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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
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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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