The Westlake Theatre
Updated July 23, 2019 | By Matthew Christopher
According to Matt Lambros of After the Final Curtain, who I was fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph the theater with, the Westlake Theatre in Los Angeles, California was built in 1926 based on designs by Richard M. Bates, Jr. that mixed an Adamsesque and Renaissance interior that seated nearly 2,000 with a Spanish Baroque facade. The Westlake opened with a showing of Other Women's Husbands, and previewed an impressive roster of films including Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer. Over the years the theater changed ownership several times and was turned into a swap meet in 1991. The city purchased it in 2008, but has not been able to attract a buyer to the property, which has sat vacant since.
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According to Matt Lambros of After the Final Curtain, who I was fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph the theater with, the Westlake Theatre in Los Angeles, California was built in 1926 based on designs by Richard M. Bates, Jr. that mixed an Adamsesque and Renaissance interior that seated nearly 2,000 with a Spanish Baroque facade. The Westlake opened with a showing of Other Women's Husbands, and previewed an impressive roster of films including Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer. Over the years the theater changed ownership several times and was turned into a swap meet in 1991. The city purchased it in 2008, but has not been able to attract a buyer to the property, which has sat vacant since.
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