"King Kong"

The Shrine Auditorium stands in for the interior of a New York theatre for the exhibition of the eponymous creature in "King Kong" (RKO, 1933). The film stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot. It was directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. 

 

Carroll Clark was the production designer. The cinematography was by Edward Linden, J.O. Taylor, Vernon L. Walker and Kenneth Peach.  Linwood G. Dunn was on the special effects team. Clifford Stine was a special effects cameraman and Bud Thackery did process photography. Byron L. Crabbe, Henri Hillinck and Mario Larrinaga were matte painters.

 

The setup:

A rare shot of the stage setup at the Shrine. Many thanks to Steve Gill for locating this. It was one of five production photos that were part of a Bonhams auction in 2009. The lot was titled "A group of  black and white set stills from 'King Kong'" and had RKO credit stamps on the back. 

We're looking at the bottom of the Shrine's asbestos curtain and the platform for Kong center stage. Note the two short false proscenium pieces they built. They would be extended upward in the finished film via matte work.  The Shrine's proscenium is 100' wide, way out beyond the range of this shot.

 

The same image as above but here Steve has inserted an image of three of the actors for a sense of scale. Thanks, Steve!  

Shots from the film's scene at the Shrine: 

Here the audience is getting seated. The proscenium we see the is not the Shrine's. The lower parts were pieces built for the shoot. The upper part of the proscenium is matte work.

Robert Armstrong on stage introducing the presentation.

A closer look at the Shrine's asbestos curtain. 

The curtain starting to rise. They're doing some stop motion stuff -- it's a bit jerky.

A shot from the film once the curtain is all the way out. Thanks to John Antonio for this screenshot, added as a comment to a Shrine photo posted on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page.

John notes that the filming at the Shrine is mentioned in several books on the making of the movie and adds: "It is also mentioned on the 'King Kong' DVD in the 'commentary' track. Also mentioned in a 'making of' special (on the DVD) by special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen who saw the film in its original release at Grauman's. Also all the principal photography was done in Los Angeles and only the exterior background shots were done in New York."

 

A promotional still with a bit of the bottom of the Shrine's asbestos at the top of the image. In the film the curtain flies all the way out with only Armstrong onstage. Fay Wray and her boyfriend come in later, and they stand centerstage in front of Kong's platform. It's unknown what that suspended black box is. We don't see that in the film. The image is one that appears on IMDb.

 

 

 

Newsmen coming onstage to see the beast. This proscenium is not the Shrines's. And also not the one seen in other shots.

 

Another promotional shot from the scene at the Shrine. Here the flashbulbs from the photographers have aggravated Kong and he breaks loose. The version of this shot that's in the film doesn't have the curtain at the top. See a three minute clip on YouTube. 

 

 

The terrified audience starting to flee. 

A look offstage right as the newsmen and stagehands run for the exits. This shot was not done at the Shrine Auditorium.

An interesting shot with a nice view of the Shrine logo on the seats.

Head to the Shrine Auditorium pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the theatre. It's a 1926 design by G. Albert Lansburgh situated near USC.

On IMDb: "King Kong"

Also starring Fay Wray, and shot on many of the same island sets that were used for "King Kong," is "The Most Dangerous Game," a September 1932 RKO release. It was directed by Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Joel McCrea co-stars.