"Live Burlesk On Stage." Vintage cars are ready for action in front of the Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway. The September 22, 2021 shoot was for "The Offer," a ten part epic for the Paramount+ streaming service. Part of the block was getting dressed to emulate New York's 42nd St. in the early 1970s. Photo: Bill Counter
The series is based on the experiences of producer Albert S. Ruddy leading to the filming of "The Godfather" (1972). It stars Miles Teller as Ruddy. Matthew Goode plays Robert Evans. Dan Fogler plays Francis Ford Coppola. Patrick Gallo is Mario Puzo.
The Orpheum, other than its marquee copy, wasn't a major player in the action. The buildings getting all the attention were the Brown-Israel Outfitting Building (820 S. Broadway, here with new pizza signage), the Wurlitzer Building (818 S. Broadway, getting several adult businesses) and the Rialto Theatre (812 S. Broadway, now an Urban Outfitters). The Singer Building and the Tower Theatre/Apple store beyond weren't involved. Photo: Bill Counter
A closer look at the Wurlitzer Building, on the left, and the Brown-Israel Building as the crew installs signage and deploys trash, bus benches, etc. Photo: Bill Counter
The Wurlitzer Building storefronts get transformed. Photo: Bill Counter
Not an Urban Outfitters this evening. It had become a theatre again. Photo: Bill Counter
"Live Nudes" going up on the north end of the marquee. Photo: Bill Counter
New signage for the Rialto. Photo: Bill Counter
Copy going up on the south end of the marquee. Photo: Bill Counter
The Orpheum gets lit up later in the evening. Photo: Bill Counter
Testing Con Ed steam effects. Tubing in the gutter led to a boiler in the parking lot around the corner between the Brown-Israel Building and the Broadway Bar. Photo: Bill Counter
Some added neon at the Rialto. Photo: Bill Counter
More signage lit at the Wurlitzer Building. And, of course, a Checker cab. Photo: Bill Counter
An added piece of neon art at the Hot! Hot! Hot! establishment. Photo: Bill Counter
They ordered winter weather. The truck in the foreground from Long Beach Ice Co. had a chipper that turned blocks of ice into snow. The rear truck, from Crystal Ice, was filled with huge blocks. Photo: Bill Counter
Adding snow to the wall next to the Broadway Bar. Photo: Bill Counter
A snowstorm at the Brown-Israel Building. Photo: Bill Counter
Rehearsing a few extras. Photo: Bill Counter
Shoveling snow at the Rialto after the marquee soffit lighting was turned on. One of the ice men is at the far left with the hose from the truck over his shoulder. Earlier a guy had been along spraying a dirt solution on the snow in the gutter for a more realistic look. Photo: Bill Counter
A different look for the lighting. The open soffit worked well for ease of access to mount instruments up out of sight. Photo: Bill Counter
The camera crew has arrived. The Globe Theatre marquee can be seen down in the 700 block. In the center is a tanker to wet down the street. To the right are the ice chipper and the truck with the blocks of ice. Photo: Bill Counter
A look north with cars at the Orpheum awaiting action. Photo: Bill Counter
Visit the pages about the Orpheum Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1926 vintage vaudeville house along with hundreds of photos. See the pages on the Rialto Theatre for many photos of that building, dating from 1917. The site also has pages on the Tower Theatre and the Globe.
In a mid-December shoot the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway, was used as the location for the premiere of "The Godfather." Thanks to Chris Nichols for sharing this photo on a Facebook post.
Posters still in the display cases after the shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - December 16
See the pages about the Los Angeles Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and hundreds of photos.
In the completed series:
In Episode 1 we get a look at the El Rey Theatre dressed up as if it's 1970. It's at 5515 Wilshire Blvd. and now used as a music venue. Thanks to Donavan S. Moye for the screenshot.
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