Alice Calhoun became involved in theater ownership and management in 1925, when she partnered with the notorious nightclub/theater owner, Mark Hanson to construct the "Marcal Theater" on Hollywood Boulevard. (See more about Mark Hanson on the Alice in Hollywoodland: Excerpts from the Biography page).
Around this same time, she became acquainted with another theater owner, Max Chotiner. Max and his brother, Harry owned a chain of theaters called Chotiner Theaters. These included Chotiner's Parisian Theater (later called Fox Parisian Theater), Chotiner's Ravenna Theater and the Fox LaBrea. They also operated, for briefer periods of time, The Lomita Theater, The Belmont and the Melrose. These were second-run movie houses, which refers to theaters that show films after their initial release period has elapsed and they have been closed out of primary cinemas. Tickets to these films were priced significantly less than the more expensive first-run theaters. The experience of attending a film at a discounted price was a valuable service to the general public who needed to watch every penny - especially once the Great Depression hit the country. Their older brother, Albert also ran the glorious Art Deco-designed Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills for a short period of time.. It was a first-run theater, however.
Some of the above-mentioned theaters still stand; some do not. More information about these and hundreds of other theaters can be found at the Cinema Treasures website.
Most recently, it is a giant parking lot for GM Certified Used Cars.
Located on Marbonne St. in Lomita, California, it seated 500. Early in 1935, Frank Gumm leased the Lomita to showcase the musical talents of his three daughters. One of them grew up to be...
Judy Garland.
