"At Long Last Love"

The auditorium of the Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, appears in a scene in Peter Bogdanovich's "At Long Last Love" (20th Century Fox, 1975). Burt Reynolds, Cybil Shepard and Duilio Del Prete are supposedly at a New York theatre to see Madeline Kahn in a Cole Porter show called "Once Upon a Time." The exterior shot of the theatre that we see a bit earlier was done on a studio backlot.

Burt trying to get around John Hillerman with Cybil and Duilio at the right. 

The Orpheum interior is a Hollywood favorite. If there's a theatre needed on the road anywhere in a musical bio-pic, or other period piece, the Orpheum usually shows up. See the Los Angeles Theatres pages about the Orpheum Theatre for a history of this 1926 vintage vaudeville house along with several hundred photos.

Backstage to see Madeline. But it's not at the Orpheum. A moment later we even get a shot of the obligatory spiral staircase, always a sign it's a set and not a real theatre. The Orpheum doesn't have one. And the set they're using has dressing rooms along the upstage wall, also not something you'll find at the Orpheum.

Later in the film our four leads are out to see a movie at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Here Duilio and Madeline are finding time for a little smooch.

Duilio has headed to the men's room and Burt follows. Note the drapes, faux column capitol and plant. At the time of the shooting the seating capacity had been reduced by draping off part of the rear of the house and adding a bit of sculpture at the top of the aisles.

A nice shot of the lobby with the two headed to the men's room. 

Burt in the lobby before heading down the stairs. 

On the right side of the stairs, heading into the men's room for a little fight with Duilio. They both get messed up a bit and then head back in to their dates. Many thanks to Jonathan Raines for the fine screenshots.

See the pages about the Pantages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos. This deco fantasia opened in 1930 and now is the home of touring Broadway musicals.

On IMDb: "At Long Last Love"