Mayfair Music Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayfair Music Hall |
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Henry C. Hollwedel |
| Official name: Mayfair Theatre | |
| Designated | 11 July 1994 |
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The Mayfair Music Hall was a special theater in Santa Monica, California. It was designed to look like an old English music hall. A creative person named Milt Larsen started this unique vaudeville theater.
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The Mayfair Music Hall's Story
The Mayfair Music Hall has a long and interesting history. It changed names and purposes many times. Let's explore its journey from an opera house to a famous filming location.
Early Days: From Opera to Majestic Theater
The building was first designed by an architect named Henry C. Hollwedel. It was built in 1910. Back then, it was known as the Santa Monica Opera House.
On December 12, 1911, the theater opened with a new name: the Majestic Theater. At first, live opera shows were not very popular there. So, the theater started showing silent movies. It also hosted "vaudeville acts," which were live shows with different performers. These acts could include singers, dancers, comedians, and even animal acts.
A Victorian Makeover and Filming Location
In 1972, Milt Larsen gave the theater a big makeover. He changed it to look like a Victorian music hall. This style was popular in England during the Victorian era. He then put on British "variety shows" there. These shows were similar to vaudeville, with many different kinds of acts.
The Mayfair Music Hall became a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows. In 1974, a famous scene from the movie Young Frankenstein was filmed there. This scene featured the song "Puttin' On the Ritz". Also in 1974, a scene for the first movie of The Rockford Files TV series was filmed at the theater. This scene included an acrobat and a dog act.
Comedy and Challenges
Later, in 1989, the theater became home to a comedy group. This group was called the Los Angeles wing of The Second City. They were known for their funny improv and sketch comedy shows.
However, the theater faced a big challenge in 1994. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused damage to the building. After the earthquake, the owner decided to remove all the fancy decorations inside. They essentially "gutted" the building, meaning they took out most of its interior.
What is There Now?
The Mayfair Music Hall building no longer exists as a theater. It was demolished in 2010. For a time, around 2019, a Shoe Palace store was located where the theater once stood.
