Silent Movie Theatre

The Silent Movie Theatre was established by John & Dorothy Hampton in 1942, roughly 15 years after the silent movie era ended. The Hamptons wanted to use their private collection of silent comedies and movies to raise the spirits of those struggling through the WWII years.

Located on Fairfax Ave a few blocks north of the Farmers Market, the theatre was built by the Hamptons as an intimate single screen theatre designed in Art Deco style. John Hampton ran the projection while his wife Dorothy tore tickets and sold concessions. They lived in an apartment above the theatre.

Despite the establishment of “talkies” years earlier, the Silent Movie Theatre was popular with those wanting to see classic silent movies on a big screen, and the Hamptons continued operating the theatre until 1980. Over a period of nearly 40 years they were responsible for the restoration and screening of countless silent movies. A case in point was John Hampton’s high quality restoration of “The Phantom Of The Opera” (1925 – Universal Pictures), where he painstakingly created a “new” print of the movie spliced together from the best sections of 5 separate prints he had acquired over the years.

In 1991 the theatre, which had fallen into disrepair, was purchased and renovated by Hampton family friend Lawrence Austin. Austin added a live organist and operated the theatre as the only silent movie theatre in the US, if not the world, until well into the 1990s. Tragedy struck in 1997 when Austin was shot and killed in the theatre’s lobby in an apparent robbery attempt. Police later arrested Austin’s longtime business partner for hiring the gunman to kill Austin so that he could gain the inheritance.

Silent film enthusiast Charlie Lustman purchased the theatre and reopened it in 1999, adding a larger screen, new projection booth and floors, and most notably an Art Deco marquee on the outside of the building. Additionally, previously closed spaces such as the upstairs apartment were repurposed as an art gallery and café. As the years passed silent movie screenings reduced in frequency with the theatre focusing on special events rentals and movie release screenings to bring in the money. In 2006 Lustman sold the theatre to brothers Dan and Sammy Harkham, and Hadrian Belove, who created the non-profit body “The Cinefamily” in 2007 to run operations at the theatre. The Cinefamily continued investment by adding a modern sound system and improved seating.

The Cinefamily averaged 14 shows per week, many of which were enhanced with special guests, live music, dance parties and special events, and was notable for programming first-run features from boutique distributors in addition to wide-ranging retrospective programming. Silent movies continued to be screened at the theatre under the Cinefamily’s “The Silent Treatment” program, with screenings running at least monthly. Seating capacity has varied over the years and currently stands at 224.

The Silent Movie Theatre is located at 611 N. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048.