"Don't Answer the Phone!"

We get some murky drive-by shots on Hollywood Blvd. in Robert Hammer's film "Don't Answer the Phone!" (Crown International, 1980). In this shot we're looking east across the facade of the Chinese at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. toward Ted Mann's newly-opened Chinese II and III at 6915.

It's a grisly exploitation film with a serial killer and lots of semi-naked women. Featured are James Westmoreland, Ben Frank and Flo Lawrence. The cinematography was by James L. Carter.

 

 

 

A moment later we're closer to the Chinese II and III and there's also a view of the Paramount vertical across the street at 6838 Hollywood Blvd. That theatre went back to being called the El Capitan following a 1990s restoration by Disney and Pacific Theatres. The killer, played by Nicholas Worth, is cruising the Boulevard in search of his next victim. 

 

Kurt Wahlner has identified this footage as being shot during the June 8 to 21 run of the 1979 film "Players" with Ali MacGraw and Dean Paul Martin. He comments: 

 

"While I admit that it is difficult to make out the lettering, but 'Players' had a 'white type on black' ad campaign. I think that what clinched it for me was the poster in the poster case. The big pagoda banner is for 'The Main Event,' which was the next film to play there after 'Players.' 'The Main Event' banner was up even for the film to play before 'Players,' which was 'The Prisoner of Zenda.'

"Additionally, just take a look at the 'Players' one-sheet on IMDb. In the upper right corner, you will see how they treat the 'A Robert Evans Production' This, I believe, is the first grouping of letters on the left side of the marquee, with the smaller letters turning blue. The second grouping would be a longer white: 'An Anthony Harvey Film' followed by a space, then, what I should think one line all the rest of the way: 'Ali MacGraw • Dean Paul Smith • in Players' 

 

"The 'reverse marquee' to the east on the twins is for 'Prisoner of Zenda,' moved over from the big house. Peter Sellers’ name twice in yellow (one blocked by the dragon marquee; there is a blue ampersand between the names, turned green here), then the film title in red/orange. Let’s be charitable and say that it was photographed that last weekend of the 'Players' run on June 22-23. Oh, but wait - it can’t be that. 'Zenda' had been kicked out of the twins by then, and there were no late shows for 'Players' that weekend (the yellow banner draped under the dragon marquees is for late shows). So this shot MUST have been made either Friday, June 8, or Saturday, June 9."

 

The banners across the street were advertising a Walk of Fame ceremony for Aretha Franklin. But it didn't happen during the run of "Players." The event evidently was re-scheduled and happened on August 29. Her star is across the street from the Chinese at 6920 Hollywood Blvd.

See a photo by Raul Vega taken later in the run of "Players" that appears at the end of Ronald Haver's 1980 book "David O. Selznick's Hollywood." Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for locating it. He notes that this one was taken after the first weekend as there are no yellow banners under the marquees advertising late shows. 

 

 

 

The crowd is lined up for a screening of "Alien" at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. The film had a 21 week run beginning May 25.

 

 

 

The killer, in the blue shirt, is walking with a fiend in front of the Sunset Theatre at 1508 N. Western Ave. 

 

 

 

A moment later at the Sunset. It was part of the Pussycat chain. 

 

 

 

A nice telephoto shot from somewhere near Argyle Ave. We get the Paramount way in the distance and on the right it's the vertical of the Pantages at 6233 Hollywood Blvd. If you look closely on the left the red vertical of the Fox Theatre can be seen. It's at 6508 Hollywood Blvd.

 

 

 

Signage of the Cave Theatre, 6315 Hollywood Blvd. It's now a Deja Vu Showgirls location. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Ken C. for noting that the Cave and other interesting street scenes appear in the film.  

 

 

In a continuation of the Cave shot we look across to the facade of the Vine Theatre at 6321 Hollywood Blvd. That's our serial killer behind the three ladies in the shot.

For more information about these film houses see the pages about Grauman's Chinese, the Chinese II and III, the Paramount/El Capitan, the  Egyptian, the Fox Theatre, the Vine Theatre, the Cave Theatre, the Pantages and the Sunset Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.

 On IMDb: "Don't Answer the Phone!"

"MaXXXine"

It's 1985 again in Hollywood for "MaXXXine" (A24, 2024). Ti West's horror film follows adult film performer Mia Goth after she survives a bloody incident and tries to become a real Hollywood star. Also featured are Michelle Monaghan, Giancarlo Esposito, Elizabeth Debicki, Kevin Bacon, Halsey, Lily Collins and Bobby Canavale. The cinematography was by Eliot Rockett. In addition to a big shoot on several sections of Hollywood Blvd. we get a fine tour of the back lot at Universal including a visit to the "Psycho" house and motel. 

The Vine Theatre and the Cave / Déjà Vu during the shoot:

 

 

Ready for action on April 20, 2023. We're on the north side of Hollywood Blvd. just west of Vine St. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

The Vine is an 1940 S. Charles Lee conversion of what had been a restaurant at 6321 Hollywood Blvd. To the right at 6315 is the building that was once Sardi's Restaurant and after several other names morphed into the Cave Adult Theatre. It's now Déjà Vu Showgirls. For the film it was dressed as "Hollywood Show World." See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Vine Theatre and the Cave for a history of these venues.  

 

The former Cave Theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - April 20, 2023

 

 

 

Another look at the Vine. Photo: Bill Counter - April 20, 2023 

 

 

 

Mia and others at the boxoffice. The signage on the boxoffice and that "Vine" above the poster for "St. Elmo's Fire" were added by the production. This image and the two below come from 'extras' on the film's DVD.

 

 

Ti, Mia and Halsey with Hollywood Show World in the background.

 

 

Catching up on her reading.   

The Vine Theatre and the Cave in the film: 

 

Signage on the east side of the marquee of Hollywood Show World, aka the Cave Adult Theatre.

 

The entrance to Hollywood Show World. Mia's character works there. 

We go inside but then it's a set.

 

 

 

A look west with "St. Elmo's Fire" is on the marquee of of the Vine Theatre. The street is populated like it's 1985, Hare Krishnas and all. 

 

 

Mia and Halsey walking west after work with Hollywood Show World behind them. It's from a shot by Justin Lubin from A24 that appeared with Katie Walsh's review of the film in the L.A. Times. Halsey's character says she's afraid to walk home alone. Mia's not. But Halsey makes the fatal mistake of going to a big party with supposedly famous people up in the hills. 

The Warner / Hollywood Pacific Theatre during the shoot: 

Vehicles ready for action in front of the theatre, 6433 Hollywood Blvd. Thanks to Alison Martino for sharing this in an April 18, 2023 Vintage Los Angeles Facebook post. It's one of seven photos in the post taken by Sean Hathwell. In the many comments to the post see additional shots he took of posters, newspaper racks, and storefronts dressed for the film.  

Glen Norman notes: "The street light mast-arms and luminaires are from 2005. But they look 'old,' so maybe no one will quibble."

 

Glen offers this photo and adds: "Hollywood Boulevard still had these in the mid 1980s. This one is being removed on August 12, 2005."

 

 

 

Getting ready for the shot in front of Mia's building. She lives right across the street from the theatre. The detectives played by Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Canavale pay her a visit. This image and the three below come from 'extras' on the film's DVD.

 

Mia pulling in. Michelle and Bobby hope to elicit her help after two ladies she works with at Hollywood Show World are killed. "I don't talk to the police," she tells them.

Getting ready for a night shot.

 

 

 

Mia and Ti West.

 

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Warner Hollywood. It opened in 1928, got renamed the Hollywood Pacific in 1968 and triplexed in 1978. It's been boarded up since 2012. 

 

The Warner / Hollywood Pacific in the film: 

A look west as Mia drives home. On the front of the marquee: "Silent Film Series - Palace Follies." The east side was advertising "Jean-Luc Godard's Hail Mary - One Night Only." 

Mia pulling into a space in front of her building. Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Canavale are waiting to talk to her. 

Grauman's Chinese during the shoot: 

 

After Mia gets her big break we get a premiere of her new film "The Puritan II" at the Chinese. In the 1980s it was called Mann's Chinese. This image and the five below come from 'extras' on the film's DVD.

 

 

Setting up a tripod.

 

 

The location manager advising crew members to keep heavy equipment on the sidewalk, not on the footprint slabs in the forecourt. Or, in the worst case, put down plywood first.

 

 

Mia's limo. 

 

 

Across the street. 

Mia on the red carpet.

See the Grauman's Chinese pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1927 vintage movie palace and hundreds of photos. It's located at 6925 Hollywood Blvd., just west of Highland Ave. 

 

Grauman's Chinese in the film:

 

 

The night of the premiere of "Puritan II." Of course in the 1980s there would have been a boxoffice out at the street as well as the Mann Chinese II and III on the right, not a parking lot. 

Arriving on the red carpet. Note that the "TCL" part of the sign above the entrance doors was blacked out.

 

 

Mia's character greets her adoring fans. 

 

 

Making her way to the entrance. Sorry, we don't go inside. Image: A24 via IMDb.  

On IMDb: "MaXXXine"  

See Amy Nicholson's July 2, 2024 L.A. Times story "'MaXXXine' is Ti West’s Hollywood horror story. The real-life locations are even scarier."

 

"MaXXXine" on the gate at the Hollywood Theatre, 6764 Hollywood Blvd. The tenant, the Guiness World Records Museum, had closed the place for a renovation. Photo: Bill Counter - July 4, 2024

 

 

'MaXXXine" at the Alamo Drafthouse. Photo: Bill Counter - July 5, 2024

"Where The Day Takes You"

We get this look at the marquees of the Vine Theatre and the Cave Adult Theatre, 6321 and 6315 Hollywood Blvd., in Marc Rocco's film "Where The Day Takes You" (New Line Cinema, 1992).

It's a tale of a gang of teenagers living on the streets of Hollywood. The film stars Sean Astin, Dermot Mulroney, Robert Knepper, Laura San Giacomo, Ricki Lake, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kyle McLachlan and Will Smith. The cinematography was by King Baggot. 

Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatres in the film and getting the screenshots.  He comments:

"These three views are part of a crane/Steadicam shot swooping down from the top of the Cave Theatre on down along Hollywood Blvd. It's on Tubi if you want to check out the whole cool shot. It's at the 39:30 mark. They filmed all around Hollywood but these were the only solid theatre views." 

 

 

Eric comments: "The top of the Cave's marquee is not a pretty sight! 

 

 

The street level continuation of the shot as Alyssa Milano walks toward the Vine Theatre.

See the pages about the Vine Theatre and the Cave Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.  

On IMDb: "Where The Day Takes You"

"I, Madman"

Jenny Wright is strolling Hollywood Blvd. in "I, Madman" (Trans World Entertainment, 1989). Over on the right that's Mann's Chinese Twin, 6915 Hollywood Blvd. The original 1927 vintage Grauman's Chinese is beyond. That's part of the Paramount Theatre marquee just above Jenny's head.

The film is about a killer from the 1950s pulp novels Jenny's character has been reading who comes to life. It also features Clayton Rohner, Randall William Cook and Stephanie Hodge. It was directed by Tibor Takács. The cinematography was by Bryan England.

See the pages about the Chinese Twin and Grauman's Chinese on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of these venues. The 1927 vintage Grauman's house is still going strong as a first run Imax venue. The Twin came down in 1999 for construction of the Hollywood and Highland mall, a complex now rebranded as Ovation. You might also want to check out the pages about the Paramount, now back to its original El Capitan name. 

 

Later, Jenny is en route to the Guaranty Building, just a few doors away from the Vine Theatre at 6321 Hollywood Blvd. Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatres in the film and getting the screenshots. Bruce Kimmel notes that "Metal Messiah" on the marquee was a little in joke for Tibor Takács fans. He also directed that one.

See the page about the Vine Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. The "Live Nude Show" signage beyond the Vine is for the Cave Theatre.

On IMDB: "I, Madman"

"Armed and Dangerous"

We get this nice look west on Hollywood Blvd. during the title sequence of Mark Lester's "Armed and Dangerous" (Columbia, 1986). The film was written by Brian Grazer, Harold Ramis and James Keach. It stars John Candy, Eugene Levy and Meg Ryan. The cinematography was by Fred Schuler. 

The vertical sign of the Paramount Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., is seen in the center of the image. The theatre got the El Capitan name back in 1991 after the Disney / Pacific Theatres restoration. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the theatres in the film. 

On the right under the green light there's the "..CIF.." of the vertical of the Hollywood Pacific Theatre, 6433 Hollywood Blvd. It had opened in 1928 as the Warner Hollywood. Farther right that "..age.. " in purple script is on the Pantages vertical. It was a neon overlay for "La Cage aux Folles," a show that ran from September 10, 1984 until May 26, 1985. A moment later this was off and the familiar Pantages lettering in turquoise was visible. 

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the El Capitan, the Warner Hollywood and the Pantages for a history of these historic venues. 

 

Candy plays a cop who is setup by a couple of corrupt colleagues and fired from the force. He reinvents himself as a security guard and continues to investigate the case. Here he's driving toward the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. See the pages about the Egyptian Theatre for many photos and a discussion of the theatre's history.

We spend a bit of time at the Cave Theatre, 6315 Hollywood Blvd. Once upon a time the building had been Sardi's Restaurant. See the page about the Cave Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. Off to the left we get a sliver of the marquee of the Vine Theatre.

 

John Candy and his new buddy (and fellow security guard) Eugene Levy enter the Cave in matching blue suits. 

 

 

Problems ensue when the police also arrive. We get a sliver of the Pantages vertical on the right. 

 

A shot inside the Cave. The guys need to get some disguises to escape the police.

 

 

 

The next morning we get this fine postcard-quality look across Westlake Park with a view of the roof sign on the Westlake Theatre, 638 S. Alvarado St. That's Meg Ryan on the bench, Candy in drag and Levy in a black leather getup with his butt cheeks showing. 

 

 

 

A closer look at the three conspirators. Thanks to Sean Ault for getting the screenshot. See the pages about the Westlake Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. The building is still around but now used as a swapmeet. 

 

Of course we have to end with a big chase centering around a thwarted armored car robbery. After a fine tour of the Arts District we get this shot on Bunker Hill that gives us a view up Grand Ave. See the page about the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the theatre.

On the left it's the vacant lot that would later be the location of Frank Gehry's Disney Hall. In the foreground on the right it's the "temporary" parking garage that much later would be the location of The Grand, also designed by Gehry. 

On IMDb: "Armed and Dangerous"