The Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd, just east of Vine St, sure must have been a sight to see when all lit up at night like this—especially that enormous neon head on the side of the building ringed the theater’s famous slogan: “Thru These Portals Pass The Most Beautiful Girls In The World.” Judging from the cars, this photo was probably taken some time in the early 1940s.

Understandably, they used the large neon sign as their logo on everything. John P says: “That enormous neon head is 20 feet in diameter portraiture of Headliner Beryl Wallace. Nearby “Off-Vine” restaurant was Beryl’s house where she lived with her mother and siblings. She had a radio program across the street at NBC. She volunteered at the Hollywood Canteen two blocks away on Cahuenga. Screen credits from Paramount Studio and a Gene Autry film or two. The adjacent new construction apartment building (opened 2021) The Wallace, is named after her.”

The Earl Carroll later became the Aquarius Theatre, which is where the musical “Hair” played in the 1960s. It was recreated for Quentin Tarantino’s movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” (2019) This image if from February 2021.

See also: Spotlight on…the Earl Carroll Theatre