"Standing Pat"

Silent film detective John Bengtson spotted "Garden Theatre" on a side wall in Echo Park in the sixteen minute film "Standing Pat" (FBO, 1928). He notes: "During this scene, traveling west along Sunset towards the fire station at Mohawk Bend visible to the left, you can see the east side of the Ramona Theater, known at the time as the Garden Theater."

The film stars the "Ton of Fun," the trio of obese comedians Frank 'Fatty' Alexander, Hilliard 'Fat' Karr, and 'Kewpie' Ross. Earl Montgomery directed. The cinematography was by Earle Fox Walker. The Garden Theatre shots appear during a wild ride about 12 minutes into the film. The guys are trying to deliver a piano but their truck is out of control.

Another frame as we get a bit closer to the Garden/Ramona Theatre. Thanks to John for the screenshot. He comments: "In these shots the former fire house appears at back to the left (the building with the narrow tower, used to hang up wet hoses to dry out)." 

See the page on the Ramona Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building. It's now a restaurant. 

 

 

 

A bit later we come to the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. Thanks to Marc Chevalier for spotting the Vista in the film and getting the screenshots. 

 

The marquee looks like it says "Four Acts of Standard Vaudeville" and "Helene Costello in 'In Old Kentucky.'" The film was a November 1927 release. 

 

We're headed up Hillhurst. Note that the lot to the west of the theatre was vacant at the time. Thanks, Marc!

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.

On IMDb:"Standing Pat"  The film can be seen on YouTube. 

Check out John Bengtson's latest explorations via the Silent Locations blog "Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)." His "Discovering Early Hollywood" books on Buster Keaton, "Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd are available through Amazon or your local bookseller.