Wednesday, January 30, 2008 – Kirk's Place Now

He's ninety-two, but his theater is only sixty-one.  The Culver, now the Kirk Douglas Theater,

9820 Washington Boulevard, Culver City - Architect: Carl G. Moeller, 1947, restoration, Steven Ehrlich Architects, 2001

From Cinema Treasures –

Built in 1947, as a Streamline Moderne movie palace with a seating capacity of 1,160 (on a stadium plan with no overhanging balcony), the Culver was located near the Columbia Pictures studio lot (then the lot for MGM).  Originally, much like surrounding downtown Culver City, the Culver was a key part of classic Hollywood's thriving entertainment community. But, eventually, much of the entertainment industry moved to points north and the theater grew tired and worn over the years. In 1994, the theater's auditorium, which had been triplexed earlier, was gutted as part of an asbestos removal project. Today, the Culver, now renamed the Kirk Douglas Theatre, operates as a performing arts center and playhouse.

See Architectural Record regarding the restoration.  And currently on stage, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (World Premiere Musical, January 13 - February 17, 2008)

The Arts Stage Review: 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'

He cusses, he pouts, he brawls, he double-speaks. He possesses the good ol' boy charm of a Bubba, the word mangling of a Dubya, and he looks mighty fine in those black slacks and white topcoat. He feels your pain. If you're of Native American descent, he is your pain.  Meet President Andrew Jackson: rock star.

"Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson," the kickin' reconsideration of our seventh president, has fun at Old Hickory's expense. The emo-laced rock musical written and directed by Alex Timbers, with music by Michael Friedman, plays just as fast and loose with its theatricality. There's nothing stately or stuffy about this civics lesson. …

So be it.  Times change.

And across the street, this –

More Streamline Moderne just down the street –

If you wish to use any of these photos for commercial purposes I assume you'll discuss that with me. And should you choose to download any of these images and use them invoking the "fair use" provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976, please provide credit, and, on the web, a link back this site.

Technical Note:

Most of these photographs were shot with a Nikon D70 - using lens (1) AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm 1:35-4.5G ED, or (2) AF Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto, or after 5 June 2006, (3) AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor, 55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED. They were modified for web posting using Adobe Photoshop 7.0.  Earlier photography was done with a Sony Mavica digital still camera (MVC-FD-88) with built-in digital zoom.

All text and photos, unless otherwise noted, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 - Alan M. Pavlik