"Hollywood Shuffle"

The Baldwin Theatre was used for the "Sneakin' In Movies" skit in Robert Townsend's film "Hollywood Shuffle" (Samuel Goldwyn Co., 1987).  Jimmy Woodard is there with Robert doing a Siskel and Ebert style review of new films so that you know what is worth actually paying for. 

 

Thanks to Victor Lerma for the intel about the shoot at the Baldwin. He comments: "Just listened to Robert Townsend on the Questlove podcast tell a story about mopping the theater in exchange for filming inside." The film was made on a budget of $100,000, including $40,000 of credit card spending.  

 

They don't like films with titles they can't pronounce like "Amadeus Meets Salieri" because stumbling over a title won't impress your girlfriend. Richard Cummings, Jr. plays the usher who comes along asking to see their tickets.  

The theatre was at 3741 S. La Brea Ave. in the Baldwin Hills area. The building's still there, more or less. It's been rebuilt into office and retail space. See the Baldwin Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos. 

"Hollywood Shuffle" also features Craigus R. Johnson, Helen Martin, Scarletta DuPois, Marc Figueroa, Sarah Kaite Coughlan, Brad Sanders, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans and Nick Stewart. The cinematography was by Peter Deming.

 

 

Robert goes out on Pico to see a friend who has a barbershop just west of La Brea. As he parks we see the signage for the Del Mar Theatre over on the right.  He's looking for some career advice. He wants to be an actor instead of working all his life at Winky Dinky Dog. 

The Del Mar is at 5036 W. Pico. It's had several uses since its movie days were over including as a post-production sound studio. Since 2023 it's been an art gallery. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Del Mar Theatre for more about the building.  

 

 

 

We get some scenes using the Ebony Showcase Theatre. Here Robert has come in the back door looking a bit lost and some actors up on the flyfloor tell him where his shoot is. 

 

 

 

A dressing room shot at the Ebony. 

 

Robert fantasizes a lot about upcoming career accomplishments, including this awards scene that was presumably also shot at the Ebony Showcase. At the end of the film we see him in a commercial for the Post Office.

The Ebony was at 4720 W. Washington Blvd. It opened around 1923 as the Rimpau and was later known as the Metro before Nick and Edna Stewart took it over as a home for plays featuring Black actors. It's been replaced by a newer theatre owned by the City of Los Angeles. See the Ebony Showcase page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more information.

On IMDb: "Hollywood Shuffle"

An article by Rebecca Usoro discusses the making of the film on a page from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

"Your Three Minutes Are Up"

We get a quick look at the Lido Theatre when Beau Bridges and Ron Leibman are on Pico Blvd. in "Your Three Minutes Are Up" (Cinerama Releasing, 1973). Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre in the film and getting the screenshot.

This road trip buddy movie also features Janet Margolin, Kathleen Freeman and David Ketchum. Douglas Schwartz directed. The cinematography was by Stephen M. Katz.

 The theatre was at 8507 W. Pico Blvd., just west of La Cienega. See the Lido Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about this venue, now gone.

On IMDb: "Your Three Minutes Are Up"

"Cleaned and Dry"

We get a fine look at the Victoria Theatre at 2570 W. Pico Blvd. in the two-reeler "Cleaned and Dry" (Warner Bros / Federated Film Exchanges, 1921). 

Thanks to Silent Film Detective John Bengtson for spotting the Victoria in the film and getting the screenshots. The film, directed by Jack L. Warner, stars Monte Banks, Florence Gilbert, William Blaisdell and Alice Belcher. 

 

 

 

The 1921 city directory shows a tailor shop run by Morris Yarmus at 2568. In the far storefront at 2572 it was a confectionery run by Arthur Horsh. 

 

 

See the page about the Victoria Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1913 and is now in use as a market. 

On IMDb: "Cleaned and Dry" 

Thanks, John! Check on his latest explorations via the Silent Locations blog "Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more)." 

John's books are available through Amazon or your local bookseller. He's the author of "Silent Echoes: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Buster Keaton," "Silent Traces: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Charlie Chaplin" and "Silent Visions: Discovering Early Hollywood and New York Through the Films of Harold Lloyd"

"Petey Wheatstraw"

The Victoria Theatre on Pico appears in the blaxploitation film "Petey Wheatstraw" (Generation International Pictures, 1977) with Rudy Ray Moore. No, you don't need to watch it. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the theatre in the film. Cliff Roquemore directed.

A night view.

The Victoria's auditorium. The floor had been leveled for use as a ballroom and catering hall. 

See the page about the Victoria Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It survives but has been repurposed as retail space.  

On IMDb: "Petey Wheatstraw"  The Victoria Theatre sequence of "Petey" on is YouTube. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding it.

"Young Doctors in Love"

We get a lovely view east toward the Picwood Theatre, 10872 W. Pico, in this shot from "Young Doctors in Love" (20th Century Fox, 1982). The film was directed by Garry Marshall and stars Michael McKean and Sean Young. The cinematography was by Don Peterman.

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

See the Picwood Theatre page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos inside and out.  It was a 1948 design by S. Charles Lee.

On IMDb: "Young Doctors In Love"

 

"Young Doctors" is on the marquee as the second feature with "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in this shot of the Gordon/Showcase Theatre on LaBrea from "Walking the Edge" (Empire Pictures, 1985). Thanks to Eric Schaefer for spotting the theatre in the film. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a shot of the Clinton Theatre from the film. 

"Get Out and Get Under"

We get this shot on Pico Blvd. looking east across Hoover St. in Harold Lloyd's 25 minute short "Get Out and Get Under" (Rolin Films/Pathé, 1920). That's the Empire Theatre, 2131 W. Pico, in the center of the shot. Hal Roach directed with Mildred Davis and Fred McPherson also starring.

The theatre had opened around 1914. See the page about the Empire Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building.

On IMDb: "Get Out and Get Under" 

"The Devil's Hand"

We get a nice look at the Picfair Theatre marquee in the background of this shot looking east on Pico near the end of “The Devil’s Hand" (Crown International, 1961). That's Robert Alda helping Ariadne Welter into the car. It's a nearly unwatchable tale of voodoo and cult behavior that also stars Linda Christian (Ariadne's older sister) and Neil Hamilton. William J. Hole, Jr. was the director. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Chas Smith for the tipoff about the theatre view.

The top of the double bill at the Picfair at the time of the filming was "I Want To Live!" (1958) with Susan Hayward. The theatre was at 5879 W. Pico Blvd., just west of Fairfax. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Picfair for a few photos.

On IMDb: "The Devil's Hand"

"Final Curtain"

We see the outside of the Dome Theatre in Ocean Park in Ed Wood's "Final Curtain" (1957). The theatre was closed at the time -- and getting gutted to become part of the pier area's makeover -- Pacific Ocean Park.

Thanks to Brooklyn-based theatre historian Cezar Del Valle for spotting this one. The 22 minute film was done as a pilot for a projected TV series that never happened. We do get lots of interior views but they were shot at the Forum Theatre, 4050 W. Pico Blvd.

A Forum Theatre proscenium view from "Final Curtain." No, that's not the original proscenium. It's a revamp evidently done after the theatre had closed as a film house and was doing a few legit shows.

A chandelier view at the Forum.

There are also views backstage and in the lobby at the Forum. The film is available for viewing on YouTube. The plotline has something to do with a vampire haunting a theatre after the last performance of a horror-themed play.

See the pages about the Forum Theatre and the Dome Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for photos and history.

on IMDb: "Final Curtain"