"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"

 

Keenan Ivory Wayans goes to the Black Revolutionary Headquarters when he's looking for help taking back the neighborhood in the blaxploitation spoof "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (United Artists, 1988). 

 

We're looking at a storefront just east of the entrance to the Ebony Showcase Theatre, 4720 W. Washington Blvd. The building was identified by Kurt Crucial in his fine twenty minute "80s Life" piece on YouTube about the film's locations. Thanks to Sean Ault for locating it.  

 

The film also features Bernie Casey, Isaac Hayes, Jim Brown, Antonio Fargas, Dawnn Lewis, Ja'net Dubois, Damon Wayans and Clu Galagher. Keenan Ivory Wayans directed. The cinematography was by Tom Richmond. 

 

The plan of action is targeting the businesses owned by Mr. Big, the local crime lord played by John Vernon. Here one of the guys is throwing a bomb into the entrance of the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. The curse of the neighborhood is too many gold chains so Mr. Big's Chains 'R' Us and Jewelry Salon stores are targets.

 

 

A bomb into another storefront. Note all the chains in the window.

 

A wider view as the guys drive away. The theatre entrance is on the left, with milk glass letters saying "1050 South Hill." On the right it's the entrance to the second floor ballroom. 

 

 

The blast at the Chains 'R' Us store in the Belasco building. 

 

A moment later.  

 

 

As the guys drive away we get a look north toward the marquee of the Mayan Theatre, 1038 S. Hill.

Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the Hill St. action in the film. See the pages about the Belasco and Mayan theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site for historic data and many photos of each building. 

On IMDb: "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"

"Crossroads"

 

The karaoke contest at the fictional Club Bayou in New Orleans that's seen in "Crossroads" (Paramount, 2002) was shot at the Variety Theatre, 5253 W. Adams Blvd. Here Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning are in the theatre's dressing room before the show agreeing to just get along and put on the best show they can. 

 

They've run away from home and on the way west the car broke down. See, they've just got to win this contest to pay the repair bill and pay for motels on the way. The film also features Anson Mount and Dan Aykroyd. Shonda Rhimes wrote the script and Tamra Davis directed.

 

 

A look toward the stage at the Variety as the girls get announced.  

 

Another shot toward the stage with Britney, Zoe and Taryn doing their thing. 

 

 

Yes, she's a hit! The tip jars are overflowing.

Thanks to Lindsay Blake and her blog "I Am Not A Stalker" for identifying the shooting location of the scene. See her post "Café-Club Fais Do-Do from Crossroads" for more shots at the Variety from this film as well as from other movies and TV shows shot there. Kudos to Jonathan Raines for spotting the article. Also check out Lindsay's entertaining 2009 article about being at the Variety for the scene's three day shoot in 2001.

See the page about the Variety Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building.

 

 

Britney says goodbye to her on-the-road boyfriend, played by Anson Mount, on the Orange Dr. side of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. In the background, Grauman's Chinese is running "Spy Kids." Beyond the theatre, the steel is starting to rise for the Hollywood & Highland complex. 

 

We're near the end of the film and it's time to go home. Her father, played by Dan Aykroyd, has came west to bring her home to go to med school.

Friends Zoe and Taryn wait with dad as she goes back to the boyfriend after announcing that she's staying in Hollywood. And going to a big audition.

See the pages on the Chinese Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for the history of the 1927 vintage film house along with hundreds of photos.

 

The judges at the big audition scene shot at the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. Some of the arched paneling of the theatre is visible at the back of the main floor.

Although dad came west to bring her home at this moment he's somehow enthusiastically resigned to having her be a singer as he claps along during her number.

This shot toward the house lets you know you're definitely at the Belasco. The giveaways are the plaster decorations on the front of the balcony as well as the lit ovals. It's pre-renovation. In the upper right we can see there are still seats in the balcony.

A look down from the balcony. The auditorium floor hadn't yet been leveled to turn the place into a nightclub. We're looking at the original 1926 stage floor plus a little extension they had built out in front.

A Belasco shot appearing during the end credits. 

A view from a "making of" featurette that's on the film's DVD. Thanks to Lindsay Blake for noting the appearance of the Belasco in the film in her Discover L.A. article "Go On Location: Historic Los Angeles Theatres Featured in Film."

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Belasco Theatre for a history of this 1926 legit house as well as many photos.

On IMDb: "Crossroads"

"The Saturday Night Kid"

This story about the filming of "The Saturday Night Kid" (Paramount, 1929) appeared in the Pacific Electric company magazine in September 1929. Thanks to L.A. transit historian Sean Ault for finding the article. Note the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. in the photo.

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Belasco Theatre for a history of this 1926 legit house as well as many photos. 

The scene shot on the streetcar is 9:25 into the film but there's nothing of the Belasco to be seen. The entire film is on YouTube with the title changed to "Love 'em and Leave 'em"

On IMDb: "The Saturday Night Kid"

"Midnight Frolics"

The interior of the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St., is seen in the 1949 film "Midnight Frolics," also known as "Midnight Follies." It's evidently a filmed performance of burlesque and comedy sketches.

Lillian Hunt directed a cast that includes Sunny Knight, Mickey "Ginger" Jones, Wauneta Bates, Helen Cogan, George Rose and Annette Warren.

"Big-Time Burlesque As You Like It." These lobby cards from MovieStillsDB.com appear on IMDb. Clips from the film appear in Frank Henenlotter's 2013 compilation "That's Sexploitation."

Hit the Belasco Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for photos of the building and a history of its career.

On IMDb: "Midnight Frolics"

"The Prestige"

Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" (Touchstone/Warner Bros, 2006) with Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine is set in Edwardian London. Also in the film are Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johanssen, David Bowie and Ricky Jay. In this tale of  two magicians trying to top each other with the ultimate illusion we get many theatre shots, spending lots of time in four Los Angeles theatres: the Los Angeles, Palace, Tower and Belasco. 

Our initial theatre shot is at the Los Angeles, 615 S. Broadway, subbing for a London theatre called The Grand Scala. Robert Angier aka The Great Danton (Hugh Jackman) is onstage doing his version of the Transported Man trick. Things go wrong and Angier dies. His rival Alfred Borden aka The Professor (Christian Bale) is convicted of the murder. But things aren't simple. We spend the rest of the film seeing how we got to this point. 

We see lots of the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway. First as a London theatre they're calling the Orpheum with Milton (Ricky Jay) performing with the assistance of Angier, Borden, Julia (Piper Perabo) and, as stage manager and illusion engineer, Cutter (Michael Caine).

Our first scene inside the Tower Theatre, 802 S. Broadway, come as Cutter asks Borden and Angier to check out an appearing goldfish bowl trick performed by Chung Ling Soo at the Tenley Theatre. We're in the balcony -- which is good as the theatre has no main floor seats. Later we're back at the Tower when Borden is assisting The Great Virgil. This time we're on the main floor, then seen as a flat-floored music hall kind of place. 

When Angier starts performing as The Great Danton following the loss of his wife in a mishap during a Milton performance, we're back at the Palace again as the London Orpheum. His new assistant: Scarlett Johanssen. Then inside the Tower we see Borden as The Professor (Bale) do his initial version of the Transported Man trick. Here film identifies the Tower as the Strand Theatre.

We're at the Los Angeles for this view with theatregoers heading up the stairs in the grand lobby. It's the performance of the Transported Man trick done by Angier (Hugh Jackman). He's seen Borden's act and has tried to one up him by making it showier.

A look toward the stage at the Los Angeles. Angier goes in one door and vanishes. Then a moment later the door across the stage opens and he reappears. Backstage at the Los Angeles Angier tells Cutter (who now works for him) that "Borden is performing right across the street." And the interior scenes of Borden's latest show at the London Pantages were indeed shot right across the street --  at the Palace Theatre.

For the exterior of the London Pantages Nolan uses the Tower Theatre. London, of course, never had a Pantages Theatre, but perhaps it should have. Most of the exterior shots in "The Prestige" were done on the Universal backlot. 

This Tower shot is the only exterior view we get in the film of a real theatre. The Tower, at 802 S. Broadway, is a 1927 film house designed by S. Charles Lee. See the many Tower Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building.

When we go inside the Pantages for the new version of the Transported Man trick that Borden is performing we find ourselves back at the Palace -- the same theatre seen earlier as the Orpheum.  He's had some help from Nicola Tesla (David Bowie) for the improvements.

The Palace, a 1911 vintage two-balcony vaudeville house, still hosts legit shows, concerts and an occasional film screening. See the Palace Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the theatre. 

After being embarrassed by a stunt pulled onstage by Borden during a one of Angier's performances, Angier goes to Colorado to see Tesla for something new to try to top Borden (again).  When he comes back with the gear, he holes up in a cluttered workshop to work on the final trick. We're at the Balasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. Here we're on the Belasco's main floor looking back at the front of the balcony. 

Another shot on the Belasco's main floor, this time giving a look at the theatre's unique ceiling. They've draped the front of the projection booth. See the pages on the Belasco Theatre for a history of this 1926 legit house as well as many photos. Its location on Hill St. is right next to the Mayan Theatre.
 

Cutter (Michael Caine) is taking a peek in from one of the balcony exits to try to figure out what Angier is up to in his workshop.  Angier has him book a theatre for a final engagement of 100 performances but tells him this time he doesn't want him backstage.

We're back at the Los Angeles for Angier's final performances. A handbill seen in the film tells us this 100 performance engagement (that we saw some of at the beginning of the film) is at a theatre called The Grand Scala. Here we see the cabinet for an underwater escape, the trick before the Tesla-improved Transported Man. Note the unique act curtain of the Los Angeles Theatre behind.  Earlier we've seen several fine drops painted for the movie onstage at both the Palace and the Los Angeles. But this is actually part of the theatre's 1931 decor.

Angier onstage announcing the final version of the Transported Man, his next trick. He tells the audience it's not magic -- this is science.

Angier (Jackman) reappearing on the edge of the 1st balcony at the Los Angeles after vanishing from the stage. It goes well this performance but not so on the final time when Borden (disguised) is called up from the audience to assist onstage. Watch the film to unravel the mysteries.

See the many pages about the Los Angeles Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for photos and a history of this amazing movie palace. It's a design by S. Charles Lee, opened in 1931.

The website Movie-Locations.com has a page on shooting locations for the film.

On IMDb: "The Prestige"

"Jersey Boys"

We're in Jersey but a club there somehow has a lobby identical to the Belasco's in Clint Eastwood's "Jersey Boys" (Warner Bros., 2014). The film about the career of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons features Christopher Walken, here with his back to us. Also in the film are John Lloyd Young (as Frankie), Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda and Vincent Piazza.

 Another Belasco lobby view.

Christopher Walken advises the guys in another lobby shot from "Jersey Boys."

In the Belasco auditorium, set up as a nightclub.  The Belasco, at 1050 S. Hill St., is a 1926 legit house that's been converted to club use. Hit the Belasco Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for photos of the building and a history of its career.

The Palace Theatre, 615 S. Broadway,  plays some anonymous theatre on the road for the "My Boy Friend's Back" number with The Angels.

Another shot from the number filmed at the Palace. The theatre is a two-balcony vaudeville house that opened as the Orpheum in 1911. See the Palace Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a tour.

Later in the film we're backstage at the Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway. It's doubling as the Ed Sullivan Theatre.

An onstage shot at the Orpheum from "Jersey Boys." 

 

 Looking into the house at the "Ed Sullivan Theatre" in New York.

A view out to the rear of the main floor.

A look down at the audience at the Orpheum. The theatre was opened in 1926 by the Orpheum circuit as a replacement for their older house (the one then renamed the Palace) down the street. See the Orpheum Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for lots of history and photos.

Mike Hume sends along this additional screenshot from the film of some unidentified two balcony house we see. Any ideas where we are?  Head to Mike's Historic Theatre Photography website for hundreds of photos he's taken of theatres in Los Angeles and elsewhere. 

On IMDb: "Jersey Boys"

"This Is 40"

Paul Rudd stages a Graham Parker concert at the Club Fais Do-Do early in Judd Apatow's "This Is 40" (Universal, 2012). On the right that's the marquee of the Variety Theatre, 5253 W. Adams Blvd. 

The two buildings are under the same management but in this film we only see the club space on the corner for interior shots. The film also stars Leslie Mann, Iris and Maude Apatow, Jason Segel, Megan Fox, Michael Ian Black, John Lithgow, Albert Brooks and Charlyne Yi. The cinematography was by Phedon Papamichael.

See the page about the Variety Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many views of the building.  

 

Much later in the film Rudd goes big time and stages another Graham Parker concert in a larger venue. Before we go inside we get a quick pan down the facade of the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill St. 

 

A peek into the ticket lobby.  

 

Rudd on stage welcoming the small crowd and inviting them to move down closer and fill some of the empty seats. "Where are all the fans?" he later asks. Well, his wife is out dancing. 

 

A look onto the Belasco's stage.

See the pages about the Belasco Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a full tour of the building. 

On IMDb: "This Is 40"