"XXXL: The John Holmes Story"

We get a look at the Sunset Theatre, 1508 N. Western Ave., in "XXXL: The John Holmes Story" (2004). Thanks to Scott Michaels for providing the shot. He notes that it's from a short stock footage clip of L.A. porno theatres that was used for the film. Glenn Barden and Dave Hills directed. Scott did the sound. 

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Sunset for more about this now-vanished theatre. It had opened in 1925. 

 On IMDB: "XXXL: The John Holmes Story"

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"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!"

"Bukowski: Born Into This"

Charles Bukowski goes for a walk from Carlton Way down Western Ave. to buy a newspaper in the documentary "Bukowski: Born Into This" (Magnolia Pictures, 2003). It's footage they use that had been shot for a 1976 German TV interview. After he's passed an adult bookstore we get this shot with a bit of the marquee of the Sunset Theatre, 1508 N. Western. 

 

Walking by the front of the theatre. John Dullaghan directed the film which, in addition to archival footage, also features Linda Lee Bukowski, Marina Bukowski, Bono, Taylor Hackford, Joyce Fante, John Bryan and many others.

A moment later. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the Sunset in the footage. 

After a discussion of Bukowski's wanderings around the country we get a bit of footage along with the comment that in the 1940s he returned to Los Angeles to stay. The clip is actually of Glendale. On the right, this side of the Famous department store, there's the vertical sign and marquee of the Glendale Theatre, 122 S. Brand Blvd. 

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Sunset Theatre and the Glendale Theatre for more information about these two movie houses.

On IMDb: "Bukowski: Born Into This" 

"A Life at Stake"

We get a reflected view of the marquee of the Sunset Theatre, on Western Ave. just north of Sunset Blvd., in "A Life at Stake" (Gibralter Motion Picture Distributors, 1955). We're at the offices of a builder played by Keith Andes. He's hooked up with Angela Lansbury as a lover and business partner and slowly realizes that she might be trying to kill him. The film was directed by Paul Guilfoyle and also features Douglass Dumbrille and Claudia Barrett. 

 

 

Another view of the theatre as Keith gets into his car. The theatre was running "Leonardo Da Vinci" and "Julius Ceasar." That's Sunset Blvd. over on the right. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Sunset Theatre for more information. The 1929 vintage theatre has been demolished.

On IMDb: "A Life at Stake"

"The Hard Road"

We get look at the Tiffany Theatre, 8534 Sunset Blvd., in "The Hard Road" (Four Star Excelsior, 1970). It's a cautionary teen-themed drama set mostly in Sherman Oaks. We're warned about the evils of drugs and sex, helped along by animation explaining sex and pictures of diseased body parts. It was directed, photographed and edited by Gary Graver, who later worked with Orson Welles.

The theatre is seen here when the satirical revue "The Committee" was playing. It was a prime first run venue when it opened in 1966, later had a few live bookings and and then became a revival house. Following its film days it had a spell as a twin Equity Waiver legit venue before going dark. It's been demolished. Check out the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Tiffany Theatre for more information.

 

Another shot a moment later with both the theatre and its reflection.  The young lady is wandering around town after taking some drugs. 

 

 

Later we get this murky view of the Sunset Theatre, 1508 N. Western Ave. They were running "Overexposed," a 1968 independent film by Willian Rotsler. 

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Sunset Theatre for more information. The 1929 vintage theatre has been demolished.

On IMDb: "The Hard Road" 

Bruce Kimmel notes that the full film can be seen on Internet Archive.

"Mondo Bizarro"

We get a look at the early deco marquee of the Sunset Theatre, 1508 N. Western Ave., before the renovations in a shot from "Mondo Bizarro" (Olympic International, 1966).

A view of the nude painting collection in the lobby of the Sunset from the film "Mondo Bizarro."

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Sunset Theatre for more information. The 1929 vintage theatre has been demolished.

On IMDb: "Mondo Bizarro"

"Inside Deep Throat"

 We get lots of shots of the Monica Theatre as the Pussycat in the documentary "Inside Deep Throat" (Universal, 2005).  The film explores the making of "Deep Throat" and its aftereffects.

Here, the jurors in the "Deep Throat" obscenity trial are visiting the Monica to see the film in its natural surroundings. 

The film gives us a look at the marquee of the Sunset Theatre, 1508 N. Western Ave. See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Sunset for more about the now-vanished theatre.

 On a quick drive-by tour of skid row, "Inside Deep Throat" gives us a fuzzy view of the Optic Theatre, 533 S. Main St.

Another look at the Optic.

 The downtown Main St. excursion also gets us a glimpse of the Art Theatre.

On IMDb: "Inside Deep Throat"