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AKA: Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA; Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA
Structure Type: built works - performing arts structures - theatres
Designers: Heinsbergen Decorating Company, Interior Designers (firm); Lansburgh, G. Albert, Architect (firm); Levin and Associates, Architects (firm); Morgan, Walls and Clements, Architects (firm); Rossetti Associates (firm); Anthony T. Heinsbergen (interior designer); Antoon B. Heinsbergen (interior designer/muralist); Gustave Albert Lansburgh (architect); Brenda A. Levin (architect); Gino Rossetti (architect)
Dates: constructed 1930-1931
Building History
The Western Theatre occupied a corner of the Pellissier Building, designed by Morgan, Walls, and Clements; the theatre opened as the Warner Brothers Western Theatre, 10/06/1931 with approximately 2,334 seats.
The Wiltern Theatre was threatened with demolition in 1979. (See “Wiltern Theater slated to be razed,” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, 02/25/1979, p. E2.) During this period when demolition was near, it was closed between 1980-1985, before reopening on Wednesday, 05/01/1985.
It seated 2,200 in 2005.
Building Notes
Noted Los Angeles Muralist Antoon B. Heinsbergen (1894-1981) painted wall and ceiling decorations in the Wiltern Theatre in 1941.
Alteration
Restoration c. 1984-1985 by Brenda Levin and Associates for owner and preservation supporter Wayne Ratkovich of the real estate firm, Ratkovich, Bowers and Perez, Incorporated, (later called "The Ratkovich Company").
Seats of the renovated Wiltern Theatre were obtained from the Portland (OR) Paramount Theatre. The Pellissier Building was renovated at this time by Rossetti Associates. The original theatre organ, removed by the Pacific Theatres chain, was replaced by one obtained from the Forum Theatre on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA.
PCAD id: 225
