Cinemaland / Human Resources LA

1021 N. Broadway / 410 Cottage Home St. Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA 90012  | map |

Opened: This building on the southwest corner of Broadway and Cottage Home St. in Chinatown dates from 1962. It got a remodel in 1964, perhaps that was the addition for the theatre. The photo by @p___staff is from a July 2026 HRLA Instagram post. 

It's a movie theatre again, operated by HRLA -- Human Resources LA. They're doing a summer 2026 season of documentaries, experimental films, a few Hollywood oldies. Visit www.h-r.la/ and instagram.com/humanresourcesla 

In 1969 it was called Cinema East. In the 70s and 80s it was active as a home for films from Hong Kong, especially Golden Harvest product. The theatre was also known as the Gum (Kim) Go Theatre, the Pagoda Cinema and the Royal Pagoda Theatre.

 

It's the Pagoda Cinema in this 1984 ad for the Chinese language houses in town that appeared in the Mandarine Commercial News. See the pages for the Sing Lee/King Hing, Kuo-Hwa/San Gabriel, Monterey, Kim Sing and Garfield theaters. Thanks to Ron Strong for sharing the ad. Visit his Bijou Memories site for many articles about the theatres in the area he once attended.

Closing: Sometime prior to 2007. The the auditorium was converted into a garment manufacturing operation.

Status: In 2013 the space was remodeled into a venue for Human Resources, an art gallery and exhibition space. Thanks to Haley Stoessl for the data. They're using an address of 410 Cottage Home St. www.h-r.la/ | instagram.com/humanresourcesla | 

 

HRLA still has the space and in 2026 are doing a summer film series. 

 

 

Interior views:  

A booth view taken in early 2013 by Warren Hong as the remodeling process was nearing completion. Thanks to Ron Strong for locating the photo.

 

A look back toward the booth in April 2014. It's a photo from Katie Grinnan taken at her Astrology Orchestra show at Human Resources. Thanks to Ron Strong for locating the photo.  

 

 

 

A look to the screen end of the space in 2026. It's from an HRLA Instagram post about a July screening of experimental videos by Tan Hoang.  

 

 Before an August 2026 screening. Thanks to Conor Holt for sharing this photo. 

 

 The back of the house before an August 2026 screening. Thanks to Conor Holt for the photo. 

 

 

More exterior views:

 

1980s - This photo of the Cinemaland entrance on Cottage Home is by Gary Graver, a cinematographer who took many photos dying single-screen theatres. Wikipedia has an article about him. Compilations of his photos can be seen on YouTube in "Second Run - part 1" and "Second Run - part 2." Thanks to Sean Graver for allowing use the photo.

 

 

2014 - The theatre entrance had been on the right, up Cottage Home St. Note the Cinemaland vertical sign still on the building. Image: Google Maps

2014 - Looking south toward Broadway with a look at the entrance and a bit of the auditorium's side wall. Image: Google Maps 

 

2021 - No sign of any life on this visit in May. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

 

 

2025 - Alas, nothing playing this afternoon in January. Photo: Bill Counter

 

 

2026 - Thanks to Conor Holt for sharing this photo, taken the evening of an event in August that was part of the Human Resources LA summer film series.    

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Cinemaland.

| back to top | North of Downtown and East L.A. | Downtown theatres | Westside | Hollywood | Westwood and Brentwood | South, South Central and Southeast theatres | Along the Coast | [more] Los Angeles Movie Palaces | Los Angeles theatres - the main alphabetical list | Los Angeles theatres - list by address | theatre history resources | film and theatre tech resources | theatres in movies | LA Theatres on facebook | contact info | welcome and site navigation guide |