Historic theaters of California

Many old theaters in California were originally built for live theater events. As the technology of moving pictures was commercialized many theaters were fitted with a projection booth and screen. In the modernist period between 1950 and 1970 many of these theaters were updated, their original facade hidden behind sheet rock and 2x4s. In the 1990's declining movie theater attendance caused the industry to re-examine their value proposition to their customers. Realizing that home theaters offered another option, movie houses recognized that they were not just selling a ticket to "a movie", but a ticket to "a theater." This led to the renovation of many old theaters. Often when the dry wall was removed the restorers found the original stucco and plaster molders intact with their original paint still bright and lively. Today old theaters have often led the revitalization of decaying urban centers.

Hollywood

Grauman's Chinese Theater

6925 Hollywood Boulevard

A rather gaudy theater with a highly stylized Chinese motif. Originally built for $2M The chief architect was Raymond Kennedy. Keye Luke painted many of the interior murals. The ceiling contains over 3,000 light bulbs in different colors; in the early days a light show proceeded each film. The Acadamy Awards were held here 1943-45. The cement in front of the theater holds the impressions of movie stars hands, feet, and shoes.

The first film shown at Grauman's Chinese in 1926 was The King of Kings. Originally Grauman staged a live prologue before each film. The theater can be seen in several movies including: A Star Is Born, Blazing Saddles, Twins, and Hollywood Homicide.

El Capitan

6834 Hollywood Boulevard

Built in 1926 for live theater, the El Capitan is done in a beautiful, elaborate Spanish Revival design by the architects Morgan, Walls, and Clements. In 1941 Hearst-ian politics made it impossible for RKO studios to find a movie theater willing to show the new film Citizen Kane. Instead, RKO rented the El Capitan and installed the equipment necessary to show the film. At the end of the movie run RKO left the equipment behind and the El Capitan began its life as a sometimes movie theater.

The El Capitan was in great distress until restored by the Disney company in 1989. At first Disney planned to modernize the interior and split the grand theater in two. Public outcry from historic preservation groups delayed the modernization. At one point Michael Eisner toured the theater. Upon seeing the beautiful exposed original interior he reportedly said, "restore it." That led to a $7M restoration and the installation of a Wurlitzer pipe organ taken from the San Francisco Fox theater. It has been reported that when The Lion King opened, the El Capitan grossed $250,000 on the first weekend.

The renovation of the El Capitan led to the restoration of other Hollywood theaters and the revitalization of Hollywood boulevard.