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Westlake Theatre Listed in National Register of Historic Places, May Soon Return to Roots as Entertainment Venue
Photo by KingoftheHill. via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
The iconic Westlake Theatre, a part of the MacArthur Park community since 1926, has been awarded a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the April e-newsletter of the Office of Historic Resources.
Currently being used as a swap meet venue, the theatre was initially home to vaudeville and movies; the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) purchased the property in 2008 and hope to return the Westlake to its roots in entertainment. They are developing a project "to rehabilitate the theater as a multi-use venue for theater, film, music and community and social events," which will be home to local theater group Culture Clash, as well as have 50 affordable housing units and a parking garage behind the theater.
Designated a Los Angeles City Historic-Cultural Monument in 1991 the Westlake Theatre was "designed by architect Richard M. Bates in the Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival style with Churrigueresque detailing on the exterior, and constructed by the West Coast Lang- ley Theatres." Inside the theater is a surviving mural by Anthony Heinsbergen; portions of the venue were updated in 1935 by S. Charles Lee, who was renown for his movie palace architecture and design on the West Coast.
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