News

The latest from the LAHTF

Annual Membership Meeting

Annual Membership Meeting

We are excited to announce that our 2023 Annual Membership Meeting will be held at 11:30am on Saturday, February 25.

A huge thank you to the @gardenacinema and Kim family for kindly hosting us. We can’t wait and hope you’ll save the date!

Date: 25th February 2023. Time 11:30am PT. Location: 14948 Crenshaw Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249. Meeting is open to all however only members can vote on polls.

We will be live-streaming the event on Zoom, which you can pre-register for here. To attend the meeting in person, please pre-register here.

ALL ABOUT the El Capitan Theatre

ALL ABOUT the El Capitan Theatre

Our most recent ALL ABOUT event took place at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, in early November.

Members and supporters went behind-the-scenes, from the stage basement to the followspot booth way up at the back of the auditorium, and everywhere in between.

This 1926 theatre is rich in Hollywood movie history and our friends at Disney and the El Capitan gave us an all-access pass to much of the theatre, along with a fantastic presentation on the Wurlitzer organ with a 1-to-1 Q+A with Rob Richards, the El Capitan's organist since 1999.

Be sure to check out LAHTF's membership and supporter options for how you can take part in forthcoming events like this!

L.A. Theatres At Risk 2022

L.A. Theatres At Risk 2022

At a special virtual event on 27th August 2022, LAHTF announced its "Theatres at Risk" for 2022.

If you weren't able to attend our event at the time, click here to watch our 35-minute presentation Los Angeles Theatres at Risk 2022, on YouTube.

The presentation introduces viewers to LAHTF's risk rating process, developed so that all theatres are assessed on the same non-subjective criteria. We then dive into the Top 11 Theatres at Risk for 2022, and conclude with information on how you can help LAHTF keep a watchful eye on the historic theatres of Los Angeles County.

Advocacy

(most recent updates first)

Rialto Theatre, South Pasadena Updated: March 2021 Exterior improvement works have taken place at the theatre; the tenant

Rialto Theatre, South Pasadena

Updated: March 2021

Exterior improvement works have taken place at the theatre; the tenant's proposals for their rehabilitation plans inside the theatre appear to be on hold.

Click here for more info.

Egyptian Theatre Updated: 7th January 2021 Netflix

Egyptian Theatre

Updated: 7th January 2021

Netflix's plans for the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood were presented to the City of Los Angeles' Cultural Heritage Commission in mid-January.

Click here for more info.

Huntington Park Warner Updated: 1st January 2021 The Huntington Park Warner is currently for sale at $12 million, including the 20 year lease on the building. Click here for more info.

Huntington Park Warner

Updated: 1st January 2021

The Huntington Park Warner is currently for sale at $12 million, including the 20 year lease on the building.

Click here for more info.

Eagle Theatre, Eagle Rock Updated: 9th December 2020 Vidiots, new long-term lessee of the Eagle Theatre in Eagle Rock, succeed in having onerous conditions removed from their Conditional Use Permit. Click here for the latest news.

Eagle Theatre, Eagle Rock

Updated: 9th December 2020

Vidiots, new long-term lessee of the Eagle Theatre in Eagle Rock, succeed in having onerous conditions removed from their Conditional Use Permit.

Click here for the latest news.

Earl Carroll Theatre Updated: 18th September 2020 Developer Essex Property Trust presented their plans for the façade restoration of the theatre to the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission today. Click here to see a copy of the presentation and read LAHTF

Earl Carroll Theatre

Updated: 18th September 2020

Developer Essex Property Trust presented their plans for the façade restoration of the theatre to the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission today. Click here to see a copy of the presentation and read LAHTF's statement on it.

San Gabriel Mission Playhouse Updated: 19th August 2020 The City of San Gabriel is considering several options for the future of the Mission Playhouse, including full closure. Click here for more info.

San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

Updated: 19th August 2020

The City of San Gabriel is considering several options for the future of the Mission Playhouse, including full closure.

Click here for more info.

Tower Theatre Updated: 15th August 2020 After an absence of just short of 50 years, we

Tower Theatre

Updated: 15th August 2020

After an absence of just short of 50 years, we're delighted to share the news that a replica tower cap has been fitted to the top of the clock tower!

Click here for more info.

Grand Theater Updated: August 2020 The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) determined in August that reuse of the theatre is infeasible and inconsistent with LACCD

Grand Theater

Updated: August 2020

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) determined in August that reuse of the theatre is infeasible and inconsistent with LACCD's programming and educational goals for the campus, and is proposing that the theatre building be demolished.

Click here for more info.

Crest Westwood Theatre Updated: 26th June 2020 In late June it came to LAHTF

Crest Westwood Theatre

Updated: 26th June 2020

In late June it came to LAHTF's attention that urban explorers had gained access to Crest Theatre. Prompt communication by ourselves with UCLA ensured that the property is now once again secure.

Click here to continue reading.

Westlake Theatre Updated: June 2020 Owners of the Westlake Theatre have put the building up for sale or lease again, as part of a listing package with two other properties. Click here for more info.

Westlake Theatre

Updated: June 2020

Owners of the Westlake Theatre have put the building up for sale or lease again, as part of a listing package with two other properties.

Click here for more info.

Avalon Theatre, Catalina Island Updated: March 2020 Following the closure of the Avalon Theatre as a first-run movie house at the start of 2020, and prior to the arrival of the novel coronavirus, the Catalina Island Company and the City of Avalon were in negotiations regarding a City-run monthly community movie night.Click here to continue reading.

Avalon Theatre, Catalina Island

Updated: March 2020

Following the closure of the Avalon Theatre as a first-run movie house at the start of 2020, and prior to the arrival of the novel coronavirus, the Catalina Island Company and the City of Avalon were in negotiations regarding a City-run monthly community movie night.

Click here to continue reading.

Fox Theatre, Venice Updated: September 2019 The Fox Venice, long underutilized as a “swap meet”, was sold about a year ago, and a proposal to tear down all but the facade and build a Trader Joes on the location was presented to the city Planning Dept in January 2019. [Photo courtesy Bill Counter] Click here for more info.

Fox Theatre, Venice

Updated: September 2019

The Fox Venice, long underutilized as a “swap meet”, was sold about a year ago, and a proposal to tear down all but the facade and build a Trader Joes on the location was presented to the city Planning Dept in January 2019. [Photo courtesy Bill Counter]

Click here for more info.

Million Dollar Theatre Updated: 2nd July 2019 The Million Dollar Theatre was granted Historic-Cultural Monument status by the City Council on 2nd July. At the June 8th Last Remaining Seats screening it was announced that CoBird is no longer the tenant of the Million Dollar Theatre. Click here for more info.

Million Dollar Theatre

Updated: 2nd July 2019

The Million Dollar Theatre was granted Historic-Cultural Monument status by the City Council on 2nd July.

At the June 8th Last Remaining Seats screening it was announced that CoBird is no longer the tenant of the Million Dollar Theatre.

Click here for more info.

Star Theater, La Puente Updated: 17th June 2019 S. Charles Lee’s one-of-a-kind Star Theater was demolished this morning to make way for 22 condos. LAHTF is working behind the scenes to try to save the iconic neon Star sign, but the theatre is gone. Click here for more info.

Star Theater, La Puente

Updated: 17th June 2019

S. Charles Lee’s one-of-a-kind Star Theater was demolished this morning to make way for 22 condos.

LAHTF is working behind the scenes to try to save the iconic neon Star sign, but the theatre is gone. Click here for more info.

York Theatre, Highland Park Updated: February 2019 The former York Theatre in Highland Park, a local movie theatre built in the 1920s, recently became home to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Their first public shows start in July 2019! Click here for more info.

York Theatre, Highland Park

Updated: February 2019

The former York Theatre in Highland Park, a local movie theatre built in the 1920s, recently became home to the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Their first public shows start in July 2019!

Click here for more info.

Roxie, Cameo, and Arcade Theatres Updated: October 2018 The youngest and oldest historic theatres on Broadway are getting some much needed attention. The owners of the Roxie (November 1931), Cameo (October 1910), and Arcade (September 1910) have pulled building permits to replace and repair the roof areas of all three theatres. Over the years there have been multiple roof leaks, and no further building improvements are likely to take place until the leaks have been fixed, so this is good news for these three underutilized theatres. Click here fore more info.

Roxie, Cameo, and Arcade Theatres

Updated: October 2018

The youngest and oldest historic theatres on Broadway are getting some much needed attention. The owners of the Roxie (November 1931), Cameo (October 1910), and Arcade (September 1910) have pulled building permits to replace and repair the roof areas of all three theatres. Over the years there have been multiple roof leaks, and no further building improvements are likely to take place until the leaks have been fixed, so this is good news for these three underutilized theatres. Click here fore more info.

State Theatre Updated: August 2018 The theatre has been vacant after Cathedral Of Faith (Catedral de la Fe), long term tenants, moved out in early 2018. LAHTF is working with the owners of the State Theatre to find a theatrical tenant for the theatre For more info click here.

State Theatre

Updated: August 2018

The theatre has been vacant after Cathedral Of Faith (Catedral de la Fe), long term tenants, moved out in early 2018. LAHTF is working with the owners of the State Theatre to find a theatrical tenant for the theatre

For more info click here.

Hollywood Warner Theatre Updated: Fall 2017 There has been a lot of attention circling the Hollywood Warner Theatre (Hollywood Pacific), so we would like to take a few minutes to report the current status. After a year of many productive meetings, Robertson Properties agreed to fund a neutral third-party feasibility study, with the reactivation of the theatre as the priority. This agreement was a big step forward from the owner’s starting point, that the theatre had to be demolished. Click here to continue reading.

Hollywood Warner Theatre

Updated: Fall 2017

There has been a lot of attention circling the Hollywood Warner Theatre (Hollywood Pacific), so we would like to take a few minutes to report the current status. After a year of many productive meetings, Robertson Properties agreed to fund a neutral third-party feasibility study, with the reactivation of the theatre as the priority. This agreement was a big step forward from the owner’s starting point, that the theatre had to be demolished. Click here to continue reading.

Fox Inglewood Theatre Updated: September 2017 When opened in 1949 The Fox Inglewood Theatre, at 1,166 seats, was one of the largest theatres build in South L.A. The theatre entertained a number of generations of City residents before welcoming its last movie patron in 1984. Since then, the fate of the Fox Inglewood has been uncertain. Photo by Matt Lambros. Click here for more info.

Fox Inglewood Theatre

Updated: September 2017

When opened in 1949 The Fox Inglewood Theatre, at 1,166 seats, was one of the largest theatres build in South L.A. The theatre entertained a number of generations of City residents before welcoming its last movie patron in 1984. Since then, the fate of the Fox Inglewood has been uncertain. Photo by Matt Lambros. Click here for more info.

Who We Are

Our Mission

To protect, preserve, restore and sustain the operation of historic theatres through advocacy and activism.

Donate

Your tax deductible donations help support our advocacy efforts.


DONATE

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a non-profit, tax exempt membership and volunteer-powered organization.

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a spirited organization pursuing excellence and innovation in the creation of unique arts and entertainment destinations that bring together commercial and non-profit historic theatre enterprises. LAHTF aims to present a thoughtfully curated variety of quality film and performing arts events, advance arts education, and support communities interested in reviving historic theatres as catalysts for the arts, entertainment, new businesses, and residential living. Successful historic theatre projects build community and strengthen economic development and vitality.

Historic theatres are the bricks and mortar legacies of the visionary showmen who built them. Movie palaces, vaudeville houses, legit stages, all showcase something uniquely American, an architectural daring that mixed many styles into an improbably unified whole – a dream palace. The architecture of fantasy transformed audiences, it created an immersive experience that inspired and entertained, transported them from the cares of the day to a magical land where troubles disappear and dreams come true. Within its walls, each historic theatre spans generations of cultural, social and popular American entertainment. In these auditoriums, from these stages and screens, minds were opened, hearts were touched, romances bloomed and lives were changed. Historic theatres are repositories of memories and meaning. LAHTF protects and preserves the few remaining theatres constructed during the first half of the 20th Century. We are determined to ensure that these extraordinary theatres will endure and entertain for generations to come. Join with us. Your contributions and participation makes the LAHTF possible.

The LAHTF Board of Directors includes historians, preservationists, designers, performers, and community stakeholders. Click the button below to learn more about the individuals who form the current Board of Directors and Leadership of LAHTF.

Meet The Team

 

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Our Tax ID is 95-4164089.

Theatres

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Support the LAHTF

Volunteer

The strength of LAHTF is founded on our volunteer base. There are so many ways to help, from an hour or two a week at home, doing research on a favorite theatre, to becoming an usher or an experienced docent leading theatre tours during our ALL ABOUT Tours. All are welcome.  We will provide all the necessary training and information,  and best of all, you get to work with great people in beautiful historic theatres!

Whether you have a special skill to offer or just want to help but don't know what to do,  please contact us. Click the link below to send us an email.

Volunteer

Be a Member

We offer 5 Membership levels, from the most affordable $35 Basic and the $60 Household level for a family as large as 6, up to the Artist level ($100-$499). The Producer level includes all contribution levels above $500.  Each level offers an increased variety of Member Benefits and all include discounts on LAHTF events and merchandise.   Members who join at $1000 or more are entered into the exclusive Marquee Club, which includes invitations to private functions for Club members only. Click the botton to join online or mail a check to "Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation"   PO BOX 79172,  Los Angeles, California 90079

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