6656 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 | map | Opened: Converted from a bowling alley (Cinema Sports Bowling) in 1939 to a newsreel theatre, the News-View -- a name it kept at least until the mid 50s. In the 1942 city directory it's listed as the Newsreel Theatre. John Gordon Huber notes that in 1968 it was where Bonnie and Clyde played exclusively during its popular run with the name the Nu View. The theatre did so much business it justified adding a snack bar, when before they only had vending machines in the lobby. It was later known as the New-View -- at least into 1974. Frequently in ads the name lacked the hyphen. Pacific Theatres was the operator in the early 70s. In the mid 70's it went to porno as the Pussycat. You can see the remnants of the Pussycat signage at the top of the 2007 and 2008 pictures. The big booking as the Pussycat was "Deep Throat" and "Devil in Miss Jones" -- running over 8 years. In 1989 it became the Ritz and was booked as a revival theatre. Architect: Harry Wright Seating: 400 Status: Closed in 1991 and became a church in 1994. It once had a nightclub, Masque, in the basement. More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page. The Cinema Tour page has more exterior views of the theatre. Mister Reel on Flickr has a nice 1990 view of the theatre. The other Ritz: See our page for the Fox Ritz on the Wilshire Blvd. Theatres site.  A view of the Ritz Theatre c.1990. photo:
Gary Graver -- click to enlarge Gary
Graver
(1938-2006) was a noted
filmmaker and cinematographer. about the photos from other websites... The photos of this theatre not our own were
generally Magnum Photos A view of the theatre from Magnum. Magnum dates it as 1951 and locates it in New York City, but we know it belongs in Hollywood. It is a photo by Elliott Erwitt and was located in the archive by Cinema Treasures researcher Joe Vogel. full size view UCLA also has a 1951 view: | News-View Christmas Parade | forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php
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The Ritz Theatre as a church in 2007. photo: Bill Counter -- click to enlarge  The "R tz" Theatre in 2008. photo: Google Maps Click on the photo to enlarge or go to Google for an interactive view. Down the street a bit (out of sight) on the left is the Egyptian. The Vogue Theatre is on the right. Musso & Frank's is just out of the frame on the right side. Hollywood Photographs A 1972 look
at the Ritz when it was the New-View. somewhat larger view | full size + data | The theatre is playing "Last Picture Show" and "Easy Rider." Also in the great the Bruce Torrence Browse the site for Hollywood
theatre photos to
purchase. Photos of Los Angeleshttp://www.facebook.com/groups/244565982234863/
 Ken McIntyre discovered this 1951 Life magazine look at Hollywood Blvd. by Ralph Crane. It gives us a glimpse of the Ritz in its News-View days. On the right side of the photo note that we see "Newsreels," the lettering above the west readerboard. | on Photos of Los Angeles | on Google | large size on Google The white News-View neon on the building itself can be seen, but it's unreadable in this telephoto view. Here's an idea what the News-View would look like though a 2x 'scope lens to get rid of some of the telephoto effect:  There's also a slightly different take by Ralph Crane -- with banners across the street: on Google | large size on Google Also see another Life view -- looking west. Can you find the News-View/Ritz in the forest of neon? | Hollywood Blvd. looking west |  A look west on busy Hollywood Blvd. in 1952. In this great view located by Ken McIntyre, you can see the Ritz readerboard (then saying "Newsreels" atop it) just above the second car on the right. full size view |
Ritz Theatre |
