"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 Adventures"

A mystery theatre seen in "Mabel's Adventures" (Keystone, 1912). It appears we're at someplace like a theatre called Pacific, Optic or Majestic yet the known locations with those names don't match what we see here. Thanks to John Bengtson for the screenshot.  It'll remain on the unidentified list at the moment. Any ideas?

The short film, directed by Mack Sennett, stars Mabel Normand, Fred Mace and Ford Sterling.

On IMDb: "Mabel's Adventures"

"Those Love Pangs"

We're at an unidentified theatre in the Charlie Chaplin short "Those Love Pangs" (Keystone, 1914). Thanks to Silent Film Detective John Bengtson for the screenshot.

The same entrance is seen as a skating rink entrance in the Chaplin film "The Rink" (Mutual, 1916). It also appears in the Mack Swain film "A Movie Star" (Keystone, 1916).

On IMDb: "Those Love Pangs"


Check out John's latest explorations via the Silent Locations blog "Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)." His books are available through Amazon or your local bookseller:

"Silent Echoes: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Buster Keaton"

"Silent Traces: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Charlie Chaplin"

"Silent Visions: Discovering Early Hollywood and New York Through the Films of Harold Lloyd"

"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"

"A Movie Star"

We get a look at the exterior of an unidentified theatre in the 24 minute short "A Movie Star" (Keystone, 1916) with Mack Swain, Louella Maxam, May Wells, Ray Grey and Phyllis Allen. Swain, a a star of the film currently playing, shows up to get a little adulation. At the end his wife shows up and chases him home.

Swain posing next to his poster. 

The rear of the auditorium, most likely a set. 

A screen view. 

Another view of the boxoffice of the unidentified theatre without the crowd. 

The display case area on the left side of the entrance. Swain's wife is on the rampage.

The same theatre entrance is seen in the Chaplin film "Those Love Pangs" (Keystone, 1914) and, disguised as a skating rink entrance, in Chaplin's "The Rink" (Mutual, 1916).

On IMDb: "A Movie Star"

The film is included on Disc 1 of "Slapstick Encyclopedia."