"Searching"

 

John Cho is looking for his missing daughter and accosts a teenager played by Buck Reed in a theatre lobby in "Searching" (Sony Pictures, 2018). The film is set in the San Jose area and John had tracked him down at the "Oaktree Theatres." The location they used was the Regency Valley Plaza Theatres in North Hollywood. 

 

The kid posted an obnoxious remark saying the daughter was with him and he was her pimp. The film, directed by Aneesh Chaganty, also features Debra Messing, Michelle La and Sara Sohn. The cinematography was by Juan Sebastian Baron, Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Midnight Moon for noting the appearance of the theatre in the film. 

 

 

 The encounter ends up online. Here the guy in blue has also started filming it.

 

We watch with John as he later sees the footage online as "Crazy Dad Theater Attack."

 

 

Other customers flee as the encounter gets violent. The kid ends up in the hospital and the altercation doesn't lead John any closer to finding his daughter.  

For more about this six screen complex see the page about the Valley Plaza Theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It opened in 1976 on Bellingham Ave. just south of Victory Blvd. The theatres closed for good in 2020.

On IMDb: "Searching"

"Don Jon"

"Do you like movies?" Scarlett Johansson asks Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the romcom "Don Jon" (Relativity Media, 2013). It's set in New Jersey but the location they used for a date was the Valley Plaza Theatres in North Hollywood. He likes seducing many different girls but also has a love of porno. 

 

The film, directed by Gordon-Levitt, also features Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Brie Larson and Glenne Headly. The cinematography was by Thomas Kloss. Thanks to Jared Cowan for identifying the theatre. He included the film in "This Dilapidated Valley Shopping Center Is the Backdrop for Decades of Huge Movies and TV Shows," his fine 2020 article for Los Angeles Magazine. 

 

 

Heading into the lobby. Most people buy tickets at the boxoffice. These two are going to go look at the posters and then decide what to see.   

 

"So Hard So Fast" in 3-D is the movie more to his taste. Yet she's making all the decisions and loves romcoms as well as the two actors in "Special Someone," played by Channing Tatum and Anne Hathaway.

 

He goes along with it and they head into auditorium #3.

 

During the movie she's enthralled but he tells us in voiceover what he thinks of the unrealistic plots and sappy characters of the genre. 

 

For the sake of the romance he pretends to have enjoyed it. Nice to see the seat counts for three of the complex's auditoria. 

 

 

The big moment in the middle of the lobby. He leans in for the first kiss.  

 

 

Of course we get the 360 degree pan around to observe. She turns out to be wonderful but he still needs to creep out of bed and watch porno. Julianne Moore is the one who eventually straightens him out.

 

For more about this six screen complex see the page about the Valley Plaza Theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It opened in 1976 and closed for good in 2020. The building is in NoHo at 6355 Bellingham Ave., just south of Victory Blvd.  

 

 

Later in the film Joseph is out at a joint getting some New Jersey style pizza with his buddies. The location is the 7th St. side of the State Theatre, 7th and Broadway. We see a Metro bus go by. 

On IMDb: "Don Jon"

"Captain Marvel"

After an interplanetary mishap, Starforce agent Brie Larson falls through space and lands in a Blockbuster video store in North Hollywood's Valley Plaza Shopping Center in "Captain Marvel" (Walt Disney Studios, 2019). Out the window it's the neon of the Valley Plaza Theatres on Bellingham Ave., just south of Victory Blvd.

The planet we call earth is known to Brie as C-53. When one of the characters is asked if she's visited, she responds: "Yes. It's a real shithole." The film, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, also features Samuel L. Jackson, Annette Bening, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch and Clark Gregg. The cinematography was by Ben Davis. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Midnight Moon for noting the appearance of the theatres in the film.

 

 

 

Brie approaches mall security officer Barry Curtis and after silence on his part asks "Do you understand me? Is my universal translator not working?" She gives him her name and ID data and asks if he's in charge of security for this district. He says: "Sort of. The movie theatre's got their own guy." She's lost contact with her team and wants to know where there's communications gear. He points to the nearby Radio Shack. 

 

 

 

We have the theatres in the background again the next morning when S.H.I.E.L.D. security agent Clark Gregg approaches the car and asks if he's the guy who called this in. Barry nods and points to the Radio Shack where Brie has been working to try to fix her communicator. 

 

After Brie gets away from the agents and there's a scuffle with another alien, Clark and senior agent Samuel L. Jackson get in the car to give chase. At least Samuel THINKS he's getting in the car with Clark. 

We get our last look at the theatres when Clark phones in to say "I'm still here at Blockbuster. Where is everybody?" It's then that Samuel realizes he's been driving around with a shapeshifting alien in the car. 

For more about this six screen complex see the page about the Valley Plaza Theatres on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It opened in 1976 and closed for good in 2020.

On IMDb: "Captain Marvel"

"Licorice Pizza"

The exterior and lobby of North Hollywood's El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., make an appearance in the Paul Thomas Anderson's feature that was going by the title "Soggy Bottom" during production. They redecorated the Skouras-style boxoffice in 70s fashion but then hid it from prying eyes before the shoot. Photo: Bill Counter - October 31, 2020

 

A September 10, 2021 article on the site The Film Stage revealed that the chosen title was to be "Licorice Pizza." Thanks to Jonathan Raines for spotting the story. MGM did a few engagements over Thanksgiving with a wider release at Christmas.

 

Prep for the scene at the El Portal started the last week of October, 2020. The shoot was November 2. The production also used Reseda High School for some auditorium shots. The film stars Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie, Joseph Cross and Fatimah Hassan. It's a 70s San Fernando Valley tale of a high school student who is also working as an actor.

 

A closer look at the poster for "The Mechanic." Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

Posters on the south side of the ticket lobby. "Live and Let Die" and another for "The Mechanic." Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

 

 

A 70s snack bar installation for the film. Hot dogs! Hamburgers! Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

 

A view from the south. Note the neon in the storefront windows installed for the shoot. This storefront had been a jewelry store into the 60s and by the mid 70s had become Tony's Cleaners. These days it's normally an entrance into a small black box theatre space. For the film, the storefront farther to the left has become a tailor shop. Photo: Bill Counter - October 31

 

 

 

Putting traditional three dimensional letters on the marquee, instead of the flat ones currently used by the theatre. At this point it's the middle of the afternoon with the shoot scheduled for that evening. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2, 2020 

The boxoffice was shined up and drapes were added for the filming. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 

Working on the display cases. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 

A view from the south. The tailor shop decor on the left was created for the film. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2 

 

 

Across the street removing not-period-appropriate bollards. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 Working on some readerboard issues. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Revisiting the display case decisions. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

The posters were replaced with larger ones. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Several of the 70s cars arrive. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

A "Matinee Today" banner going up, presumably to provide some interest on a very plain wall over the entrance doors. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Director Paul Thomas Anderson, on the right, conferring with staff. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

 Ready for lights and camera. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Female lead Alana Haim discussing a scene with Anderson. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

More discussion of the scene after several run throughs with an assistant director standing in for the not-yet-arrived leading man as well as Anderson demonstrating the scene's greeting, hug, and a run off. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

After a number of rehearsals, it's masks off for a take with Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim. During the scene the cashier's job is to smoke a cigarette and read a book. Between takes she tried to air out the boxoffice. The extras in the lobby were buying popcorn and asking where the ladies room was located. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

 

Still on the first setup of the night, about take 12. Photo: Bill Counter - November 2

See the El Portal Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about this venue, a 1926 design by L.A. Smith for West Coast Theatres. It got remodeled into a legit venue with a reopening in 2000. 

 

On IMDb: "Licorice Pizza"  

From the film:

A shot from the very brief scene we get in the film. This and the image below are from a clip used in a two-minute "We Love LA" montage made for the 2025 SAG awards, held at the Shrine Expo Hall on February 23. It's on Facebook as a post from Vintage Los Angeles. Alison Martino was involved in selecting the clips used. 

 

The El Portal clip also appears in the "We Love LA," the montage that began the 97th Academy Awards Ceremony on March 2, 2025. It's on You Tube. 

Jonathan Raines spotted "All the Los Angeles Movies in That Oscars Montage," a post by Sharon Knolle on The Wrap that listed the films used in the AMPAS montage. Her list, plus a few interpolations: 

"The Wizard of Oz" -- A shot of the ruby slippers with Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) saying, “There’s no place like home,” and then a shot of the Hollywood sign.

“F9” -- Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and crew look out over downtown Los Angeles.

“Mulholland Drive” -- Aspiring actress Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) arrives in Los Angeles via taxi in David Lynch’s film.

 

“The Long Goodbye” -- Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould) at the beach in Robert Altman’s existential noir.

“Rocky III” -- Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) jog on the beach.

“White Men Can’t Jump” -- Wesley Snipes sinks a basket as Woody Harrelson watches.

“Barbie”: -- Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) rollerblade down Venice boardwalk.

“La Bamba” --  Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips) carries his guitar past a bridge.

“Chinatown” --  Private eye J.J. “Jake” Gittes (Jack Nicholson) gets out of a vintage car.

“Iron Man 2” --  Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) eats fast food inside a giant donut sign.

“La La Land” --  Drivers dance on top of their cars in the film’s opening number.

“Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood” --  Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) drives down Sunset Blvd. as the Cinerama Dome lights up for "Krakatoa East of Java." 

"Licorice Pizza" - Meeting in front of the El Portal Theatre.

"The Aviator" -- the premiere of "Hells Angels" at the Chinese.

“Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood” --  Brad Pitt drives down Hollywood Blvd. past the Vine Theatre.

“The Big Lebowski” -- In a fantasy sequence, The Dude (Jeff Bridges) flies over L.A.

“L.A. Story” --  A freeway sign tells Steve Martin’s character “L.A. Wants 2 Help U.”

“Her” --  Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) looks out on the city from his downtown apartment in Spike Jonze’s rueful sci-fi dramedy.

“Straight Outta Compton” --  Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins) listens to music while wearing his L.A. Dodgers jersey and baseball cap.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” -- Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) tells Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), “Of all the places I could be, I was always meant to be here with you.”

“La La Land” --  Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling ride Angels Flight and then end their spontaneous Griffith Park dance as they overlook Burbank.

###

"The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood"

We get a look at Grauman's Chinese, 6129 Hollywood Blvd., in "The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood" (Cannon/Golan-Globus, 1980). Alan Roberts directed the comedy starring Martine Beswick, Chris Lemmon and Adam West.

It's all about the hooker of the title who perseveres in getting a film version made of her book "The Happy Hooker." Playing at the time of the filming at the Chinese was "The Last Married Couple in America," running at the theatre for three weeks beginning February 8, 1980.

The film used the La Reina Theatre, 14626 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, for scenes of the premiere of the film version of the book written by the leading character.

Another shot of the festivities at the La Reina. 

However, when we get closer it's apparent that we're no longer at the La Reina. The shots of the ticket lobby and in the lobby itself were done at the El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Another view looking toward the entrance doors at the El Portal.  

Inside the lobby at the premiers. It's a shot done at the El Portal.

Another street view of the premiere, once again using the La Reina. On the left that's a car that's crashed into the bleachers set up for the premiere within the film.

Thanks to Eitan Alexander for spotting the theatres in the film as well as providing the screenshots. See the pages about Grauman's Chinese, the La Reina Theatre and the El Portal Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about these movie palaces.

On IMDb: "The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood"  | The entire film can be viewed on You Tube.

"White Heat"

We get a view up Weddington St. in North Hollywood toward the back of the El Portal Theatre on Lankershim in Raoul Walsh's film "White Heat" (Warner Bros., 1949). The film stars James Cagney, Virginia Mayo and Edmond O'Brien. Margaret Wycherly, playing Cagney's Ma, is driving the car and trying to lose the cops who are on her tail.

Cagney, Mayo and Wycherly decide to duck in to the San Val Drive-In in Burbank to evade the cops on another chase later in the film. On the marquee it's "South of St. Louis" and "Siren of Atlantis."

Pulling up to the boxoffice. 

 

 

A nice view over the cashier's shoulder. Thanks to Joe Pinney for providing this shot.  

 

 

Pulling into a space. It's another shot Joe Pinney located.

Parked and watching the show. Cagney sneaks off leaving the two ladies to be picked up by the cops. Cinema Treasures contributor Oobleckboy notes that what we actually see on the San Val screen are shots from the 1949 film 'Task Force."

A shot of the filming at the San Val from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

For more about the theatres see the San Val Drive-In and El Portal Theatre pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site.

On IMDb: "White Heat"