Academy Theatre
Opening night for the Academy Theatre in Inglewood was November 9, 1939. The Fox West Coast theater, seating 1156, was designed by noted theater designer S. Charles Lee in the Streamline Moderne style. The extensive use of glass block, stainless steel, curved forms and modern graphics gave the exterior an image of modernity. Lee focused on and greatly exaggerated Rococo filigree decoration inside, The interior had a general Streamline feel to it, but Lee curved the lines of movement, making them more whimsical and lilting than forceful, adding greatly exaggerated Rococo filigree decoration against plain wall backgrounds. The theater became an important location for movie previews and premieres and continued to exhibit films until it closed in October 1974. The building has been used as a church, the Academy Cathedral founded by Rev Doyle Hart, since 1975.
Inglewood, Los Angeles County
Photographer: John Bare