I think it may have just been good marketing. Motion picture exhibition was in its beginning stages in 1909, so I think anything that suggested “new” or “modern” would appeal to the potential customer.
Here is a picture of the orginal Belasco, circa 1920, courtesy of the LA Library. You can see that is the same building as the Follies, obviously before some major renovation.
I walked around this building today. It looks like the building was originally constructed for offices. There is a large section of windows on the third floor which you presumably would not find if the building was constructed as a theater. The still-existing marquee and flagpole suggest a hotel. None of the offices appear to be occupied.
I poked around the front of the theater today. There is still no way to access the theater from the businesses out front. The entrance to the nightclub is in the alley behind the building. Perhaps the Conservancy will offer another tour in the future.
There is some confusion here, at least on my part. The link above takes you to a theater on Broadway between 4th and 5th. Tally’s New Broadway was between 6th and 7th. There is no entry for this theater as far as I can tell. Here is a 1909 picture from the LA Library:
Actually, there were rated movies in the late 1960’s. I think the MPAA was already in existence by then. Midnight Cowboy was of course rated X (1969). In 1967, a Swedish film called I am Curious Yellow was adults only, although I don’t recall if it had an X rating (as I was six at the time). That film wouldn’t even make it to the Spice Channel today
Another view, from the LAPL website:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics22/00045571.jpg
Here is an artist’s conception of the Encino Theater, courtesy of the LA Library. Does it look like the real thing?
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics47/00043106.jpg
This is also the Meralta, according to the LA Library, in an earlier incarnation:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics32/00035850.jpg
Here is a picture of the Meralta, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics32/00035851.jpg
Here is a picture, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics28/00033960.jpg
Here is a picture, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics18/00028723.jpg
Here is a picture, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics17/00028237.jpg
I hear that this theater had meters on the seats – 25 cents for each ten minutes…
I thought that they may have been speaking in tongues…
I think it may have just been good marketing. Motion picture exhibition was in its beginning stages in 1909, so I think anything that suggested “new” or “modern” would appeal to the potential customer.
“Bidding has ended for this item”. The world mourns.
Here is the picture, courtesy of the LA Library. This was an interesting looking building, to say the least.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014235.jpg
Here is a picture of the Majestic in the late 1920s, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/spnb1/00017150.jpg
Here is a picture of the Arcade, circa 1983, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics21/00030133.jpg
Here is a picture of the Cameo and Arcade, circa 1983, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics21/00030133.jpg
Here is a picture of the orginal Belasco, circa 1920, courtesy of the LA Library. You can see that is the same building as the Follies, obviously before some major renovation.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015226.jpg
Here are two pictures, both from the early 1970s, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014086.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014100.jpg
Here are some pictures, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014094.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014006.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014114.jpg
I walked around this building today. It looks like the building was originally constructed for offices. There is a large section of windows on the third floor which you presumably would not find if the building was constructed as a theater. The still-existing marquee and flagpole suggest a hotel. None of the offices appear to be occupied.
I poked around the front of the theater today. There is still no way to access the theater from the businesses out front. The entrance to the nightclub is in the alley behind the building. Perhaps the Conservancy will offer another tour in the future.
Here is a view of the interior in 1955, shortly before demolition, courtesy of the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics27/00033426.jpg
There is some confusion here, at least on my part. The link above takes you to a theater on Broadway between 4th and 5th. Tally’s New Broadway was between 6th and 7th. There is no entry for this theater as far as I can tell. Here is a 1909 picture from the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015469.jpg
Here is a picture from the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics17/00008035.jpg
There is no evidence of any drive-on at this site, just a very large parking lot.
Actually, there were rated movies in the late 1960’s. I think the MPAA was already in existence by then. Midnight Cowboy was of course rated X (1969). In 1967, a Swedish film called I am Curious Yellow was adults only, although I don’t recall if it had an X rating (as I was six at the time). That film wouldn’t even make it to the Spice Channel today