"L.A.X."

A "Closed For Restoration" shot of the Vista Theatre from Fabrice Ziolkowski's "L.A.X." (1980), dubbed "A hypnotic city symphony of bygone LA." Los Angeles Filmforum and the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz are hosting a July 17 screening of the 90 minute film as part of the PRS "Yesterday LA2026" series. Tickets are on Eventbrite.

See the pages about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. As noted on the marquee it was to reopen August 1. It originally opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood Theatre.  

There's a listing for the film on the Fabrice Ziolkowski website. The description:

"Avant-garde documentary / 16mm black-and-white / 90 min. — written and directed by Fabrice Ziolkowski. An experimental film essay on Los Angeles as a landscape of movement, exile, infrastructure and disappearance. Screened in museum and festival contexts, including the Reina Sofía in Madrid and the Art Institute of Chicago, and discussed by film historian David E. James in 'The Most Typical Avant-Garde.'"  

Also see the site's "L.A.X." stills page. 

 

Thanks to Chris Nichols, a senior editor at Los Angeles Magazine, for spotting a 7th House Instagram post about the July 17 event and grabbing the shot of the Vista. The latest book by Chris, with Adriene Biondo, is the Angel City Press release "Bowlarama: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling." 

 

A look west across Main St. toward the Linda Lea Theatre, 251 S. Main. It began life in 1925 as the Arrow and was decades later rebuilt as the ImaginAsian, later renamed the Downtown Independent and then called The Kult.  

 

The film's view of the back of the Rialto Theatre, 812 S. Broadway. The signage pointing to the "Newsreel Theatre 8th & BDWY" is directing us to the Tower Theatre. It was called the Newsreel from 1950 until 1965.  

 

The April 1979 release "Boulevard Nights" playing with "The Swarm." See the pages about the Orpheum Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.  It's at 842 S. Broadway. 

 

There's five minutes of footage from the film on Vimeo featuring a long shot of the north side of 5th St. We get a quick look up Hill St. toward the oval Pussycat Theatre signage and then go by the Philharmonic Auditorium. See the pages about the Pussycat/Town Theatre and the Philharmonic Auditorium on the Los Angeles Theatres site. 

There were notes about "L.A.X." on Eventbrite with the listing for the July 17, 2026 screening at the Philosophical Research Society:  

 "A rare screening of a landmark of Los Angeles avant garde cinema, a hypnotically drifting afternoon-to-evening cruise through a bygone LA... and a profound influence on subsequent works ranging from Pat O'Neill's brilliant 'Water and Power' to Thom Andersen's beloved 'Los Angeles Plays Itself.' Returning to Los Angeles screens for the first time in a decade, this seldom-seen work stands today as both an exquisite portrait of Los Angeles in 1980 and an inadvertent future artifact: a patient, immersive record of a city that has continued to erase, reinvent, and transform itself in the years since.

"A true city film and a singular avant-garde entry in the city symphony tradition—from Walter Ruttmann's 'Berlin: Symphony of a Great City' and Dziga Vertov's 'Man with a Movie Camera' to Chantal Akerman's 'News from Home' and Wim Wenders' 'Tokyo-Ga' —L.A.X. follows Los Angeles by car and on foot through long, hypnotic tracking shots and patient observations of its streets, landmarks, and overlooked corners. Created by French-American filmmaker Fabrice Ziolkowski, whose perspective seems suspended between Europe's deeper sense of historical continuity and America's restless appetite for reinvention, 'L.A.X.' brings to Los Angeles an outsider's eye akin to that of cinematic visitors like Agnès Varda, Jacques Demy, Wim Wenders, and John Boorman, rendering even its most familiar landscapes strange, improbable, and newly visible.

"Progressing from sweeping aerial vistas bathed in Southern California's stark, sun-bleached daylight to the seamier nocturnal realities of street-level Hollywood, L.A.X. traces a gradual descent from sunlit mythology into the noir realities and hidden histories that lie beneath. Accompanied by a richly layered soundtrack of ambient sounds, historical and literary texts, and songs ranging from Canned Heat to Robert Johnson, the film reveals a metropolis haunted as much by what is absent as by what remains—its displaced communities, vanished landscapes, and forgotten histories lingering just beyond the edges of the frame.

"The years have transformed what was once a portrait of the contemporary city into a kind of time-traveling road movie and urban séance, conjuring the vanished landscapes and past-lived realities of Los Angeles and inviting viewers to spend an evening drifting through them.

"FABRICE ZIOLKOWSKI is a French-American writer, screenwriter, filmmaker, translator and photographer. His work has moved across film, television, animation, documentary, translation, criticism and photography, often returning to figures and places at the edge of official narratives: workers, musicians, exiles, prisoners, vanished communities and myth-haunted landscapes. He wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-nominated animated feature 'The Secret of Kells' and is currently developing several literary projects, including 'The 12 Labors of Nathan Kowak,' a darkly comic American novel-in-stories."

On IMDb: "L.A.X."

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"Fast and Furious"

The recently opened Bard's Hollywood Theatre, soon to be renamed the Vista, is seen in "Fast and Furious" (Educational Film Exchanges, 1924). It's a two-reel "Mermaid Comedy" featuring Lige Conley, Otto Fries, Ruth Hiatt and John Rand. Norman Taurog directed. The cinematography was by Barney McGill.

Thanks to John Bengtson, the famed Silent Film Detective, for sending this data along. The film is one of three featured in his Silent Locations "Silent Location Encore Performances" post that discusses repeat use of various filming sites such as the Inglewood Train Station. It's seen in this film and also was used in Buster Keaton's "One Week" (1920). The other locations he covers are Alameda and Marchessault in "When Dawn Came" (1920) and Castle San Souci in "Chicken a la King" (1919).  

And special thanks to Zebra 3 for spotting the Vista. He watched "Fast and Furious" after seeing John's post and shared the news with John as well as putting it on IMDb.   

 

 

 

Lige runs toward the intersection of Sunset and Hillhurst and hops on the spare tire of a car about to leave, hoping to catch up with the men who have robbed the store where he works. Earlier he was demonstrating the store's flour and inadvertently made pancakes out of cement. Before the robbery we also get some dancing eggs and a rat spitting hard cider. 

 

Note the tire store at the right, located at 4459 Sunset Blvd. The building survives, now in use as a coffee bar after spells as an adult bookstore and restaurant. 

The car pulls away. 

 

 

A detail from the previous shot. Bard's was running an Adolphe Menjou feature and a Sennett Comedy. On the end panel it just says "Bard's." 

 

 

Investigating the "Non Skid" sign he sat on. 

 

See the pages about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site. A section at the bottom of the main page about the theatre has shots from the many films that have used it as a location.  

 

 

We cut to a shot of Lige on the run again in a residential neighborhood followed by some fine motorcycle and train scenes. The full 21 minute film is on YouTube, posted by Joseph Blough. The short scene at the theatre begins 13:37 into the film. 

On IMDb: "Fast and Furious"

"Silver Lake"

About thirty minutes into "Silver Lake" (Pace Pictures, 2018) troubled writer Nathan, played by Martin Starr, goes to the movies at the Vista Theatre with his friend Howard, played by Fred Melamed. The title "San Patricios" was an invention for the movie. 

Thanks to Jonathan Raines for spotting the scene. He notes that the film can be viewed for free on Tubi. Also featured are Deborah Ann Woll, Melinda Dahl, Scarlett Fernandez, Juliet Donenfeld, Alex Boling, Robert Duscemi and Bailey Chase. Sean McGinly wrote and directed. The cinematography was by Thomas Scott Stanton. The film also makes good use of other area locations including the cafe across the street from the theatre.

 

 

Fred and Martin in line outside the theatre. Fred's character says: "Don't you wish we'd have gone to one of those big multi-plexes where you could order your tickets online first? Can't abide standing out here with the great unwashed."

 

 A lobby shot. "I don't get what you see in this neighborhood anyway. It's full of hipsters, vegetarians..."

 

 

 

At the bar. "And these mustaches. They're everywhere. Right from the 80s where that should have remained. Ladies and gentlemen, direct from San Juan Hill, Teddy Roosevelt."  

 

 

 

 

Getting settled. 

 

 

 

 

Approached by a couple who asks if they would mind moving over so they can sit together.

 

Fred replies: "Unlike you, I got here early and waited online for these seats. They're my seats. Don't think I'll be moving." 

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue, now nicely restored and going strong as a first-run house. It's located at 7773 Sunset Drive, on the north side of the street, just east of Hillhurst. 

On IMDb: "Silver Lake" 

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"The True Story of Lynn Stewart"

We see the Vista Theatre in "The True Story of Lynn Stewart" (Columbia, 1958). Betsy Palmer is at Stan's Drive-In, across from the theatre. She'll be working as an undercover police operative to gather data on local narcotics deals. The action at Stan's starts about 20 minutes in.

The film, set largely in Orange County, also features Jack Lord, Barry Atwater, Barbara Aler, Linda Cherney, Lionel Ames and Claudia Bryar. Pat Brown, Attorney General at the time, does a prologue. Lewis Seiler directed. The cinematography was by Burnett Guffey. 

 

 

At Stan's again with the Vista in the background for a scene that's 49 minutes into the film. 

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue, now nicely restored and going strong as a first-run house. It's located at 7773 Sunset Drive, on the north side of the street, just east of Hillhurst. Stan's was just west of Hillhurst on the south side of the street, at 4480 Sunset Blvd.

Thanks Ray Ottulich for noting the film's scenes at Stan's in a post for the World of Noir Facebook group. See a Noirsville blog post about the film. Elizabeth Pearce notes that the full film can be seen on YouTube. 

On IMDb: "The True Story of Lynn Stewart"

Stan's and the Vista also made an appearance in the 1955 film "The Crooked Web."

"Breaking Fast"

In the gay Muslim rom-com "Breaking Fast" (Vertical Entertainment, 2021) Michael Cassidy leads his new friend Hazz Slieman into a movie at the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. He doesn't want him to know what's playing until it hits the screen.

 

 

 

The film turns out to be Richard Donner's "Superman" and, of course, they both know all the dialogue. 

 

 

 

 Leaving the theatre.

 

As they leave the theatre they encounter Veronica Cartwright, playing the woman now married to the father's of Michael's character. 

The film, directed by Mike Mosallam, also features Amin El Gamal, Patrick Sabongui, Rula Gardenier, Aline Alasmar and Diane Sellers. The cinematography was by Anka Malatynska.  

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.

On IMDb: "Breaking Fast"

"Black Limousine"

At the beginning of "Black Limousine" (Cineville, 2010) David Arquette is watching a movie at the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. The film, directed by Carl Colpaert, also stars Bijou Phillips, Vivica A. Fox, Nic Bishop, Carla Ortiz, Lin Shaye, Patrick Fabian and Tom Bower. The cinematography was by Seo Mutarevic. 

 

We soon learn that David's character, a man with financial and alcohol problems, had been the composer for the film. His film, and also the original title of the movie we're watching, is "The Land of the Astronauts."

 

Exiting the theatre. He runs his hand over the credits on the poster before he leaves.  

 

The title on the Vista's marquee.

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.   

On IMDb: "Black Limousine"

"The Big Picture"

In Christopher Guest's directorial debut "The Big Picture" (Columbia, 1989) Kevin Bacon goes to see the unlikely double bill of "Tess" and the Jerry Lewis film "Hardly Working" at  the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. The film also features Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael McKean, Emily Longstreth, J.T. Walsh, Teri Hatcher, Martin Short, Eddie Albert and June Lockhart. The cinematography was by Jeffrey Jur. 

 

 

 

A rather strange looking crowd exiting the theatre. Kevin plays an aspiring filmmaker who's having a hard time getting a deal for the film he envisions. All the execs he talks to love it... but... could he change this to... 

 

It turns out that Jennifer Jason Leigh, aspiring artist and friend of Kevin, was also at the screening. 

 

They walk east and talk about career problems. 

 

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.  

 

 

Ignored for his big picture, later in the film Kevin takes a gig shooting a music video for a band that Jennifer is involved with. In the background we see a lot of the Cinerama Dome, 6360 Sunset Blvd. 

 

 

The band's violist.  

 

Costumes by Jennifer's character. Yes, his head and body are supposed to look like a Pez dispenser. 

 

 

More "top of the dome" action with the band that Kevin's character has named the Pez People. Of course there's even an overhead Busby Berkeley-style shot looking down on a circular array of Pez humans.

 

 

One of the execs sees the video on TV and realizes that Kevin has something. Now they're worried that all the studios will be after him. Yes, he does get to make the film he wanted.  

 

Visit the Cinerama Dome pages on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and way too many photos.

On IMDb: "The Big Picture" 

"True Romance"

In Tony Scott's "True Romance" (Warner Bros., 1993) Christian Slater visits the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. It's supposedly a Detroit theatre where he meets Patricia Arquette during a triple bill of "Street Fighter," "Return of the Street Fighter" and "Sister Street Fighter." Note the Skouras-style boxoffice that they brought in for the filming. The screenplay was by Quentin Tarantino. He now owns the place.

Avid film watcher Christian.

 

But he looks around to see who's coming in: it's Patricia. 

 

She wanders down the row behind him. A moment later she spills her popcorn on him. 

 

 

Patricia and Christian watching the show together. Thanks to the Vista for this shot. They included it in a "True Romance" post on the Vista Facebook page. Quentin hosted two screenings of the film on November 11, 2023 as a special pre-reopening event. 

 

 

 

Fooling around in front after the show. 

 

A wider shot showing more of the Skouras-style boxoffice. 

 

 

Walking away from the theatre at the end of the scene.

Thanks to Joe Pinney for the alert regarding the theatre's appearance in the film. A Noirish Los Angeles post by Tovangar2 has views of two other locations the film used.

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.  

On IMDb: "True Romance"

"Dear White People"

In "Dear White People" (Lionsgate, 2014) we get this shot of the marquee of the Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Dr. The story of four black students at an Ivy League college stars Tessa Thompson, Tyler James Williams, Kyle Gallner and Teyonah Parris. Justin Simien directed. 

The occasion for the Vista shot is a gathering of black students at their local theatre to protest the inanities of the latest Tyler Perry movie. But in the marquee footage the titles are blurred out and neither a shot of the students nor the cashier in the boxoffice were done at the Vista. Some shooting was done at UCLA but the majority of the filming happened in Minnesota.

See the page about the Vista Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the building. It opened in 1923 as Bard's Hollywood.  

On IMDb: "Dear White People"

"Summertime"

 

We get a quick drive by Grauman's Chinese in the first few moments of "Summertime" (Good Deed Entertainment, 2021). Carlos Lopez Estrada directed this delightful story of 27 young Angelenos and how their lives intersect on a hot summer day. Much of the material for the "spoken word poetry musical" was written by the young stars of the film. The cinematography is by John Schmidt. The film's impetus was the Get Lit classes and poetry workshops offered to high school students. 

 

 

Before a show at the United Artists/Theatre at Ace Hotel, 933 S. Broadway.  The performers they're waiting for are unlikely stars played by Bryce Bank and Austin Antoine. When we first meet them they're rapping on the sidewalk in Venice and getting no attention whatever.

 

 

In the line at the United Artists. 

 

 

Another pre-show view at the United Artists.

 

 

Maia Mayor across the street from the United Artists. Her boyfriend has just dumped her as being too needy and depressed. Later she meets Marquesha Babers on a bus who suggests "Maybe we're not depressed. Maybe we're just hungry?" Thanks to Conor Holt for locating this shot, one that appears on IMDb.

 

 

Looking north toward the Arcade Theatre, 534 S. Broadway. That's Tyris Winter, strolling the downtown streets reciting his poetry. The big quest in his wanderings around town is the hunt for a cheeseburger. He's finding a number of places places have changed their menus or have been transformed through gentrification.

 

Tyris hits the other side of the street and gives us a bit of poetry on his iPhone while under the marquee of the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. Some of the gang ends up at a burger joint where they're offered the use of a limo by the two newly-minted rap stars. 

 

The white limo wanders all over town. Here it's sailing past the Vista Theatre in Los Feliz, 4473 Sunset Dr. Of course they're running Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood." He didn't own the theatre at the time of the 2019 filming but he bought it in 2021.

On IMDb: "Summertime"    Website: gooddeedentertainment.com/summertime

 

 

 

A shot from a Get Lit youth poetry festival held at the Orpheum, 842 S. Broadway. It's from one of the "Making of Summertime" videos on the Good Deed Entertainment website.