"Edge of Doom"

Footage of various downtown L.A. locations appears behind the credits of "Edge of Doom" (RKO, 1950). Behind Samuel Goldwyn's credit we're looking south on Main St. from the middle of the 300 block. That's the Follies on the right. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for spotting the theatre.   

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St. It opened as the Belasco in 1904 and was demolished in 1974.  

Mark Robson directed. The cinematography was by Harry Stradling. Farley Granger plays a troubled young guy who can't understand why his ogre of a boss won't give him a discount on flowers for his mother's funeral. And he gets so pissed off at the local priest that he kills him. Dana Andrews plays another priest who tries to help. Joan Evans is Farley's girlfriend. It's all a religious mess. 

 But, 35 minutes into the film we get the Galaxy Theatre. Farley has killed the priest and he's out on the street.

 

Thanks to Claudia for spotting this shot and the later views of the marquee and boxoffice. It's actually the Mason Theatre, 127 S. Broadway. We're looking north toward 1st St. At the time of this film it was a Spanish-language house. Here the marquee is advertising the RKO title "Our Very Own," another Samuel Goldwyn production. That one, not yet released at the time of the shoot, starred Farley along with Ann Blythe. It was out in July 1950; "Edge of Doom" was released in August. 

 

Farley approaches the theatre and notices a commotion. Somehow he's drawn into the crowd and we get this shot of the boxoffice.  

 

 A look over toward the entrance doors.

 

A shot from out on Broadway. It turns out there had been a robbery. 

 

 

A look at the marquee soffit. The Galaxy's robbery is the subject of discussion later in the film and a hood played by Paul Stewart is brought in for questioning by the police. Later he's fingered for the murder of the priest as well. But Farley is "helped" by another priest played by Dana Andrews and later turns himself in because, as Dana tells us, he was troubled by his "immortal soul."  

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Mason Theatre. It closed in 1955 and was soon demolished. 

On IMDb: "Edge of Doom   The full film is on Internet Archive.  

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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. 

"Mame"

Lucille Ball and Kirby Furlong take in a New York City burlesque show in "Mame" (Warner Bros., 1974). They're at the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St. The decor we see is the result of S. Charles Lee's late 30s remodel of the theatre. 

 

The chorus line on the runway at the Follies. These shots are in the middle of the "Open a New Window" number near the beginning of the show as Lucy exposes the young Patrick to a variety of new experiences.

The film also features Bea Arthur, Robert Preston, Bruce Davison, Jane Connell, George Chiang and Joyce Van Patten. Gene Saks directed the film, based on the Broadway musical by Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee and Jerry Herman. That show was based on the book "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis. The film's cinematography was by Philip Lathrop.

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Follies Theatre for more information and many photos. It had opened in 1904 as the Belasco. Demolition was in 1974.   

 

 

 

We're at a tryout of a new show at a theatre in New Haven. It's a show about an astronomer. Bea Arthur, the star of this show, is onstage for the number "The Man in the Moon (is a Lady)." She's given Lucy a job as the moon girl as she's lost everything in the stock market crash. The theatre they used is the Wilshire Ebell, 4400 Wilshire Blvd. Thanks to Kevin Miller for spotting the Ebell in the film. Usually we don't see their proscenium painted red and gold. 

 

A shot to the rear of the main floor. 

 

Up in the balcony. At this point the number is going well. 

 

 

 

A nice view as lights come up behind the scrim. 

 

Something's amiss. The stage manager consults his prompt book. 

Bea killing time and asking where Lucy is. She's still in her dressing room fiddling with makeup.  

 

Yelling to the electrician: "Tell her to get her ass on that moon!"

 

 

 

The moon rises, but not elegantly. 

 

 

 

Problems on the moon. 

 

A nice look at the house curtain as it comes in. 

 

The moon girl getting fired. Bea says: "I have an astronomical discovery for you. The man in the moon is a bitch."

 

 

Patrick hitched to New Haven to see the show and tells Mame that her bit was the best part.  

 

 

They walk offstage right after the "My Best Girl" number.

See the page about the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos. The bottom of the page also has a rundown of the many films that have used the theatre.

On IMDb: "Mame"

The March 26, 1974 "Mame" premiere at the Cinerama Dome. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing the photo on the Mid Century Modern Facebook page. Theodora Van Runkle, the film's costume designer, designed the Easter bonnet to sit atop the dome.

"The Big Combo"

  "Gala Stripathon." The crime drama "The Big Combo" (Allied Artists, 1955) is set in New York. This shot could be anywhere but then we notice the Barclay Hotel signage in the distance. It's at 4th and Main so that puts us in front of the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St.

The police lieutenant played by Cornel Wilde is headed to the stage door to wait for Helene Stanton, playing an old girlfriend who strips there. Joseph H. Lewis directed the film, also featuring Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy, Robert Middleton, Lee Van Cleef and Jean Wallace. The cinematography was by John Alton. 

 

 

Another shot a moment later. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Follies Theatre for more information and many photos. It had opened in 1904 as the Belasco. Demolition was in 1974. 

On IMDb: "The Big Combo"

"Lady Sings the Blues"

Diana Ross is playing Billie Holiday sitting onstage waiting to come to the mic to sing in this shot from "Lady Sings the Blues" (Paramount, 1972). We're at the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St., standing in for an unnamed theatre in an unidentified town on the road.

Sidney Furie directed the film which also features Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton, Sid Melton, Virginia Capers, Yvonne Fair, Isabel Sanford and Scatman Crothers. The cinematography was by John Alonzo. 

 

A fine view of the Follies proscenium during the number "Mean To Me."

 

 

Just before Ms. Ross collapses during the number we get this view into the house as the bandleader played by James T. Callahan becomes aware that something's wrong.

Later in the film a newspaper tells us she's playing Los Angeles on another tour, but we don't see that performance or get a theatre named. 

The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4400 Wilshire Blvd., is standing in for Carnegie Hall. It's the end of the film and was the last day of the shoot. Here Ms. Ross takes a bow after a number.

 

 A view from out front. 

 

 

 

Backstage at the Ebell with Billy Dee Williams as her husband and Ned Glass as her agent. 

 

 

 

The film closes with the number "God Bless the Child" and, as Ms. Ross sings, we get a montage of newspaper headlines outlining events after the Carnegie concert. She died at age 44 in 1959. 

 

See the pages about the Follies Theatre and the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the buildings along with many photos. The Ebell is very much alive for a variety of live events. The Follies was demolished in 1974.

 

On IMDb: "Lady Sings the Blues"

 

A publicity still from the Ebell shoot. It appears on IMDb. 

 

 

A lobby card featuring an image from the Ebell. It appears on IMDb.

"The Blue Knight"

A look north across the front of the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St., from the TV movie "The Blue Knight" (1973). Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre in the film and getting the screenshots. 

 

He notes that William Holden plays a veteran beat cop who checks in on burlesque performer Eileen Brennan. It's based on the Joseph Wambaugh novel and also features Lee Remick, Sam Elliott, Joe Santos, Anne Archer and Vic Tayback. Robert Butler directed.  

 

 

Some of the display work at the Follies.

 

 

A backstage shot.

Thanks, Eric! See the page about the Follies Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres page. The house had opened in 1904 as the Belasco. Demolition was in 1974. 

On IMDb: "The Blue Knight"

"Enter Laughing"

It's set in New York, but we spend a lot of time inside the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St., in Carl Reiner's "Enter Laughing" (Columbia, 1967). And, no, this isn't the Follies. The exterior shots of the "Harrison Marlow Theatre" were a backlot creation. The film is based on the play by Joel Stein that was drawn from Reiner's novel.

Reni Santorini plays a 17 year old looking for his first break as an actor. Here he's coming in with several boxes under his arm containing a used tux in that he bought for his part in the show. Even in these very low-res screenshots from a bootleg DVD we get a sense of the look and color scheme of S. Charles Lee's moderne renovation of the theatre.

Care for a project? Perhaps you can find a better version of the film on some streaming service. If so, would you consider getting some better screenshots to replace these? 

A look at one of Lee's redesigned proscenium columns. The theatre dated from 1904. Onstage that's Jose Ferrer as theatre owner Harrison Marlowe.

Reni's girlfriend Janet Margolin comes in during a rehearsal and is shocked, shocked, to see him kissing the leading lady, Elaine May.

A shot with Reni and stage manager Richard Deacon stage right. 

A peek up right with the dressing room stairs beyond the end of the pinrail. 

A look into the house during a rehearsal. Leading lady Elaine May is on the right. 

 A view from upstage right as Reni leaves the set. 

 One of the second floor dressing rooms. 

In the second floor dressing room corridor with Richard Deacon checking on Reni.

Offstage right with a peek at the dimmerboard. 

Reni crossing behind the pinrail stage right as he tries to figure out how to make an entrance. 

In the second row back it's Shelley Winters and David Opatoshu as Reni's parents. Also in the cast are Jack Gilford, Don Rickles and Michael J. Pollard.

A promotional shot for the film with Reni and Elaine at the Follies pinrail.

Head to the page about the Follies Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building as well as many photos. The theatre opened in 1904 as the Belasco and was demolished in 1974.

On IMDb: "Enter Laughing"