"Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass"

As a joke, small-town hairdresser Zoey Deutch gives her boyfriend, played by Michael Cassidy, a "celebrity sex pass" in "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass" (Sony Pictures Classics, 2026). They're getting married soon but, of course, if you have the opportunity to have sex with your favorite celebrity, that's OK. Well, he does use his pass when Jennifer Anniston comes to their town on a book promotion tour. 

We see a bit of the Chinese when Zoey and her fellow hairdresser Miles Guttierez-Riley go to Hollywood for a convention. We also get a couple shots looking toward the Pantages. She decides to use her "pass" to even the score and they try to find her choice: Jon Hamm. 

Meanwhile, some bad guys (and a very bad lady) are tracking them. Seems there's been a mixup at the airport between Zoey's case filled with hairbrushes and one with documents needed to destroy the world's financial infrastructure. When an image of the Chinese Theatre shows up on their computer's tracking program, one of the bumbling thugs doesn't recognize it and thinks it'll be difficult to find. "Looks Asian," he says.  

The film also features John Slattery, Ken Marino, Mather Zickel, Joe Lo Truglio, Ben Wang, Sabrina Impacciatore, Fred Melamid, Matthew Jason Cwern, Penn Jillette, Al Yankovick and, of course, Jon Hamm. David Wain directed. The cinematography was by Kevin Atkinson.  

See the pages about Grauman's Chinese and the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. 

On IMDb: "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass"

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"Lord of Illusions"

Kevin J. O'Connor, playing magician Philip Swann, fakes his death in a performance at the Pantages in Clive Barker's "Lord of Illusions" (United Artists, 1995). Scott Bakula isn't sure that he's dead. Of course, there's a cult involved as well. It's one gory mess you don't need to watch. 

 

Thanks to Dave Hunter for noting the use of the Pantages in the film and getting five of the screenshots that appear here. The film also features Famke Janssen, Sheila Tousey, J. Trevor Edmond, Ashley Tesoro, Joseph Latimore and Susan Taylor. The cinematography was by Rohn Schmidt. 

 

See the pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information about this historic Hollywood showplace. 

 

 

 

The expectant crowd. 

 

 

A look across to stage right. 

 

 The obligatory chandelier shot. 

 

 

The main floor crowd. 

 

 

 

The show begins. 

 

A magical item sails down from the heavens. 

 

 

Our magician addresses the crowd. 

 

 

The instrument of death.  

 

Meanwhile, in the lobby. A look at Pacific Theatres' circular snackbar. 

 

 

 

A look under the stage after the show to investigate Swann's "death."

 

Of course our hero gets involved in a fight while down there. It's a nice space that does look like a theatre basement, but the scene wasn't shot at the Pantages.

 

 

 

Note the "Stage Left" signage and interesting basement-level pinrail with the ropes for several hemp sets going up through the stage floor. 

 

 

 

Taking down the signage the next day.  

 

 

 

A view from the top as the set is dismantled. 

 

Yes, back in the basement for more investigations.

 

 

Would you believe another basement fight? 

On IMDb: "Lord of Illusions"

"Los Angeles Plays Itself"

 

Footage from Rudolph Maté's "D.O.A" (Cardinal Pictures/United Artists, 1950) showing the Orpheum and other Broadway theatres is used in the title sequence of Thom Andersen's "Los Angeles Plays Itself" (2003), an epic exploration of how the city has been portrayed in the movies.  

 

 

Thom's opener also features shots of the Burbank Theatre on Main St. taken from A view of the Burbank Theatre facade early in Samuel Fuller's Columbia Pictures epic "The Crimson Kimono" (1959). 

 

 

"Los Angeles Plays Itself" repeatedly comes back to shots from Kent MacKenzie's "The Exiles" such as this view of the Arcade, Cameo and Roxie theatres on Broadway. 

 

 

Thom gives lots of coverage to Billy Wilder's "Double Indemnity" (Paramount, 1944). In this shot we're looking north on Olive toward the Philharmonic Auditorium. 

 

The Bradbury Building gets lots of discussion, including mentions of its appearances when it's supposed to be in other cities. This scene showing the Million Dollar Theatre from "Murder in the First" (Warner Bros., 1995) has Christian Slater crossing a San Francisco street to go into the Bradbury.

And, of course, no survey of the Bradbury's film career is complete without including Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (Ladd Company/Warner Bros., 1982) and this shot of the added columns at the entrance. 

 

A c.2001 "Lion King" shot of the Pantages Theatre. Kurt Wahlner notes that a fiberglass mini-Brown Derby behind the left palm tree and the strange marquee and limo-in-the-air on the right were part of the initial look for the Metro station. The film notes that unlike the many times L.A. locations are used to represent other cities, some L.A. landmarks like the Capitol Records building or the Hollywood Sign actually play themselves. 

 

Later in the film we get the drive-by of the Gilmore Drive-In from Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (United Artists, 1977). 

 

We get a shot of the Palace Theatre marquee from Gregory Nava's "El Norte" (Cinecom Pictures, 1984). Also included are several scenes from the film with newcomers from Mexico talking about their strange new life in Los Angeles.   

On IMDb: "Los Angeles Plays Itself"     

The full film is on YouTube in a somewhat cropped version -- and with Arabic subtitles.     

"Aloha, Bobby and Rose"

Footage used for the title sequence of "Aloha, Bobby and Rose" (Columbia Pictures, 1975) includes this view of the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. On the marquee it's "Don't Look in the Basement" along with "The Last House on the Left." This bill opened November 7, 1973 at the Pantages as well as over 30 other theatres in the area.  

 

The film features Paul Le Mat, Dianne Hull, Tim McIntyre, Leigh French, Noble Willingham, Martine Bartlett and Robert Carradine. Floyd Mutrux directed. The cinematography was by William A. Fraker.  

 

 

We get this shot when they zoom in during the credits. Way down the street it's the vertical for Loew's, 6838 Hollywood Blvd. It's the theatre that opened in 1926 as the El Capitan. Loew's got it in 1967 but at the time this footage was shot it was run by General Cinema Corporation. They never got around to re-doing the vertical although they were calling the theatre the Cinema on Hollywood Blvd. or the Hollywood Cinema. Before and after Loew's and General Cinema had the theatre it was called the Paramount. 

 

 

 

Paul Le Mat owes some guys money from a game of pool that didn't go his way. Hoping to borrow $75, he stops in to see a relative working at a used car lot at Hollywood Blvd. and Gower. The brown building on the left is the east side of the Pix Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Blvd. The Pantages is a bit farther down the street.

 

 

Paul works at a car repair place in the Valley where he fixes the Volkswagon of a girl played by Dianne Hull. Later they go out on a date and take a drive east on Hollywood Blvd. We get this shot as they approach the Egyptian I-II-III, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.  

 

The panel below the marquee is advertising "Hello, Dolly!" It was on the bottom half of a double bill that opened October 31, 1973 at the Egyptian as well as 30 other area theatres. "Cabaret" was on the top of the bill. The initial 40 week 70mm roadshow engagement of "Hello, Dolly!" had been at the Chinese from December 19, 1969 until September 24, 1970.  

 

 

Continuing east we get a quick look down Las Palmas Ave. toward the pizza sign of Micelli's Restaurant and, just beyond, the Las Palmas Theatre.  

 

In the next block we get a murky glimpse of the New-View Theatre at 6656 Hollywood Blvd. It opened in 1940 as a newsreel house called the News-View. Later it was the Pussycat Theatre and then became a revival house called the Ritz.  

Paul and Dianne stop at a convenience store and, not being the sharpest guy, he plays around pretending to hold up the store. It ends badly and they go on the run.  

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Pantages, Loew's/El Capitan, Music Box/Pix, Egyptian, Las Palmas and New View/Pussycat/Ritz for more information about these historic Hollywood show houses.

On IMDb: "Aloha, Bobby and Rose"

"Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes"

Up in the balcony of the Pantages Theatre during the 1959 Academy Awards, held April 4, 1960. It's a shot that appears in "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes" (HBO, 2024). 

The film was directed by Nanette Burstein and features audio tapes of interviews that Liz did beginning in 1964 with journalist Richard Meryman. In addition to Liz, he also talked with Roddy McDowall, Debbie Reynolds, and others. It's filled out with an array of audio and visual material from many archives.

Thanks to theatre historian Kurt Wahlner for spotting the Pantages and getting the screenshots seen here. He notes that Liz was up for best actress for her performance in "Suddenly, Last Summer" but lost to Simone Signoret for "A Room at the Top."  She would win the following year for "Butterfield 8." Visit Kurt's site about the Chinese: GraumansChinese.org

Across to house right in 1960. 

 

A peek over the rail to the pit during the Academy Awards in 1960.

A great view of the marquee during the June 19, 1963 premiere of "Cleopatra." Note the dropped ceiling in the ticket lobby, not removed until the "Lion King" restoration in 2001.The "A" seen at the top of the image is part of the "CLEOPATRA" neon added to the vertical. 

See our pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this deco film palace. It opened in 1930 and in 1977 became a home for touring Broadway shows operated by the Nederlander Organization.

On IMDb: "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes"

"Don't Answer the Phone!"

We get some murky drive-by shots on Hollywood Blvd. in Robert Hammer's film "Don't Answer the Phone!" (Crown International, 1980). In this shot we're looking east across the facade of the Chinese at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. toward Ted Mann's newly-opened Chinese II and III at 6915.

It's a grisly exploitation film with a serial killer and lots of semi-naked women. Featured are James Westmoreland, Ben Frank and Flo Lawrence. The cinematography was by James L. Carter.

 

 

 

A moment later we're closer to the Chinese II and III and there's also a view of the Paramount vertical across the street at 6838 Hollywood Blvd. That theatre went back to being called the El Capitan following a 1990s restoration by Disney and Pacific Theatres. The killer, played by Nicholas Worth, is cruising the Boulevard in search of his next victim. 

 

Kurt Wahlner has identified this footage as being shot during the June 8 to 21 run of the 1979 film "Players" with Ali MacGraw and Dean Paul Martin. He comments: 

 

"While I admit that it is difficult to make out the lettering, but 'Players' had a 'white type on black' ad campaign. I think that what clinched it for me was the poster in the poster case. The big pagoda banner is for 'The Main Event,' which was the next film to play there after 'Players.' 'The Main Event' banner was up even for the film to play before 'Players,' which was 'The Prisoner of Zenda.'

"Additionally, just take a look at the 'Players' one-sheet on IMDb. In the upper right corner, you will see how they treat the 'A Robert Evans Production' This, I believe, is the first grouping of letters on the left side of the marquee, with the smaller letters turning blue. The second grouping would be a longer white: 'An Anthony Harvey Film' followed by a space, then, what I should think one line all the rest of the way: 'Ali MacGraw • Dean Paul Smith • in Players' 

 

"The 'reverse marquee' to the east on the twins is for 'Prisoner of Zenda,' moved over from the big house. Peter Sellers’ name twice in yellow (one blocked by the dragon marquee; there is a blue ampersand between the names, turned green here), then the film title in red/orange. Let’s be charitable and say that it was photographed that last weekend of the 'Players' run on June 22-23. Oh, but wait - it can’t be that. 'Zenda' had been kicked out of the twins by then, and there were no late shows for 'Players' that weekend (the yellow banner draped under the dragon marquees is for late shows). So this shot MUST have been made either Friday, June 8, or Saturday, June 9."

 

The banners across the street were advertising a Walk of Fame ceremony for Aretha Franklin. But it didn't happen during the run of "Players." The event evidently was re-scheduled and happened on August 29. Her star is across the street from the Chinese at 6920 Hollywood Blvd.

See a photo by Raul Vega taken later in the run of "Players" that appears at the end of Ronald Haver's 1980 book "David O. Selznick's Hollywood." Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for locating it. He notes that this one was taken after the first weekend as there are no yellow banners under the marquees advertising late shows. 

 

 

 

The crowd is lined up for a screening of "Alien" at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. The film had a 21 week run beginning May 25.

 

 

 

The killer, in the blue shirt, is walking with a fiend in front of the Sunset Theatre at 1508 N. Western Ave. 

 

 

 

A moment later at the Sunset. It was part of the Pussycat chain. 

 

 

 

A nice telephoto shot from somewhere near Argyle Ave. We get the Paramount way in the distance and on the right it's the vertical of the Pantages at 6233 Hollywood Blvd. If you look closely on the left the red vertical of the Fox Theatre can be seen. It's at 6508 Hollywood Blvd.

 

 

 

Signage of the Cave Theatre, 6315 Hollywood Blvd. It's now a Deja Vu Showgirls location. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Ken C. for noting that the Cave and other interesting street scenes appear in the film.  

 

 

In a continuation of the Cave shot we look across to the facade of the Vine Theatre at 6321 Hollywood Blvd. That's our serial killer behind the three ladies in the shot.

For more information about these film houses see the pages about Grauman's Chinese, the Chinese II and III, the Paramount/El Capitan, the  Egyptian, the Fox Theatre, the Vine Theatre, the Cave Theatre, the Pantages and the Sunset Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.

 On IMDb: "Don't Answer the Phone!"

"Detour"

Ann Savage and Tom Neal head east on Hollywood Blvd. in search of a car dealer in Edgar G. Ulmer's "Detour" (Producers Releasing Corporation, 1945). Thanks to Dave Hunter for spotting the various theatres seen in this sequence. 

In this process shot they're passing the Iris Theatre, 6508 Hollywood Blvd. In the footage they used, dating from 1938, the theatre was running "The Buccaneer" with Fredric March, Franciska Gaal and Akim Tamiroff.  The Iris was renamed the Fox in 1968. Over on the right it's a bit of the marquee of the Colony Theatre, 6523 Hollywood Blvd. That house ended up being called the Holly.  

Tom plays a piano player hitching west to see his girlfriend. Along the way he acquires a car and a new identity. His troubles really start when he offers Ann's character a ride. The film also features Claudia Drake and Edmund MacDonald. Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney were the writers. The cinematography was by Benjamin H. Kline.  

See the pages about the Iris / Fox and the Colony / Holly on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information and many, many photos.

 

Next a bit of the curved marquee of the Warner Hollywood comes into view on the right. It's at 6433 Hollywood Blvd.   

 

A moment later we see the Warner's banner for the April 1938 release "The Adventures of Marco Polo" starring Gary Cooper.

See the pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site about the Warner Hollywood for a history of the theatre, opened in 1928.  

 

They find a used car dealer but decide to not sell the car and head back west. She's got a new plan for him and he's even unhappier. In the background, above the mirror, we get a bit of the vertical of the Pantages Theatre at 6233 Hollywood Blvd. 

See the pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres website for a history of this 1930 vintage showplace along with hundreds of photos.

On IMDb: "Detour"

"Salsa"

Rodney Harvey and Magali Alvarado stop at The Dog House for an ice cream in "Salsa" (Golan-Globus/Cannon, 1988). In the background it's the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Note the big crowd for "Me and My Girl" starring Tim Curry. The production played from January 12 until March 5.

It's an East LA story of a car mechanic trying to win a dance competition amid romantic complications for himself as well as an entanglement between his little sister and best friend.  Also featured in the film are Draco Rosa, Miranda Garrison, Moon Orona, Angela Alvarado and Loyda Ramos. Boaz Davidson directed, Kenny Ortega did the choreography. The cinematography was by David Gurfinkel. 

 

 

At the window. Thanks to Chelsey Frost for noting this scene in a post for the Facebook group Lost Angeles. 

 

She only takes a moment to get the cones but the crowd at the theatre has all gone inside. 

See the pages about the Pantages Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres website for a history of this 1930 vintage showplace along with hundreds of photos.

 

The Dog House was on the lot that, decades earlier, had been the site of the Hitching Post/Paris Theatre, 6262 Hollywood Blvd. The restaurant shows up in a 1992 photo of the block taken by Jay More shortly before everything except the Taft Building was demolished for the W Hotel and Metro Red Line station project. It's featured in "Jay More Documenting Forgotten LA," a three+ minute video on YouTube from the Los Angeles Public Library. Thanks to Lisa Kouza Braddock for locating the video.   

 

Later many of the gang go to the movies at the Westlake Theatre, 638 S. Alvarado St. 

 

Draco Rosa and Rodney Harvey just inside the front doors.

 

Looking toward the front doors from behind the snackbar.

See the pages about the Westlake Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. The building is still around but now used as a swapmeet. 

On IMdb: "Salsa"