In 1953, Frank Sennes, former manager of the Hollywood Gardens nightclub, took over the famed Earl Carroll’s at 6230 Sunset Blvd and relaunched it as the Moulin Rouge. In a smart move, he kept the iconic “Most Beautiful Girl in the World” neon sign of a woman’s face that Carroll had commissioned, but otherwise made the place his own. This photo was taken on November 11, 1954 and reminds us why night scenes in movies often wet the streets before they start shooting: it adds loads of atmosphere
After the Moulin Rouge closed in the mid-1960s, it went through a number of incarnations. In 1968 it became the Aquarius Theatre for the 2½-year run of “Hair.” Quentin Tarantino had it repainted for his 2019 movie, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” This image was taken in July 2024.
Shot from the doorway cover of The Palladium?
The Palladium is a litter farther west.
Totally depressing!!!
What exactly is depressing? That it’s not the Moulin Rouge any more? Or the Earl Carroll Theatre? It at least looks like it did in the 1960’s as the Aquarius Theatre.
In 2019 the Essex Property Trust, which subsequently built the apartments on either side of it, was supposed to have completed the exterior restoration of the Earl Carroll Theatre and there were plans to reopen it. I suppose the pandemic situation thwarted these plans in some way, though I don’t know the details, but in January of this year the Cultural Planning Commission of the City Planning Department had a hearing on this, but I’ve heard nothing about it since.
This reminder today made me just email the Cultural Heritage Committee and simply ask: “What is happening with the Earl Carroll Theatre site at 6230 Sunset Blvd.? It’s been CRICKETS on this for long enough, don’t you think?”
I think if you want to feel less depressed about things like this you, and anyone else reading this here, should do the same and if anyone gets a reply, let us know what they say. I will. Doesn’t hurt to keep letting them know we’re not forgetting about it. That Essex company makes LOTS of money in this city and they need to do what they said they were going to. Email address:
chc@lacity.org
Martin, What is depressing is that all of the glamor that was once Hollywood is disappearing before our very eyes!!!
I can remember the original Aquarius painting. I’m glad repainting it was one of Tarantino’s touches to make L.A. look vintage for his movie.
And another moody, night time shot with wet streets!
The “Queen for a Day” TV show, hosted by Jack Bailey, was shot there from 1956 to early 1960’s.