Here we have a photo of a movie house called College Theater (so named because it was around the corner from the State Normal School, which was a teaching college.) It was at 449 S. Hill St in downtown Los Angeles which also put in a block from Pershing Square right in the heart of downtown. The double bill at the time was “Blonde by Choice” and “Pretty Clothes” both of which came out in late 1927. By the time this photo was taken, “The Jazz Singer” had come out, so places like this were on the way out—even if all seats were 10 cents, as the sign says.
Lisa K says: “From the Los Angeles Evening Post-Record 11/20/1922, next door to the theater it looks like Leighton Dairy Lunch. Address shows 441 S Hill St, looks like it’s the right business. An employee owned cafeteria.”
This is how that view looked in February 2023.
It says “BIG STARS ONLY” above All Seats 10¢ on the sign! These two movies starred Claire Windsor, Allan Simpson, Walter Hiers, Bodil Rosing, Jobyna Ralston, Gertrude Astor, Johnnie Walker and Lloyd Whitlock.
None of whom ring any bells with me.
A Leighton Dairy Lunch is parked to the right. This was a big operation in those days. The cafeteria craze would rise and dairy lunches would fall from the favored spot. Some of old names would be linked to the move into the new Drive-In business that ultimately begat the fast food drive-thru era. Among their many locations, Leighton had a place on Hollywood Boulevard at one time. (The people in the road are standing in a streetcar “safety island” and this was a very heavily trafficked area with the Hill Street PE facilities by there and LA Ry lines converging in. Not to mention all the cars pouring in via tunnels.) A dairy lunch may have done well around here. Until the crash, that is.
Mr. Donnelly and Mr. Pal, your comments are always so informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. It makes viewing these pictures that Martin posts come alive. Thank you again.
Didn’t the State Normal School eventually become UCLA?
Yes, I do believe you’re right, Paula.
Baist map of 1921 indicates the building next to the theater was originally occupied by the Poinsettia Cafeteria. The California Club House sat left of the theater, across (north) from Pershing Square. On the camera’s side, to the south between 5th & 6th was a larger space given over to a dining spot called B&M Cafeteria. Several Hotels are around here, and Department Stores like The Broadway are in close proximity. This is a real live city area.