Ricardo Montalbán Theatre

The Ricardo Montalbán Theatre is a historic performance venue on Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The Beaux-Arts building was designed by architects Myron Hunt and H. C. Chambers and constructed in 1926–1927 on land associated with the former Robert Northam and Jacob Stern estate. When it opened on January 19, 1927, as Wilkes' Vine Street Theatre, it became Los Angeles's first Broadway-style legitimate theater venue. Its inaugural production was Patrick Kearney's adaptation of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, following the work's Broadway presentation. The building has experienced several distinct operating identities. In 1931, it was converted into a cinema called the Mirror Theatre as part of an enterprise associated with Howard Hughes and Harold B. Franklin. That venture soon collapsed, and the venue later operated as the Studio Theatre. CBS acquired the property in 1936 and transformed it into a radio auditorium and studio for its Los Angeles affiliate KNX. Under the CBS Radio Playhouse name, it hosted major radio programming, including Lux Radio Theatre, a live anthology series that dramatized stage plays and films before an audience. Producer and host Cecil B. DeMille was closely associated with the program, and the Al Jolson show was also broadcast from the building between 1936 and 1939. Arts patron Huntington Hartford purchased the theater from CBS in 1953. After modernization designed by Helen Conway, it reopened as the Huntington Hartford Theatre with approximately 970 seats. Its reopening production was What Every Woman Knows, starring Helen Hayes. Hartford presented prominent theatrical productions for about a decade before selling the property in 1964 to James Doolittle, who operated the Greek Theatre and renamed the venue the Doolittle Theatre. Doolittle's period of control lasted roughly two decades, after which the theater was acquired by UCLA. The Nosotros Foundation purchased the then-closed and deteriorating venue in 1999. Following restoration and preparation, it reopened in May 2004 as the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre, honoring the Mexican-born actor and Nosotros co-founder Ricardo Montalbán. The renewed venue was intended in part to provide a home for Latino theatrical work and to broaden cultural programming in Los Angeles. The theater has faced financial and renovation challenges, but it has remained in operation. Rather than functioning primarily as a producing theater with a permanent resident company, it generally operates as a rental and presentation venue. Its programming has included theatrical productions, concerts, film festivals, art exhibitions, promotional events, and seasonal rooftop film screenings. Documented presentations include Zorro in Hell, An Evening Without Monty Python, the enra project PROXIMA, and the first live performance by The New Basement Tapes, featuring Johnny Depp and Haim. The building's exterior and nearby parking area also appeared as the Burlesque Lounge in the 2010 film Burlesque. Its long sequence of names and uses reflects the changing relationship between Los Angeles theater, radio, cinema, cultural nonprofit activity, and commercial event rental.

The Ricardo Montalbán Theatre occupies a prominent site near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles. Its Beaux-Arts structure was designed by Myron Hunt and H. C. Chambers and built in 1926–1927. The theater opened on January 19, 1927, as Wilkes' Vine Street Theatre, presenting Patrick Kearney's adaptation of An American Tragedy. It was conceived as a Broadway-style legitimate theater and is identified as the first venue of that type in Los Angeles. In March 1931, the building became the Mirror Theatre, a cinema connected with an operation run by Howard Hughes and Harold B. Franklin. That business failed soon afterward, and the venue subsequently operated as the Studio Theatre. CBS purchased the theater in 1936 and converted it into a radio auditorium and studio serving KNX, its Los Angeles affiliate. The resulting CBS Radio Playhouse became associated with Lux Radio Theatre, a popular live anthology program featuring radio adaptations of stage plays and motion pictures. Cecil B. DeMille served for many years as the program's producer and host, while the Al Jolson show also used the venue from 1936 through 1939. Huntington Hartford acquired the building from CBS in 1953. He commissioned modernization work by Helen Conway and reopened it with roughly 970 seats as the Huntington Hartford Theatre. The first production in the renovated venue was What Every Woman Knows, starring Helen Hayes. Hartford's tenure brought prominent theatrical productions and performers to the theater, but he lost interest in Los Angeles arts patronage after approximately ten years. In 1964, James Doolittle acquired the property after outbidding Cary Grant and renamed it the Doolittle Theatre. Doolittle, who also operated the Greek Theatre, managed the venue for about two decades before UCLA acquired it. The property later stood closed and in deteriorating condition. In 1999, the Nosotros Foundation bought the theater. Nosotros, an organization associated with Latino performers and cultural advocacy, undertook the process of returning the building to use. The theater reopened in May 2004 as the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre, named for the actor and Nosotros co-founder Ricardo Montalbán. A central objective of the relaunch was to encourage Latino stage productions while maintaining the building as an accessible cultural venue. The theater has not operated mainly as a producing institution with a permanent in-house repertory. Instead, it has generally rented its spaces to traveling productions, festivals, artists, and commercial partners. This model has allowed it to host a varied schedule, including Zorro in Hell in 2007, An Evening Without Monty Python in 2009, the enra show PROXIMA in 2016, concerts, art exhibitions, and film-related events. Spring and summer rooftop screenings have become part of its event mix. The venue also hosted the first live show by The New Basement Tapes, involving Johnny Depp and Haim. The venue's reliance on rentals and partnerships has also created tensions. In 2009, a Nike agreement introduced a mini retail store, branded displays, and promotional screenings. Some artists objected to the commercial visibility, while a Nosotros representative acknowledged the compromise and said Nike's support helped the theater meet its bills. Despite financial difficulties and the continuing challenge of completing and maintaining renovations profitably, the theater has remained open. Its exterior and adjacent parking lot were used as the Burlesque Lounge location in the 2010 film Burlesque, adding a cinematic association to a building already linked to theater, radio, cinema, and live events.

• 2010

  Featured in Burlesque

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater exterior and adjacent parking lot appear as the Burlesque Lounge in the film Burlesque.

• 2009

  Nike promotional partnership

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A commercial agreement with Nike adds branded retail and promotional elements to the theater and provokes debate about commercialization of an arts venue.

• 2004

  Reopening as the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The restored venue reopens in May under its current name, with a stated goal of supporting Latino theater and cultural programming.

• 1999

  Nosotros Foundation acquisition

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Nosotros Foundation purchases the closed and deteriorating venue.

• 1964

  Renamed the Doolittle Theatre

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  James Doolittle acquires the theater and gives it the Doolittle Theatre name.

• 1953

  Huntington Hartford acquires and modernizes the venue

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Huntington Hartford purchases the theater, commissions modernization, and reopens it as the Huntington Hartford Theatre.

• 1936

  CBS Radio Playhouse period begins

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  CBS acquires and converts the building into a radio studio and live auditorium for KNX, hosting Lux Radio Theatre and other broadcasts.

• 1931

  Conversion to the Mirror Theatre

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater is converted into a movie house under the Mirror Theatre name.

• 1927

  Opening as Wilkes' Vine Street Theatre

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue opens on January 19 with an adaptation of An American Tragedy and becomes Los Angeles's first Broadway-style legitimate theater venue.

• 1926

  Construction begins

  [1]Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Beaux-Arts theater building begins on the Vine Street site in Hollywood, based on designs by Myron Hunt and H. C. Chambers.

A historic Hollywood cultural venue that combines theatrical heritage with nonprofit-oriented Latino cultural programming and flexible rental-based events.

• Venue rental · 2004

  The Montalbán venue rental

  The theater's principal contemporary offering is a flexible rental and presentation venue for traveling theater, concerts, festivals, screenings, exhibitions, and promotional events. Unlike a conventional producing theater, it generally provides space and event infrastructure rather than maintaining a permanent resident production company.

• Performing arts · 2004

  Live theater and cultural programming

  The venue presents or hosts theatrical and cultural programs, including Latino-oriented work and touring productions. Examples cited in the source material include Zorro in Hell, An Evening Without Monty Python, and the enra project PROXIMA.

• Film exhibition

  Rooftop cinema

  Seasonal rooftop film screenings are part of the theater's programming, particularly during spring and summer. The format extends the venue beyond its main auditorium and connects the building with Los Angeles's outdoor film culture.

• 2009Nike Sportswear at the Montalbán

  United States

  The theater partnered with Nike on a branded activation involving a small retail store, lobby and mezzanine displays, entrance signage, and promotional film screenings. During some events, the venue operated under the Nike Sportswear at the Montalbán name.

  Outcome. The arrangement generated criticism from some artists because of its commercial presentation, while the theater indicated that Nike's financial support helped it meet operating expenses.

  Source

• 2009

  Adopt a commercial brand partnership with NikeStrategy

  Background

  The venue faced the practical financial demands of maintaining and renovating a historic theater while operating as a nonprofit-associated cultural space.

  Action taken

  The theater accepted Nike retail, signage, display, and promotional-screening elements, including temporary use of the Nike Sportswear at the Montalbán name.

  Aftermath

  Artists criticized the commercial intrusion, but a Nosotros representative characterized the arrangement as a compromise that helped pay the theater's bills.

  Source

• 2004

  Reopen as a Latino-oriented cultural venueStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring a closed and deteriorating theater, the Nosotros Foundation sought to restore the building and give it a role in supporting Latino stage productions and wider cultural programming.

  Action taken

  The foundation reopened the theater in May 2004 under the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre name and operated it as a venue for productions, festivals, exhibitions, and rentals.

  Aftermath

  The theater continued operating despite financial and renovation difficulties, developing a mixed program rather than a permanent in-house production schedule.

  Source

1. 1Ricardo Montalbán Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Nosotros Foundation theatre pagenosotros.org