"20th Century"

The backlot building used the exterior for the fictional Jaffe Theatre in New York City in the Howard Hawks comedy "20th Century" (Columbia, 1934). The poster case says: "Opening September 25th - Mr. Oscar Jaffe announces a new play - Personally supervised by Mr. Jaffe - With a typical Jaffe cast - To be presented at the Jaffe Theatre - The play 'The Heart of Kentucky' by E.A. Burns."

When we go inside, and for most of the first twenty minutes of the film, we're at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4400 Wilshire Blvd. John Barrymore plays Broadway producer Oscar Jaffe. Carole Lombard is lingerie model Mildred Plotka turned actress Lily Garland. Sitting on the table it's Charles Lane playing director Lee Jacobs, soon fired. Walter Connolly (center near the proscenium) plays Oliver, one of Jaffe's enablers. Roscoe Karns plays Owen, another Jaffe assistant. Edgar Kennedy is Oscar McGonigle, a detective hired by Jaffe.

The spiral staircase was brought in for the film. It seems to be Hollywood tradition that the stage of every theatre has to have a spiral staircase. We do get a shot with Barrymore sitting on it. Other than that, it's not used.

It's not going well with the amateur actress played by Lombard.  At the left we're looking upstage right. We never get a shot looking stage left as there's no interesting equipment over there.

Walter Connolly in the center mulling over the proceedings. 

Barrymore, hearing a report that things are going badly, comes up the center aisle to take charge. 

"No matter what happens here, I love you all."

Barrymore giving minute directions to his star-in-the-making. 

Connolly is sent to the balcony to judge the effectiveness of a scene. Barrymore stabs Lombard in the butt with a hatpin to get the scream he wants.

Opening night. She's now a star and the team does several more successful plays yet she chafes under his spying and suffocating personality. 

Barrymore rushes onstage in a panic after Lombard runs away to Hollywood. She makes several wildly successful pictures -- and develops a temprament much like his. He does flop after flop and is in danger of losing his theatre.

Most of the film is played on board the train called the 20th Century headed to New York when Barrymore, running from creditors in Chicago, finds himself in the compartment next to Lombard, returning to New York for a visit. The battle is on with his goal to get her signature on a new contract by any means possible.

Lombard is back at the Jaffe Theatre as rehearsal for a new show begins. 

He expresses unhappiness with her first scene and the film closes as he gets out the chalk to mark her blocking on the floor -- exactly as he did on her first day with him.

See the page about the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos.

On IMDb: "20th Century"

A lobby card appearing on IMDb.