"Dusty and Sweets McGee"

We get a walk by the Egyptian during their engagement of "Darker Than Amber" in Floyd Mutrux's film "Dusty and Sweets McGee" (Warner Bros., 1971). Note the peek at the lush foliage in the forecourt. 

 

It's a story of aimless people with drug problems that features Clifton Tip Fredell, Kit Ryder, Billy Gray, Nancy Wheeler and Beverly Eckert. The cinematography was by William A. Fraker. In addition to Hollywood, they shot all over the Valley, in Venice, and maybe other beach towns. 

 

A drug dealer called City Life, played by Billy Gray, is on the right, discussing car stereos with "Patton" on the marquee in the background at the Del Mar Theatre, 5036 W. Pico Blvd. 

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Del Mar, a theatre that opened in 1939 and is now an art gallery.  

Thanks to Marc Edward Heuck for spotting the theatre in the film and sharing a shot from the scene with the LAHTF Facebook group. He was trying to identify the location. Bruce Kimmel gets the nod for being the first to identify it as the Del Mar. In a comment to a post of the shot on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page he noted:  

"I've got it. Theatre is the Del Mar. Everything matches up, including the bit of the building to the left. And across the street if you Google street view, you can see the bottom of the circular thing in blue. Also, the movie shot from late October through end of November - and Patton was playing at the Del Mar the week of October 29th. The Del Mar has no signage above the marquee at that point. If you could pan to the right, you'd see the big Del Mar sign. To the right it was Davis Radio and Stereo, formerly Al Davis' Radio Drive-In." 

"Want to know how I found it? It was one of those happy coincidences - first of all, the theatre looked familiar to me. But I searched 'Patton' and October of 1970, which was when the movie started filming. So, it highlighted all the Independent theatres that were playing it. I started with the outlying areas first and the first thing I saw was some theatre located on Del Mar Street or Blvd. And a little bell went off in my head and I scrolled up and bingo - 'Patton' was playing there the first week of filming. 

 

"Then I went to the Los Angeles Theatres page and saw the photos and it matched up perfectly. Then I did Google to see what was across the street and found that place. Then I searched that address and found Al Davis' ads and then the ad for Davis Radio and Stereo in 1970. Most amusing of all is that I worked at the Del Mar in 1964 and that's why it looked familiar to me. I lived ten minutes from there near Pico and La Cienega."

 

Thanks to Larry Karaszewski for looking up an October 23, 1970 L.A. Times listing that revealed "The Out-Of-Touners" was the second feature playing with "Patton." Ken McIntyre then came up with this October 19 listing for the Del Mar and other theatres in the neighborhood:

 

Rio Dylan Hernandez was also active on the hunt. She comments: 

 

"I noticed the car stereo mechanic's jumpsuit says Davis and there was a famous car radio drive up installation place right across the street from the Del Mar built in 1938 so it has that Deco look but there for a long time - Al Davis Radio Drive-In, 5037 W. Pico Blvd. Looks like you can see the blade sign poking up from the theatre.

 

Rio grabbed this shot from earlier in the scene and did some background research: 

 

"Al Davis was a car radio installation guy, who made a company out of it, and in the same type of business as Mad Man Muntz he was a success. Sounds like it was a famous place. He was the first to import Japanese car stereos, etc. Kind of a fascinating history and sounds like this was also an in-the-know movie biz spot.  He had a good enough business or location that Rock Hudson was a customer in 1963. The business went bankrupt in 1986."

 

 

Thanks to Rio Dylan Hernandez for locating this postcard in the Boston Public Library's Tichnor Brothers Postcard Collection. 

 

Thanks to Mark R. Simpson for this Google image. He comments: "The collision shop is now LA Masters Collision Center and you can see the rounded portion of the building painted red behind the wall."

On IMDb: "Dusty and Sweets McGee"

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"Red Nights"

The X Theatre at 5959 Hollywood Blvd. is in the background of this shot from "Red Nights" (Trans World Entertainment, 1988). It's another young-man-goes-to-Hollywood story. He thinks he's going to become an actor but sinks into the violent shadows. Izhak Hanooka directed. The cast includes Christopher Louis Parker, Brian Matthews, Tom Badall and Patty Bauer. The cinematography was by Jacob Eleasari. It was a direct-to-VHS release. 

Thanks to Rio Dylan Hernandez for spotting all the theatre coverage in the film and getting the screenshots. She comments: 

"Sometimes when I can’t sleep I’ll peruse grindhouse exploitation movies on Amazon and came across a doozy last night that is truly an LA treasure trove. It seems like there is a movie theater in every other shot as it’s about an idealistic young dreamer, aspiring actor - broken by DIRTY L.A. - and it truly captures the city as I remember it - especially the Hollywood Blvd. area where most of it was shot. I did the best I could do with the screenshots but this should give you a flavor and really some rare treasures here I think!"

 

 At the Warner/Hollywood Pacific, 6433 Hollywood Blvd. 

 

 

 

The Fox was playing "Robocop," It's at 6508 Hollywood Blvd.  

 

 

The Vogue Theatre, at 6675 Hollywood Blvd., playing "The Lost Boys," a July 1987 release. Michael Coate notes that this engagement was in 70mm.

 

 

The Pussycat, formerly the New-View, was at 6656 Hollywood Blvd., just west of Cherokee.

 

 

Another look at the Pussycat.  

 

 

 

A look at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., during the run of "Masters of the Universe." 

 

 

The Chinese with Clint Eastwood in "Heartbreak Ridge." Kurt Wahlner notes that the film played the big house for one week from December 5 to 11, 1986. 

 

 

A shot done later, during the run of "The Living Daylights." It played the Chinese from July 31 to August 27, 1987. 

 

 

 

A view of the west side of the Chinese.  

 

 

 

Looking north on Las Palmas toward Hollywood Blvd. That's the Las Palmas Theatre on the right.  

 

 

A chase shot with the cars heading into the alley just north of the Las Palmas.  

 

Looks like the filmmakers actually paid for this location for a "Gala Premier." Or was it a "Premiere"? The Los Feliz, now a triplex, is located at 1822 N. Vermont Ave. 

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the X Theatre, the Warner/Hollywood Pacific, the Fox, the Vogue, the New-View/Pussycat,  Grauman's Chinese, the Las Palmas Theatre and the Los Feliz. 

Thanks Rio!  

On IMDb: "Red Nights"

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"Hollywood the Unusual"

This ten minute 1927 film directed and photographed by William Taylor is a quirky exploration of themed architecture in the Hollywood era. Thanks to Marc Chevalier for spotting the footage.

 

We start with a view from the hills of the El Capitan Theatre building, the Hollywood Masonic Temple and the stage end of the just-opened Grauman's Chinese. The Hollywood Roosevel Hotel, on the right, had also just recently opened at the time of the shot. 

 

A view west toward Grauman's Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.  The El Capitan and the Roosevelt are in the distance. 

 

People wandering the forecourt during the run of "Topsy and Eva," a film that opened June 16, 1927. Note the Bedouin patrolling the parapet. 

 

 

A closer look. No idea what kind of ballyhoo Sid was up to with the tent over on the right.  

 

The west wall mural.  

 

Ornament from "The Ten Commandments" atop the east wall.  

 

The shot pans down for a better look at this mysterious stone hut.  

After wandering the Egyptian, our auteur takes us on a tour of a terrific array of other Egyptian-themed houses, apartment buildings and commercial spaces. From that he segues into other exotic styles like witches cottages and Moroccan mini-palaces. On this programmatic architecture tour we visit the Zulu Hut, the Ambassador Hotel, the Brown Derby on Wilshire, and the Tam O'Shanter. Another place we hit is the Jail Cafe, 4212 Sunset Blvd.

 

This location once housed studio facilities where D.W. Griffith did his initial screenings of "The Clansman," the film soon retitled "The Birth of a Nation." Later this became the Gateway Theatre, among other names. It ended up as a restaurant called the El Cid. 

 

Perhaps taking a cue from Sid Grauman and his Bedouin on patrol, the Jail Cafe had a "prisoner" walking back and forth. 

 

 

Another shot of the guard tower.   

 

 

Near the end of the film we're back for a look at the front of the Chinese. It had opened May 17, 1927 with Cecil B. De Mille's King of Kings," a film that would run 24 weeks.  

 

 

A look to the west where what had been farm land got turned into a parking lot.  

 

 

Patrons going in for a 2:15 matinee of "King of Kings." 

 

 

 

Tourists admiring the hand and foot prints in the forecourt.   

See the pages on the El Capitan, Grauman's Chinese and the Egyptian Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.   

The film can be seen on YouTube as a post from James Thatch. Stephen Worth shared it on Facebook .  

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"Broken Hearts of Hollywood"

Filming in the forecourt of Grauman's Egyptian for "Broken Hearts of Hollywood" (Warner Bros., 1926). It's a shot by L.A. photographer Robert Board. Thanks to Grauman-focused historian Kurt Wahlner for spotting this when it went for sale online. Visit his site about the Chinese: GraumansChinese.org. The title of this film and "Warner Bros." was written on the back.    

Kurt notes that the readerboard on the roof says "Estelle Taylor - Jack Dempsey - Monday." See a detail from the photo. Estelle had married Jack in San Diego on February 25, 1925. The couple were acting as hosts on June 21, 1926 for the evening screenings of "Sparrows" and "The Black Pirate."   

 

The image appeared in the August 7, 1926 issue of Motion Picture News with the caption: "The lobby of Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood was used for a number of scenes in 'Broken Hearts of Hollywood' (Warner Bros.) in which practically all of the Warner stars and contract players will appear." 

 

 The ad in the Times on June 21. So the photo was taken a day, or a few days, before June 21st.

 

An article, also from the Times issue of June 21.  

The film is the tale of a former movie star returning to Hollywood for a comeback. Her daughter follows her and they get cast in the same film as mother and daughter. Troubles ensue including a shooting. It was directed by Lloyd Bacon. The cinematography was by Virgil Miller. The film features Patsy Ruth Miller, Louise Dresser, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jerry Miley, Stuart Holmes, Barbara Worth and... wait for it... Sid Grauman. 

Sid's and his fellow performers from the film's "theatre sequence" are in this shot taken in the Egyptian forecourt. It appears on IMDb with no date about what publication it was from.   

See the pages about the Egyptian Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1922 vintage movie palace along with hundreds of photos. It's located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., between McCadden Place and Las Palmas Ave.  

On IMDb: "Broken Hearts of Hollywood" 

"Broken Hearts of Hollywood" was released August 14, 1926. This poster is one that appears on IMDb.  The site notes that there's a surviving print of the film at the George Eastman House in Rochester. 

 

 

"The Truth About Hollywood." This presentation was a two page ad in the August 28, 1926 issue of Motion Picture News. It's on Internet Archive, where you can zoom in to read all the tabloid gossip in the Hollywood Sentinel!

There was also a 1926 indie production from Jaffe Films called just "Broken Hearts" that starred Lila Lee and Maurice Schwartz. It was released on February 16. 

"Aloha, Bobby and Rose"

Footage used for the title sequence of "Aloha, Bobby and Rose" (Columbia Pictures, 1975) includes this view of the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. On the marquee it's "Don't Look in the Basement" along with "The Last House on the Left." This bill opened November 7, 1973 at the Pantages as well as over 30 other theatres in the area.  

 

The film features Paul Le Mat, Dianne Hull, Tim McIntyre, Leigh French, Noble Willingham, Martine Bartlett and Robert Carradine. Floyd Mutrux directed. The cinematography was by William A. Fraker.  

 

 

We get this shot when they zoom in during the credits. Way down the street it's the vertical for Loew's, 6838 Hollywood Blvd. It's the theatre that opened in 1926 as the El Capitan. Loew's got it in 1967 but at the time this footage was shot it was run by General Cinema Corporation. They never got around to re-doing the vertical although they were calling the theatre the Cinema on Hollywood Blvd. or the Hollywood Cinema. Before and after Loew's and General Cinema had the theatre it was called the Paramount. 

 

 

 

Paul Le Mat owes some guys money from a game of pool that didn't go his way. Hoping to borrow $75, he stops in to see a relative working at a used car lot at Hollywood Blvd. and Gower. The brown building on the left is the east side of the Pix Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Blvd. The Pantages is a bit farther down the street.

 

 

Paul works at a car repair place in the Valley where he fixes the Volkswagon of a girl played by Dianne Hull. Later they go out on a date and take a drive east on Hollywood Blvd. We get this shot as they approach the Egyptian I-II-III, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.  

 

The panel below the marquee is advertising "Hello, Dolly!" It was on the bottom half of a double bill that opened October 31, 1973 at the Egyptian as well as 30 other area theatres. "Cabaret" was on the top of the bill. The initial 40 week 70mm roadshow engagement of "Hello, Dolly!" had been at the Chinese from December 19, 1969 until September 24, 1970.  

 

 

Continuing east we get a quick look down Las Palmas Ave. toward the pizza sign of Micelli's Restaurant and, just beyond, the Las Palmas Theatre.  

 

In the next block we get a murky glimpse of the New-View Theatre at 6656 Hollywood Blvd. It opened in 1940 as a newsreel house called the News-View. Later it was the Pussycat Theatre and then became a revival house called the Ritz.  

Paul and Dianne stop at a convenience store and, not being the sharpest guy, he plays around pretending to hold up the store. It ends badly and they go on the run.  

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Pantages, Loew's/El Capitan, Music Box/Pix, Egyptian, Las Palmas and New View/Pussycat/Ritz for more information about these historic Hollywood show houses.

On IMDb: "Aloha, Bobby and Rose"

"The Bride Wore Crutches"

We get a chase down Hollywood Boulevard with views of the Admiral Theatre and the Egyptian in Gregory Ratoff's comedy "The Bride Wore Crutches" (20th Century Fox, 1941). Our cub reporter is chasing some robbers after he witnessed a bank holdup. The only problem is that he lost the robbers and ended up chasing a police car.  

The film stars Lynne Roberts, Ted North, Edgar Kennedy, Robert Armstrong and Lionel Stander. The cinematography was by Charles G. Clarke.

See the pages about the Egyptian Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1922 vintage movie palace along with hundreds of photos. The theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., between McCadden Place and Las Palmas Ave.

After renovation in 1968 the Admiral became the Vine Theatre. It's at 6321 Hollywood Blvd., just east of Vine St. See the page for many photos.

On IMDb: "The Bride Wore Crutches"

"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!"