1935 item noted that the theatre had a new manager,  A.L. Haynie. And it was back to being operated by Fox West Coast. 

 

 

A Jazz concert in 1953. It's an August 17 ad located by Ken McIntyre.  

 

 

"Jazzarama" in December 1953.  

 

 

A 1955 ad with a bit of a typo. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting it.  

A sneak plus a double bill of "One Summer of Happiness" and Ingrid Bergman in "The Greatest Love." Thanks to Ken for locating the August 13, 1954 ad. 

 

 

A December 25, 1955 ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. 

There was a disastrous premiere of Ed Wood Jr.'s "Plan 9 From Outer Space" held at the Carlton Theater on March 15, 1957, according to research by Ken McIntyre. In Tim Burton's 1994 film "Ed Wood" it's seen as happening at the Pantages for exterior shots and at the Orpheum for interior views. 

The end is near in 1958. A church choir along with the films to help ward off "subversive influences." And the Eagle advised that the owner, J. Edward Reynolds, was planning new things for the theatre.

 

 

Two listings for the theatre on December 23, 1958.  

 

 

  

Cecil DeMill's [sic] "The 10 Commandments" running on April 14, 1959. This listing is the last movie listing that Ken McIntyre says he could find for the theatre.  

 

Closing: 1959 was the end of the Carlton as a film house. Reynolds and his wife Pauline sold the building to the New Greater Harvest Baptist Church. 

 

 

 

A 1961 California Eagle story about the church moving in. They seem to have overestimated the seating capacity.

 

 

Another 1961 Eagle story about the church's dedication. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for all the research. 

 

 

A view of the roof sign, stagehouse and south wall. The c.1970 photo is from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

Status: It's been demolished. The date of demolition date is unknown but it was gone by 1972. 

 

A McDonald's ad located by Ken that listed the Carlton's site as one of their locations. He comments: "By 1974 the Carlton was gone. Razed a few years earlier. This McDs is now gone as well. The theater space is a vacant lot."

 

 

On the left we're going south on Western. The theatre entrance would have been down there a bit beyond the corner. On the right it's a view west on 54th. Photo: Google Maps - 2017

More Information: Check out the Cinema Treasures page on the Carlton. 

See Ken McIntyre's post about the theatre on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group and his thread about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

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