Fairfax Theatre is a gorgeous example of Art Deco, and stands on the northwest corner of Fairfax Ave and Beverly Blvd. It opened on March 26,1930, and this photo was, I imagine, taken not long after that. Judging by that sign on the roof, their big selling point was that all seats at all times cost 30 cents. Sounds like a good deal to me. And with a drug store next door, you could go to the movies and have lunch before or dinner after, all for under a buck. Being the early 1930s, radio was a big competitor for peoples’ attention so I’m kind of surprised to see that Bronster Radio Co in the same building.
This photo was taken on opening night, March 26, 1930, when the Fairfax hosted the premiere of a movie called Troopers Three.
The theater is still around and has been nominated for a City Cultural-Historic Monument designation. This image is from February 2021.
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Too late to be saved. Best to hope for some kind of historical model and display at the structure that will replace it.
I hadn’t heard that. What a shame.
Not too late at all.
The exterior is completely intact, and the lobby is 80% intact. While windows have been replace, they are within their original openings.
The interior of the theater looks terrible, but in actuality quite a lot remains. While the ceiling’s plaster was removed, the original steel framework is intact, as are the beautiful Art Deco light fixtures, and the proscenium arch.
When is was voted to be on the National Register, State Historical Resources Commissioner Luis Hoyos (Architect, and Professor), felt it could easily be restored.
It is now both a local Historic Cultural Monument, and recognized by the National Register of historic places. This means it is eligible for substantial State and Federal tax credit.
This building is extremely important to our history. I am the author of both the National Register and Los Angeles HCM applications
Thanks so much for all this info, Steven. I’ve been wondering exactly what was (and wasn’t left) as I’ve been getting conflicting information.
The Fairfax was still operating as a movie theater in the 1960’s. I went there in 1964. I don’t remember the movie I saw.
Sad to say that the cultural designation came too late. While the outside is intact, the current owner — in an act of revenge against preservationists — completed destroyed the entire interior
I saw The Sixth Sense here, so that would have been 1999 or early 2000.
I find it ironic that, of the three names on the marquee for Troopers Three, the one most known today is not either of the what I assume were the two leads, but rather Slim Summerville, the hero’s pal in many a Western.
NO matter how hard I squint, I can’t discern what they were selling at the store called Perfection. I imagine it was interesting, though.