The Tally family has photographs with penciled notations to the effect that the “New Broadway” was located at “6th and Broadway” and was operated from 1906 to 1910. If it was demolished in May of 1910, then I don’t know when it would have been called the “Garnett.” Has anyone searched newspapers for advertisements with that name?
Tally opened “Tally’s Broadway” theater AFTER the “New Broadway,” between 8th and 9th streets. Tally family papers identify “Tally’s Broadway” as having been run by Tally from 1910 to 1920. Sometime between 1910 and 1920 Tally evidently purchased or converted several other theaters in the Los Angeles area, both downtown and also some neighborhood houses. His office was, for a time, on Sunset Blvd.
According to references copied from Motion Picture World, T.L. Tally ran this theater from at least October, 1912.
The following item appeared in Motion Picture World, Vol. 14, No. 7, 16 November, 1912 (page 653):
DOINGS AT LOS ANGELES – Powell
I have located the hardest working, most intelligent picture pianist in Los Angeles. She is employed at the COLLEGE THEATRE (a Tally theater on South Hill) and I go there often not so much to see the pictures as to hear her play them, for she not only employs judgment and originality in making the music fit the scenes, but is an artist besides — has tone and temperament. I am told by the management that her name is Ruby Wallberg.
I found the following in notes hand copied from Motion Picture World, Vol. 17, No. 13, 27 Sept., 1913 (page 1396):
NEW $65,000 THEATER AT LOS ANGELES
A palatial theater seating 900 people, was opened in Los Angeles recently. It is under the control of the Tally Amusement Company, with E.J. Tally as president and F.J.Kawkins as vice-president. It will be known as the “Alhambra” and will use the Universal program as does Mr. Tally’s other theater, the popular “College” on Hill Street. On the exterior of the “Alhambra” there are 1250 electric lights. The furniture and fittings are magnificent and comfortable.“
T.L. Tally, not E.J., ran the College at this time, though T.L. evidently had a brother named Edward (or Edwin) J. Tally.
The Electric Theater had its name changed to the Lyric when they added “refined vaudeville” acts to augment the motion pictures. An LA Times advertisement from July 20, 1903 lists the new name, with T.L. Tally identified as manager. According to some sources Tally sold his theater around this time and spent the next year on the road, presenting a print of “The Great Train Robbery” around the country. So the Electric appears to have been exclusively a motion picture theater for a little over a year, from on or about April 17, 1902 until on or about July 20, 1903.
The Spring St. address is definitely incorrect. 311 South Spring Street is the address of Tally’s Phonograph Parlour, where Edison Kinetoscopes were indeed projected. But the Electric was first opened in 1902 on So. Main St. A picture of a theater identified as the Liberty Theater may be the same building, though this site gives that address as 266 So. Main. In any event, an advertisement on the front page of the LA Times, Saturday May 10, 1902 reads:
“ELECTRIC THEATER – 262 SOUTH MAIN, OPPOSITE THIRD ST.
Capture of the Biddle Brothers
NEW YORK CITY IN A BLIZZARD, THE HINDOO FAKIR and many other interesting scenes.
A REFINED Entertainment for
Ladies and Children
LASTING ONE HOUR FOR Ten Cents.
Continuous Performance 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
T.L. Tally, Mgr.
Phone John 7191”
This theater may have started its life as the Electric Theater, the first theater in Los Angeles or the US built to show movies. The Electric Theater should be at 262 S. Main, though, not 266. An advertisement on the front page of the LA Times, Saturday May 10, 1902 reads:
“ELECTRIC THEATER – 262 SOUTH MAIN, OPPOSITE THIRD ST.
Capture of the Biddle Brothers
NEW YORK CITY IN A BLIZZARD, THE HINDOO FAKIR and many other interesting scenes.
A REFINED Entertainment for
Ladies and Children
LASTING ONE HOUR FOR Ten Cents.
Continuous Performance 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
T.L. Tally, Mgr.
Phone John 7191”
The Tally family has photographs with penciled notations to the effect that the “New Broadway” was located at “6th and Broadway” and was operated from 1906 to 1910. If it was demolished in May of 1910, then I don’t know when it would have been called the “Garnett.” Has anyone searched newspapers for advertisements with that name?
Tally opened “Tally’s Broadway” theater AFTER the “New Broadway,” between 8th and 9th streets. Tally family papers identify “Tally’s Broadway” as having been run by Tally from 1910 to 1920. Sometime between 1910 and 1920 Tally evidently purchased or converted several other theaters in the Los Angeles area, both downtown and also some neighborhood houses. His office was, for a time, on Sunset Blvd.
According to references copied from Motion Picture World, T.L. Tally ran this theater from at least October, 1912.
The following item appeared in Motion Picture World, Vol. 14, No. 7, 16 November, 1912 (page 653):
DOINGS AT LOS ANGELES – Powell
I have located the hardest working, most intelligent picture pianist in Los Angeles. She is employed at the COLLEGE THEATRE (a Tally theater on South Hill) and I go there often not so much to see the pictures as to hear her play them, for she not only employs judgment and originality in making the music fit the scenes, but is an artist besides — has tone and temperament. I am told by the management that her name is Ruby Wallberg.
I found the following in notes hand copied from Motion Picture World, Vol. 17, No. 13, 27 Sept., 1913 (page 1396):
NEW $65,000 THEATER AT LOS ANGELES
A palatial theater seating 900 people, was opened in Los Angeles recently. It is under the control of the Tally Amusement Company, with E.J. Tally as president and F.J.Kawkins as vice-president. It will be known as the “Alhambra” and will use the Universal program as does Mr. Tally’s other theater, the popular “College” on Hill Street. On the exterior of the “Alhambra” there are 1250 electric lights. The furniture and fittings are magnificent and comfortable.“
T.L. Tally, not E.J., ran the College at this time, though T.L. evidently had a brother named Edward (or Edwin) J. Tally.
Thanks for the correction. Given the slight difference between 262 and 266, it sounds like it couldn’t have been more than 2 doors away.
Has anyone ever seen a picture of the Electric or Glockner’s, or even a later picture of the building? I’m searching for this!
The Electric Theater had its name changed to the Lyric when they added “refined vaudeville” acts to augment the motion pictures. An LA Times advertisement from July 20, 1903 lists the new name, with T.L. Tally identified as manager. According to some sources Tally sold his theater around this time and spent the next year on the road, presenting a print of “The Great Train Robbery” around the country. So the Electric appears to have been exclusively a motion picture theater for a little over a year, from on or about April 17, 1902 until on or about July 20, 1903.
The Spring St. address is definitely incorrect. 311 South Spring Street is the address of Tally’s Phonograph Parlour, where Edison Kinetoscopes were indeed projected. But the Electric was first opened in 1902 on So. Main St. A picture of a theater identified as the Liberty Theater may be the same building, though this site gives that address as 266 So. Main. In any event, an advertisement on the front page of the LA Times, Saturday May 10, 1902 reads:
“ELECTRIC THEATER – 262 SOUTH MAIN, OPPOSITE THIRD ST.
Capture of the Biddle Brothers
NEW YORK CITY IN A BLIZZARD, THE HINDOO FAKIR and many other interesting scenes.
A REFINED Entertainment for
Ladies and Children
LASTING ONE HOUR FOR Ten Cents.
Continuous Performance 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
T.L. Tally, Mgr.
Phone John 7191”
This theater may have started its life as the Electric Theater, the first theater in Los Angeles or the US built to show movies. The Electric Theater should be at 262 S. Main, though, not 266. An advertisement on the front page of the LA Times, Saturday May 10, 1902 reads:
“ELECTRIC THEATER – 262 SOUTH MAIN, OPPOSITE THIRD ST.
Capture of the Biddle Brothers
NEW YORK CITY IN A BLIZZARD, THE HINDOO FAKIR and many other interesting scenes.
A REFINED Entertainment for
Ladies and Children
LASTING ONE HOUR FOR Ten Cents.
Continuous Performance 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
T.L. Tally, Mgr.
Phone John 7191”