Palace / American Theatre

 4727 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90037 | map |

Opened: 1913 as the Palace Theatre on the northwest corner of 47th Place and what was then called Moneta Ave. 

In this 1941 photo they were running "Sunny" with Anna Neagle and Ray Bolger along with the western "Kansas Cyclone" starring Don "Red" Barry and Lynn Merrick. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo on eBay for a Facebook thread about the theatre on Ken's Movie Page. He also shared the photo on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. That "East..." sign we see beyond the front of the streetcar was on the Eastern-Columbia store at 4717 S. Broadway.

Seating: Supposedly 500 originally. 422 was a later number appearing in an issue of the Film Daily yearbook.

Architect: Train & Williams. Joe Vogel located this item in the November 16, 1912 issue of Southwest Contractor & Manufacturer:

"THEATER AND STORES—Morris Hurwitz, 212 N. Main St., has been awarded the general contract at $10,500 for the erection of a 1~story brick moving picture theater and store building at Forty-seventh St. and Moneta Ave, for John Borelli. The contract does not include decorating, lighting fixtures or gas heaters. Train & Williams, Archts., 226 Exchange Bldg."

The project was actually to be located at Moneta and 47th Place, not 47th Street. Joe adds: 

"The December 12, 1912, issue of Southwest Contractor & Manufacturer confirms the site of the theater designed by Train & Williams as the northwest corner of 47th Place and Moneta Avenue."

 

The theatre was already in trouble in June 1913 for letting kids under 14 in without an adult, a violation of a city ordinance. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this as well as many of the other ads and news items appearing on the page.  

 

 

Mr. Corenson wanted to sell half the business by the time of this November 1913 ad. The theatre was listed as the Palace in the 1914 and 1915 city directories. 

 

"Must Sell In 3 Days." It's unknown if this was still Mr. Corenson trying to get out or, perhaps, a new owner. The ad appeared in April 1915. 

 

 

"...everything furnished and up-to-date.." J.S. Borelli was looking for a tenant for the theatre in 1916. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this ad as well as a number of other items about the theatre for a May 2024 thread on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group. Although the theatre is long gone, the Young Apartments still survive on Grand just north of the 10.

 

The theatre was still listed as the Palace in the 1916 city directory. In the 1917 directory it had become the New Palace.

 

It was called the New Palace with a 4725 address in this 1918 column of ads from the L.A. Times. The 1918 city directory also used the 4725 address.

It was still the New Palace in the 1919 and 1921 city directories. In the 1922 edition it again used the 4725 address. In 1923 the New Palace was listed in ads celebrating "Paramount Week."

It was renamed the American Theatre sometime before 1933. Ken McIntyre notes that an October 22 ad that year had it as the American. 

 

 

The American heads this partial list of some southend theatres advertising in a neighborhood paper in December 1935. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the ad. 

 

A look at some of the seats in the back of the house in 1938. It's a photo by Joseph Carter of the Dick Whittington Studios that's in the USC Digital Library collection. It was needed for some sort of legal action against the theatre.

The 1942 city directory uses the 4727 address. Harry Vinnicof took over the theatre in 1943. Joe Vogel spotted this item in a May issue of Boxoffice: 

 

"LOS ANGELES-The Vinnicof Theater circuit has taken over the American Theater, 500-seat South Broadway showcase, from E.A. Thompson and K.C. Manny."

 

A November 1943 item announcing the reopening as part of the Vinnicof circuit after a redecoration. 

 

 

 

A 1943 Vinnicof circuit ad. 

 

A March 1944 listing in the Times unearthed by Ken McIntyre. 

 

 

A reopening in September 1945 after a fire.  

 

 

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this 1948 Vinnicof circuit ad. 

 

 

Looking for talent for stage shows in 1949. Thanks to Ken for locating the ad. 

 

 

And in this June 1949 article located by Ken McIntyre we learn about the exciting "Television Star-Hunt" show on the American's stage. 

 

Closing: Evidently 1950 was the end. And at that time it was down to weekend-only operation. 

 

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this March 30, 1950 listing in the Times. He notes that this was the last one he found. This was one of the items Ken included in the May 2024 post on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.

Status: It's been demolished. Joe Vogel notes that the strip mall now on the site dates from 1990.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the American. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for all his research. 

The USC Digital Library has a 1936 Dick Whittington shot looking north from 47th but we're a block north of the theatre.

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