"The Shadow"

Here we are looking at the Monolith Hotel in New York at 2nd and Houston streets in "The Shadow" (Universal, 1994). Those of us who only perceive it as a vacant lot must have been hypnotized by Shiwan Khan, a descendant of Genghis Khan. He's planning to take over the world with some updated technology and doesn't want us to see where his headquarters are located.

This backlot set features buildings seen a block over on the right that represent those actually at 4th and Main in downtown Los Angeles: the Barclay Hotel and the Farmers and Merchants Bank.   

 

 

 

Alec Baldwin plays The Shadow. After his brain has cleared sufficiently, he can see the building that's on the site. John Lone plays the evil Mongol Shiwan Khan. Also featured are Penelope Ann Miller, Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, Jonathan Winters, Ian McKellen, Sab Shimono and Andre Gregory. Russell Mulcahy directed. The cinematography was by Stephen H. Burum.  

 

 

 

When The Shadow goes inside the hotel to confront Khan and his minions we find ourselves in the lobby of the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Note the Pacific Theatres snackbar still in the middle of the lobby. Thanks to Dave Hunter for spotting the theatre in the film. 

 

 

 

A look over toward the inner lobby. 

 

The house left mezzanine lounge area. 

 

The Shadow materializes on the steps up to the balcony promenade. 

 

Heading down the promenade to find the Khan and his henchmen. 

 

Tim Curry, an associate of scientist Ian McKellen, has gone to the dark side and comes down the steps looking for The Shadow. 

 

A look into the grand lobby. There were no chandeliers at the time of the filming. Replicas of the originals were installed as part of the restoration in 2000.  

 

 

 

Tim and Alec get to have a one-on-one engagement in the Monolith Hotel's ballroom. Obviously it wasn't shot at the Pantages. This is the ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel. Tim gets his mind re-programmed by The Shadow. 

 

 

 

In a shot where Tim is coming out of the Monolith ballroom, we find ourselves on the balcony promenade again. Beyond the doorway we get a look at the auditorium's center chandelier. 

 

 

 

With his mind disordered by The Shadow, Tim mistakes a decorative glass panel for an exit. 

 

Falling through to the lobby. Ian McKellen is deprogrammed in time to disarm his bomb. Alec Baldwin defeats John Lone, who ends up in a mental hospital.  The world is saved and Alec and Penelope end up happy ever after.

See the pages about the Pantages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more data about this 1930 vintage deco landmark along with many, many photos. 

On IMDb: "The Shadow"