S. Charles Lee Archives

#285: Saban Theatre/Fox Wilshire (Beverly Hills)

July 11, 2026

Opened in 1930, the opulent Fox Wilshire helped to cement Beverly Hills' identity as an entertainment destination, distinct from downtown and Hollywood. It was a first-run movie palace for decades, and hosted the premieres of Animal Crackers, How to Marry a Millionaire and Sleeping Beauty. Now known as the Saban Theatre, it's frequently used for concerts, comedy shows and other lease events.

#210: Fox Theatre Inglewood

May 24, 2024

Entertainment

Opened in 1949, the Fox Theatre Inglewood was one of the grandest movie houses in a neighborhood full of them. It was also the final LA-area theater built by Fox before the government consent decree that required the major studios to divest themselves of their theater holdings. It's been closed for 40 years, with all of its original interiors intact – a slowly decaying time capsule, waiting for whatever's next.

#114: Alex Theatre (Glendale)

September 1, 2022

Entertainment

The Alex Theatre is the last of Glendale's grand movie palaces. Opened in 1925 as a venue for vaudeville and silent films, it spent decades as a first-run movie theater, and more recently as a vital performing arts center. The iconic marquee and tower, added in 1940, projects a timeless opulence befitting a building that's endured nearly 100 years of ownership changes, fires, renovations and the changing tastes of the public.