"Violated!"

The Cinematheque 16 appears in the lower right of this shot from the 1973 exploitation film "Violated!" The theatre, at 8816 1/2 Sunset Blvd., was a 16mm venue that opened in the early 60s. Initially it ran "nudie cuties" but then shifted to classics, underground and experimental films. Later it segued back into porn.  

The film was directed by Albert Zugsmith and features Rene Bond. Thanks to Shawn D. Langrick for this screenshot. He shared it as a comment on a post about the theatre on Alison Martino's Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page. Shawn notes: 

"'Violated!' is available as part of Vinegar Syndrome's 'Lost Picture Show' set from last year. You might also appreciate the 'Last of the American Hobo,' which is also included in that set, there's a number of LA locations circa 1968-70, such as the Travel Town Museum at Griffith Park, the trolley at Knott's Berry Farm, and skid-row downtown. I am biased though, I did the commentary for 'Hobo.'"

See the page about the Cinematheque 16 on the Los Angeles Theatres site. It was later called the Sun Art and the Orpheum. 

On IMDb: "Violated!" 

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"The Unfaithful"

A great shot looking east on Santa Monica Blvd. from the noir epic "The Unfaithful" (Warner Bros., 1947). A bit of the Monica Theatre at 7734 Santa Monica Blvd. is over on the right. That's a Red Car coming along as a lawyer played by Lew Ayres is stepping out of his car. 

See the page about the Monica Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue. The theatre began its life in 1940 as a neighborhood house and later segued into foreign films and then more risque product. In its later years it was called the Pussycat and Studs. 

Lew is headed for a junky art and antique shop after getting a call from Steven Geray saying he had an item for sale that might be of interest. It turns out to be a bust by a dead sculptor that resembles Ann Sheridan, who plays one of his clients soon to be accused of murder. That vertical sign down the street was for the Golden Rule Liquor and Wine House at 7739 Santa Monica Blvd. It's still in business, and still called the Golden Rule.  

A shot of the north side of the street a moment later. The storefront on the right says "Bob Baker Marionettes" in the window. It was listed in the phone book as the Carnival Room. Geray's shop is just beyond. In the film we're told that the address is 2500 Santa Monica Blvd. but we're actually on the 7700 block. 

The film also features Eve Arden, Zachary Scott, Jerome Cowan, John Hoyt, Peggy Knudsen, Marta Mitrovich, Douglas Kennedy, Claire Meade, Frences Morris and Jane Harker. Vincent Sherman directed. The cinematography was by Ernest Haller.

Other interesting location work in the film includes a trip on Angel's Flight, visiting a Bunker Hill hotel, several scenes upstairs in the Bradbury Building, and some evocative shots west of the 3rd St. tunnel and in MacArthur Park. 

On IMdb: "Unfaithful"

"Stardust"

David Essex and Ines Des Longchamps drive by the Tiffany Theatre, 8535 Sunset Blvd., in Michael Apted's "Stardust" (Anglo-EMI, 1974; Columbia, 1975). Thanks to a page about the shooting locations on the site ReelStreets for the screenshot.

It's the story of a rock singer that also features Adam Faith, Keith Moon, Rosalind Ayers and Larry Hagman. The cinematography was by Anthony B. Richmond. 

Check out the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Tiffany Theatre for more information about the venue. It opened in 1966. 

On IMDb: "Stardust" 

"The Killing of a Chinese Bookie"

Ben Gazzara is riding down Santa Monica Blvd. in a cab in the John Cassavetes film "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" (Faces Distribution, 1976) when he asks the cabbie "Is that a movie house up there? I feel like a movie." The theatre was the Pussycat at 7734 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. 

Ben is a club owner in trouble with the mob boys because of a gambling problem. The film also features Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassell, Robert Phillips, Morgan Woodward, Virginia Carrington, Alice Friedland and Donna Gordon. The cinematography was by Mitch Breit and Al Ruban.  

Ben standing in front of the Pussycat. He looks around for a bit and then hops into another cab.

This West Hollywood theatre began its life as a neighborhood house called the Monica and after the Pussycat era was over was known as Studs. See the page about the Monica Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue.

On IMDb: "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie"

"That's the Way of the World"

Harvey Keitel strolls Sunset with the Sun Art Mini Theatre in the background. It's a shot an hour and seventeen minutes into "That’s the Way of the World" (United Artists, 1975). Sig Shore directed this drama about the music business that also stars Ed Nelson and Cynthia Bostick.  

 

Another shot from the scene. Thanks to Luis Antezana for spotting the theatre in the film. 

The Sun Art, at 8816 1/2 Sunset Blvd., was also known as the Cinematheque 16 and the Orpheum. See the Cinematheque 16 page on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue. 

On IMDb: "That's the Way of the World"

"Three Husbands"

About 20 minutes into "Three Husbands" (United Artists, 1950) we get this shot of the marquee of the Monica Theatre, 7734 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. The film is ostensibly set in San Francisco and revolves around a recently dead playboy who is granted one wish in heaven. That he'll be able to see the expressions on the faces of three friends when they each read a letter he's sent them saying he had a fling with their wives. 

We get the Monica as the theatre where two of the couples attend a French language film. Not together. Several of the participants try to avoid being seen by the others. Eve Arden, Ruth Warrick and Vanessa Brown are the three wives. Irving Reis directed. The film is available on YouTube.  That banner below the marquee must be the best ever ballyhoo for a subtitle writer.

A look toward the screen of the "Monica." The interiors were not done in a real theatre.  

The back wall of the studio setup used for the interior shots. There's not even any upholstery on the seat backs.

Thanks to Jack Tillmany for spotting the marquee shot in the film. Head to the page about the Monica Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for more about the venue. It opened in 1940 and is still around, now as a porno house.

On IMDb: "Three Husbands"

"Hot Rod Gang"

 

The Monica Theatre, 7734 Santa Monica Blvd., is seen in "Hot Rod Gang" (American International, 1958). In fact we go by it several times in the first few minutes of the film as we race up and down Santa Monica Blvd. Thanks to Bret Mannon for spotting the theatre. 

 

The film, directed by Lew Landers, is about a kid who joins a rock band to earn money to support his drag racing habit. It stars John Ashley, Jody Fair and Gene Vincent. The cinematography was by Floyd Crosby.

 

We quickly meet up with another couple of guys and race on opposite sides of the street with one set of wheels on the curb. In this view north on Virgil toward Sunset Blvd. we get a bit of the Vista Theatre over on the right. 

 

Another shot a moment later with more showing of the Vista, 4473 Sunset Dr. 

 

Back on Santa Monica Blvd. with another view of the Monica. 

 

About 27 minutes in John Ashley and Jody Fair take a hurried drive up Vermont Ave. giving us a glimpse of the marquee of the Los Feliz Theatre, 1822 N. Vermont Ave. 

 

That's about all we get of the Los Feliz as the film cuts to a dissolve into a party scene but the marquee and the vertical sign are seen over on on the right.

For more data and photos of these movie houses head to the pages about the Monica/Pussycat/Studs Theatre, the Vista Theatre and the Los Feliz Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site.

On IMDb: "Hot Rod Gang."  The full film can be seen on YouTube: version 1 | version 2 - a bit sharper |

A poster that appears with the film's listing on IMDb. 

"High School Hellcats"

We get a bit of time in the Carmel, a 1925 vintage theatre designed by L.A. Smith, in "High School Hellcats" (American International, 1958). The girls belong to the "Hellcats" meet in this abandoned theatre, you see -- "on the other side of town."  Here we get a marquee view of the closed theatre 18 minutes into the film.

A marquee detail.

 

Good girl Joyce (played by Yvonne Lime) explores the entrance of the Carmel, headed to her first "Hellcats" meeting.

About an hour into the film we get some process work for a drive north on Broadway with Joyce and her boyfriend Mike (played by Brett Halsey) starting down near Olympic Blvd. Here, on the right, the United Artists is flashing madly.

In a frame from a bit farther north on our drive we get the Globe Theatre and the Music Hall beyond -- the latter now back to its original name, the Tower Theatre. Way down there on the right is the United Artists.  Yes, on the drive we're supposedly headed to the abandoned Carmel on Santa Monica Blvd.  Take a right at the next corner, Joyce says.

Our policemen, tipped off that Joyce is in trouble, head into the theatre.

A balcony view -- headed for trouble with a possible knife fight ahead. Joyce is accosted by bad girl Dolly, played by Suzanne Sydney.

A look at the back of the main floor after evil Dolly falls off the balcony.

A happy ending with boyfriend Mike joining Joyce in the balcony.

The Carmel was a Fox West Coast house but after a fling as an independent classics venue and a legit season went to porno and was renamed the Paris soon after the filming.  See the Los Angeles Theatres page on the Carmel Theatre for more information.

Thanks to Eitan Alexander for sending this one our way. The entire film can be seen on YouTube.

On IMDb: "High School Hellcats"

"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"