The 1906 permit lists Robert Brown Young as the architect and PM Johnson as the builder. AC Martin did many of the changes in the 1920s, but not, apparently the 1926 conversion of part of the ground floor into the 350-seat Cozy Theater. The Cozy opened in 1926 or 1927. The cornice came off circa 1950 and floors 4 and 5 were lost in 1971. Architect Chas A Ham converted the by-then, 403-seat Astro into a restaurant space in 1977. There’s a post on this building here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6994825&postcount=27790.
To search permits go here:
http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/online-building-records.jsf
Click the link at the bottom of the page and then search by “address”. Hint: for better results just type in the street number and street name, not “St”, “Ave”. etc.
The LA Department of Building and Safety’s permits are now online http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/online-building-records.jsf. One can search by address. There is a permit for a “motion picture theater” dated March 10, 1910 by architect Albert C Martin for owners “Kaiser, [indistinct] and Tally. The address given is 266-268 S Main. The dimensions were 30' X 140'
It was while rushing to her 1913 engagement at the Palace (then Orpheum) that Sarah Bernhardt’s taxi driver got in the accident at Washington and Crenshaw which later caused Ms Bernhardt to lose her leg. Story here:
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/23/local/la-me-1024-then-20101023
Related article here:
http://www.factsandarts.com/current-affairs/the-curious-story-of-sarah-bernhardts-leg/
The photo you posted (http://tinyurl.com/yluolj)is of 248-250 S Broadway. The Cecil/Royal Theater was to the north at No. 246, in the building which was replaced by the Hosfield/Victory Clothing Company building in 1914. See here: https://sites.google.com/site/downtownlosangelestheatres/broadway-theatres#TOC-Royal-Theatre
Tally’s Electric/Lyric/Glockner’s was at 262 S Main in the building directly north of the Liberty theater.
Its Cinema Treasures page is here: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/19875
The building is on the left in this photo of the Liberty: http://lacityhistory.pastperfectonline.com/photo/F8045E02-17CB-432C-BB54-467212534345
One can see it, in the distance, in this 1959 shot (Vibiana’s is on the left margin): http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics26/00047646.jpg
The 1906 permit lists Robert Brown Young as the architect and PM Johnson as the builder. AC Martin did many of the changes in the 1920s, but not, apparently the 1926 conversion of part of the ground floor into the 350-seat Cozy Theater. The Cozy opened in 1926 or 1927. The cornice came off circa 1950 and floors 4 and 5 were lost in 1971. Architect Chas A Ham converted the by-then, 403-seat Astro into a restaurant space in 1977. There’s a post on this building here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6994825&postcount=27790.
To search permits go here: http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/online-building-records.jsf
Click the link at the bottom of the page and then search by “address”. Hint: for better results just type in the street number and street name, not “St”, “Ave”. etc.
Joe, if you look at google street view for 2008 you’ll see that everything except for one free-standing wall was demolished
The Electric/Lyric/Glockner building (I think) may be viewed in this image:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics26/00047646.jpg
Thank you so much. I could not decipher the name on the LADBS building permit.
Oh, sorry, just three theaters. The Plaza Theater was on N Main
So there were four theaters on the east side of the 200 block of S Main? That sure sounds a lot more fun than what’s there now.
Do you know who the third partner was for the Liberty, besides Kaiser and Tally? Thx
The LA Department of Building and Safety’s permits are now online http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/online-building-records.jsf. One can search by address. There is a permit for a “motion picture theater” dated March 10, 1910 by architect Albert C Martin for owners “Kaiser, [indistinct] and Tally. The address given is 266-268 S Main. The dimensions were 30' X 140'
It was while rushing to her 1913 engagement at the Palace (then Orpheum) that Sarah Bernhardt’s taxi driver got in the accident at Washington and Crenshaw which later caused Ms Bernhardt to lose her leg. Story here: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/23/local/la-me-1024-then-20101023
Related article here: http://www.factsandarts.com/current-affairs/the-curious-story-of-sarah-bernhardts-leg/
Current interior photos are here: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barnes-and-noble-booksellers-bookstar-studio-city
Historic photo of the Studio City theater is here:
http://www.studiocitychamber.com/aboutus.php
Reply to kencmcintyre:
The photo you posted (http://tinyurl.com/yluolj)is of 248-250 S Broadway. The Cecil/Royal Theater was to the north at No. 246, in the building which was replaced by the Hosfield/Victory Clothing Company building in 1914. See here: https://sites.google.com/site/downtownlosangelestheatres/broadway-theatres#TOC-Royal-Theatre