Hayworth Theatre
{{Short description|Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument}}
{{External links|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Hayworth Theatre
| image = Dynasty Typewriter At tHe Hayworth.jpg
| size =
| image_alt =
| caption = Marquee of the Hayworth Theatre in 2021
| location = 2511 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
| formation = 1926
| type =
| purpose =
| headquarters =
| region_served =
| membership =
| leader_title = Owner
| leader_name = Jenji Kohan
| leader_title2 = Artistic Directors
| leader_name2 = Vanessa Ragland & Jamie Flam
| leader_title3 = Co- Artistic Director
| leader_name4 =
| website = {{URL|dynastytypewriter.com}}
}}
The Hayworth Theatre is a theater and performing arts venue at 2511 Wilshire Boulevard located in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web |title=Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles, CA - Cinema Treasures |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1170 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=cinematreasures.org}}
History
The building that houses the Hayworth is significant due to its association with Stiles O. Clements of the architectural firm Morgan, Walls & Clements, who designed many other Los Angeles theatres as well as many of the buildings in the Wilshire historical district. The structure is in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, also called the ornate Churrigueresque style.{{Cite web |title=The Hayworth - Theatre In LA |url=https://www.theatreinla.com/theatredetail.php?theatreID=19 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=www.theatreinla.com}}
It originally opened in 1926 as The Masque Theatre, a Vaudeville House.
On May 26, 1950, it was converted into a movie theater, and rebranded as the Vagabond Theatre. Architect [https://www.laconservancy.org/architects/dwight-gibbs Dwight Gibbs], who is widely recognized as the designer of the renowned Carthay Circle Theatre, was responsible for the transformation. The interior walls of the theatre were once adorned with murals depicting scenes from silent films. The building also housed a restaurant called Vagabond's House, which was possibly Los Angeles' first Tiki bar.{{Cite web |last=Counter |first=B. |title=Los Angeles Theatres: Hayworth / Vagabond Theatre |url=https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2017/03/vagabond-theatre.html |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Los Angeles Theatres}}
During its peak, it was one of the city's most popular revival houses, but the advent of video almost led to its downfall in the late 1980s. Despite this, the theater managed to remain open into the 1990s, showing classic 3-D films like "Kiss Me Kate" and "Dial M for Murder."{{Cite web |title=Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles, CA - Cinema Treasures |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1170 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=cinematreasures.org}}
The Hayworth Theatre Company became resident in 2006.The theatre housed award-winning theater company [http://NewAmericanTheatre.com/ The New American Theatre] from 2006 to 2011. Artistic Director and actor Jack Stehlin performed there, as well as other notable actors such as Alfred Molina, Katie Lowes, Jill Gascoine, and Robert Cicchini.
TV writer Jenji Kohan purchased the building in November 2013. Her husband and business partner, Christopher Noxon, indicated that she is planning on using the second floor as production offices for writers and editors on her TV shows.Ng, David (March 13, 2014) [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-hayworth-theatre-20140313,0,6789320.story "Historic Hayworth Theatre is entering a new stage of life"] Los Angeles Times In 2015 the building was renovated by architect Linda Brettler and associate Lydia Dubois-Wetherwax to become production and writing offices maintaining the historical elements of the original building. Two years later they renovated the theater space.
In 2017, former Hollywood Improv booker and artistic director [http://jamieflam.com/ Jamie Flam] launched a [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamieflam/a-new-entertainment-experience-in-a-historic-la-th?ref=video Kickstarter campaign] to reopen the venue under the name Dynasty Typewriter. Operating as a hub for comedy, variety, screenings, and more,{{Cite web | url=http://www.laweekly.com/arts/the-hayworth-theatre-in-westlake-is-reopening-as-a-new-comedy-venue-thanks-to-the-hollywood-improvs-former-artistic-director-8783413 |title = The Hayworth Theatre in Westlake is Reopening as a Comedy Venue|date = 24 October 2017}} the new venue launched in January 2018 and has since hosted a multitude of shows and events, including notable performances by comedians Hannah Gadsby, Adam Sandler, Ilana Glazer, Patton Oswalt, and Margaret Cho.
Film location
Throughout its history, the venue has been used as a location for a number of significant film + television productions:
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, 1988 comedy starring Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley.
- The Formula, 1980 mystery starring George C. Scott and Marlon Brando.
- La La Land, 2016 musical comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
- Too Late, 2021 comedy starring Ron Lynch and Fred Armisen.
Comedy specials and notable events
Under the Dynasty Typewriter tenure, the venue has been utilized as a filming location for a significant number of comedy specials from various production companies and networks, Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, Peacock and more.
- Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh
- Esther Povitsky: Hot for My Name
- Eddie Pepitone: For the Masses
- Mark Normand: Out To Lunch
- Chris Fleming: Hell
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dynastytypewriter.com Dynasty Typewriter website]
{{Movie theaters in Los Angeles}}
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Category:Theatre companies in Los Angeles
Category:Arts organizations established in 2006
Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Los Angeles
Category:Theatres in Los Angeles
Category:Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments
Category:Theatres completed in 1926
Category:Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in California
Category:Spanish Colonial Revival cinemas and movie theaters