"Gorilla at Large"

Murder on the midway! Looking west on The Pike in Long Beach with a bit of the marquee of the Strand Theatre on the right. It's a shot from "Gorilla at Large" (20th Century Fox, May 1954), originally released in both 3-D and flat versions. 

Solving the case is complicated by the fact there are two gorillas -- one real, one just a suit. The film did lots of shooting on The Pike. We get an aerial act, a mirror maze, games of chance and lots more. The film stars Anne Bancroft, Cameron Mitchell, Raymond Burr, Lee J. Cobb, Charlotte Austin, Peter Whitney, Lee Marvin and Warren Stevens. Harmon Jones directed. The cinematography was by Lloyd Ahern Sr.

See the page about the Strand Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about this now-vanished Long Beach theatre. 

On IMDb: "Gorilla at Large"

 

A one sheet appearing on IMDb. 

"Cobra"

Sylvester Stallone and his partner Reni Santoni are wandering Main St. looking for leads in a murder case in "Cobra" (Cannon, 1986). They've been told to do whatever they have to in search of the killer. Thanks to Sean Ault for noting the film's Main St. action. 

For this shot they've added some neon to make the block look more interesting than it was. On the far right it's the doorway to the Howell Hotel, 549 S. Main. The  yellow-ocher wall with the red-framed display case is the Art Theatre in the same building at 551 S. Main. We're looking south toward 6th St. That "Deardens" neon on the far left is on a building on the southeast corner of 7th and Main. 

George P. Cosmatos directed this story about an L.A. policeman who has his own violent ways of dealing with criminal types. No actual cobras are involved -- that's his nickname. The film also features Brigitte Neilsen, Andrew Robinson, Brian Thompson, John Herzfeld, Lee Garlington and Val Avery. The cinematography was by Ric Waite. Bill Kenney was the production designer. The film shot in some interesting industrial areas and we see quite a bit of Venice.

Sylvester and Reni coming out of the Howell Hotel, upstairs from the Art Theatre. They also hit a few Main St. bars and a tattoo parlor.  

 

Asking questions in front of the Art Theatre's south display cases. 

 

More questions in front of what had been the Art's boxoffice. They had demolished the tile-fronted original and put a new one to the right, in one of the entrance doorways. 

 

 

 

A detail from the top of the 1.33 version of the shot reveals the outline of the former box office and the light fixture location that had been inside.  

 

 

Another detail from the shot, here looking at the pattern of the tile to the left of the vanished boxoffice.

The look of the boxoffice in 1939. It's a detail from a photo in the Eric Lynxwiler collection. 

 

See the page about the Art Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. The building was demolished several years after this film was shot.  

There's a lot of action in Long Beach. Here as Sylvester and Brigitte turn off Ocean Blvd. in an attempt to lose some killers we get a shot of the closed Imperial and West Coast Theatres, 319 and 333 E. Ocean Blvd.  

 

As the chase in Long Beach continues we get a fuzzy view of the Jergins Trust Building beyond the newspaper rack. It housed the State Theatre, 104 E. Ocean Blvd.

See the pages about the Imperial Theatre, the West Coast and the State Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about these three now-vanished Long Beach film palaces.

On IMDb: "Cobra"

"Being the Ricardos"

Desi and Lucy: Javier Bardem takes Nicole Kidman out to an unnamed L.A. nightclub on a early date to teach her how to do the rumba in Aaron Sorkin's film "Being the Ricardos" (Amazon, 2021). They're in the Queen's Salon on the Queen Mary, once used as the cinema for first class passengers.

 

The film also features J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jake Lacy, Linda Lavin, Ronny Cox and Clark Gregg. The cinematography was by Jeff Cronenweth. 

 

Later we're back looking at the stage end of the Queen's Salon for scenes at Ciro's, a nightclub where Javier's character has a gig as the bandleader. 

 

For the back door at Ciro's they used the exit passage on the south side of the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway. Thanks to David Saffer for noting this use of the Palace. Note the "Stage Door" sign on the left wall, painted there for the 1993 Bette Midler TV movie version of "Gypsy."

See the pages about the Palace Theatre and the theatre spaces on the Queen Mary on the Los Angeles Theatres site. 

On IMDb: "Being the Ricardos"

"Coming Attractions" aka "Loose Shoes"

The marquee of the Rivoli Theatre in Long Beach was one of many used for the opening credits of "Coming Attractions" (Cinema Finance Associates, 1978). Thanks to Deanna Bayless for the screenshot. The theatre was at 525 N. Long Beach Blvd, just south of 6th St. It was demolished for construction of the less-than-successful Long Beach Mall. See the page about the Rivoli Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information.

 

Ira Miller directed this comedy, structured as a series of skits and trailers. Featured are Bill Murray, Buddy Hackett, Howard Hesseman, Royce D. Applegate, Lewis Arquette, Tom Baker and Dorothy Van.

 

The film got a 1980 reissue by National American Films. Atlantic Releasing gave it a 1982 release, retitling it "Loose Shoes." Marc Edward Heuck reports that no prints have surfaced other than the 1982 version so we don't know what theatre marquee they used for the original title credit. They didn't bother to use a marquee for the title card of the "Loose Shoes" reissue -- it's just lettering on a plain background.

 

 

The Whittier Theatre, once at 11612 Whittier Blvd. in Whittier, gets the screenplay credit.  

 

 

The Wiltern Theatre, 3790 Wilshire Blvd, is seen here with an interesting "Pacific's" red neon overlay on top of the "Warner" above the center readerboard. 

 

 

A wider Wiltern view for DP Jack Beckett. 

 

 

The Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, gets the music credit. 

 

 

Editor Alan Balsam gets the marquee at some unknown theatre.

 

 

We're at the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway, for the credit for producer Joel Chernoff. 

 

 

Director Ira Miller puts himself on the marquee of the La Reina Theatre, 14626 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.

 

 

The Gilmore Drive-In is seen at the end the film. Thanks to Michael Kilgore for the screenshot, a post on Cinema Treasures. He comments: 

"The poorly-received 1978 comedy... ends with a lengthy shot of the Gilmore. It starts with the final frame of the final skit projected on the Gilmore’s screen, then a helicopter view sweeps around the darkened drive-in, ending on the front sign lettered with 'The End'..."

Check out the page about the Gilmore Drive-In on the Los Angeles Theatres site. 

On IMDB: "Coming Attractions"   The full film can be seen as "Loose Shoes" on YouTube.

"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

We get several partial views of Long Beach's Rivoli Theatre, 525 Long Beach Blvd., in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (United Artists, 1963). Here it's over a bit to the right of center with part of the marquee and vertical visible. They used a YMCA that's out of the frame to the left as the police station for the fictional town of Santa Rosita. This gleeful guy has just run over Spencer Tracy's hat that was tossed out a window when he missed the hat rack. We're looking south on Long Beach Blvd. 

 

 

A detail from the shot. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for all the screenshots appearing here.  

Much later in the film we get this view of the side of the Rivoli over on the left beyond the car dealership as Tracy leaves the station to go find the loot everyone's been looking for. Stanley Kramer directed the film that also stars Jonathan Winters, Jimmy Durante, Ethel Merman, and seemingly hundreds of others. The cinematography was by Ernest Laszlo. The format is Ultra Panavision, a 70mm process using a 1.25 anamorphic lens resulting in an aspect ratio of 2.76 to 1. 

 

 

A detail from the shot. 

 

A view west on Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach with the signage of the Roxy Theatre, 127 W. Ocean Blvd., over on the far right. It's a shot from the final chase sequence just before Tracy and the the two cabs following him head out onto the Rainbow Pier. 

 

A detail from the right side of the Roxy shot.

 

"Cape Fear" is on the marquee at the State Theatre, 104 E. Ocean Blvd., as the three vehicles head out around the Rainbow Pier. Bruce Kimmel comments: 

"Well, now we know approximately when this was shot - this double bill of 'Cape Fear' and 'Six Black Horses' opened on May 16th, 1962. To put that in perspective, the film did not open until November of 1963. That's over a year of editing. Yikes. And I believe they were editing until just a few weeks before the premiere."

 

 

A detail taken from the State Theatre shot. 

Tracy, carrying the satchel with all the loot, is trying to elude his pursuers on foot when he ends up on the roof of a condemned hotel. The back of the West Coast Theatre, 333 E. Ocean Blvd., is over on the right. 

 

 

A closer look at the West Coast.  

 

 

A moment later the Arena and the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium come into view. Thanks for the screenshots, Kurt!  

See the pages about the Rivoli Theatre, the Roxy Theatre, the State Theatre. the West Coast and the Municipal Auditorium on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about these five Long Beach theatres. They've all been demolished. 

On IMDb: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

 

Searchlights are in the sky over Hollywood for the opening of the Cinerama Dome. "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" was the inaugural attraction, opening November 7, 1963 in a 70mm reserved seat engagement billed as being "in Cinerama." It had a 67 week run.

It's a Hollywood Citizen - News photo by Peter Banks. Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality spotted it on eBay and has all the data on his Noirish post #7127.

 

The Dome in 1963 with its opening attraction on the marquee. Thanks to Alison Martino for sharing the photo on her Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles where it generated lots of comments.  

 

A panoramic shot taken from the house right side of the wrap-around projection booth by Edward M. Pio Roda graces Stuart Elliot's 2013 N.Y. Times article "TCM Moves to Lure Film Buffs Out of Their Living Rooms." On the Dome's screen is the 70mm presentation of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," as part of the 2013 TCM Festival in Hollywood. In this image the screen doesn't look very big but it's actually 32' x 86' when the full size is used. 

See the pages about the Cinerama Dome on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the theatre.  The main page has some photos of the opening. See the exterior views page for additional shots taken during the "Mad World" engagement. 

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"Gone in 60 Seconds"

 The State Theatre on Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach is seen in H.B. Halicki's film "Gone in 60 Seconds" (H.B. Halicki International, 1974). 

 

 

 

The Tracy theatre on Seaside Way in Long Beach also gets its moment in the film. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the screenshots. He notes that we also see the Palace Theatre on Pine Ave. in Long Beach. 

 

See the pages about the Tracy Theatre, the State Theatre and the Palace Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about those three now-vanished Long Beach film palaces.

 On IMDb: "Gone in 60 Seconds"

"The Astrologer"

The independently produced Craig Denney film "The Astrologer" (1976) features the marquee of the Belmont Theatre in Long Beach. It's presenting the premiere of the film-within-the-film, also called "The Astrologer." Thanks to Mark E. Hueck for spotting the theatre in the film and Eric Schaefer for getting the screenshot. 

See the page about the Fox Belmont Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos of the building. It opened in 1929 and was repurposed as a health club in the early 1980s.

On IMDb: "The Astrologer"

"In the Mood"

The Warner Grand in San Pedro gets a couple of scenes in Phil Alden Robinson's film "In The Mood" (Kings Road/Lorimar, 1987). The year is 1944.

The film stars Patrick Dempsey, Talia Balsam, Beverly D'Angelo, Michael Constantine, Betty Jinnette, Kathleen Freeman, Peter Hobbs and Kim Myers in the story of a teenager eloping with two adult women. It's also known as "The Woo Woo Kid." As they say, "based on a true story." The cinematography was by John Lindley. 

 

Patrick at the boxoffice. "Fox West Coast Theatres - The Place To Go!"

 

See the pages about the Warner Grand on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos. It's currently doing well as a performing arts center owned by the City of Los Angeles.

 

 

 

We visit Yuma when Patrick elopes with Talia Balsam. The town of Fillmore was standing in for it. Here we're looking south toward the Towne Theatre, at 338 Central Ave. Note the stagehouse peeking up in the upper center of the shot.  

 

 

After an elopement with Beverly D'Angelo, Patrick gets sent to a juvenile prison, escapes, and is on the run. A title tells us that this theatre is "Somewhere in Nevada." He goes in to sleep. 

 

They did a lovely front for "And So They Were Married" with Robert Mitchum and Simone Simon. That was a reissue title for "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore," a 1944 Monogram release. That title was originally used for a 1936 film with Melvyn Douglas and Mary Astor. 

 

Thanks to Dennis Morawaski for identifying this theatre as the Art in Long Beach. See the Art Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about it. It had opened in 1925 as the Carter and got a deco rebuild after the 1933 earthquake.

 

 

Once we're inside, it's a return to the Warner Grand in San Pedro. Note the distinctive door design and lobby plasterwork. He's awakened by an usherette played by Kim Myers.   

 

 

Once she figures out who he is, she asks him out for a cup of coffee.

 

 

When they exit, we again see the front of the Art in Long Beach. He's leery of getting involved.

 

 

Just coffee, he says. Nothing else. No sex. "Well," she says. "Maybe a Danish."

 

 

The shot continues with a pan to a wedding chapel across the street. They married six weeks later. 

 

On IMDb: "In the Mood"

 

The 1986 shoot at the Art Theatre in Long Beach. Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing the photo. Ron included this shot, along with many other great ones from his collection, in "Why I Love Long Beach," a video that he posted on Facebook to help the "Long Beach Gives" 2024 fundraising campaign for the Historical Society of Long Beach.