"Violated!"

The Cinematheque 16 appears in the lower right of this shot from the 1973 exploitation film "Violated!" The theatre, at 8816 1/2 Sunset Blvd., was a 16mm venue that opened in the early 60s. Initially it ran "nudie cuties" but then shifted to classics, underground and experimental films. Later it segued back into porn.  

The film was directed by Albert Zugsmith and features Rene Bond. Thanks to Shawn D. Langrick for this screenshot. He shared it as a comment on a post about the theatre on Alison Martino's Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page. Shawn notes: 

"'Violated!' is available as part of Vinegar Syndrome's 'Lost Picture Show' set from last year. You might also appreciate the 'Last of the American Hobo,' which is also included in that set, there's a number of LA locations circa 1968-70, such as the Travel Town Museum at Griffith Park, the trolley at Knott's Berry Farm, and skid-row downtown. I am biased though, I did the commentary for 'Hobo.'"

See the page about the Cinematheque 16 on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It was later called the Sun Art and the Orpheum. 

On IMDb: "Violated!" 

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"The Forbidden"

We get this view of the Cinematheque 16 at 8816 1/2 Sunset Blvd. in "The Forbidden" (Olympic International, 1966). It's at the beginning of a tour of the Strip with shots highlighting various nightspots.

This "Mondo Cane" style mock-documentary takes us to nightclubs and other venues around the world -- wherever there's a chance to show sin and bare breasts. Performers in various sequences include Baby Bubbles, Bob Cresse and Pat Hall. The film was written and directed by Benjamin Andrews and Lee Frost. 

 

We get lots more footage of Sunset Blvd. revolving around a 1966 riot by teenagers protesting police enforcement of a curfew. Here we get a view of the Tiffany Theatre, 8534 Sunset Blvd. On the marquee is the theatre's opening film "Young Aphrodites" and an added second feature, Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night." 

See the pages about the Cinematheque 16 and Tiffany Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.

 

Later we get footage introduced by the narrator with the line "We are now in the skid row area of a large Eastern city of the United States." A bit off as we're actually on Main St. in Los Angeles looking south toward 6th. On the right it's the Optic Theatre, 533 S. Main. On the left it's the Burbank Theatre, a burlesque venue at 548 S. Main. 

 

Continuing the drive south we can read the Burbank marquee: "On Stage - In Person - Chili Pepper - Sweet and Spice."  

 

 

 

As we get closer to 6th the Art Theatre comes into view on the right at 551 S. Main St. Across 6th on the right is the Central Building, now gone. On the left it's the Santa Fe building this side of 6th and the Pacific Electric Building across the street. Both have survived.  

 

And then we cut to this look at the facade of the Follies, 337 S. Main St. Despite the burlesque show we see advertised, the narrator describes it as a "converted theatre" that's now a school teaching respectable ladies how to be more seductive using the techniques of strippers. Of course we get pro and amateur demonstrations of twirling tassels.

See the pages about the Optic Theatre, Burbank Theatre, Art Theatre and Follies Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. None of these Main St. theatre buildings have survived. 

On IMDb: "The Forbidden"

The film is available on a DVD from Something Weird Video that also includes "ECCO," a similar film. 

"L'amour de Femme"

We're on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood in this shot from Nick Millard's 1969 film "L'amour de Femme."  The Cinematheque 16 was at 8816 1/2 Sunset Blvd., just west of Holloway. 

Our anonymous correspondent who identified the shot as being from the film noted: "That's model/actress Cathy Adams aka Carol Appleby at the bottom." Ken McIntyre reports that "Skin," the title on the marquee, was advertised in the L.A. Times in July 1969.

See the page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue, later known as the Sun Art Theatre and the Orpheum. 

On IMDb: "L'amour de Femme"

"That's the Way of the World"

Harvey Keitel strolls Sunset with the Sun Art Mini Theatre in the background. It's a shot an hour and seventeen minutes into "That’s the Way of the World" (United Artists, 1975). Sig Shore directed this drama about the music business that also stars Ed Nelson and Cynthia Bostick.  

 

Another shot from the scene. Thanks to Luis Antezana for spotting the theatre in the film. 

The Sun Art, at 8816 1/2 Sunset Blvd., was also known as the Cinematheque 16 and the Orpheum. See the Cinematheque 16 page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue. 

On IMDb: "That's the Way of the World"

"The Outside Man"

We get a fine tour of Los Angeles in Jacques Deray's "The Outside Man" (United Artists, 1973). Jean-Louis Trintignant (coming from France) and Roy Scheider (in from Detroit) are hit men who soon find out they're working for the same guy, a Los Angeles mobster who wants them both dead. Ann-Margret is the former owner of a sleazy bar who gets caught in the middle.

Here we're in West Hollywood looking east on Sunset with Trintignant across the street from the Cinematheque 16, 8818 Sunset Blvd. Note the marquee in the upper right corner.

Trintignant's character is supposed to go back to Paris but feels he won't be safe even there. So he goes hunting for those who set him up. And finds Scheider constantly on his tail. He's trying to get downtown and a bunch of bikers give him an escort, point him west on Hollywood Blvd., and tell him downtown is straight ahead.

Here he's just west of Vine St. stopping to pick up a hitchhiker. In the distance we get the scintillating marquee of the Music Box Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Blvd. At the time of the shooting it was called the Pix. It's now a music venue called the Fonda Theatre.

A shot back a bit gives us part of the marquee for the Vine Theatre, running "Nicholas and Alexandra." The hitchhiker, who turns out to be a Jesus freak, tells him to do a U-turn. The guy doesn't do well. Scheider, aiming at Truntignant, shoots him.

The film gives us some fine aerial views of the city and shots of downtown, Bunker Hill, and Venice. In addition, we're treated to many views, such as this one, of Scheider and Trintignant trying to elude each other on the pier of Pacific Ocean Park as the remaining buildings are in the middle of demolition.

 

We even make it out to Sherman Oaks. Thanks to Sean Ault for getting the screenshot of this view with the La Reina Theatre in the background. It was an S. Charles Lee design at 14626 Ventura Blvd. that opened in 1938.

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Cinematheque 16, the Music Box, the Vine Theatre and the La Reina Theatre for history of each of these filmhouses and many, many photos.

On IMDb: "The Outside Man"  If you can't find a copy of the film note that Cinefile Video in West L.A. has it in their collection. Glen Norman advises that the film is available in two versions, one of them X-rated.