Studs at the Pussycat Theatre

7734 Santa Monica Boulevard,
West Hollywood, CA 90046

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Showing 26 - 50 of 102 comments

boinnng
boinnng on July 20, 2009 at 10:21 pm

There is one set of hand/feetprints at the site I can’t remember who they belong to (if I ever knew…). There’s Linda Lovelace, John Holmes, Harry Reems, Marilyn Chambers, Georgina Spelvin, Eric Edwards, Kay Parker, and… Someone else. It seems like it’s Jay something or other???? Does anyone know? Who is it and who was he/she? Thanks

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on June 7, 2009 at 1:56 pm

It opened in 1940, so it had a long run as a regular theater before it switched to porn.

Bway
Bway on May 18, 2009 at 11:12 am

Was this always a porn theater or did it have at least a short life as a real theater?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 11, 2009 at 12:14 am

Here is an April 1969 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/q25ut4

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 7, 2009 at 7:22 pm

Greetings. I guess I was recollecting in general, some of what I remember discussing elsewhere on how the Triple X industry both impacted older theatres, and then took off on it’s own after basically no longer needing them. Some theatres read as rebounding after Triple X, some don’t.

I like to read all the posts when I link to an unfamiliar theatre. I guess the post from 2004 about the business & advertising/money end of the Pussycat Theater, had gotten my mind going in the direction it did.
As I read on, stream of thought went where it went.

Though my comments may not have been about this particular theatre, I thought they were somewhat relevant and might be of interest to some.
If my last reading of the Studs Theatre as a “dying breed” was an unconscious catalyst, my post might have shed some light on how/why the X industry seemed to fare elsewhere.

In Chicago, once home to many X rated theatres, I can think of only one still in existence, The Admiral. And that’s really now more of the live stage show nature. With small video booths instead of a projector and mass seating as it once had. Also open 24/7.
It spent a lot of money during a remodel years back, and stayed around long after the rest of it’s like theatres closed up. So I guess that would be the ultimate of the dying breed. That is in no danger of dying anytime soon.
Someone else reading this may now very well click to the Admiral page.

If I went off topic, I certainly apologize. But if some reading my posts have other memories triggered by them, I think that’s what CT is all about. I sometimes read posts by some who have never even been in the theatres or cities they are located in. They merely post to praise any given theatre’s architecture, history or past promotions as they come across them. Then they are maybe reminded about a different forgotten theatre, or tour like Cinerama. And they begin to search CT even more. I know I do.

mujerado
mujerado on January 7, 2009 at 4:40 pm

David, Other than responding to the “dying breed” description, what does your post have to do with this particular theater?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 6, 2009 at 2:26 pm

There are several ironies in the television & VCR’s having hastened the demise of movie theaters, premise.

One, that some theaters once claimed to having “had” to run porno in order to stay afloat, then closed anyway.
Two, that the porno film biz seemed to flourish from an industry in the shadows, into a multi-million dollar juggernaut. Once it came into video and now DVD itself.
Once the product could be purchased and brought into homes, and not sought out in theaters where interacting with others whether desirable or not, was a given.
The industry then got another giant boost, with the introduction of the internet. Then it’s customer base needn’t even leave their homes to buy the product.

I remember the day’s of “Caligula” creating an uproar when it was first released. And it had name stars in it. It’s probably multiplied it’s sales many times over since then. Probably to it’s own makers surprise.

Which theaters then video stores ran/carried the X version of “The Bad Lieutenant”, was the last such controversy. Upon it’s release, the popularity of owning your own copies of anything was on a fast uprise.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on January 5, 2009 at 4:09 pm

Well, technically, last year. But yes, it is one of a dying breed…

Bway
Bway on January 5, 2009 at 10:28 am

Haha, this has “got” to be a “cinema treasure” with a name like “Studs Theater”.

I remember passing this theater a few times when driving on Santa Monica Blvd when I was in the area. It had a different name though the last time I went by, and from what it sounds like from the comments above, it changed names this year.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 3, 2009 at 11:05 pm

The Monica Theatre was built in 1940, according to the L.A. County Assessor’s office.

scottfavareille
scottfavareille on May 30, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Thanks for the photo of The Left Bank—Looks like the Monica went to “adults only” films prior to its conversion into a Pussycat. (I am guessing that Vince Miranda did not own the theater at that point in time.)

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on March 7, 2008 at 9:22 pm

Tomcat no more. This theater is now calling itself “Studs.” The oval Pussycat sign remains, with the word Studs added.
There’s also a large poster by the door welcoming you to “Studs Theatre,” and recounting a bit of the theater’s history and legend:

“For decades these doors have opened to Hollywood celebrities, moguls, their entourages as well as their worshippers. Inside you will experience the same cavernous darkness that shrouded their private indiscretions, and harbored secrets that remain, even today, an integral part of Hollywood lore.”

scottfavareille
scottfavareille on November 21, 2007 at 11:58 am

All 3 of those films are quite good. Highly recommended DVD. (Note: There was another film called Venus in Furs, directed by Jess Franco, that came out around that time. It is on a different DVD by another company.)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 21, 2007 at 11:37 am

I think it was the Monica first, then the Left Bank, then the Pussycat.

scottfavareille
scottfavareille on November 21, 2007 at 11:31 am

Mini-Skirt love is out on DVD through SWV.

Judinging from the March 1970 ad, it appears that the Monica became a Pussycat in late 1969 or early 1970.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 9, 2007 at 11:39 pm

Here is a January 1958 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2n5wxg

cinepheromones
cinepheromones on July 29, 2007 at 5:55 pm

I went in recently after a two year absence. The place was so decrepit, sad and filthy 2 years ago (which attracted mostly decrepit, sad & filthy men), I swore I’d never return. But I was pleasantly surprised: I personally think the new owners have done a decent job with the renovation. It may never return to its “glory years”, but I think it’s a solid, well-kept porno theatre & cruising spot. While sex is discouraged (there are signs on the outside of the theatre with all of the rules & a mission statement where the movie posters used to be) and there isn’t a specific “no shoes, no shirt, no service” policy, the new owners know what keeps the patrons coming back. They seem to turn a blind eye to the occassional nudity, and the action ranges from hand jobs in the seats to sex in the gated areas at the back of the main theatre and on the couches in one of the smaller rooms.

I have been told that Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are very busy there, and the two new straight bars one block east and west of the Pussycat-Studs-Tomkat Theatre are apparently bringing in new, curious patrons. I think we should all encourage the continued patronage of a dying business: the legal porno theatre, especially one in a landmark building with the kind of history this one has.

arclight
arclight on July 14, 2007 at 1:22 am

Dont think it is…then again, there’s no sign saying you can’t be naked. I certainly wouldn’t want to sit in any of those crusty seats with my bare butt (lol)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 13, 2007 at 10:26 pm

Is the theater clothing-optional?

arclight
arclight on July 13, 2007 at 10:00 pm

done480—just went to the Tomkat (now Studs) a few days ago for the first time in 5 years. They are now showing both gay and straight porn. The main auditorium has been divided up into 3 small theatres and 1 large one. They all show gay porn.

The old lounge area has now been converted to a small room showing straight porn.

The place is a bit sleazier than I remember. In the few hours I was there, I saw a few guys who decided it was okay to just walk around the 4 gay auditoriums naked.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 11, 2007 at 8:56 pm

I remember when the booths were a quarter on Times Square in the early eighties. I must be getting old.

done480
done480 on July 11, 2007 at 8:36 pm

Is the Tomkat Theater gay porn only, or straight porn, or both? Please let me know. Looking for new places to view or preview porn. Used to go to The Front Door in Long Beach til it closed! Found a video store in La Puente that has preview booths for $5.oo per hour.