Georgia waitresses and roommates Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid come to Los Angeles to become dancers in "*B*A*P*S*" (New Line Cinema, 1997). They hear about an audition for a music video and when they get to town they're dropped off in front of the Hollywood Palace, 1735 Vine St. In this shot we're looking south toward Hollywood Blvd. Over on the left that's the Equitable Building, now rebranded as Hollywood and Vine.
Robert Townsend directed. Also featured are Martin Landau,
Ian Richardson, Troy Byer, Bernie Mac, Rudy Ray Moore and Dennis
Rodman. The cinematography was by Bill Dill. Thanks to Erik Estrada for spotting the theatre's appearance in the film. He shared several shots from the scene in a post on the Film Locations - Then and Now Facebook group.
Nobody is in front so they think they're the first there for the audition for the "Video Dance Girl of the World." Halle's character fancies herself a hair stylist.
They round the corner and see the line on the north side of the theatre.
Halle watches a girl rehearsing and then, with a "You might as well go home. I'm here" attitude proceeds to show her moves. The dance career doesn't work out. But at the audition they do meet a guy who has cooked up a scheme to bilk an old millionaire out of his fortune and, in the process, the Georgia girls become "Black American Princesses."
See the pages about the Hollywood Palace/Avalon on the Los Angeles Theatres site. There's a history of the building and many, many photos.
On IMDb: "B*A*P*S*"
