I don’t normally post photos as recent as the 80s (to my mind a “vintage photo” is anything pre-1970, but it’s an elastic rule.) However, I felt this one from 1983 has such a timeless feel to it (maybe because of its stark, black-and-white, film-noir-y atmosphere?) Previously known as the Granada Theatre, Oriental Theatre, stood at 7425 Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, Sunset between Vista and Gardner Sts from 1921 until 1985, which is a very good run for a theater. I especially love the neon detailing between the two marquees, and how that stone frontage adds a nice texture to the shadows.
** UPDATE ** Bill C on Facebook supplied the original version of this photo which was in color:
7425 Sunset is now home to a Guitar Center location that has altered the building so much, you’d never know a theater had ever been there. This image is from May 2022.
I definitely remember going by this theater on occasion, but I never saw a film there. Possibly because in it’s latter years it was showing movies that had been out awhile in double bills and I’d likely have already seen them! The movie My Favorite Year on the marquee in this photo mostly takes place on the day I was born! And now Guitar Center has been there almost 40 years!
Why oh Why do people insist on destroying something beautiful and putting up something STUPID!!! This new look for the old theater makes me want to puke!!!