"Save The Tiger"

We get the bottom half of the vertical of "Loew's" (as the El Capitan was known then) in this hazy night view as Jack Lemmon heads east on Hollywood Blvd. in John Avildson and Steve Shagan's "Save The Tiger" (Paramount, 1973). See the El Capitan pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the theatre.

A look north on Hill St. as Jack Lemmon leaves a cab to head into the Fabulous Mayan. His business is in trouble and he and his partner Jack Gilford are there to consult with a gentleman in the balcony on a plan to set a fire in order to collect the insurance money.

A shot giving us a view of the south readerboard.

The area south of the entrance. Claudia Mullins notes that the guy sitting at the table was Biff Elliot. 

A discussion outside the Mayan with Jack Lemmon and Jack Gilford. Christopher Helbling comments:

 

"I am recollecting 'Save the Tiger.' They go to the Mayan to meet an arsonist. It has devolved into a porno theatre. Jack Gilford says 'I saw "Quo Vadis' here.'  Only saw that film in 1973, but his quote stuck with me 53 years later. It summed up the theme of the film - loss of hope, loss of dreams, a future facing extinction. As seen when Jack Lemmon is whispering all the old names in the girl's ear."

 

"Quo Vadis" had its L.A. premiere at the Four Star Theatre on Wilshire in November 1951. For its downtown run it wasn't at the Mayan but rather at the United Artists a few blocks east.  

Buying a ticket. She tells him that "Denmark Speaks" has been playing there sixteen weeks. This scene at the boxoffice appears in Christian Marclay's 24 hour film "The Clock" (2010). 

Heading into the lobby.

A look at the theatre's balcony level lobby.

A detail shot for the theatre architecture fans.

Gilford and Lemmon enter the balcony to confer with their arsonist.

Another balcony view.

See the pages about the Mayan Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos of the 1927 vintage former legit house. The theatre, at 1038 S. Hill St., is now thriving as a music club.

On IMDb: "Save The Tiger"