"Chinatown"

The signage of the King Hing Theatre, 649 N. Spring St. in Chinatown, is seen on the far right in this shot as Jack Nicholson drives south on Spring St. near the end of Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" (Paramount, 1974). That's Faye Dunaway's car that they spot on the left.

John Huston approaches for a chat with the police detective played by Perry Lopez. The King Hing vertical is seen in the distance in the center of the image.

The beginning of the final shot looking south on Spring from Ord St. John Alonzo was the cinematographer.

Up in the air with the King Hing in the distance just before the credits roll. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Jordan Lage for spotting the theatre in the film. 

See the page about the King Hing Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about the theatre. It opened around 1963, one of three theatres in Chinatown.

Darrell Kunitomi comments:

"Me and pals walked up the short hill and the scene was pretty amazing -- North Spring was turned into the past: vintage cars, signs, extras in period dress. We stood around for a while and watched the proceedings. (I wonder if Nicholson was in the bar behind us.) I asked a crew guy, hey, what are you filming? Guy replied, 'Chinatown.' I said, well of course. A year later the movie came out, then I knew. Such a great movie, such fake LA history."

On IMDb: "Chinatown"