“Maybe 10 years ago, they would have had a chance,” he said. He said that the historical preservationists who want to save the building have come into the picture too late. Greg Akarakian, whose father has owned the theater since 1975, said his family has no plans to restore the theater to its original condition. “Down the road, if economic conditions merit it, you could convert it back.” The seat cushions have been pulled up and stacked in piles.īut Charlie Fisher, a member of the board of directors of Highland Park Heritage Trust, said the building “is restorable.” “The original interior is still there,” he said. The grand chandelier that once hung over the house is lying on the floor there, covered in dust. Today, the balcony, where the frescoes and moldings are still exposed, is filthy and closed to the public. The once-outdoor lobby was enclosed and the original walls in the lobby and in the theater were covered with other material. If approved by the Los Angeles City Council, the monument designation would mean that any plan to alter or demolish the building could be delayed for up to one year, while preservationists seek a means of saving it.īut while the outer walls of the theater are virtually the same as they were when the structure was built in 1924, the interior had already been substantially altered when it was divided into a triplex theater in 1983. The once-elegant interior had an orchestra pit, a working stage for vaudeville acts, large ceiling frescoes, and elaborate moldings in the shape of Spanish arches. features arched openings, decorative tile walls and wrought-iron work on its exterior. Smith, the Spanish-style Highland at 5600 N. Members of the Highland Park Heritage Trust, the historical preservation organization that nominated the Highland as a monument, described it as one of the outstanding examples of Moorish theater architecture in the Los Angeles area.ĭesigned by theater architect L.A. The 67-year-old Highland Theatre, the last of a group of 1920s theaters that once formed the heart of Highland Park, has been designated a historic-cultural monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission. Here is a story about the Highland from the LA Times dated 9/12/91: LAHTF Members get $10 off each ticket! Click the REDEEM BENEFITSĪnd enter your email and name as instructed, your discount will be applied. LAHTF has been given full access, our ALL ABOUT tour will take you to parts of the theatre that the public hasn’t seen in years, and other places that have never been accessible to the public! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to rediscover a classic treasure! We are also thriled to be screening a special documentary: “The Highland Theatre: A Legacy Uncovered”, created and produced by the Highland Park Independent Film Festival. Smith, (who also designed the Rialto) and opened in 1925 as a vaudeville house, the Highland has a complete stage, dressing rooms and balcony, all have been hidden from view for decades. The Highland Theatre has been entertaining the local community for 90 years, and is the last theatre remaining in the area. Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation will be doing an ALL ABOUT Tour at the Highland Theatre on November 21 at 10am.
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