The historic Tower Theatre, located in the heart of Los Angeles (S. Broadway and W. 8th Street), was commissioned by H.L. Gumbiner, who later also built the Los Angeles Theatre in 1931. It was the first theater designed by architect S. Charles Lee.
With a seating capacity of 900 spectators, it was designed in the Renaissance style with innovative elements from French, Spanish, Moorish, and Italian influences, all executed in terracotta. Its interior was modeled after the Paris Opera. The exterior features a prominent clock tower, the top of which was removed after an earthquake.
Opened in 1927 with the silent film ‘The Gingham Girl,’ starring Lois Wilson and George K. Arthur, the Tower was the first cinema in Los Angeles to be technically equipped for talking pictures. It hosted the preview and premiere in Los Angeles of the first talking film in history: ‘The Jazz Singer’ (1927), starring Al Jolson. It was also one of the first air-conditioned buildings in L.A.
In 1950, the theater began a successful period during which it exclusively screened newsreels, aptly named the Newsreel Theater. This signage can still be faintly seen on the north and east sides of the building. It also operated for a period as a general theater under the name Music Hall Downtown.
In 1965, the venue was rebranded as the Tower Theatre. During the 1990s, the Tower became a popular location for film production, including Warner Bros’ film ‘The Mambo Kings,’ starring Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante. This historic building was also featured in productions such as ‘Last Action Hero’ (1993), ‘Fight Club’ (1999), or the third season of ‘Twin Peaks.’
Currently, it operates as an Apple flagship store. The company has utilized the original plans and photographs of the Tower Theatre to restore original elements of the theater, including murals, decorations, and the glass window above the entrance.
