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The Chinese in Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" (Warner Bros., 1974).

"Why Do Fools Fall In Love"

It's 1956 and singer Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers are touring with an Alan Freed Rock and Roll show in "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" (Warner Bros., 1998). Frankie, played by Larenz Tate, dies young of a drug overdose. In this Rashomon-like tale, three women each claim to be his widow, tell different stories about Frankie and, of course, each want his estate. 

Little Richard is in a courtroom narrating a flashback as we pan across the room and get this image. That's a bit of the courtroom paneling on the left. One look at the terrazzo tells you we're at the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. There's signage saying it's the Paramount Theatre. Freed did do lots of shows at the Brooklyn Paramount, as seen in "American Hot Wax" where the Wiltern was used as a stand-in. But here Richard's narration says that we're on the road somewhere.

Halle Berry plays Zola Taylor, a singer with the Platters. Later Frankie meets and marries Vivica A. Fox as Elizabeth, who may already be married. Lela Rochon plays the third wife, schoolteacher Emira Eagle. Also featured are Paul Mazursky as the manager/music publisher and Pamela Reed as the Judge. Ben Vereen is also in the mix. Gregory Nava directed. The cinematography was by Edward Lachman.

 

"Biggest Show of Stars For '56."

 

The crowd alongside the boxoffice.

 

The rush into the lobby. Note that lovely carpet the theatre had at the time. 

 

The inner lobby and snackbar. 

 

Onstage it's the Platters with Halle Berry playing the lead singer. 

 

 

 

The Platters coming off. Offstage right in front of the dimmerboard Larenz, playing Frankie, tells Halle how great she was and gives her a kiss. He gets slapped. But then she watches his performance. 

 

Frankie and the Teenagers wowing the crowd. 

 

 

 

A view from the 2nd balcony at the end of a number by the Teenagers. 

 

 

A later scene in the lobby of the Los Angeles Theatre. By this time Halle and Larenz's characters have become a couple. The theatre is being used as the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel. They're about to get on a bus for another tour.

See the pages about the Los Angeles Theatre on the L.A. Theatres site for a history of the 1931 vintage movie palace along with hundreds of photos. 

 

Another town, another show. Larenz, as Frankie, has been on and off drugs. We're in Philadelphia and Paul Mazursky has given him another chance. But he hasn't shown up yet for this show.  

 

 

 

Getting his fix under the fire escapes. 

 

A shot into the auditorium reveals that we're onstage at the State Theatre, 7th and Broadway. 

 

Paul fretting backstage about Frankie's whereabouts. Behind the rigging it's Vivica A. Fox as Elizabeth, with Frankie at the time. 

 

He shows up and goes on but then collapses.

See the pages about the State Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about the history along with many photos.  

 

Vivicas's character becomes a hooker to support Frankie and his drug habit. For this New York shot they used the 500 block of Broadway. Check out the pages about the Arcade, Cameo and Roxie theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information and photos inside and out.  

 

 

Years later, swearing he's clean, Larenz's character gets told by Paul Mazursky "You're a junkie. That's why you're not playing the Orpheum tonight." Standing in for a mythical New York Orpheum it's the one in Los Angeles at 842 S. Broadway.

 

 

 

Larenz turns up to see the show. The Platters have dumped Halle Berry's character, Zola, but she now has a solo career.

 

The obligatory Orpheum ceiling shot. 

 

 

An enthusiastic audience for Halle's character.

 

 

 

A look into the house while Halle is onstage. 

 

The view from the top as Little Richard and his piano come onstage on a wagon. Larenz, as Frankie, comes out despondent and looks for a fix. Within a week he's dead of an overdose. Thanks to Dean Lent for a nudge about the theatres appearing in the film -- he was on the camera crew for the shoot at the Orpheum.

See the pages about the Orpheum Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1926 vintage vaudeville house.  

On IMDb: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"

"Tales of Ordinary Madness"

A view east on Hollywood Blvd. toward the Century Theatre from "Tales of Ordinary Madness" (Fred Baker Films, 1983). Vermont Ave. is another seven blocks down the street. The Century was at 5115 Hollywood Blvd. 

A poet played by Ben Gazzara gets sober enough to hop a bus to Los Angeles where he descends into a swirl of drugs and sexual escapades. It's a film by Marco Ferreri that had the title "Storie di ordinaria follia" for its initial theatrical release in Italy in 1981. The writing is credited to Sergio Amidei, Charles Bukowski and Mr. Ferreri. Also featured in the cast are Ornella Muti, Susan Tyrell, Tanya Lopert, Roy Brocksmith and Katya Berger. The cinematography was by Tonino Delli Colli.

Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre and getting the screenshot. 

See the page about the Century Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It had opened in 1922 as Hunley's Theatre. 

A review on IMDb from FertileCelluloid:

"Masterful vision of a man enslaved by sexual and alcoholic gluttony -- Spectacularly sleazy, beautiful, boisterous and sexy, this is the real Bukowski deal, a booze-fueled erotic odyssey by the adventurous Ferreri with the perfectly cast Ben Gazzara as Charles Serking (Bukowski).

"Ornella Muti, as Serking's sexual muse, is Venus incarnate and turns in a powerhouse performance as Cass, an emotionally damaged whore with a penchant for pain. The scenes of Gazzara swaggering in and out of LA's fleapit bars, apartments and hotel rooms convey a filthy, delirious ambiance that is vividly captured by Tonino Delli Colli's superb cinematography and Dante Ferretti's exquisitely oily production design. This is such an amazing looking film with a thick, steamy, anything-goes atmosphere of lust-ridden anarchy.

"Much grittier than the accomplished 'Barfly' and more watchable than 'Love Is A Dog From Hell,' the entire affair has an emotional, raw resonance that slavishly captures the Bukowski sensibility and remains consistently perverse in its singular vision of a man enslaved by alcoholic and sexual gluttony. Phillipe Sarde's score is moody and rich, as is Gazzara's breathy voice-over. A masterpiece."

On IMDb: "Tales of Ordinary Madness"

"Night Patrol"

During one of the many misguided adventures of the under-qualified police officers Pat Paulson and Murray Langston in "Night Patrol" (New World Pictures, 1984) we get this quick view north toward the Globe Theatre, 744 S. Broadway. 

 

Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre and getting the screenshot. The film also features Billy Barty, Linda Blair, Jaye P. Morgan, Jack Riley, Lori Sutton, Pat Morita and Andrew Dice Clay. Jackie Kong tried to direct. The cinematography was by Hanania Baer and Jürg V. Walther.

See the pages about the Globe Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1913 vintage legit house that later went to movies. At the time of the shoot for this film it was running Spanish language product. It closed as a film house in 1986.

On IMDb: "Night Patrol"

'Candy"

Although we're supposedly in something resembling New York, 80 minutes into "Candy" (Cinerama Releasing, 1968) there's a shot of the red lights of a police car approaching the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway.  The theatre was running "Counterpoint," a 1967 release with Charlton Heston and Maximilian Schell, along with "Grand Slam," starring Janet Leigh and Klaus Kinski. 

Buck Henry wrote the screenplay based on the novel by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg. Ewa Aulin stars as the title character. Also featured are Richard Burton, Charles Aznavour, Marlon Brando, James Coburn, John Huston, Walter Matthau, Ringo Starr, Elsa Martinelli and Anita Pallenberg. Christian Marquand directed. The cinematography was by Giuseppe Rotunno. 

 

A bit of the Palace marquee is then seen as the the car comes back north on Broadway. Candy is in the front seat with policemen played by Joey Forman and Fabian Dean. 

 

See the pages about the Palace Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It opened in 1911 as the Orpheum.  

 

 

As they drive up Broadway, the two guys get increasingly excited by Candy's presence. Here we're driving by the yellow marquee of the Cameo Theatre, 528 S. Broadway.   

Head to the Cameo Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1910 vintage film house. It opened as Clune's Broadway.  

 

As they go by the Broadway Theatre, 428 S. Broadway, things get erratic as the boys in blue get distracted by the prospect of frisking their suspect. They lose control of the car and crash as we cut to a street shot looking more like New York. The scene ends in an interior studio set as the car comes through the front of a building.  

See the page on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the poor Broadway Theatre. It opened in 1925 as a conversion from retail space. It's now been converted back.

On IMdb: "Candy"

"Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot"

Although it's set in Portland, Joaquin Phoenix is onstage in a wheelchair at the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena at the beginning of Gus Van Sant's film "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot" (Amazon, 2018). 

He's playing John Callahan, paralyzed in a car accident, who overcomes a drinking problem and becomes a cartoonist. We see this shot several more times in the film. Also featured are Rooney Mara, Jonah Hill, Jack Black and Beth Ditto. The cinematography was by Christopher Blauvelt. 

 

 

 

A look toward the stage. 

 

Out into the house. Like the first shot, we come back to this view several times.

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Rialto Theatre for lots of history and many photos. It's a 1925 design by Lewis A. Smith at 1023 Fair Oaks Ave. Since 2017 it has been used as a church.  

On IMDb: "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot"

"Salsa"

Rodney Harvey and Magali Alvarado stop for an ice cream in "Salsa" (Golan-Globus/Cannon, 1988).  In the background it's the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Note the big crowd for "Me and My Girl" starring Tim Curry. The production played from January 12 until March 5.

It's an East LA story of a car mechanic trying to win a dance competition amid romantic complications for himself as well as an entanglement between his little sister and best friend.  Also featured in the film are Draco Rosa, Miranda Garrison, Moon Orona, Angela Alvarado and Loyda Ramos. Boaz Davidson directed, Kenny Ortega did the choreography. The cinematography was by David Gurfinkel. 

She only takes a moment to get the cones but the crowd at the theatre has all gone inside. 

See the pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres website for a history of this 1930 vintage showplace along with hundreds of photos.

 

Later many of the gang go to the movies at the Westlake Theatre, 638 S. Alvarado St. 

 

Draco Rosa and Rodney Harvey just inside the front doors.

 

Looking toward the front doors from behind the snackbar.

See the pages about the Westlake Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. The building is still around but now used as a swapmeet. 

On IMdb: "Salsa"

"Showdown at the Grand"

The Warner Grand in San Pedro has a major part in Orson Oblowitz's film "Showdown at the Grand" (Shout! Studios, 2023). It's about a theatre owner trying to save his vintage movie palace from the hands of greedy developers. "Some folks they'll rob you with six-shooters, and others with a fountain pen."

The film stars Terrence Howard, Dolph Lundgren, Amanda Righetti, John Savage and Piper Curda. Christian de Gallegos was the producer. The cinematography was by Noah Rosenthal, filmed in obloVision. 

 

 

 

Piper Curda, the friendly ticket taker. As theatre owner Terrence Howard says: "Here at the Warner Grand we operate three hundred and sixty-five days a year. We got a little somethin' for everybody..."

 

 

Terrence up in the Warner's booth at one of the Norelcos. These are first-generation TODD-AO machines with two motors, one for 30 frames per second, one for 24. That's the 30 fps motor we see at the bottom of the image.  

 

 

Watching the film go through machine #1. Later in the film we get a fight scene in the booth. 

 

 

Terrence in the booth. Well, a booth anyway. That's not one of the Warner's Norelcos in this shot.

 

 

 

And we also get shots like this one of Terrence watching a film projected from a booth on the main floor, a set piece added for the film.

 

 

A personal appearance by Dolph Lundgren on the Warner's stage.

 

He's going to show the audience that he can still kick.

 

Terrence in the balcony lobby asking Dolph for help in defending the theatre: "You got real combat training, right?"

 

 

Terrence out in front. 

 

The developer's thugs casing the theatre.  

 

 

In the auditorium. 

 

Later mayhem in the balcony lobby. 

 

A shootout at the snackbar. 

 

 

A look toward the Warner's vertical. 

 

Terrence defending his property by any means necessary: "Stay away from my friends, my theater, and my neighborhood." Some of the images seen here are from the film's trailer. Others were furnished by the director. Thanks, Orson!

See the Warner Grand pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos.

On IMDb: "Showdown at the Grand"   The trailer is on YouTube.