Alex Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alex Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Alex Theatre in 2006
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Location in California Show map of California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	216 North Brand Boulevard Glendale, California
Built	1925
Architect	Lindley & Selkirk Associates; Et al.
Architectural style	Classical Revival, Art Deco, Moderne
NRHP reference No.	96000102
Added to NRHP	February 16, 1996

The Alex Theatre is a famous building in Glendale, California, United States. It's a special place where people go to watch shows and movies. The city of Glendale owns it, and a group called SAS helps run it. This theater can hold up to 1,400 people at one time.

The Alex Theatre's Design

The Alex Theatre first opened in 1925. Back then, it was called the Alexander Theatre. Two architects, Arthur G. Lindley and Charles R. Selkirk Associates, designed it. Some people also say the firm Meyer & Holler helped design it. Lindley & Selkirk Associates also designed the Hotel Glendale.

Inside the Theatre

The inside of the Alex Theatre is very unique. It has design elements from ancient Greece and Egypt. These styles are similar to the art from the time of Ptolemaic Egypt. The theater also has a long walkway and courtyard. This area was inspired by the famous Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Changes to the Outside

In 1940, a well-known theater architect named S. Charles Lee updated the outside of the Alexander. Lee had designed other famous theaters like the Tower Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. He added a tall, 100-foot (30-meter) art-deco column. This column had neon lights and a spiky, glowing ball on top. It looked like a starburst!

Lee also added a new neon sign. This sign showed the theater's new, shorter name: the Alex. The original name, Alexander, was too long for the new, bigger letters. At this time, a two-story building next to the theater was taken down.

History of the Alex Theatre

The Alexander Theatre officially opened on September 4, 1925. It was run by the West Coast-Langley Theatre Circuit. The theater showed many different types of entertainment. These included vaudeville shows, plays, and silent movies.

Naming the Theatre

The theater was named after Alexander Langley. He was the son of Claude L. Langley. Claude owned the West Coast chain of theaters. This chain also included the Raymond Theater in Pasadena.

Early Features and Famous Visitors

Besides its beautiful design, the Alex Theatre had a huge Wurlitzer pipe organ. A special organist would play music during the silent movies. This music helped tell the story on screen.

The theater was only a few miles from Walt Disney's Hyperion studio. Walt Disney loved to preview his cartoons here. He wanted to see how audiences would react to them. Many movies had their first screenings at The Alex. Famous people like Elizabeth Taylor and Bing Crosby visited for these special events. For example, National Velvet and Going My Way (both from 1944) were shown here. Sadly, a fire backstage in 1948 caused a lot of damage.

Later Years and Renovations

Starting in the 1950s, the Alex showed big hit movies. These included Ben-Hur (1959) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). In 1954, a wider screen was added. This allowed the theater to show new CinemaScope movies. A surround sound system was also installed.

The Alex had a big renovation in 1993. This project brought back many of the original wall paintings and decorations. The neon spire added by S. Charles Lee was also restored.

The Alex Theatre Today

The Alex Theatre, September 2002

The Alex marquee for the annual Three Stooges Fest.

The Alex Theatre is a very important place for arts and culture in Glendale. It has been a central part of the community since it first opened. A non-profit group called Glendale Arts managed it until October 2021. Now, SAS Entertainment Partners runs the theater.

Events and Shows

The theater hosts about 250 events each year. More than 100,000 people visit annually. You can see many different types of shows here. These include classical music, modern concerts, theater, dance, and comedy. The Alex also hosts fundraising events and special shows. Sometimes, TV and film productions use the theater. Award shows for the entertainment industry are also held here.

In 2017, the Alex was the location for the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race. In the summer of 2019, the TV show Bring the Funny used the Alex Theatre. It was the venue for the last two episodes of its first season.

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles sometimes performs at the Alex Theatre. In 2018, a daytime show called "The Pink Carpet" was held there.

Resident Companies

Several groups regularly perform or work at the Alex Theatre. These include the Alex Film Society and the Glendale Youth Orchestra. The Musical Theatre Guild and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra are also resident companies.

Gallery

See also

• Glendale Register of Historic Resources and Historic Districts
• List of National Historic Landmarks by state
• List of threatened historic sites in the United States
• History of the National Register of Historic Places