"Her Screen Idol"

We get a couple shots of a theatre entrance in "Her Screen Idol" (Paramount/Famous Lasky, 1918). It's a Mack Sennett production directed by Edward F. Cline starring Louise Fazenda, Ford Sterling and Jack Cooper. The most likely possibility is that we're at Jensen's Theatorium at 1624 Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park  It's a house that opened as the Globe and ended up being called the Holly Theatre. The theatre interior shots were most likely done on a set. 

 

 

A closer look in toward the display cases and entrance doors.

We see the same floor tile in "Mabel's Dramatic Career" (Keystone, 1913). In that film we get a better look at the area near the sidewalk where it appears to say "Globe Theatre." The short-lived Globe Amusement Co. opened theatres with that name in several neighborhoods, many of them with similar looking entrances.  Most were later renamed when the company folded.

Thanks to the Silent film Detective John Bengtson for the screenshots. Check out his latest explorations via the Silent Locations blog "Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)."

Ten minutes of the film can be seen on the website of Cineteca Milano, where you need to register as a user. Italian title: "L'eroe dello schermo."

On IMDb: "Her Screen Idol"

"Mabel's Dramatic Career"

The entrance of a theatre is seen in the Mack Sennett comedy "Mabel's Dramatic Career" with Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle and Sennett (Keystone, 1913). We appear to be at the Globe Theatre at 1624 Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park. The venue was later called the Theatorium and the Hollyway before ending up as the Holly Theatre.

The short-lived Globe Amusement Co. opened theatres with their name in several neighborhoods, including Lincoln Heights, Downtown, South Central and San Pedro. Many of them had similar looking entrances and, indeed, may have used the same tile. Several elements here, including the display case configuration and some of the plaster moldings, make this Echo Park house the likely location. We see the same tile pattern, but without a chance to see lettering, in the another Sennett film involving moviegoing: "Her Screen Idol" from 1918.

An interior view, most likely a set.  

The very curious projection booth. 

Coming out of the theatre after causing trouble during the film. The theatre name is in the tile. 

It appears to say "Globe Theatre" but we never really get a good look at it. 

 A last look as our man stalks away vowing to track down the villain he's seen in the film.

Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor ManWithNoName for spotting the theatre in the film. He initially suggested that it's the Optic Theatre, 533 S. Main St. But the tile work doesn't match that of the Optic. See his article: "Optic Theater in Downtown Los Angeles circa 1913" for a discussion.

The film is available for viewing on Internet Archive. The theatre sequence begins 8:28 into the 14 minute film with exterior shots and then goes inside. The film also appears on Disc 1 of "Slapstick Encyclopedia."

On IMDb: "Mabel's Dramatic Career"

"Standing Pat"

Silent film detective John Bengtson spotted "Garden Theatre" on a side wall in Echo Park in the sixteen minute film "Standing Pat" (FBO, 1928). He notes: "During this scene, traveling west along Sunset towards the fire station at Mohawk Bend visible to the left, you can see the east side of the Ramona Theater, known at the time as the Garden Theater."

The film stars the "Ton of Fun," the trio of obese comedians Frank 'Fatty' Alexander, Hilliard 'Fat' Karr, and 'Kewpie' Ross. Earl Montgomery directed. The cinematography was by Earle Fox Walker. The Garden Theatre shots appear during a wild ride about 12 minutes into the film. The guys are trying to deliver a piano but their truck is out of control.

Another frame as we get a bit closer to the Garden/Ramona Theatre. Thanks to John for the screenshot. He comments: "In these shots the former fire house appears at back to the left (the building with the narrow tower, used to hang up wet hoses to dry out)." 

See the page on the Ramona Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building. It's now a restaurant. 

 

A bit later we come to the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. Thanks to Marc Chevalier for spotting the Vista in the film. This version of the image is from John Bengtson.  

 

The marquee says "Four Acts of Standard Vaudeville" and "Helene Costello in 'In Old Kentucky.'" The film was a November 1927 release. Thanks to Marc Chevalier for this detail from the shot. 

 

We're headed up Hillhurst. Note that the lot to the west of the theatre was vacant at the time. Thanks to Marc Chevalier for this image.

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.

On IMDb:"Standing Pat"  

The film can be seen on YouTube. Also there's another post of it, cued up at 13:13 for the Vista scene. John notes: "If you pause on YouTube you can advance frame by frame using the ',' and '. keys. The left and right arrows advance by five seconds."

Check out John Bengtson's latest explorations via the Silent Locations blog "Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)." His "Discovering Early Hollywood" books on Buster Keaton, "Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd are available through Amazon or your local bookseller.