A view west toward the vertical of the Paramount Theatre from Michael Winner's "Death Wish II" (Filmways, 1982). The theatre, at 6838 Hollywood Blvd., closed in 1989 and regained its original El Capitan name in 1991 following a Disney / Pacific Theatres renovation.
Thanks to Thomas Joe for noting the appearance of the theatre in the film, which he saw during its run at the Paramount. It stars Charles Bronson (of course), Jill Ireland and Vincent Gardenia. Thomas Del Ruth and Richard H. Kline did the cinematography. Earlier we had a day shot with a glimpse of the rotating disco balls the theatre had above its entrance at the time.
Bronson is cruising Hollywood Blvd. looking for certain lowlifes. Here he's outside the Pussycat Theatre, 6656 Hollywood Blvd. At the time they were running "Deep Throat" and "The Devil in Miss Jones." The Larry Edmunds bookstore was still in the space west of the theatre at this time.
The Vogue Theatre, 6675 Hollywood Blvd. They were running a Clint Eastwood double bill of "Any Which Way You Can" and "Every Which Way But Loose."
Bronson is having lunch with Jill Ireland up at Yamashiro. The Paramount is visible on the far right between the horizontal members of the railing. Behind Bronson it's the Holiday Inn, now Loews Hollywood. In the late 1960s and early 1970s when Loew's still had a theatre circuit they operated the Paramount, rebranding it as Loew's. The company later jettisoned the apostrophe in their name.
Bronson heads north on Orange Dr. after having to stop for several street characters asserting their right to walk in front of the car. Over at the Chinese, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., they're running "Excalibur," a film that got a seven week run beginning April 10, 1981. Earlier we had a day shot on the sidewalk east of the theatre.
See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the El Capitan, the Pussycat/Ritz Theatre, the Vogue Theatre and the Chinese Theatre for a history of each building and many, many photos.
On IMDb: "Death Wish II"
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