tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post8220521480004250727..comments2024-03-25T04:53:09.576-07:00Comments on Big Orange Landmarks: No. 196 - Variety Arts Center BuildingFloyd B. Bariscalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08865316405393661242noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-70296403727524002182016-12-28T09:47:11.592-08:002016-12-28T09:47:11.592-08:00HI, LONNIE HICKS AGAIN. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT J...HI, LONNIE HICKS AGAIN. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT JAZZ GREAT AL JARREAU RECORDED A SONG ABOUT THE ROOF GARDEN BALLROOM TITLED, OF COURSE, "THE ROOF GARDEN .IT WAS RELEASED ON THE WARNER BROS. LABEL IN 1980 .BECAUSE THE ROOF GARDEN WAS DESIGNED BACK IN THE TWENTIES TO BE A BALLROOM DURING THE TIME IT WAS AS A DISCO IT WAS TOTALLY THE CLASSIEST ONE IN TOWN; WITH A CAPACITY MOST CLUBS COULDN'T COME NEAR.BOY, THOSE WERE THE DAYS !!!LONNIE HICKSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-40460799571226678542016-12-27T11:36:22.687-08:002016-12-27T11:36:22.687-08:00MY NAME IS LONNIE HICKS. DURING THE YEAR 1980 I PR... MY NAME IS LONNIE HICKS. DURING THE YEAR 1980 I PROMOTED A VERY SUCCESSFUL DISCO IN THE BALLROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR ON THURSDAY NIGHTS ONLY. FOR TEN MONTHS I HOSTED PARTIES WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN BLACK HOLLYWOOD .I TRIED VERY HARD TO ATTRACT A MIXED CROWD BUT IT NEVER SEEMED TO WORK OUT .SO WE WERE LABELED A BLACK CLUB. AT THAT TIME SEATING LEGAL ATTENDANCE IN THE ROOF GARDEN WAS 686 PEOPLE. MANY NIGHTS OUR ATTENDANCE EXCEEDED THAT FIGURE . THE ROOF GARDEN, IN MY OPINION IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BALLROOMS IN THE CITY. I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT FROM THE FIRST MOMENT I LAID EYES ON IT.I INTRODUCED MANY PEOPLE TO THE VENUE AND I USED ALMOST ALL THE BUILDING AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER ; FROM THE THEATER, TO TIN PAN ALLEY, AND OF OFCOURSE " THE FABULOUS ROOF GARDEN". I WOULD LOVE ANOTHER SHOT AT PROMOTING THE ENTIRE BUILDING . I CAN BE REACHED FOR COMMENT OR INPUT ABOUT THE VARIETY ARTS CENTER AT 813-539-1965 OR AT TAMPASELESCT.COM Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-13341398192727915522014-12-09T01:09:11.085-08:002014-12-09T01:09:11.085-08:00hello there! Im excited to hear that this theatre ...hello there! Im excited to hear that this theatre has brought much joy to the community. <br /><br />I'm working on a crowd-funding campaign that will help restore the theatre. Our goal is to have the Variety Arts Center back to life by summer of next year.<br /><br />Throughout this campaign, I am trying to connect the past with the present. If you had visited, or been a part of the theatre during it's operating condition, I would love to hear from you!!!<br /><br />Please contact me at my e-mail and tell me your story, and I look forward to bring this center back to lief!!!<br /><br />Hunter Smit<br />hsmit86@gmail.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00870228650930952833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-49512796375231248742014-08-21T20:50:08.020-07:002014-08-21T20:50:08.020-07:00It gives me great joy to read all the comments of ...It gives me great joy to read all the comments of our "hope" to be new home. We are intending to bring back this gem to her glory soon. She will be filled with amazing concerts and theatre productions on a full scale. We are connected with a very special person that is a historic theatre expert who is guiding us along the detailed path to show us how to restore her properly. I am a native Anglian and withstanding all obstacles I will join my team in making this dream come true. In a perfect world we will open July 2015. Please keep good thoughts and positive energy our way. We look forward to the day to welcome you all back with open arms and much needed celebration. Blessings to you all. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-15185389233302558462013-11-17T09:56:59.990-08:002013-11-17T09:56:59.990-08:00I saw the Alison Moyet concert here in March of &#...I saw the Alison Moyet concert here in March of '93. GREAT venue with great sound. Walked past it the other night (11/12/13) to Alison Moyet again at the club nokia. Fond memories. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-49334292490797929902012-11-03T18:20:08.933-07:002012-11-03T18:20:08.933-07:00That would've been a blast, Sandi. I'm dis...That would've been a blast, Sandi. I'm disappointed I missed it.Floyd B. Bariscalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08865316405393661242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-75613033013465950862012-11-03T10:59:09.266-07:002012-11-03T10:59:09.266-07:00I got to go in as an attendee of The Blumhouse of ...I got to go in as an attendee of The Blumhouse of Horrors Halloween attraction last month, which takes you on a guided tour into the lobby, down into the basement through the dressing rooms, all the way upstairs into the 2nd (smaller) theater and some kind of parlor or something, and finally down the side aisle into the house of the main theater, and ONTO the stage. (Also onto the mezzanine that overlooks the lobby.) Much of it was dark and spooky given the event, but lots of glimpses at some very cool stuff.Sandi Hemmerleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500439516140538378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-53358149230920369352012-10-04T14:31:50.007-07:002012-10-04T14:31:50.007-07:00I was so delighted to see this thread. IN the earl...I was so delighted to see this thread. IN the early 80s, as a member of SPVA, I attended a function at this grand, magnificent place. A friend led me up the winding metal staricase to the roo=f. Once there, he threw the switch and "Sha-zam!" - he lit up the Queen Mini. It was a night of double-breasted black jacket and my girlfriend n college.<br /><br />I also saw jazz, and theater, and radio reenactments there.<br /><br />Does anyone know if one can enter the building? Is it available for events, or tours? Is it in the sights of any preservation group in L.A.<br /><br />Thank you.LifeSailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04459458745761577240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-80334150440028928872012-10-01T09:08:47.366-07:002012-10-01T09:08:47.366-07:00So nice to know that the developers weren't ab...So nice to know that the developers weren't able to have their way with this gem! Thanks for taking the time to dig up the history of this fantastic building! With any luck, it will be around for a very long time!Laura Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14038299219729441105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-55665204647481744322012-06-25T21:37:52.756-07:002012-06-25T21:37:52.756-07:00Sunny wanted to know what became of the library an...Sunny wanted to know what became of the library and the SPVA collection of theater memorabilia. They merged in with the library of The Magic Castle.<br><br />Glad to see this blog post and all the wonderful pictures. Sure brings back memories as I was a charter year member. We were married in Tin Pan Alley!Kathryn Bassetthttp://bassett.net/stories/howwemet.shtmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-42151242335552663672012-02-19T14:52:16.982-08:002012-02-19T14:52:16.982-08:00David Houk operates with a bit of a scorched earth...David Houk operates with a bit of a scorched earth policy. About two years ago, he held a garage sale in the lobby, and was selling the original bench seats that can be seen in your black & white lobby picture. Pretty lame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-68845416298802161462011-10-10T16:10:45.435-07:002011-10-10T16:10:45.435-07:00Thanks, Unknown.Thanks, Unknown.Floyd B. Bariscalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08865316405393661242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-76337880838913924522011-10-10T11:39:07.554-07:002011-10-10T11:39:07.554-07:00Great background and leg work on all your parts.
...Great background and leg work on all your parts.<br /><br />Just an amazing building harking back to era bygone.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17382855249318790599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-1504863337740587022010-07-29T08:11:54.798-07:002010-07-29T08:11:54.798-07:00I worked at this great old theater back in the ear...I worked at this great old theater back in the early 80's as a stage hand. My boss was a great old guy named Noris,he had a limp ,didn't remember much but he was a great guy.<br />Exploring all the halls and tunnels was amazing and always an adventure.<br /> I was friends with the Shimada family who would preform there from time to time with the "It's Magic shows".<br />Anyway just wanted to leave a post here.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247348481660856509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-90747923290371156482009-09-02T01:33:36.217-07:002009-09-02T01:33:36.217-07:00In the mid-1980s, I spent a lot of time at the Ed ...In the mid-1980s, I spent a lot of time at the Ed Wynn Comedy Lounge while I was managing comedians. Great place. I also attended a couple of functions at the rooftop gardens restaurant. Fantastic. I hope some day to see the interiors again.LAkompanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09924028398975728441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-41499977413502098992009-07-04T16:44:21.885-07:002009-07-04T16:44:21.885-07:00What became of the library and the “the Society of...What became of the library and the “the Society of the Preservation of the Arts”? The collection of theater memorabilia was fantastic!sunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025077261638731485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-7710156039777276362008-12-05T21:17:00.000-08:002008-12-05T21:17:00.000-08:00Hi, Robert. Thanks for the comment. The ship was M...Hi, Robert. Thanks for the comment. The ship was Milt Larsen's. It was a model made for the 1948 MGM movie <I>Luxury Liner</I> starring George Brent and Jane Powell. Larsen - who called the 52-foot long, 8-foot tall ship the Queen Minnie - bought it for $900 in an MGM backlot auction in 1971.Floyd B. Bariscalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08865316405393661242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-70289262878379152662008-12-05T01:10:00.000-08:002008-12-05T01:10:00.000-08:00Hello Floyd -- This was one of my favorite haunts ...Hello Floyd -- This was one of my favorite haunts when I worked downtown in the 1980’s. I love the Italian Renaissance-style architecture of this “funky” building. There used to be a lunchtime buffet in the room behind the upper balcony. One could walk out on the balconies in those days. The room may also have been used as a ballroom. We’d do “happy hour” in the main bar room. There were a couple bar rooms as I recall. There used to be a scale model of some ship that looked like the Queen Mary on the roof. I believe it was an old movie prop. It was long and narrow and took up one-half of the roof. One could access the roof to see it in those days also. One could see the ship from the street if a couple blocks away. There was a good view of the bow like the Titanic from the Pantry Café. I don’t know the details, but the ship was moved some where some years ago. The building was a vaudeville club for “the Society of the Preservation of the Arts” when I went there, and had just undergone a restoration. Happily, the building is closed for renovation again now, but I don‘t know when it’s scheduled to re-open. You take such great photos, too bad those construction cones spoiled the shots. They recently finished a huge apartment building next door where once a long standing parking lot used to be. The contemporary architecture of this building is pretty cool too. Nice to see they are building upon the parking lots these days and not leveling the buildings instead to make them (the parking lots). As you know, but maybe not your readers, the Variety Arts Center is just a block away from the Staples Center and new Nokia complex. But there are still some parking lots to see across the street. Thanks -- RobertRobert J. Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17074411091706194461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-1115178808475436192008-12-02T22:45:00.000-08:002008-12-02T22:45:00.000-08:00Namechecking Siouxsie and Robin Givens in the same...Namechecking Siouxsie and Robin Givens in the same post? Nice work. I agree, anon. I'd enjoy seeing this theater operational again (not that I ever attended an event here).Floyd B. Bariscalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08865316405393661242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-51684776059070769642008-12-02T22:37:00.000-08:002008-12-02T22:37:00.000-08:00Oh no....this is one of my all time favorite build...Oh no....this is one of my all time favorite buildings in Los Angeles. Do you know how many time I saw Siouxse and the Banshees here? And yes, the acoustics are fantastic.<BR/>As an aside, the after party for many movie premieres were held in this building including the "Women of Brewster Place", where Oprah mingled with Mike Tyson, his ex wife Robin and others.<BR/>Someone MUST restore this place and open it as a small theater/music venue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-49309913473680783652008-11-30T21:18:00.000-08:002008-11-30T21:18:00.000-08:00This is about #9 on the list of the monuments I'd ...This is about #9 on the list of the monuments I'd buy of the first 196.Floyd B. Bariscalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08865316405393661242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-59909442161665234412008-11-30T13:46:00.000-08:002008-11-30T13:46:00.000-08:00White lace balconies like that of a suffragette's ...White lace balconies like that of a suffragette's bloomers.<BR/><BR/>And, The Pantry is just right there on the corner.<BR/><BR/>Let's buy it.Patrizzi Intergarlicticahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16047084173908563600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-69115890417230451512008-11-30T01:34:00.000-08:002008-11-30T01:34:00.000-08:00Let's really hope the current owner doesn't get de...Let's really hope the current owner doesn't get desperate in this economy and sell it.<BR/><BR/>It really deserves to be a modern-day theatre place.Diallohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499088299791152279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633816278415014207.post-6540521446443456802008-11-29T23:37:00.000-08:002008-11-29T23:37:00.000-08:00Beauty of a building.Interesting that I should com...Beauty of a building.<BR/>Interesting that I should come across it tonight as I've just been posting Malaga Cove School also by Allison & Allison.Tashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18098034737961019226noreply@blogger.com