Warner Beverly Hills Theater

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Warner Beverly Hills Theater
Warner Beverly Hills Theater
Interactive map of Warner Beverly Hills Theater
Address9404 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills
Coordinates 34°04′01″N118°23′50″W / 34.0670°N 118.3972°W / 34.0670; -118.3972
Type Movie theater
Capacityapproximately 2000
Construction
Built1930-1931
OpenedMay 19, 1931
Renovated1956
Closed1987
Demolished1989
Architect B. Marcus Priteca

Warner Beverly Hills Theater, also known as Warner Beverly, was a movie theater located at 9404 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It was considered "The Pride of Beverly Hills" and "one of the most splendid Art Deco theatres in Los Angeles." [1] [2]

Contents

History

Warner Beverly Hills Theater was designed by B. Marcus Priteca, the architect known for his work with the Pantages circuit. [1] The interior was designed by Anthony Heinsbergen, making the theater was one of three designed by Priteca and Heinsbergen for Warner Brothers, the others being Warner Grand Theatre and Warner Huntington Park. [3] This theater was built in 1930-1931, [1] sat approximately 2,000, [1] and opened on May 19, 1931 with a screening of The Millionaire . [4]

The theater held the west coast premiere of White Christmas on October 27, 1954 [4] and underwent an $80,000 refurbishing in 1956 ($925,239 in 2024) in preparation for the release of The Ten Commandments . [5] It was equipped with 70mm projectors c. 1960 and was bought by Pacific Theatres later that decade. [1] [4]

The theater closed as a movie theater in the late 1970s, after which it briefly operated as a live theater, then came back as a movie theater, then was converted to a rock venue named The Beverly. The Beverly was not liked by locals and closed in 1987. [4] The building itself was demolished shortly after, this despite it being in good cosmetic condition. It was owned by Columbia Savings and Loan Association at the time, and the company didn't want to pay for the reportedly $12 million ($30.4 million in 2024) seismic upgrade the building required. [1] [2] It was replaced by a parking lot. [6]

Architecture and design

Warner Beverly Hills Theater was considered "the Pride of Beverly Hills" and "one of the most splendid Art Deco theatres in Los Angeles." [1] [2] The building featured a distinguishing vertical mast tower sign that spelled "Warner" in neon letters [1] [2] and was capped by a spiked finial. [7] The building also featured ornate molding and plasterwork, pilasters outlined in neon, a "blind staircase", and storefronts with chevron grillwork and black and yellow geometric designed ceramic tile baseboards. [7]

The theater interior was designed by Robert E. Power Studio and featured a combined Art Deco, Spanish, and Mexican design. [4] The lobby, open to the mezzanine, featured carved ceilings incised with jungle foilage. Marble stairs led from the mezzanine to upstairs lounges that featured ceiling murals depicting flamenco dancers in an "almost Cubist" style. The downstairs lounge featured a large copper scallop shell drinking fountain, while copper and glass light fixtures were featured throughout. [7]

The theater's auditorium featured a Spanish fan that spread over the proscenium and overlapped with geometric plaster and stencilling that crowded the ceiling and traveled down the walls to the floor. The auditorium itself was colored maroon and gold and had pink and aqua accents. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Michelson, Alan. "Warner Brothers Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA (1930-1931)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database . University of Washington . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Early Views of Beverly Hills". Water and Power Associates . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Warner Huntington Park Theatre". August 21, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Gabel, William. "Warner Beverly Hills Theatre". Cinema Treasures . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ "$80,000 Refurbishing at Beverly Hills Theatre". Hollywood Reporter . November 8, 1956.
  6. ↑ "Beverly Hills: Vanished Past". The Beverly Hills Historical Society. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Hoye, Daniel (1988). "Art Deco Los Angeles" (PDF). Los Angeles Conservancy.
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