A Virtual Reality Silver Screen Visit to the EARL CARROLL THEATER
Details
This Sunday, January 29 at 1 p.m. the Art Deco Society and the American Cinematheque will jointly present an illustrated presentation on Sunset Boulevard's art deco era EARL CARROLL THEATER (currently known by most locals as the Nickelodeon Theater--on Sunset Boulevard across the street from the Hollywood Palladium) , given by Richard Adkins of Hollywood Heritage and Marc Wanamaker of the Bison Archives. This fascinating lecture will be followed by an ultra rare big screen showing of a movie that was filmed at this location called "A NIGHT AT EARL CARROLL's" (1940).
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Similar to the famed Ziegfeld Follies in New York, this grand L.A. nightclub became synonomous for opulent stage shows featuring the most beautiful showgirls on the West Coast. At the Earl Carroll these shows were referred to as "Vanities" stage revues. The popular venue had its star-studded opening on December 26, 1938 with a jaw-droppingly Art Deco interior designed by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky who is considered to be the father of the Streamline Moderne style. You can preview some of the building's fascinating history at the following weblink:
https://sites.google.com/site/hollywoodtheatres/earl-carroll
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Adkins and Wanamaker will share the history of this ultra-glamorous supper club which is remembered for a slogan which was emblazoned on the facade of the building in neon which read "Through these portals pass the most beautiful girls in the world" (a replication of which can now be found at the Universal Studios City Walk). Wanamaker will detail his personal history with the building in the 1960s when it was known as The Aquarius Theatre (where the acclaimed musical "Zoot Suit" was first performed) and the Kaleidoscope psychedelic night club where The Doors famously performed.
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The Earl Carroll was recently designated as a historic landmark and The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles was part of a consortium of heritage groups that included Hollywood Heritage and the Los Angeles Conservancy that spoke to the importance of the building to Los Angeles and helped attain Historic Cultural Monument status for it. Also discussed will be pending renovations that may be made to the building.
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The 1940 musical, A NIGHT AT EARL CARROLL'S, will be screened following the lecture at approximately 2 p.m. in glorious 35mm!!!
Directed by Kurt Neumann, this 62 minute-long featurette stars Ken Murray (famous for the "Ken Murray Blackouts"--racy variety shows that were once held at what is now known as the Avalon Nightclub near Hollywood & Vine) with Rose Hobart, radio stars Brenda & Cobina (Blake Steward and Elvia Allman) and songs by Hobart, William Brady, Mary Lou Cook, Lillian Cornell and an old vaudeville dance by Lela Moore. The thin plot revolves around Earl Carroll (playing himself) being kidnapped by mobsters at a mayor's convention. This rarely seen film is a glorious artifact for those with an interest in the revival of burlesque!
TICKETS: $12 general admission or $8 for AC or ADSLA members and should be available at the door or may be purchased in advance online at the below weblink...
PARKING: Pay lot parking is available within 2 blocks of the Egyptian Theater and rates vary per lot--but average about $10 flat rate. Often times the Blessed Sacrament Church parking lot on Selma near Cherokee is the least expensive at $8. Metered parking is NOT recommended because most are limited to only 2 hour-long intervals and increases the risk of getting a much more expensive parking ticket ($68).
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