The Vista Theater in Los Feliz, one of Los Angeles' great remaining single screen theaters
When you think of going to see a movie, no doubt you think of the local multiplex, with multiple stadium seating theaters. When I was growing up in L.A., I was lucky to live in a neighborhood with two old single screen theaters complete with neon marquis and mosaic tile flooring out front around the ticket booth. Unfortunately, both of those theaters are gone now. They left the façades in place but the buildings now house business office rather than carrying the air of warm popcorn.
Folks living in Silver Lake and Los Feliz are lucky to still have a great single screen theater. The Vista Theater at the corner of Sunset and Hollywood Blvd in Los Feliz is a piece of living history that's still going strong today. Originally opened in 1923, the Vista Theater was home to vaudeville stage acts. It now plays first run movies and many local folks will tell you it's miles above seeing a moving at any of the myriad choices in the area.
The exterior of the Vista Theater is most certainly Spanish, in style but the ticket booth and interior are Egyptian-inspried with carved Egyptian maidens and serpents, most likely to compete with Grauman's Theater in Hollywood which was built around the same time period.
Though Los Feliz has a few theaters, none compare to the Vista Theater. This is a true gem, not only for its history and terrific architecture, but ticket prices are really reasonable and the legroom is fantastic. When the theater was remodeled back in 2002, every other row of seats was pulled out. If someone has to walk by you, you barely have to move your feet. There is more legroom in this theater than you'd ever dream of. The space between the rows also makes it more comfortable to watch a movie without having to hear the people behind you chatting or unwrapping their chocolate bars.
The Vista Theater is the oldest movie theater in Los Felizbut when it was refurbished, it was also updated with all the sound and electronic gizmos you'd find in a fancy new theater. It's just a much more elegant place to see a movie. The theater has no parking lot, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the next block buster there. You'll find plenty of places to park along Hollywood and Sunset and walking a few blocks after the movie might make up at least a little for that large popcorn you'll enjoy!
For more information on real estate in Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock and surrounding areas, contact Jenny Durling at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com
Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com
Jenny, how lucky you are to have such a wonderful place to see a movie! The theatre itself is magnificent.
Our last remaining single-screen theater bit the dust back in 2003 or so. It was a great place to see those movies that demanded a wide screen. I saw Golden Eye, Pulp Fiction, and many other good movies there. Now it's a huge condominium complex.
What a bummer when that happens! We actually have few grand old movie palaces in Downtown Los Angeles like the Orpheum. It's been completely restored and though they don't show movies like a regular cineplex, they do have special screenings- sometimes silent films with live organ accompaniment. We have the L.A. Conservancy to thank that these places have been restored and are being used again. Fabulous inside!