One of the most striking theaters during Hollywood’s golden age was the Carthay Circle Theatre, 6316 San Vicente Blvd. It opened in May of 1926 with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s “Volga Boatman.” The noticeboard out and marquee are advertising Fox’s “What Price Glory” which came out in November of that year, which explains why everything looks so fresh and clean and pristine. I’d love to have seen just one movie there – but especially during that first year when it was still brand new. The Carthay Circle was demolished in 1969 and was replaced by a pair of low-rise office buildings.
This is what occupies that site now. (This image is from May 2019.) Knowing what used to stand there, this is painful to look at.
I did see a movie there! It was a revival of “Gone With the Wind,” and I went with high school friends. Obviously, it must have been before my senior year, because I graduated high school in 1969. I hadn’t remembered that it was torn down so long ago. It was definitely one of the movie palaces — very grand.
My grandmother was starstruck, and my dad said she used to drag him to movie premieres there. He probably had seen it close to its heyday.
I’m with you – I’d dearly love to have seen a movie here. When I drive on Olympic, I always sigh a little when passing the sign for Carthay Circle.