{"id":2014,"date":"2024-06-26T14:24:33","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T21:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/?p=2014"},"modified":"2024-06-26T14:24:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T21:24:40","slug":"all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2014-all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ","title":{"rendered":"ALL ABOUT THE MILLION DOLLAR THEATER: CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND THE UNIQUE ORGAN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Million Dollar Theater, a true performing arts treasure can be found next to the vibrant Grand Central Market in downtown LA. This historic landmark showcases the city&#8217;s rich cultural legacy, boasting over a hundred years of history. Even in the 21st century, the theater continues to shine as a beacon of entertainment, providing limitless opportunities for special events, filming and production. Discover the fascinating origins of <a href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/uk\/eternal-1727-yak-na-pochatku-20-stolittya-stvoryuvaly-kinostudiyu-universal-pictures\">Universal Pictures film studio<\/a> from the early 1900s. For additional information, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/\">los-angeles-trend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a04e0631603d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a04e0631603d\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2014-all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ\/#THE_STORY_OF_THE_THEATER\" >THE STORY OF THE THEATER<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2014-all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ\/#THEATER_BUILDING\" >THEATER BUILDING&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2014-all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ\/#ORGAN\" >ORGAN<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2014-all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ\/#THEATER_AS_A_CULTURAL_PHENOMENON\" >THEATER AS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"THE_STORY_OF_THE_THEATER\"><\/span>THE STORY OF THE THEATER<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Edison Building, originally known as such, was constructed for approximately one million dollars. During that time, the structure was regarded as one of the earliest and most significant examples of the Churrigueresque architecture style in the US and one of the pioneering silent movie theaters worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The theater opened its doors on February 1, 1918. Sid Grauman, the renowned showman, took charge as the theater&#8217;s director and showcased the premiere of The Silent Man. Among those in attendance at the grand opening were Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin. Throughout the 1920s, the theater went through significant expansion and changes. Originally intended as a venue for silent films, the Million Dollar Theater was equipped with full-stage capabilities. The theater became known for hosting live stage performances in the 1930s as its popularity grew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/06\/ad_4nxczuvit7ddrzth906dz8i_ah3y9-a7nstijrkhkmtx2s0gebd5gys2oz4xvzy5w59b2xra_qgvhof0muaqle4gdiw0prfxu9cwj9nw0njrxcj9pafd_awfgdq7byvtthom4pygaaggubxh0arwe3lkuksr1keyz3spepqfcbe3ttjzqrrbka.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During the 1940s, the theater served as the backup venue for the renowned Orpheum Circuit. It hosted performances by artists like Nat King Cole, Joe Liggins and The Honey Drippers. In 1949, Frank Fouce, a Hispanic theater owner, assumed control of the theater&#8217;s management. With his guidance, it transformed into the groundbreaking Broadway venue that presented Spanish-language variety shows, establishing itself as the top destination for beloved Latin entertainment in the following years. The stage of this theater witnessed the talents of Dolores del R\u00edo, Cantinflas, Mar\u00eda F\u00e9lix, Jos\u00e9 Alfredo Jim\u00e9nez, Agust\u00edn Lara, Jos\u00e9 Feliciano, Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fern\u00e1ndez and Celia Cruz, among many others. It was also the very place where Antonio Aguilar, a famous Mexican actor, presented his rodeo horses in front of an audience, sparking the idea for his large-scale arena rodeo shows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frank Fouce received Mexico&#8217;s highest civilian award, the Order of the Aztec Eagle, from President Miguel Alem\u00e1n Vald\u00e9s in recognition of his efforts. ANDA, the Mexican actors union, also paid tribute to both Frank Fouce and the theater for their significant impact on the Mexican entertainment industry. Besides triumphant stage performances, the theater also held the prestigious title of the leading Spanish-language movie theater in the US. It was the go-to place to catch all the latest Mexican films upon their initial release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Million Dollar Theater, which had housed a Spanish-language church for several years, was vacant by 2006. Meanwhile, the office building underwent renovations and was transformed into apartments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 2008, the theater was brought back to life with live Spanish theater productions. Unfortunately, it didn&#8217;t last long and it closed again in 2012. In 2017,&nbsp; Langdon Street Capital purchased the building and temporarily leased the theater and retail space to fashion startup CoBird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"THEATER_BUILDING\"><\/span>THEATER BUILDING&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The theater building was designed by Albert C. Martin Sr., a renowned LA architect and founder of a prominent architectural firm in the city. The twelve-story structure features an intricate design inspired by the Churrigueresque style, named after the Spanish sculptor and architect Jos\u00e9 Benito de Churriguera from the 18th century. Its exterior, created by Joseph Mora, son of the renowned Spanish sculptor Domingo Mora, is adorned with various elements including bison heads, longhorn steer skulls, symbolic figures representing the arts and young women sitting on ledges playing string instruments with their feet dangling over the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/06\/ad_4nxftuh31llbtanltfkacxqivdp8r4_bghnqqan_f0dlz3-v6mjdeuaoyfojcjgddrqtmp-1383cm9oga2wxu4lej1pa1nezivnqxl-eyoexh8oj5qwwvwgo81da_atzoracgnql-epunaofy-wa802rdj7ckkeyz3spepqfcbe3ttjzqrrbka.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The theater itself was designed by the renowned theater architect William Lee Woollett. A significant part of the interior embellishments drew inspiration from the 1841 English fairy tale King of the Golden River, written by John Ruskin. The organ grilles, specifically, feature captivating illustrations taken directly from the book, including the wicked brothers, the Golden Tankard, the South West Wind and even the dog mentioned in the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The September 1919 edition of Popular Mechanics introduced a new concept. It involved using a concrete arch, typically used in bridge construction, to support the balcony of a theater. This innovative design eliminated the need for columns in the structure, as the concrete arch provided the necessary support. The choice to utilize concrete over steel was due to the unavailability of steel at that time. The span itself weighed a staggering 9 million pounds and measured 12 feet wide by 110 feet long. It was reinforced with 180 steel rods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there were doubts among potential customers regarding the safety of a seemingly unsupported balcony. To address their concerns, Grauman resorted to demonstrating the balcony&#8217;s strength by having newspapers post images of the balcony successfully holding a weight of 1,750,000 pounds of sandbags. This visual evidence was intended to convince the public that the balcony was indeed safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/06\/ad_4nxfl1o0ah9v_q4adayrvrlrrdha4h-pfo540glsnah5seybtie0cafgzsaj6nyo_mfwbiizw9nc12mppb_5y81bn6bybclr_-8viberlbfrizasits9zm0ztltvwsrmch3hlesty4akzxjh7kmywks-diskkeyz3spepqfcbe3ttjzqrrbka.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ORGAN\"><\/span>ORGAN<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Wurlitzer organ was initially installed in the theater under the supervision of renowned organist Jesse Crawford. According to the LA Daily Times of January 22, 1918, Crawford surprised everyone with an improvised organ concert on the evening of January 21, revealing that the instrument was finally operational. Interestingly, it was just the day before Charlie Chaplin had taken on a distinct character in front of a small crowd at the theater and allegedly played the organ for three hours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In September 1918, a larger Style 35 Wurlitzer organ replaced the original one. The organs eventually vanished, leaving behind massive plaster organ grilles resembling Spanish colonial altar screens. These grilles were painted to resemble the wood of the instrument. However, in 1993, the theater closed its doors and the church rented the structure for five years. Following its closure in 1998, the theater found a new lease of life in 2005 when it was rented by Robert Voskanian, a former nightclub proprietor. It was revived in 2008 to host exclusive occasions, concerts and film showings. However, business was inconsistent leading Voskanian to relinquish his lease in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 2012 and 2017, the theater hosted sporadic one-time events, screenings and filming locations. By the end of 2017, the theater, the Edison Building and the nearby Grand Central Market were purchased by Langdon Street Capital, a company owned by Beverly Hills investor Adam Daneshgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In early 2019, Langdon Street Capital initiated the process of designating the Million Dollar Theater as a Historic Cultural Monument. The LA Historic Theatre Foundation played a crucial role in supporting the nomination and in early July 2019, the LA City Council unanimously approved the theater&#8217;s Historic Cultural Monument status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"THEATER_AS_A_CULTURAL_PHENOMENON\"><\/span>THEATER AS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The theater&#8217;s exterior, as well as the Bradbury Building nearby, have been featured in various films like D.O.A. (1949) and Blade Runner (1982). The theater&#8217;s interior was prominently shown in The Artist (2011). Also, the theater&#8217;s exterior was seen in Johnny Gill&#8217;s music video Fairweather Friend. You can even find the theater in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V as the Ten Cent Theater. It also plays a significant role in Michael Connelly&#8217;s Harry Bosch novel The Overlook, serving as the location for a secret FBI unit and a climactic shootout.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Million Dollar Theater, a true performing arts treasure can be found next to the vibrant Grand Central Market in downtown LA. This historic landmark showcases the city&#8217;s rich cultural legacy, boasting over a hundred years of history. Even in the 21st century, the theater continues to shine as a beacon of entertainment, providing limitless [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":296,"featured_media":1974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[1493,1503,737,1496,1499,1497,1498,1495,1500,1501,1502,1504,1494],"motype":[160],"moformat":[24],"moimportance":[32,35],"class_list":{"0":"post-2014","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-teatrs","8":"tag-all-about-the-million-dollar-theater-charlie-chaplin-and-the-unique-organ","9":"tag-by-langdon-street-capital","10":"tag-career-development","11":"tag-created-by-joseph-mora","12":"tag-is-adorned-with-various-elements-including-bison-heads","13":"tag-its-exterior","15":"tag-son-of-the-renowned-spanish-sculptor-domingo-mora","16":"tag-symbolic-figures-representing","17":"tag-the-september-1919-edition-of-popular-mechanics-introduced-a-new-concept","18":"tag-the-wurlitzer-organ-was-initially-installed-in-the-theater-under-the-supervision","19":"tag-theater-as-a-cultural-phenomenon","20":"tag-theater-building","21":"motype-eternal","22":"moformat-longrid-korotka","23":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","24":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/296"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2014"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2024,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014\/revisions\/2024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2014"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2014"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2014"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}