Manchester Theatre

322 W. Manchester Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90003 | map |

Opened: January 20, 1926 with "Bluebeard's Seven Wives." This pre-opening photo taken for the L.A. Times is in the UCLA Digital Library collection. The copy on the front of the marquee read: "Grand Opening Wed Jan 20 - Movie Stars - Regular Prices - Stage Presentation - Manchester Syncopaters and Features." The end of the marquee read "Open Wed - Regular Prices." 

Theda Bara was at the opening. West Coast Theatres was the operator and the new house was sometimes advertised as the West Coast Manchester. It was on the south side of the street between Figueroa and Broadway, just east of where the Harbor Freeway is now.

Architect: L.A. Smith, who did many other similar projects for West Coast Theatres. This one was reported to have an East Indian style interior. 

 Seating: 1,668

The project had been announced in the September 26, 1924 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor. The card in the Los Angeles Public Library California Index with the data says the issue noted that "preliminary plans are being prepared by the engineering department of West Coast Theaters..." Ralph Grunauer was mentioned. Perhaps he was the developer. In a Times story on January 11, 1926 we learn that he was general manager of South Side Theatres, Inc., an "associate" of West Coast Theatres. 

The December 19, 1924 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor noted: 

"Theater, stores and apartments -- West Coast Theaters ... will be ready for bids next week, to close 1/1/25 for 2-story building ... at 316-30 W. Manchester Ave. Plans by L.A. Smith ... Auditorium with balcony and 6 stores on 1st floor and 10 single apartments above; theatre portion class A construction; remainder of building class C ... $200,000."

The project made the L.A. Times on February 22, 1925 with "West Coast to Spend Big Sum in Showhouse," an article appearing on page 1, section V. 

The circuit had intended to "definitely" open the house January 5, 1926. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this item in the L.A. Times issue of December 13, 1925:

"Sol Lesser, secretary of West Coast Theaters, Inc., has announced definitely the opening of the West Coast Uptown on the 29th and the West Coast Manchester Theater on January 5, 1926. The West Coast Manchester has been designed as a family theater and every modern convenience for the public has been incorporated into the building. 

"Sol Lesser said, 'We have built this theater with a view of the future growth of Los Angeles. It has a seating capacity of 1700 people and we expect that part of the city to grow very fast in the next few years. This theater will permit people living a long way from the downtown section to attend a show as fine as any presented in the larger downtown theaters, and to see it in as fine a house as any theater anywhere.'"

 

The Times discussed the new theatre again in "Playhouse of Novel Design is Completed," an article on page 11, section V, in their issue of January 10, 1926. On January 11 the Times ran this story :

 

Although Ralph Grunauer's role is discussed to some extent it's not mentioned what part, if any, Fanchon & Marco had at this point in the operation of "South Side Theaters, Inc." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the article.

 

A sketch of the new theatre that appeared with "Celebrities Will Attend Opening of New Manchester Movie Playhouse," a January 20, 1926 Los Angeles Evening Express story located by Ken McIntyre. The caption was "Exterion [sic] view of new Manchester Theater at Manchester and South Broadway, to be opened tonight." The article: 

 

"Temples of India and Siam Are Reproduced In Decoration Of Latest Theater. Atmosphere of the temples of India and Siam has been reproduced in the interior work of the Manchester Theater, located at Manchester and South Broadway, the newest of the West Coast Theaters, which will be opened tonight. Gigantic columns supporting elephant heads that bear the ceiling are from the Temple of Jagat Ganj of Benares; the black and gold crossbeams are from the Temple of Ankor Wat and the bas-relief figures on the grand staircase are replicas of those in Chaukhandi Maurya. 

"The feature picture is 'Bluebird's Seven Wives,' starring Ben Lyons and Blanche Sweet, together with a Fanchon & Marco varieties idea and the Manchester Syncopaters under the direction of Frank Gari. Many celebrities have been invited to attend the opening, including Mayor Crier, Will Hays, Sid Grauman, Eleanor Glyn and a host of movie stars, with Charles Murray as master of ceremonies."

 

The opening day story about the new theatre that appeared in the L.A. Illustrated Daily News gave more details about some of the opening night performers:

 

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the article. 

 

The opening was also discussed in "New Unit Opening Tonight: Gala Performance to Mark Debut of Newest Theater in West Coast Chain," an article on page A9 of the January 20, 1926 issue of the Times.

 

Earlier in the 1920s West Coast Theatres was running vaudeville shows that they assembled themselves as the stage portion of the programs. By the time the Manchester opened the circuit had switched to using pre-packaged Fanchon & Marco "Ideas" as prologues to the films. Fanchon & Marco later used the Manchester as a "break-in" house to perform their new productions before taking them downtown to Loew's State. Photos of several of their productions there are on our page of State vintage auditorium views.

 

After the circuit became Fox West Coast in 1929 the venue was advertised as the Fox Manchester Theatre. It's unknown when Fox West Coast got out and the theatre actually came under the management of Fanchon and Marco, part of their growing chain called Southside Theatres. It was then just advertised as the Manchester Theatre. 

 

As seen in this 1935 ad, Fanchon & Marco "Idea" revues were no longer being produced but the Manchester was offering "6 F & M Vaudeville Acts" along with Will Rogers in "Doubting Thomas." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

 

A March 1936 ad located by Ken McIntyre.  

 

A stage show in January 1939 featuring mentalist Jay Clarke. On the big screen it was a double feature of "The Mad Miss Minton" and "Young in Heart." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the item. 

 

A March 1940 ad for the Southside Theatres circuit. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this for a post about the area's theatres on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. Note the bit at the bottom of the ad for the 5th Avenue Theatre:"Opening Soon."

 

A January 1948 ad in the Southwest Wave. It's one located by Ken McIntyre for a post of South Central theatre ads on Photos of Los Angeles.

In 1950 Fanchon & Marco were still running the theatre but threatening to close it as they couldn't get decent product from a number of distributors.

 

 

A Southside Theatres classified ad in the Times in 1950. The Rio and Southside were other locations in the circuit. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the ad.

 

A 1950 ad for a film at three theatres operated by Fanchon & Marco. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the ad. The Hollywood Paramount is now back to its original name, the El Capitan. The Downtown Paramount was run by Fanchon & Marco until their lease was up in 1952, at which time it reverted to the ABC-Paramount circuit. It was demolished in the early 60s. Fanchon & Marco closed the Manchester later in 1950. 

 

Reopening on Christmas Day 1952 after a two year closure. The "new manager" Rube Wolf was, of course, part of the Fanchon & Marco clan. Perhaps he needed something to do after the family lost the lease on the Downtown Paramount. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the news.

A 1953 ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it.

The Fanchon & Marco Southside Theatre locations as well as the lease on the Hollywood Paramount were sold off in late 1958 to Edwin F. Zabel and Robert R. Lippert Sr. with the operational transfer occurring on January 9, 1959. Variety had the story in their December 17 issue:

The deal was engineered via Scott Radio, an Illinois company, for various tax reasons. Zabel and Lippert were the company's controlling stockholders and were soon running the company, which was rebranded as ElectroVision Corp., aka EVC. A July 8, 1959 L.A. Times article titled "ElectroVision in Aquisition" noted that the company had also purchased some theatres in the area from the Lippert circuit. At the bottom of that article it was mentioned that they had earlier picked up the F&M holdings.

 

A 1959 Times ad located by Ken McIntyre showing the Manchester as being operated by EVC. The AAA, Baldwin, Hollywood Paramount, Rio and Southside had also been Fanchon & Marco houses. 

 

 

Rock and Roll onstage in April 1961. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this item from the California Eagle as well as a number of others below for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.  The Eagle was a paper covering the African-American community.

 

 

An ad for the April 1961 show. 

 

 

"Whatever You Do ...  Attend 1 Of The 2." It's a 1962 ad for the Manchester and the AAA Theatre around the corner on S. Broadway.

 

"Minutes Away Via Harbor Freeway." It's a 1963 ad appearing in the California Eagle. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for another post on Photos of Los Angeles. 

 

In 1963 Statewide Theatres had the house. This article noting their renovation of the theatre appeared in the California Eagle.  

 

The theatre's 1963 ad for "Lilies of the Field."

Later as an independent operation, the theatre got a reputation for being run-down and booking marginal product.

Closed: The Manchester closed in the early 70s. The Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles" notes that the Wurlitzer was donated to Loyola Marymount University in 1974.

Status: It's been demolished. The site is currently a used car lot. 

 

1926 - Another pre-opening view taken for the L.A. Times that's in the UCLA L.A. Times Photographic Collection. It's on the UCLA Digital Library website.

1926 - In this photo they were running "The New Commandment," a November 1925 release with Blanche Sweet. Also on the bill was Frank Gari and his Manchester Syncopaters as the house band. The photo appeared with many other theatre views in "Harold B. Franklin Analyzes Theatre Personality..," a discussion of new theatre types for the sound era appearing in the Motion Picture News issue of February 28, 1929. It's on Internet Archive.

1930 - The Manchester in an August 22 photo taken by George Mann. The film playing is "The Unholy 3" with Lon Chaney and Lila Lee. The stage show includes Sal Love, the comedy dance team Barto and Mann, and the Quillan Family. Thanks to Brad Smith for sharing the photo on Flickr. It's in the album of theatre marquees, over a hundred amazing photos taken by Mr. Mann.

Mr. Mann was Brad Smith's father. Mr. Smith's wife, Dianne Woods, has taken on the task of preserving and organizing the Mann photos in the George Mann Archive. Don't miss a chance to browse the collection for a wonderful look at a lost theatrical world.

1944 - This photo of the Manchester from Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives appears on page 114 of the terrific 2008 Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles" by Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Amy Ronnebeck Hall and Mr. Wanamaker. There's a preview of the book on Google Books.

1951 - A look west on Manchester toward the theatre. That's Broadway at the intersection. The theatre is now gone but the old bank on the corner and the building to its west are still there. The ramps for the 110 Freeway are now just beyond the theatre site. It's a photo by Julius Shulman in the Getty Research Institute collection.

Shulman was out photographing various branch offices for Bank of America. On the Getty site it's listed as his Job #1034. If you have days to go browsing, wander through the thousands of photos the Getty has in their Julius Shulman Photography Archive.

1951 - A detail from the Julius Shulman photo above. 

1951 - The second Julius Shulman photo in the Getty Research Institute set of three from this job. The third view is looking east toward the bank and doesn't include the theatre. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Hoss C for finding the photos in the Getty collection for Noirish post #30819. On the east side of Broadway across from the See's Candies store on the far left of the photo was the AAA Theatre, now a church.

2018 - The theatre site as a car lot. We're looking west on Manchester toward the 110. Photo: Google Maps

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Manchester for lots of stories. The Pacific Coast Architecture Database has a listing for the Manchester.

For more on Fanchon & Marco head to the site curated by the family, FanchonAndMarco.com. Also see their terrific Fanchon & Marco album on Flickr. For other theatres operated by Fanchon and Marco, look under their names in the Los Angeles theatres - the main alphabetical list.

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