Saban Theatre
The Saban Theatre is a historic theatre in Beverly Hills, California, formerly known as the Wilshire Theater. It is an Art Deco structure designed by architect S. Charles Lee and is considered a classic Los Angeles landmark. It is located at the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Hamilton Drive.
The theatre opened as the Fox Wilshire Theatre on September 19, 1930. For several decades it was one of 20th Century Fox's premiere theaters, serving as a movie palace until a 1981 renovation which converted it into a stage venue.[1] It is now regularly used as a live performance venue for comedy, music, television, film shoots, screenings, and community intercultural events such as the Paley Television Festival.[1][2]
In March 2009, it was announced that the Wilshire was to be renamed the Saban Theatre in recognition of a $5 million grant from Haim and Cheryl Saban. The funds will be used to further restoration efforts on the orchestra, proscenium and marquee.[3] It also hosts the Temple of the Arts, an effort to integrate the arts and Judaism. It is currently owned and operated by the Temple of the Air.
Notable premieres and events at the Saban have included:
- How to Marry a Millionaire starring Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall (November 1953)[1]
- Stevie Nicks's "White Winged Dove" tour (1981), filmed for an HBO special
- Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures's Dreamgirls (December 11, 2006)[4]
- Taping of the Season 1 finale episode Journey from the series Glee
[edit] Starlet disappearance
In May 1944, thirteen-year-old Patsy Ruth Brown disappeared after leaving producer Jack Schwarz's Fox Wilshire Building penthouse. Schwarz told juvenile officers that Patsy had spent the afternoon in his apartment. That evening he gave her three dollars for a taxi. According to Schwarz, Patsy left in the company of an older girl named O'Hara, whom Patsy had brought with her. Schwarz said that Patsy had begged him numerous times for a role in one of his films. Her only film appearance (uncredited) was in Nearly Eighteen (1943).[5] A taxi driver who took Patsy to Union Station told the police that Patsy said she was going to San Bernardino to visit her father, an employee of a Barstow, California rock company. However, the taxi driver's tip failed to help police trace the missing girl.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Saban Theatre. "History". [1] Accessed on February 28, 2010.
- ^ Paley Center for Media. PaleyFest 2010. [2] Accessed on February 28, 2010.
- ^ Clark, Laura. "Wilshire theater nabs new name." Variety, March 6, 2009. [3]. Accessed on February 28, 2010.
- ^ Zimbio: Dreamgirls premiere [4]. Accessed on February 28, 2010.
- ^ Search Pushed for Girl Seeking Movie Career. Los Angeles Times - May 21, 1944 p 10
- ^ Taxi Driver's Tip Fails to Trace Girl. Los Angeles Times - May 25, 1944 p 12
[edit] External links
