Los Angeles Theatres: Franklin Theatre

5502 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park (Los Angeles), CA 90042 | map |

Opened: The story is that it opened sometime in 1936 as the Hughes Theatre. The location is the northeast corner of Figueroa and Avenue 55.

Architect: Lyle Nelson Barcume and Harold P. King of the firm of Barcume & King did the theatre conversion of a 1922 vintage building that originally was the garage for an auto dealership. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor MRY886 for the research. Some of their comments:

"The Franklin Theater building is a product of over 80 years of adaptive reuse. It was originally built in 1922 for Fred Stillwell as an automobile sales agency and garage. By 1929, it was operated by the local Chevrolet dealer. In 1934 new owner E. H. Rose converted the building to a market. The facade was redesigned in concrete by architect W. L. Schmolle.

"The theater conversion occurred in 1936, when Rose hired architect Lyle N. Barcume, engineer Harold P. King and contractor G. S. Griffith to convert the existing structure into a theater. The marquee, which was engineered by Blaine Noice (who engineered many of the buildings at the old Walt Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue) and designed and built by QRS Neon Corporation, Ltd., was installed in September of that year and the the venue opened as the 'Hughes Theatre.'

Seating: 895

In late 1936 it became the Franklin Theatre. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor 50sSnipes for locating this November 5 ad for an "opening program" of Shirley Temple in "Poor Little Rich Girl" along with "Poppy."

It's not listed in the 1936 or 1937 city directories but is in the 1938 directory as the Franklin. While the use of the names Hughes and Franklin suggests the involvement of the Hughes-Franklin circuit, that short lived combine of Howard Hughes and Harold B. Franklin, formerly of Fox West Coast, had been dissolved by 1932. A likely inspiration for the Franklin name is Franklin High School, just six blocks north up Ave. 54.

By 1938 Kurt Laemmle, a co-founder of the Laemmle circuit, was running the theatre. Joe Vogel found mentions of the Laemmle involvement in issues of Boxoffice beginning in October of that year. It was the first L.A. theatre for the family. Kurt and his brother Max later added the nearby Dale Theatre and the Park Theatre. Later expansions included the Ritz in Inglewood and the Los Feliz Theatre.

This 1940 photo is one from the Laemmle collection. "Club de Femmes" was an August 1937 release with Danielle Darrieux and 200 French beauties. Not that she wasn't one herself. "Peter Ibbetson" was a November 1935 release with Gary Cooper and Ann Harding. The photo appeared with a 2021 Indie Focus article about Greg Laemmle on Boxoffice Pro. It's also been seen on the All Movie Theatres Facebook page.

Closing: It ran as the Franklin Theatre until 1952.

By 1954 it had become the home of De Witt Moving and Storage. The building once had a fancy parapet and tower that were removed in the early 1990s. MRY886 notes on Cinema Treasures: "Since 1994 it has been protected by its inclusion in the Highland Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone."

Status: Since perhaps the 1980s the building has been used by a carpet company, Marin Pinedo Carpets, advertised on their sign as MP Carpets. Escott O. Norton comments:

"The carpet company that owns it is very wary of people coming in to take pictures. They know the value and might not be using it as a theatre, but last time I was there they expressed that they have no interest in damaging what's left."

Interior views:

A look in from the sidewalk at the screen end of the building. Photo: Bill Counter - 2025

The painted ornament on the house right side of the proscenium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2025

Another angle on the area to the right of the proscenium. It's a 2017 photo by C. Stefanic posted on Cinema Treasures with this comment: "Not sure what construction has occurred in this area in the last 30 some odd years, but one can still make out the original EXIT door and side panels, which are still painted from the theatre’s thriving heyday."

A proscenium view taken in 2017 by C. Stefanic. It was shared on Cinema Treasures with this comment: "Though the flooring has been concreted, the screen space and stage remain intact, complete with the luscious murals on the wall."

A look over to house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2025

The wide angle view. Photo: Bill Counter - 2025

A closer look at the house left wall. Photo: Bill Counter - 2025

A detail from the previous shot reveals that the design of that side wall panel is mostly water damage and repaired cracks with the only painted ornament located in the upper right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2025

More exterior views:

c.1940 - One of the gentlemen in front is Kurt Laemmle. They were running "Coast Guard," an August 1939 release with Randolph Scott and Frances Dee, along with "Only Angels Have Wings," a May 1939 release with Cary Grant and Jean Arthur. The photo is one displayed on the wall of the lobby at Laemmle's Royal Theatre.