Hippodrome Theater

314 S. Main Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90013

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Showing 151 - 175 of 180 comments

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 17, 2007 at 12:09 pm

I suspect that the large upstairs space which eventually became the Main Street Gym might have started out as a dance hall. See this 1928 photo (it’s the same one ken mc linked to on March 24.) The picture is a bit blurry, but it looks as though the small blade sign attached to the near end of the theatre building says “Dancing”. Maybe somebody with better eyesight than mine can make it out.

The “Auto Park” advertised on the theatre’s former main blade sign and marquee occupied the space where the auditorium (demolished in the late 1940s) had stood. The ground floor of the Adolphus Theatre Building, except for the long lobby which became the parking lot entrance, continued to be used as retail space for many years. I have no memory of a basement in the building, but almost every downtown building did have one and it seems unlikely that this building would be an exception to the rule.

vokoban
vokoban on May 17, 2007 at 8:35 am

I wonder if all of those scenes in the basement with the secret weapons stash was really in the building. I don’t mean the weapons, just the basement.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 17, 2007 at 8:31 am

The interior of the Hippodrome became the gym, I believe. It was upstairs from the parking garage, which was also converted from the Hippodrome.

vokoban
vokoban on May 17, 2007 at 8:16 am

Ken, do you think the Main street gym was a replacemnent of the Hippodrome building on the same spot, or was the theater converted to the gym? Panorama Building, Panorama Skating Rink, Adolphus, Hippodrome, Main Street Gym, parking lot….how many different buildings do you think were on this spot?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 17, 2007 at 8:10 am

I watched the film “Street with no Name” last night. Quite a bit of the movie was shot in the Main Street gym, so you get a good look at the interior of the Hippodrome.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 16, 2007 at 5:22 pm

This 1918 photo has a caption which states that the Automatic Theater follows the Emporium, which is the first business on the left. The photo is looking south from Third, which would put the Automatic a bit before the Hippodrome:
http://tinyurl.com/ytpz9a

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 10, 2007 at 1:12 pm

The Hippodrome is at the far end of this 1957 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2vf82e

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 10, 2007 at 12:53 pm

L.A. Library has this photo of the Panorama Building. Undated, but probably the 1890s. There are signs for the Panorama Book Store, a furniture store, a stable (in the center section, probably widening out at the back to an area large enough to accommodate a skating rink), and the offices of the Evening Express (probably upstairs.)

vokoban
vokoban on May 10, 2007 at 10:27 am

Does anyone know what the Panorama building was used for before it became a skating rink in 1906? There are many references to ‘the Panorama Building’ in the LA Times going back to around 1888, but I can’t figure out if it was a theater or a convention center or what. Lots of history on this spot….too bad its asphalt now.

Here’s an advertisement for the opening as a skating rink:

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 10, 2007 at 8:52 am

A skating rink in LA? No wonder it went out of business.

vokoban
vokoban on May 10, 2007 at 5:06 am

Here’s a detail from of the block from the 1906 Sanborn map. Joe was right about the Empire Theater, it became a parking garage. I can’t find anything about the theater to determine if it showed movies, however. I wonder what year the Panorama building was built and when it was demolished to build the Adolphus/Hippodrome.

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 9, 2007 at 2:01 pm

A time machine would be handy.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 9, 2007 at 1:50 pm

I have no idea if the Empire ever served as a movie theatre. It’s another of those mystery theatres. The birds-eye map is the only place I’ve ever seen any indication that it ever existed. If the garage was converted from the theatre, though, then it was a good-sized place and must have been important in its day- whenever that day was.

vokoban
vokoban on May 9, 2007 at 1:27 pm

Joe, maybe if I look on the original 1906 Sanborn it might show up. I don’t know when the Empire was built, but if its on the 1909 Birdseye it might have been around in 1906.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 9, 2007 at 12:04 pm

I’m wondering if the building on 3rd a bit west of Los Angeles Street, labeled “PRIV. GARAGE” on the Sanborn, might not be the building of the Empire Theatre that was just about in that location according to the 1909 Birds-eye map? The way the entrance is set up, and the area at the back of the building that looks as though it might have been a fly tower, suggest a conversion from theatre to garage.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 9, 2007 at 11:49 am

Hippodrome was demolished in 1984. The Westminster was probably demolished in the sixties. It was looking pretty shabby by 1955 or so.

vokoban
vokoban on May 9, 2007 at 11:35 am

Here is an overlay map that I made using a 1906-1923-1950 Sanborn Map. It’s confusing knowing what part of the map comes from what date, but it shows the Hippodrome smack in the middle of the block. This is sad since this whole block is now demolished other than three small buildings on Los Angeles street. If anyone knows of any other theaters that were on this large block, let me know so I can look for them on the full size map. Here’s the link:

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 24, 2007 at 1:49 pm

The theater is on the left in this 1928 photo:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics35/00067234.jpg

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 3, 2007 at 4:59 pm

You can see the theater in this 1957 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2vf82e

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 16, 2006 at 2:16 pm

The building was demolished in November 1984, according to the LA Times.

UKuser
UKuser on November 2, 2005 at 12:45 am

CALLING ALL THEATRE / MOVIE ENTHUSIASTS!!!

T'he Los Angeles Theatre' on South Broadway, LA is playing host to the UK television show ‘Dead Famous LIVE’. We are currently looking for people who would like to come along as part of the studio audience.

‘Dead Famous LIVE’ is a studio entertainment show all about Hollywood History and the paranormal. We will be welcoming celebrity guests on to the show and investigating famous locations around Hollywood which are rumoured to be haunted including the Los Angeles Theatre itself.

This is an invaluable chance to get access to the Los Angeles Theatre, the place where Charlie Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’ premiered in 1931 and to have a thoroughly great day out! (And its free!!)

We’re transmitting ‘Live’ back to the United Kingdom so expect it to be exciting and fun!

We will be filming on three days from 11th – 13th November between 11.30am – 4pm. If you are interested in coming on one or all of these days then email me for tickets!

.uk

I look forward to your responses!

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 6, 2005 at 5:53 pm

There was an article in the newspaper last year concerning the purchase of the lot between 3rd and 4th on Main. Apparently some housing units are to be built there. Nothing has happened as of yet as I just parked on the lot today.