"Licorice Pizza"

The exterior and lobby of North Hollywood's El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., make an appearance in the Paul Thomas Anderson's feature that was going by the title "Soggy Bottom" during production. They redecorated the Skouras-style boxoffice in 70s fashion but then hid it from prying eyes before the shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - October 31, 2020

 

A September 10, 2021 article on the site The Film Stage revealed that the chosen title is "Licorice Pizza." Thanks to Jonathan Raines for spotting the story. MGM is planning a few engagements over Thanksgiving with a wider realease at Christmas.

 

Prep for the scene at the El Portal started the last week of October, 2020. The shoot was November 2. The production also used Reseda High School for some auditorium shots. The film stars Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie, Joseph Cross and Fatimah Hassan. It's a 70s San Fernando Valley tale of a high school student who is also working as an actor.

 

A closer look at the poster for "The Mechanic." Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

Posters on the south side of the ticket lobby. "Live and Let Die" and another for "The Mechanic." Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

 

 

A 70s snack bar installation for the film. Hot dogs! Hamburgers! Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

 

A view from the south. Note the neon in the storefront windows installed for the shoot. This storefront had been a jewelry store into the 60s and by the mid 70s had become Tony's Cleaners. These days it's normally an entrance into a small black box theatre space. For the film, the storefront farther to the left has become a tailor shop. Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

 

 

Putting traditional three dimensional letters on the marquee, instead of the flat ones currently used by the theatre. At this point it's the middle of the afternoon with the shoot scheduled for that evening. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2, 2020 

The boxoffice was shined up and drapes were added for the filming. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 

Working on the display cases. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 

A view from the south. The tailor shop decor on the left was created for the film. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2 

 

 

Across the street removing not-period-appropriate bollards. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 Working on some readerboard issues. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Revisiting the display case decisions. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

The posters were replaced with larger ones. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Several of the 70s cars arrive. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

A "Matinee Today" banner going up, presumably to provide some interest on a very plain wall over the entrance doors. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Director Paul Thomas Anderson, on the right, conferring with staff. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 Ready for lights and camera. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Female lead Alana Haim discussing a scene with Anderson. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

More discussion of the scene after several run throughs with an assistant director standing in for the not-yet-arrived leading man as well as Anderson demonstrating the scene's greeting, hug, and a run off. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

After a number of rehearsals, it's masks off for a take with Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim. During the scene the cashier's job is to smoke a cigarette and read a book. Between takes she tried to air out the boxoffice. The extras in the lobby were buying popcorn and asking where the ladies room was located. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Still on the first setup of the night, about take 12. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

See the El Portal Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about this venue, a 1926 design by L.A. Smith for West Coast Theatres. It got remodeled into a legit venue with a reopening in 2000. 

 On IMDb: "Licorice Pizza"