"Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman"

We get a short montage as a marginal singing cowboy played by Lee Bowman rises to become a major singing radio star in "Smash Up: The Story of a Woman" (Universal-International, 1947). This shot features an unidentified theatre. 

At the beginning of the film we see that his wife, played by Susan Hayward, was headed for quite a singing career herself. But after her marriage as the husband's career blossomed she felt neglected and started serious drinking. Also featured are Marsha Hunt, Eddie Albert, Carl Esmond and Carleton G. Young. It was written by John Howard Lawson, Lionel Wiggam and Dorothy Parker. Stewart Heisler directed. The cinematography was by Stanley Cortez. 

The second image we get is of the Four Star, on the Miracle Mile at 5112 Wilshire Blvd. See the page about the Four Star Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. 

The last marquee we see in the montage is a doctored view of the Beverly on Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. The marquee actually had the theatre's name above the three readerboards. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Beverly Theatre for photos and more information.

On IMDb: "Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman"   The full film can be seen on YouTube.  

"On the Front Page"

The Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills is seen in the distance in the two-reel comedy "On the Front Page" (Pathé,  November 1926). The theatre had opened in May 1925. We're looking north on Beverly Dr. toward Wilshire. The scene with Tyler Brooke, and soon a motorcycle cop, begins 4:44 into the film. Also featured are Stan Laurel, Lillian Rich, Bull Montana and Edgar Dearing. James Parrott directed. 

 

Another shot looking north toward Wilshire. Note the motorcycle cop tailing Tyler. 

 

He's looking at the cop after being stopped. 

 

Tyler comments that Edgar Dearing, as the policeman, looks like Santa Claus. His headgear and beard are items that Tyler had been throwing out of his car that had hit the policeman. 

See the pages about the Beverly Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the venue along with many photos. The building was demolished in 2005 after later lives as retail space and as a bank. 

Thanks to Roy Rogers Oldenkamp for investigating film via a post of a shot on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page that showed a statue used in the 1925 version of "Ben Hur." The film can be seen on YouTube.  

On IMDb: "On the Front Page"

"Xanadu"

The Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills makes an appearance in Robert Greenwald's 1980 Universal classic "Xanadu" with Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John. Mr. Kelly gets taken shopping to buy some "jazzy" new clothes. At the time of the filming the theatre had been turned into a Fiorucci store.

Another shot from the "Xanadu" shopping scene at the Beverly. The number is Electric Light Orchestra's "All Over The World."

The windup of the scene.  A clip of the number is on YouTube.

The theatre, demolished for a hotel project in the 80s, was at 206 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. Opened in 1925, it had a long career as a first run venue before being turned into retail space and used as a bank. See the Los Angeles Theatres Beverly Theatre page for photos and more information.

"Xanadu" gave the Pan Pacific Auditorium its best known film role. The decaying ruin was transformed into a nightclub operated by Gene Kelly with roller skating patrons. Somehow roller skating in night clubs just didn't catch on. The film used only the building's exterior. 

A daytime look from "Xanadu."  

The poor Pan Pacific, at 7600 Beverly Blvd., was neglected and unloved after newer facilities opened. It had opened in 1935, closed in 1972 and was demolished after a spectacular fire in 1989. See the page about the Pan Pacific Auditorium on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more photos.

On IMDb: "Xanadu"