This shot of the Italianate beaux arts Warner Bros. Theatre at 6433 Hollywood Blvd was taken just before its official opening on April 26, 1928. The marquee reads “Watch for the Grand Opening” which was for the studio’s early Vitaphone talkie “Glorious Betsy.” In 1953, it reinvented itself as the Warner Cinerama with a huge new curved screen, which involved taking out more than 1000 seats. But it was worth it because “This is Cinerama” played for 115 weeks and grossed nearly $4 million.
The theater is still there. In 1968 it was renamed it the Hollywood Pacific, but is no longer in use. This image is from April 2019:
I saw “This is Cinerama” at Warner Bros. theater when it opened there in Hollywood in 1953. What a thrill! We were all sitting on a roller coaster sloly climing up to the top (the opeaning sequence) then plunging down and ruuning the whole ride. Wow, we had never seen anything like it. An evening I will never forget!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDigvHuTV3A
This shot of the Italianate beaux arts Warner Bros. Theatre at 6433 Hollywood Blvd was taken just before its official opening on April 26, 1928. The marquee reads “Watch for the Grand Opening” which was for the studio’s early Vitaphone talkie “Glorious Betsy.” In 1953, it reinvented itself as the Warner Cinerama with a huge new curved screen, which involved taking out more than 1000 seats. But it was worth it because “This is Cinerama” played for 115 weeks and grossed nearly $4 million.
Can’t help but wonder what happened to that original marquee and box office.
Priceless.
Yes! That box office is especially gorgeous!
I saw “This is Cinerama” at Warner Bros. theater when it opened there in Hollywood in 1953. What a thrill! We were all sitting on a roller coaster sloly climing up to the top (the opeaning sequence) then plunging down and ruuning the whole ride. Wow, we had never seen anything like it. An evening I will never forget!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDigvHuTV3A
Lucky you, Richard!