When the Laurel Theater at 8056 Beverly Blvd (near the intersection of Beverly and Laurel Ave) opened in March of 1941, it received the requisite splashy Hollywood treatment with searchlights. I think it’s a shame we don’t seem to build theaters with striking neon lighting much anymore. Even a minor theater like the Laurel—their debut picture, I Wanted Wings, is one I’ve never even heard of—got the fancy neon treatment.
The building appears to still be there, albeit unrecognizable. It’s now a synagogue, which is what a lot of the old theaters around have been converted to, i.e. a church of some kind. Has that happened in other cities, too, or is it more of an LA phenomenon?
“I wanted wings til I got the god-damn things; now I’d rather come home Buster with my ass than with a with a Cluster. Oh, I wanted wings…….” WW II ditty. Love you.
Hi. My mother remembers this as a place she could see “sexy” foreign movies. Not common back then. Thanks for the great picture. My mothers father owned and founded the Gotham deli.
When the Laurel Theater at 8056 Beverly Blvd (near the intersection of Beverly and Laurel Ave) opened in March of 1941, it received the requisite splashy Hollywood treatment with searchlights. I think it’s a shame we don’t seem to build theaters with striking neon lighting much anymore. Even a minor theater like the Laurel—their debut picture, I Wanted Wings, is one I’ve never even heard of—got the fancy neon treatment.
“I wanted wings til I got the god-damn things; now I’d rather come home Buster with my ass than with a with a Cluster. Oh, I wanted wings…….” WW II ditty. Love you.
WOW!!! That’s some kind of reno on the building… Ugly for sure.
Hi. My mother remembers this as a place she could see “sexy” foreign movies. Not common back then. Thanks for the great picture. My mothers father owned and founded the Gotham deli.