In this photo we’re looking west along the south side of Hollywood Blvd toward the Hollywood and Vine intersection. Behind the guy with the kid is The Hitching Post Theatre, which was an appropriate name for a theater that only ran westerns. Before that it was the Tele-View Theatre, which ran only news reels and short films. So it was the 1930s version of CNN, and all for 25 cents per ticket. But in 1941 it changed to The Hitching Post, which must have proved popular because by 1946 there were five Hitching Post Theatres around the greater L.A. area. This photo was taken in 1947, which is when “Thunder Mountain” came out. And from the large metal trees lining the sidewalk, we can see that it was Christmastime. (I also like the name of the barbershop: The Barber of Seville.)
All those stores are now long gone. In their place is now the Hollywood W Hotel. This image is from February 2021.
I’ve never heard of The Hitching Post movie theaters, so I’ve never seen one. I wonder how long they lasted?
As far as I can tell, they lasted into the 1950s.
I’d have been a little kid, so if there were none in my area, I’d never have seen them. I did google and found a Hitching Post theater in Tehachapi. They mention that it’s old, so I wonder if it’s the last hold out, or maybe just a coincidence — Tehachapi is a self-consciously Western town.
That little boy would be in his early 80s now. I’d like to think he’ll see this post.