Vision Theatre

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Vision Theatre
Liemert Park Theater in 1972.jpg
The theater in 1972
Vision Theatre
Interactive map of Vision Theatre
Former namesLeimert Theatre
Address3314 West 43rd Place
Los Angeles
Coordinates 34°00′16″N118°19′48″W / 34.0044°N 118.3301°W / 34.0044; -118.3301
Capacity729
Construction
Built1931
Opened1932
Renovated2011-2026
Closed1968
Architect Morgan, Walls and Clements

Vision Theatre, formerly Leimert Theatre and the Watchtower, also known as Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center, is a performing arts theater and former movie theater located at 3314 West 43rd Place in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Contents

History

Leimert Theatre, built in 1931 and opened in 1932, was proposed by Walter Leimert, designed by Morgan, Walls and Clements, and owned by Howard Hughes and Fox West Coast Theatres, who sold it to Westland Theaters before construction was completed. [1] [2] [3] [4] The theater was originally designed to seat 1100; however this was lowered to 729 to allow for more room between rows of seats. [1] [5]

Leimert Theatre remained in operation as a first-run theater until 1968. In 1977, it was purchased by Jehovah's Witnesses. It was renamed the Watchtower around this time. [1]

Marla Gibbs bought the theater in 1990, after which she converted it to a live theater and renamed it Vision Theatre. [2] [3] [4] Gibbs invested about $2.5 million into the theater, which she owned until 1997, when she was unable to pay off about $250,000 ($489,687 in 2024) in bank debts. [6] The theater was subsequently purchased by the city of Los Angeles. [1]

In 2011, the theater underwent an $11 million ($15.1 million in 2024) conversion to a performing arts center, paid for by the City of Los Angeles and the California Cultural and Historical Endowment. [2] [3] [4] Final construction began in 2015 [3] and was ongoing as of 2025, with the total cost for the entire project being just under $40 million. [7]

In 2025, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs partnered with Tina Knowles's Where Art Can Occur to co-manage and co-operate the theater once construction is completed. [3]

Architecture and design

Vision Theater's exterior features a streamlined Spanish Colonial Revival rendition of Art Deco. [2] [3] [4] It also features a 115-foot (35 m) steel framed tower with the theater's name on it. [1] [2] [3] Inside, the theater's lobby featured a mural of Samson and Delilah by Andre Durenceau and ceilings designed by Anthony Heinsbergen. [1]

In 2015, the building was deemed eligible by the city of Los Angeles for inclusion in local, state, and national historic registries. The city described the building as an "excellent example of a neighborhood theatre from the early 1930s" and an "excellent example of Art Deco architecture, conveying high quality craftmanship and design." [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kitazawa, Yosuke (October 17, 2013). "Leimert Theater: Envisioning a Neighborhood Landmark". PBS SoCal.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Michelson, Alan. "Leimert Theatre, Los Angeles, CA (1931)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database . University of Washington . Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center". Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs . Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Vision/Leimert Theatre". Los Angeles Conservancy . Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  5. ↑ Jackson, Jay (October 8, 2025). "A New Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center to Open in Leimert Park". Los Angeles Sentinel .
  6. ↑ "Gibb's theatrical vision sinks under pile of debt". Deseret News . August 22, 1997.
  7. ↑ Peters, LaMonica (January 23, 2025). "Leimert Park will have to wait another year for the historic Vision Theatre's reopening". The LA Local.
  8. ↑ "Historic Resource - Vision Theater - 3341 W 43rd Pl". city of Los Angeles. November 22, 2015.
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