La Reina Theatre

14626 Ventura Boulevard,
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

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BRADE48
BRADE48 on June 4, 2023 at 10:34 am

The actual closing date was Thursday, April 3, 1986. The film showing was Police Academy 3.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on September 6, 2015 at 10:17 pm

1945 photo added, photo credit Hollywood Historic Photos.

K9Jeeper
K9Jeeper on April 5, 2013 at 8:44 am

Okay so I sold the projectionist’s phone but relisted the two Art Deco light fixtures that came from the projectionist’s booth as well. http://www.ebay.com/itm/261194679354?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

K9Jeeper
K9Jeeper on March 25, 2013 at 2:36 pm

Just in case anyone’s interested, I was there on the second day of demolition. I was lucky enough to get a few items from La Reina’s projection booth back in the mid-1980’s. I wanted to build a movie theter in my home and use the items but that never happened. If anyone is interested, I’m selling them on Ebay – auctions end April 1, 2013. My Ebay seller name is “MuddyPartsOffroad” – One auction link is http://www.ebay.com/itm/261191035180?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Juttaholden
Juttaholden on February 11, 2013 at 6:23 pm

Wonderful photos of the La Reina Theater, enjoyed working there in 1965!

acatos
acatos on December 3, 2010 at 6:00 pm

The marquee of this theatre (and possibly the interior) appear in the “Fire Man” episode of “The Greatest American Hero.” They are the scene of an arson that figures in the story line.

JGKlein
JGKlein on April 30, 2010 at 11:01 am

A good daytime photo dated Sept. 2008 has just been posted in the Wikipedia article for Sherman Oaks. See this URL: View link

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 5, 2010 at 10:15 am

Nice photos of the LaRenia.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 13, 2009 at 5:46 pm

Here is part of a February 1985 article from the LA Times:

Developer Dennis Bass has agreed to try to preserve the neon marquee of the 46-year-old La Reina Theater in Sherman Oaks. The proposed demolition of the theater has prompted some community opposition.

Jackie Brainard, a spokeswoman for Bass, said Thursday that the developer has consulted with the theater’s architect, S. Charles Lee, and hopes that he can incorporate the marquee into his proposed project at Ventura Boulevard and Cedros Avenue. Bass is planning a complex of retail stores and restaurants.

Bass, who is in the process of purchasing the theater from the Mann Theatre Corp., met Thursday night with representatives of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. to discuss his plans and seek community response. The strongest opposition, however, is expected to come from a group called Save the La Reina, headed by Sherman Oaks resident Lee David. David has filed an application with the city’s Cultural Heritage Board, asking that the art deco theater be declared a historic monument.

David said his group will lobby to have the building maintained as a movie or performing arts theater, or developed into a restaurant and retail complex with the exterior left intact. Brainard said that Bass has consulted with his architects and does not believe that it would be feasible to incorporate the theater building into his project.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 17, 2009 at 10:57 pm

Here the theater is being used for retail, before the spa:
http://tinyurl.com/rx6s6x

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 30, 2008 at 2:42 pm

I get it. Thanks.

William
William on July 30, 2008 at 2:31 pm

ken mc, it’s listed as demolished because the main part of the theatre is long gone, only the marquee facade was saved. The vertical sign was removed after the Northridge earthquake.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 14, 2007 at 6:51 pm

Here is a 1939 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics46/00042589.jpg

This bar was next to the theater in 1951. You could park for free, but poachers going to the La Reina had to pay a quarter:
http://tinyurl.com/3237nk

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 3, 2007 at 6:31 pm

This should be listed as closed but not demolished.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 25, 2007 at 5:39 pm

This article was in the LA Times on ¼/85. It turned out OK, at least:

La Reina Theatre Developer’s Ax Poised Over Landmark Movie House

The news saddened Encino resident Anna Tulanian Boyajian, 61, who grew up with La Reina. She recalled that her parents used to take her there to see Shirley Temple films and that a beau escorted her to a matinee on her first date.

If La Reina is demolished, it would leave only two other single-screen theaters in the Valley showing English-language pictures-the Studio in Studio City and the Holiday in Canoga Park. Seven other large Valley theaters have featured Spanish-language films since the late 1970s. It was then that theater chains began vacating single-screen theaters because they were too difficult to keep filled.

Dennis Bass said he sympathizes with members of the community who would like to see La Reina stay, but added, “It’s totally impractical. From the standpoint of the theater in today’s marketplace, you cannot operate with one screen.”

bmartins
bmartins on February 28, 2006 at 8:07 pm

Lee David spearheaded the effort to save the La Reina theatre. A native and long time resident of Sherman Oaks, the La Reina theatre was in his “backyard” growing up. Devastated that a piece of historically significant architecture as well an icon of old LA, was slated to be razed, he led the fight against demolition. Such a stand out for preserving what was once was, he was able to get the developers, at minimum, to keep the facade in tact — as much as a developer could. The fact that as the fight to preserve the La Reina ensued, the trend was for small theatres in multiplexes. Ironically, the trend in the 21st century is a return to the grandeur of the old single screen theatres, like the La Reina. Lee David had the passion and the forsight to fight to save the La Reina theatre.

William
William on October 31, 2005 at 3:59 am

The La Reina Theatre did not have a stage or balcony. Only a few theatres in the valley had stages. One being the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

SalvageSailor
SalvageSailor on October 31, 2005 at 12:00 am

Aloha Everyone,

During the summer vacations in the 1960’s, we would buy discount coupons for the matinees at the La Reina. We could go to double features with cartoons for 35 cents. Loved that theater with the big stage and balconys.

William
William on May 12, 2004 at 6:15 pm

The correct address to the La Reina Theatre is 14626 Ventura Blvd.. The address Charles places the theatre west of the 405 freeway at Firmament Ave. The theatre was one long block west of Van Nuys Blvd. across the street from Tower Records. And having worked at the nearby GCC Sherman Oaks Theatre, I passed it La Reina everyday.

William
William on November 17, 2003 at 3:42 pm

The La Reina Theatre was located at 14626 Ventura Blvd..

Knatcal
Knatcal on November 6, 2003 at 4:35 pm

I was fortunate enough that just before the La Reina closed in the mid-1980s my stepfather wanted to see one last movie there so I went with him and was able to see a movie here. However I do not remember the movie.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long on November 19, 2002 at 2:08 pm

I recall those wonderful times I went to the La Reina in the 1960s and 1970s, and enjoyed this Art Deco Picture Palace so much. It is truly one of the most beautiful Deco Neon showplaces in the world.

I am so glad that it was restored and not destroyed, although sadly, it is no longer a theater.