This art deco building was designed by Clifford A. Balch (who designed over twenty classic art deco movie theatres around Southern California). Much of the theatre, including the lobby, still retains its art deco roots, and is admired for its Zigzag and Streamline Moderne design.[1]
History
El Rey was built in 1936[1] as a single-screen movie theatre and functioned as a cinema for nearly 50 years.
From the 1980s to the early 1990s, El Rey Theatre was a dance-music club called Wall Street, but since 1994 this theatre has been a live music venue which is now exclusively booked through Goldenvoice. The capacity is for 771 audience members and it also has a balcony for the VIPs at the back.
The theatre was designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 520 on February 26, 1991.
The exterior of the theatre can be seen in the 1984 film Night of the Comet and serves as the location where main character Regina (played by Catherine Mary Stewart) works.
The theatre's exterior is a central plot point of the link segments of the 1986 horror compilation film Zombiethon.
In January 2008, comedy rock band The Aquabats shot part of the pilot for their television series The Aquabats! Super Show! in the theater as part of an exclusive partial concert for members of the band's fan club.
References
^ abRoderick, Kevin; Lynxwiler, J. Eric (2005). Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles. Angel City Press. p. 137. ISBN1-883318-55-6.
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