Hollywood's Fox Theater, formerly Iris Theatre, was a historic movie theater located at 6508 W. Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
 The building in 2024 | |
 | |
| Former names | Iris Theatre (1918–1965) Playhouse Hollywood (2009–2020) |
|---|---|
| Address | 6508 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California |
| Coordinates | 34°06′04″N 118°19′52″W / 34.101°N 118.331°W |
| Type | Indoor movie theater later converted to a lounge/club |
| Capacity | 1000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1918 |
| Renovated | 1934, 1969, 2009 |
| Closed | 1994, 2020 |
| Years active | 1918-1994, 2009-2020 |
| Architect | Frank Meline, S. Charles Lee |
History
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The theater that would become Fox Theater opened as Iris Theatre in 1918, after that theater relocated from 6415 to 6508 Hollywood Boulevard. The new theater, built in the Romanesque style by Frank Meline for P. Tabor, sat 1000 and was the second movie theater on Hollywood Blvd.[1]
In July 1934, Iris Theatre was redesigned in the Art Deco style by S. Charles Lee. Fox Theaters took over in 1965, after which they renamed the theater Fox Theater, and in 1969 they remodeled the building once again.[1]
In 1984, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and while this theater was not listed as a contributing or non-contributing property, "Iris" was mentioned as one of the theaters that "created an aura of fantasy for the population of the area — and satisfied the tourists in search of "Hollywood" as well". It is not clear whether that reference was to this theatre or its former location at 6415 Hollywood Boulevard.[2]
Last operated by Mann Theatres, Fox Theater closed in 1994 due to damage from the Northridge earthquake. In 2009, the theater was converted into a lounge/club named Playhouse Hollywood, which itself closed on March 16, 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Early Views of Hollywood (1850 - 1920)". Water and Power Associates. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. April 4, 1985.
- ^ Ken Roe. "Fox Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved July 18, 2024.