"The Five Heartbeats"

We spend some time in the Million Dollar Theatre in "The Five Heartbeats" (20th Century Fox, 1991). It's the story of five guys in a Motown-style 60s vocal group from Harlem. Thanks to Jon Olivan for noting the use of the theatre in the film. At the time, he was in charge of negotiating the deals and managing the shoots for Ira Yellin, then the owner of the theatre. He notes that the Million Dollar was standing in for a theatre like the Apollo. 

In this shot it's before a rehearsal for a talent show. The film features Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon, Harry Lennix, Diahann Carroll, Harold Nicholas, Tressa Thomas, John Canada Terrell and many others. Robert Townsend directed. The cinematographer was Bill Dill. Jon notes that it was a low budget production. We don't get any wide shots of the theatre auditorium. What extras they could afford were moved around from shot to shot to make the narrower shots represent a full theatre.  

 

The MC onstage the evening of the show.  

 

 

The crowd favorite the Heartbeats are trying to beat.  

 

 

A look to the balcony.  

 

The Five Heartbeats onstage at the Million Dollar.  

 

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It's at 3rd and Broadway and dates from 1918.  

 

A subtitle says this is the Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. It was shot at the Wadsworth Theatre, on the Veterans Administration campus in West L.A.

 

See the page about the Wadsworth Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building.  

 

It's unknown what town we were supposed to be in for this shot but the guys are at the Los Angeles Orpheum, 842 S. Broadway. See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Orpheum Theatre.  

 

At the Fox Theatre in Detroit in 1986, so a subtitle says. Actually we're back at the Million Dollar.  

 

This is noted as being the Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia. It appears to be another scene shot at the Wadsworth.  

 

 

At an unidentified venue for the last concert sequence of the film. The subtitle says we're at the Beacon Theatre in New York in 1972. It certainly isn't the Beacon.  

 

A look off left at the "Beacon."  

On IMDb: "The Five Heartbeats" 

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"Return From Witch Mountain"

A view north on Grand toward the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from "Return from Witch Mountain" (Disney, 1978). 

 

There are lots of scenes of the leveled-but-not-rebuilt Bunker Hill area. Here it's a view of the back of the Million Dollar Theatre's building when Kim Richards and her new friends head out in search of her kidnapped brother, played by Ike Eisenmann. 

See the pages about the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.  

 

Adults in the film include Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, and Jack Soo. John Hough directed. The cinematography was by Frank V. Phillips. It's a sappy kid's movie but, as Lisa Kouza Braddock notes, worth seeing for its location shots of the Rose Bowl, Wolf Lair and various industrial and warehouse sites.    

 

Some of the cleared blocks for what would become L.A. Live and the Convention Center. 

On IMDb: "Return From Witch Mountain"  

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"Target Earth"

We're in an abandoned city, supposedly Chicago, after an alien invasion in "Target Earth" (Allied Artists, 1954). Kathleen Crowley, waking after what she intended to be a fatal dose of sleeping pills, walks down Upper 5th toward Grand Ave. 

On the left it's the Engstrum Apartments, out of sight just beyond is the Edison Building, now rebranded as One Bunker Hill. Straight ahead on the left is the Biltmore Hotel parking garage. On the right it's the Biltmore Hotel and the stage end of the Biltmore Theatre.   

The theatre opened in 1924 and was demolished in 1964. The site was a parking lot for two decades before a residential tower was built. See the Biltmore Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for photos and data.

Kathleen's character and a handful of others missed the call to evacuate and have to face the alien robots. Also featured are Richard Denning, Virginia Grey, Richard Reeves, Whit Bissel and Robert Roark. Sherman A. Rose directed. The cinematography was by Guy Roe. It's based on the short story "Deadly City" by Paul W. Fairman.  

Thanks to David Kimbrough for commenting about the use of Bunker Hill locations in a Facebook post he did for the Images and Memories of Los Angeles group that includes many shots from the film. He notes that a poorly colorized version of the film is on Internet Archive. 

It's not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination but we do get some nice downtown shots including views of the Library, the Mayflower Hotel (now the Hilton Checkers) and the Grand Ave. side of the Edison Building. David notes that some of the less obvious locations include Bob's Cafe at 708 W. 3rd, Stanley's Barber Shop at 704 W. 6th, Boulevard Stationers at 5406 Wilshire and the intersection of Virgil and Beverly.

On IMDb: "Target Earth"    

 

A poster for the film that was located by David Kimbrough.

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"Out of the Dark"

The Million Dollar Theatre at 3rd and Broadway is seen with "Mortuary Academy" on the marquee in "Out of the Dark" (New Line Cinema, 1989). A killer is stalking young ladies who work in a phone sex operation. Featured are Cameron Dye, Lynn Danielson-Rosenthal, Karen Lorre, Karen Black, Bud Cort and Divine. The cinematography was by Julio Macat. 

Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre in the film and getting this screenshot as well as the one below. He notes:  

"There are no interiors of the theatre but much of the action takes place in the offices and hallways high above. It's a low budget film so I am assuming the interiors were done on site. The film's director, Michael Schroeder, put his previous film, 'Mortuary Academy,' on the marquee. Both films share some cast members."

 A later shot from in front of the Bradbury Building.

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1918 vintage movie palace along with many photos.

On IMDb: "Out of the Dark"

"Terminal Island"

The Million Dollar Theatre at 3rd and Broadway is seen in the background for a brief moment at the beginning of "Terminal Island" (Dimension Films, 1973). TV station personnel are reviewing a series of interviews they had done soliciting opinions about the island project. Thanks to Stephen Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre in the film and getting the screenshot.

No, the Terminal Island of the title isn't the community in the Los Angeles harbor near San Pedro. This one is 40 miles off the coast - a place where convicted murderers are exiled. The film features Don Marshall, Phyllis Davis, Marta Kristen, Tom Selleck and Roger E. Mosley. Stephanie Rothman directed. The cinematography was by Daniel Lacambre. The art director was Jack Fisk. 

 

 

A shot in the TV studio's editing room. They were reviewing their interviews because the island was newsworthy again after a new convicted murder had been sentenced to be transported there.

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1918 vintage movie palace along with many photos.

On IMDb: "Terminal Island" 

"Murphy's Law"

We get this fine view of the Million Dollar Theatre, 3rd and Broadway, in "Murphy's Law" (Cannon, 1986). It's a police drama starring Charles Bronson, Kathleen Wilhoite and Carrie Snodgress. J. Lee Thompson directed. The cinematography was by Alex Phillips, Jr.

Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre in the film and getting the screenshot. He comments: 

"Bronson has been battling various enemies on a very rainy Blade Runner-y night. He drives into the foreground of this shot then enters the Bradbury Building."

See the Million Dollar pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history and many, many photos. This 1918 vintage theatre, still at 3rd and Broadway, was Sid Grauman's first Los Angeles operation.

On IMDb: "Murphy's Law"

"The Turning Point"

We get this great shot looking east from the top of the 2nd St. tunnel in William Dieterle's "The Turning Point" (Paramount, 1952)  It's one of many terrific Bunker Hill shots in the film. On the left, walking up the incline in the shadows, is Matt Conroy, playing a crooked cop who will get bumped off a moment later. His father is played by Edmond O'Brien, heading a prosecution team trying to get the mob out of town. O'Brien's character doesn't know that his father has been on the take.

 

Panning to the left we get this view. Across Hill St. we see the house right side of the auditorium of the Mason Theatre. The Mason's entrance was at 127 S. Broadway but with a long, long lobby and its location back behind an office building the auditorium was almost at Hill St. Note the ramp just beyond that billboard. The theatre was on a steep lot. You could walk up that ramp to get to the 2nd balcony.

 

Moments later we get a view of not only the cop lying dead but the mob boys, hiding in a delivery truck, also bumping off the guy who killed him. Later they'll go after his wife, a lady who knew too much. Here the police have arrived to survey the damage.

From this angle we get the Mason's auditorium again but also, toward the right, the side of the stagehouse. The painting on the side says "Frank Fouce's Mason Theatre." That's the Times building beyond at 1st and Spring.

See the Mason Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos. The theatre was demolished in 1956.

 

William Holden plays an altruistic reporter who was a college buddy of O'Brien's character. Here he's leaving a rooming house where he's been looking for the wife of the guy who killed O'Brien's crooked father. In the distance we get a nice view of the 3rd St. side of the Million Dollar Theatre. 

 

 

Another view from the scene. The Belmont Apartments was at 251 S. Hill St. $6.00 a week, $22.50 a month. Holden, of course, falls for O'Brien's girlfriend, played by Alexis Smith. The film also features Ed Begley, Adele Longmire, Danny Dayton, Ray Teal, Neville Brand and Howard Freeman. The cinematography was by Lionel Lindon. It ends with a shootout at the fights at the Olympic Auditorium.

See the Million Dollar pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history and many, many photos. This 1918 vintage theatre, still at 3rd and Broadway, was Sid Grauman's first Los Angeles operation.

On IMDb: "The Turning Point"

"Arabella and the Water Tank"

This view to the back of the auditorium at the Million Dollar Theatre is seen twice in the 3 minute Soundie titled "Arabella and the Water Tank" (Soundies Distributing Corporation, 1941). Note that at the time of this shot two of the skulls were still on the front of the balcony and that they had added banks of spotlights on either side of the booth. 

The Soundie features "Doodles" Weaver performing a piece written by James Copp III. Thanks to Mark Cantor for spotting the theatre and running this short as part of a presentation at Cinecon 58. He's the author of "The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of the 1940s," available on Amazon. The short can be seen as a post from Mark on the Facebook page The World of Soundies. It's also on the site Jazz On Film. 

This 1918 vintage theatre at 3rd & Broadway was Sid Grauman's first Los Angeles operation. See the Million Dollar pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history and many, many photos.

"InAPPropriate Comedy"

We get a quick look at the front of the Million Dollar Theatre, 3rd and Broadway, in "InAPPropriate Comedy" (Freestyle Releasing, 2013). The film is structured as a series of not-very-funny skits with icons for each shown on a screen as different apps that get selected by the finger of an unseen person. The title of this one, "The Porno Review," is seen on the marquee. 

 

It's a skit styled after the Siskel and Ebert format except they're reviewing porno films. Yes, this is as close as we get to a view of a theatre interior. Here we have Michelle Rodriguez, Rob Schneider and Jonathan Spencer.

Performers in other skits include Lindsay Lohan and Adrien Brody. The film was directed by Vince Offer. Ken Barrows did the cinematography.

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1918 vintage movie palace along with many photos. 

On IMDb: "InAPPropriate Comedy"

"Whore"

A fine view of the Million Dollar Theatre, 3rd and Broadway, in Ken Russell's film "Whore" (Trimark Pictures, 1991). This was supposedly his answer to the glamorous life portrayed in "Pretty Woman." The film stars Teresa Russell, Benjamin Mouton, Antonio Fargas and Elizabeth Morehead. Amir Mokri was the cinematographer.

 

A look at the Cameo and Arcade in the 500 block of Broadway. On this side of the Cameo's marquee Ken has "Lair of the White Worm," a film of his from 1988.  Maybe "Space Sluts" was something that he was considering for his next project. 

 

 

Another shot of the Cameo with their regular programming seen on the south side of the marquee. 

 

 

A closer look at the Arcade Theatre. "Crimes of Passion" was a Ken Russell film from 1984. Kathleen Turner played the China Blue character. 

 

 

A look at the Century Plaza Theatres in Century City. At the time they were operated by Cineplex Odeon.

Many thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatres in the film and getting the screenshots. See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre, Cameo Theatre, Arcade Theatre and the Century Plaza Theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of these buildings along with many photos. 

On IMDb: "Whore"

"Constantine"

We get a bit of the Million Dollar Theatre, 3rd & Broadway, in this shot from Francis Lawrence's film "Constantine" (Warner Bros., 2005). The film stars Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton and Djimon Hounsou. Rachel is a detective who needs the help of the "demonologist" played by Keanu to prove that the death of her sister wasn't a suicide. It gets complicated and includes an appearance by the devil himself.

 

Keanu and Rachel are seen in this view west on 8th St. with the marquee of the Olympic Theatre, 313 W. 8th, in the background. The brick crosswalk area is at the 8th & Broadway intersection. 

 

Another shot looking west across Broadway with the May Co. building on the left and the marquee of the Olympic on the right. On the far right it's part of the Hulett C. Merritt building on the northwest corner of 8th & Broadway. 

 

 

 

Keanu is in the street in this shot looking west on 8th toward Broadway. On the left is a religious merchandise store built into retail spaces on the side of the Tower Theatre for the film. On the right is a look at the Chapman Building in its pre-renovated state. The marquee of the Olympic is visible in the next block. 

 

 

 

A closer look at the set on the side of the Tower. Thanks to Salvador Andrew Gomez for spotting the Tower in the film.

 

 

Later we get another look at the Million Dollar in this view south on Broadway.

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre, Tower Theatre, and Olympic Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of these buildings along with many photos. 

On IMDb: "Constantine"

"Broadway Treasures"

Hillsman Wright of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation explores the Million Dollar Theatre ticket lobby murals hidden for over 75 years above a dropped ceiling in a shot from Haeyong Moon's 2019 documentary "Broadway Treasures: A love letter to the historic theatres of Los Angeles."

With interviews shot over a period of nine years, the story focuses on the many individuals who have tried to resuscitate downtown L.A.'s theatre district. The film features many theatres including the Regent, the Globe and the Orpheum.

On You Tube: trailer | More about the film: www.mooncinema.com

On IMDb: "Broadway Treasures"

A poster for the film featuring a shot of the State Theatre, 7th & Broadway.

See the page about the Downtown Theatre District Overview on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a rundown of the theatrical survivors on Broadway and nearby streets.

"Paparazzi"

We get a nice shot of the Million Dollar Theatre, 3rd and Broadway, in "Paparazzi" (20th Century Fox, 2004). A young Hollywood star played by Cole Hauser tries to get even over an incident with four overly zealous photographers. The guys work for a sleezy tabloid called "L.A. Paparazzi." That's one of their racks in the lower right.

Hauser is seen doing filming at several downtown locations. Paul Abascal directed the film that also features Robin Tunney as the star's wife and Dennis Farina as the police detective who is on the case after the photographers are bumped off.

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1918 vintage movie palace along with many photos.

At the end of the film Hauser does a premiere at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. 

All the celebrities evidently wanted to sit in the balcony. 

Hauser going to the ticket lobby to confront the paparazzi. He's taken care of the worst four of the bunch. See the pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building along with hundreds of photos.

On IMDb: "Paparazzi"

"Blade Runner"

In Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (Ladd Company/Warner Bros., 1982) we have a number of shots of the marquee as lots of the action was filmed across the street in the Bradbury Building. The film stars Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Darryl Hannah and Rutger Hauer. The cinematography was by Jordan Cronenweth.

Darryl Hannah coming into the Bradbury Building. The columns were added by the for the film by the production designer, Lawrence G. Paull.

Another shot from later in the film.

See the pages about the Million Dollar Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the 1918 vintage movie palace along with many photos.

 

About 50 minutes into the film Harrison Ford goes to Taffey Lewis' Snake Pit Bar. There are stories about some of this being shot at the Wiltern Theatre, 3790 Wilshire Blvd. The theatre was closed at the time and certainly could have been used for a shoot. But there's nothing we see on the screen that looks anything like the theatre's lobby areas, except perhaps for the pinkish color scheme. 

See the BladeZone page for some comments. They note:

"The Wiltern Theatre - Used for some interiors of Taffey Lewis' bar, the decision of using the Wiltern was due to its art deco design which easily gives off a feeling of opulence and decadence. Though this was the master idea, in the end, like with Rick Deckard's 'Frank Lloyd Wright' apartment, the set for the interiors for J.F. Sebastian's apartment was redressed to look like the Wiltern and was used for most of the shot." 

The Wiltern is also mentioned on a 2007 page exploring the film's locations for an Architecture and Film course taught by Terri Meyer Boake. Thanks to Sean Ault for uncovering the Wiltern stories and finding a clip of the scene on YouTube. 

 

 

 At the bar. 

 

 

Calling Sean Young. 

See the pages about the Wiltern Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for the history of this deco landmark along with hundreds of photos of all areas of the building. 

On IMDb: "Blade Runner"