Tivoli Theatre (Los Angeles)
Former movie theater in Los Angeles, California, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tivoli Theatre, also known as Bill Robinson Theatre,[1] was a stage and movie theater located at 42nd Street and Central Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles
873 (1931)
 Interactive map of Tivoli Theatre | |
| Address | 4217-4219 (renumbered to 4317 in 1939) S. Central Avenue Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34.0077°N 118.2565°W |
| Capacity | 450 (1926) 873 (1931) |
| Type | Stage and movie theater |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1921 |
| Renovated | 1931 |
| Demolished | 1971 |
| Architect | Lewis Arthur Smith |
History
Tivoli Theatre was designed by Lewis Arthur Smith, an architect known for many theaters in southern California, most notably the Vista, El Portal, Highland, Rialto, and Ventura.[2] This theater was built in 1921 at a cost of $65,000 ($1.17 million in 2025).[3][4] Its original address was 4217 South Central Avenue, although the street number was changed to 4219 in 1929.[4] The theater was listed as having a capacity of 450 in 1926.[1]
The theater was broken into in early October 1923; a safe with $1,200 ($22,676 in 2025) was taken.[5]
By 1931, the theater's staff was entirely African American and its patrons mostly the same.[6] The capacity was raised to 873,[1] with the most expensive seats for live shows going for as much as $60 ($1,416 in 2025).[7] In 1937, the theater was renamed Bill Robinson Theatre[1] and in 1939, the theater's street number was changed a second time, to 4317.[4]
The building was damaged during the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake and was demolished later that year.[1]
Architecture and design
Tivoli Theatre was made of pressed brick with a cast stone facing and featured plate glass windows, reinforced concrete lintels, skylights, marble, and tile.[4]