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Alex Theatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Performing Arts, Music Venues [Edit]
216 N Brand BlvdGlendale, CA 91203
Neighborhood: Glendale
(818) 243-2539
- Hours:
Fri-Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
35 reviews for Alex Theatre
35 reviews in English
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Review from Alejandra S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/10/2012
What a gem! I am so a fan of old theatres!! They are so beautifully constructed and awesome! I came here over the holiday break to see the cartoon festival with Mightly Mouse, Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker and my new favorite Boing Boing boy. It was great! This place should definitely always stay with us and everyone should check it out!!!
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Review from Chris C.
Walnut, CA
4/30/2012
I've been to this place a few times with my mom to watch Filipino movies or when popular celebrities from the Philippines have a special meet and greet. I like the old feel of this historic theatre. The architecture and interior details of the building is amazing. When I sit in the old style theatre chairs, you cant help but be transported to a time where life was more simple and going to these venues was an experience...although I gotta say, i've been long spoiled by more comfortable, roomy modern movie theatre chairs, so the old chairs here can get uncomfortable after a while..
I'm glad they preserved this theatre for future generations to enjoy. They hold a variety of events and shows here, which shows how versatile this venue is. I like the bright neon lights and huge marquee sign up front, that displays what event is going on there at the time. Very old hollywood indeed. Parking is available on the street stalls, as well as in the back lot behind the building....but expect to pay an hourly rate for both. There are also restaurants and shops on the same block along Brand Blvd., so plenty to do and see after leaving the theatre. Alex Theatre is definitely one of Glendale's gems! -
Review from Francine L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love trying new things and what is possible in life is being able to when you are young. This place is looking old but still classic. I feel like i have walked into a different era that is for sure.
Alex Theatre is small but it gets to the point. The tickets and pricing are about the same as any other place and I don't feel like I'm being ripped off at all. It is reasonable and well worth it in my opinion.
We went to go see the Nutrcracker done by the Los Angeles Ballet. I have never seen the LA ballet but have always wanted to. Just because I hear soo much about the NY ballet and everything I was thinking it could be set as that high standard.
This play as many of you would think had a lot of young children in the audience. It was a little bit troublesome but if you minus the kids this would have been a awesome event! Also in the intermission they do serve some alcohol. If you need it!Listed in: Glendale/Burbank Favorite's
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Review from Joseph A.
10/17/2011
I can remember the days when the Alex Theater was open just for movies. I think the last movie I saw there was Staying Alive Part II with John Travolta back in 1983 with my mom, sister, and aunt. Lol.. The disco days were something. Just curious to know when disco is coming back.
The Alex closed down for years only to open up for performances. I've been here quite a bit in the past since my niece used to perform ballet here a few times a year. I usually fall asleep at these performances until someone wakes me up when she performs. Then, I'm all eyes.
The architecture in here is classic 1920's. I'm assuming it was built around that time. The entry has an open courtyard with concessions. Having managed construction projects and work on historical renovations, I admire the craftsmanship of this classic theater. It's rare that theaters are designed like The Alex. Glad to see it has been appreciated enough to be preserved as a part of history. -
Review from Norm K.
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Isn't it grand that the Alex Theatre was preserved and now is used mostly for live shows whether they are plays, musicals, or other events.
I was coming to Los Angeles for a late fall getaway and I checked the website for what theatre was playing and I found a Monday night show! That's amazing, so I bought a ticket.
I came here last night to see a concert version of the Broadway musical, Fanny. It has a long Broadway history, but it was never revived so it was last seen in the 1950s. Last night, the Music Theatre Guild put on the show and it was superb!
One look at the Alex from the outside told me I was in for a treat. The courtyard between the box office and the entrance was nice and the inside of the theatre is grand!
Looking at the rising sun in gold above the stage is amazing! I truly am a fan of this theatre and hope to be back here for another show when I'm in LA in the future.
Restaurants and parking are everywhere and it makes the visit to the Glendale area so pleasant. Yay! I am a fan! -
Review from William M.
Baldwin Park, CA
10/10/2011 2 photos
Bought my tickets about a month ago for Jo Koy's taping of his 2nd Comedy Central special. When I placed my order it clearly stated that there was no age restriction. So I got a ticket for one of my friends son who is just a tad under 18.
Wednesday before the performance, I got an email from Elissa Glickman (The General Manager for Glendale Arts) saying that "No one under the age of 18 will be seated. Email says to call them if there are any issues. Well I call....get thrown into voicemail. I emailed them, no answer. I sent them a @reply via twitter. No response.
So Im scrambling to find a replacement for this ticket - Thursday comes and still no response to calls, emails & tweets. Friday afternoon, someone finally calls me back (the day before event) and they said they checked with Jo Koy (who I also tweeted about this issue) about the material and it would be ok. SO they sent out an email before even checking with the performer????
So its the night of the show, we get there an hour early (just in case) and we saw this huge line - my first thought was "its assigned seating, why is there a line?" Waited for about 30 mins and then someone with a walkie talkie tells us "if you have your tickets you dont have to wait in this line" Good job Alex Theatre....
We walk in - my friend that was under aged walked in without any issues. Its smaller than I thought it would be, the inside is a bit old fashion looking. I think it needs a makeover. Seats are not comfortable and its crazy hot in there - but that might be due to the fact that they were taping and they had all the production lights on, but it was HOT.
Show was good - I didnt like the "IN YOUR FACE" tactic by the camera guys trying to get your reaction to the jokes. I tried my best to keep my poker face and when I saw the camera pointed at me, I kept popping my gum.
Overall - the theatre is very unorganized. Just a nightmare. But Jo Koy was great. -
Review from Appolinaria T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012
I've been here several times and for different performances. The staff are always kind and I haven't had a bad experience here. Parking is either metered or free for 90 minutes at one of the lots in the area...how great does that sound? The seats are comfy no matter where you end up sitting. Restrooms (if you haven't noticed, I think it's key to report on this in my reviews when possible!) are plenty and clean. Overall, a pleasant theatre experience.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Orange, CA
1/11/2012
What a beautiful theater! I really loved the ambience. I'm not an expert on acoustics (unless it sounds really terrible, I don't really notice), but the setup seemed pretty good to me. I went to see Paul F. Tompkins film his Comedy Central special though, so I'm not sure how it would sound with a band or different kind of performance. Or without all the cameras. Still, I had a pretty good time and I'd like to see a band or more standup there if I'm in the area! I love historic venues like this.
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Review from Robert C.
We came here one night to watch one of my favorite singers Davis Gaines "Longest running Phantom of Opera, EVER" in Pantages Theater and in Broadway..
This theater has a lot of leg room space... Coming from a 6 foot dude like me is a huge advantage from getting my leg cramped within 20 minutes of watching a musical or play... The lighting and design of the theater is simple and unique... The feeling is so elegant with bright red carpets and comfortable seating.. I haven't been in the restroom area but I heard it's scary in there.. I'm glad I had the experience of visiting Alex Theater.. If there's a great show coming up, I'd definitely watch it there..
Location is sweet with Porto's Bakery less than a block away, Starbucks is a 2 minute walk... Secured parking complex is plenty on the other side on Orange Ave. -
Review from Abby A.
Duarte, CA
3/29/2007 6 photos
Since 1925, the Alex Theatre has been a fixture on Brand Boulevard in Glendale and 82 years later is still going strong. It initially first opened its doors as part Vaudeville Theater and part motion picture theater. During the late 20s through to the 50s, the Alex served as more of a preview house for major Hollywood movie releases, so quite a few glamorous movie stars made their way to the Alex.
In terms of architecture, the Alex features Egyptian and Greek motifs, but in the 1940s, Charles Lee, a famous movie theater designer, added a 100 foot tall Art Deco neon tower with a spiked starburst at the top, which is still there to this day.
Another thing that makes the Alex Theatre unique is that it's an "atmospheric theater." According to the Alex Theater website:
"The auditorium of the theatre is designed as an "atmospherium" with an open air illusion enhanced by the stage-set wall encircling the auditorium, creating the feeling of being enclosed in an ancient garden."
So why am I telling you all this? Well, because I want to encourage you to take a tour of the Alex Theatre like I did last year and what better way than to give you some tidbits of information? :) Tours are offered twice a year and are FREE. Now how can you go wrong with a FREE tour? On the tour, you'll learn more about the history about the Alex as well as visit parts of this historic theater, not normally open to the public like the dressing rooms, the projector room, etc. With eateries close by, you can make an afternoon of with it with lunch at one of the local restaurants. Now that's a nice way to spend an afternoon.
To find out tour dates and times, visit the Alex Theatre website below:
http://www.alextheatre...
To see pics I took at last year's tour, go to:
http://www.flickr.com/...Listed in: Tour LA and Beyond!
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Review from Gina Q.
Pomona, CA
2/15/2009
Great venue for watching classic films. The seating is very ample and has a mezzanine level with an upper balcony. Plenty of leg room too. The renovation of this place is superb. There's carpeting on the flooring in the seating area so as to minimize the noise/echo of footsteps. The bathrooms have automatic flush and faucets. Very nice.
I would definitely come back here to see movies. -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/11/2010
Beautiful venue, strange locale. I remember seeing a play here in high school and thinking the same thing.
Four Stars, one each for
1. being beautiful.
2. being (relatively) cheap.
3. having seating dudes who aren't complete assholes at life.
4. being beautiful.
God, I sound shallow.Listed in: G-dale, Ahoy!
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Review from Larry M.
11/28/2009
A beautifully restored old theater that shows old films, amongst other things apparently. I went here with my family to see the Three Stooges. It was great, inside the theater you get to see films how they were intended to be seen, on the big screen. I really felt like I was in the 1930's or 40's, the only thing missing is the air being heavy with cigarette smoke. They show a wide variety of other interesting things here and I would like to come back. There was ample public parking nearby in an open air lot.
The Stooges were great, they showed 4 shorts and interviews from the 60's with Moe. They were supposed to have one of the last living co-stars from the Stooges shorts as well, but she is 93 and was not feeling up to it. Still, I liked the effort.
I bought the tickets via Goldstar, note to those that do....
My wife saw the event initially and got 2 free tickets via Goldstar. I then did the same, but was only able to get 1 free ticket and paid for the other one. When we went to pick up the tickets at the Alex theater, the guy made a big to do over this. Apparently, they limit it to 2 free tickets per person. They did not want to give me my third free ticket and asked me to buy another ticket for $10.
I ended up arguing with two guys from the Alex Theater Society about this. My "free" tickets from Goldstar cost a handling charge of $6.50 each, so I was not about to fork over $10 when I had already paid for these tickets. I then got a sob story from them about how they are a non-profit and are a "threadbare organization" that does not get any of the $6.50 from Goldstar. Sorry guys, not my problem.
Look, I have nothing against them, and they may be a very worthy cause but I did not go there for a charity event. I bought the tickets, had paid for them, had written confirmations and I insisted that they fork over my 3rd "free" ticket. They finally relented and opted not to collect an extra $10 from me.
So, watch the fine print carefully on anything listed on Goldstar for this place. -
Review from Jess A.
11/1/2007
I've been here for Alex Film Society screenings, and they are wonderful!
A great art deco theatre that stands in it's original glory. The AFS does screenings of classic movies. Most recently I saw "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" in 3-D! What a Halloween treat. Plus, they show old trailers, cartoons, and had a magic act beforehand.
Fun! -
Review from Emily M.
1/5/2010
The perfect venue to watch lads donned in drag flit across the stage. Yes. It is definitely an old-timey theater. Quite the delight, even though the stage is a bit small and visibility may be an issue.
Parking is a cinch in their validated garage across the street. There are also lots of decent food options in the area for before or after a show. At first I thought "oh bummer, I have to trek all the way out to Glendale", but it has a cute downtown scene fo sho. Especially around Christmastime -
Review from Shara D.
Los Angeles, CA
10/10/2009
The Alex is a premier place for plays, never seen a movie in here but its such a dominant figure in the city, i herd they were closing it down once got pretty sad, this should be a landmark of Glendale the Jewel City!
TFR -
Review from AaRoN G.
Reseda, CA
6/21/2011
I thought this place was alright. Went here to see an old movie/show with a group of friends, and my experience was so-so, it could've been worse and it could've been better, but honestly, I can't give it more than an average rating. I know Alex Theater has been a fixture in Glendale and there's some history there, but what does it have to do with my visit? ...I can't say much regarding this establishment because we literally rushed out right after the show so I never got to hang around.
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Review from Mlle. Black Betty w.
Los Angeles, CA
1/14/2011
Alex Theatre is intimate and accoustically very nice. Comfy seating. Very nice venue. It has that old Hollywood Glamour. Good programing. Great for small red carpet events. People can walk through and get inside easily or watch the celebs walk the carpet- but without the bustle of lots of paps and public. The place is gated and you can only get in with a ticket. Secure and lots of parking everywhere.
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Review from Gregg L.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
1/9/2007
You must be a member!
You must attend their revival movies!
This is one of the most wonderful of the resurrected 30's theaters in the Southland. The Alex Film Society has regular runs of classic movies throughout the year that are a must for a fun evening. To see the classics on the wide screen as they were meant to be seen - NOT on your flat screen at home! Get the real "theatre experience"!
Alex Society Members get early admission to their showings AND a cocktail reception prior to each screening!
Many of their presentations are preceeded by interviews with principals in the night's feature. In the past just notables as George Chakiris for the showing of West Side Story. Lon Chaney's grandson for The Wolfman. And many more.
Many showings have a family presentation in the afternoons. -
Review from Karie B.
Culver City, CA
4/18/2007
This 1925 deco movie palace is a true gem! It now functions as a performing arts center and features everything from concerts, films, ballet. theatre and various other events.
There is a parking garage less than one block away that is very inexpensive! There are also several restaurants you can walk to in the immediate area.
They have the Alex Film Society, which has several events throughout the year. I attend the Three Stooges Festival every November! They also show extra shorts and bonus items before each film. Every September they host a Vaudeville Extravaganza that is fantastic!!
http://www.alexfilmsoc...
http://www.alextheatre...
They also have FREE historic theatre tours several times a year!!!!!
This is a beautiful and first class venue!
(By the way, it is only one of 3 movie palaces to have a forecourt in Los Angeles. The other two are the Egyptian and the Chinese.) -
Review from Marianoel S.
Glendale, CA
7/9/2011
Classic place to hear an orchestra, watch a show or even an old movie!! The theater is nice, the location is downtown glendale (near the mall, restaurants, americana, etc). Great place!
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Review from BustA G.
Pasadena, CA
2/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
We make an annual journey for the Three Stooges Festival. Tickets are usually available on GoldStar. Plenty of restaurants nearby.
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Review from Michael C.
North Hollywood, CA
2/17/2010
I have never been here for a play, but the Alex is a great cinema revival house. Old school cartoon before the movie, and once in a while a News of the Day reel as well. They still screen on 35mm.
Not the best place for sound, but it's a really old theatre. -
Review from Bruce K.
Studio City, CA
11/17/2007
I've had the pleasure of directing two big benefit shows at The Alex, and it's a grand place - beautifully kept up and well-staffed with courteous people.
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Review from Bonnie Y.
Chino, CA
10/20/2010
hm... why... WHY this place gets such a high rating? it's a old theater... seats are crappy... restrooms are scary... the only thing good is prob. the location because i love and always enjoy Glendale downtown... the scenery and the restaurants... besides that, there's really nothing worth going?
will not go back again... -
Review from Citi G.
Beverly Hills, CA
3/24/2008
A beautiful, lovely venue. Old hollywood charm. The staff was friendly and for the 2nd year, i've enjoyed going to this location for our annual observance.
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Review from Victor M.
Irvine, CA
12/14/2008
Went to the Alex for Merry Tuba Christmas. It was awesome!
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Review from Lina R.
Los Angeles, CA
9/26/2009
I watched a movie, jam pack people, waited in line for 1hr because they didn't want to let anyone in.. stood in the sun, btw. No food or drinks.. ughh so sad.. & seats are too damn close to each other. I mean for $25 dollars for a stinking movie and a theatre, I mean c'mon... Let me think of one good thing from experiencing the Alex Theatre... *thinking.. NOTHINGGG!!! I hate it and I would never come back.. I prefer watching in regular theatre with a little more space with nasty popcorn and salty pretzel than this disorganized theatre..
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Review from Tony C.
Alhambra, CA
1/6/2009
Lots of parking in the area, Tuba X'mas sounded great, and most importantly: enough leg room for adults.
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Review from Peter L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/8/2007
This is a great place to see an old movie. They always have wonderful special events!!
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Review from WiredProfiles ..
Los Angeles, CA
7/15/2007
What a great theatre. Standing since the 20's, it still goes strong, offering old movies, stage shows, and other events, and still attracting large crowds. It recently played "The Forbidden Planet", along with an actor's panel. It will be followed up in November with the Three Stooges moviethon. What a great place to get a feeling for old Hollywood.
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Review from Rubylen L.
Studio City, CA
12/11/2009
Just got back from a performace of the Nutcracker which was outstanding. The Alex is a beautiful old theatre. I purchased the tickets last minute and I was stuck with balcony seats. Luckily, the theatre seating is set up so just about every seat has a great view. The cost of the tickets were more than reasonable. Parking was abundant and easy. The location makes it a perfect place to make dinner plans before or after the show. There are numerous amounts of restaurants within walking distance. Will definitely come again.
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Review from Christina o.
Los Angeles, CA
10/4/2008
Walter and I had the opportunity of attending a special AADAP event here, at the Alex in Glendale. Parking was a breeze, although we got lucky and just found free street parking around the corner. The courtyard is beautiful and spacious. There was enough room for all the guests attending as well as various vendors that were there for their silent auction and giveaways. The inside of the theatre is beautiful. The seats are large and plush. There really isn't a bad seat in the house. Their lighting guy/gal wasn't on point that night but they did an alright job. I can't blame the house as I am not sure if it is their usual light person or what. Their sound system was awesome. I really liked it here. I wasn't feeling claustrophobic or anything. Sometimes, after too long in a theatre like that and with too many people, you can begin to feel uncomfortable. Anyways, it was a beautiful evening here.
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Review from Dennis W.
Pleasanton, CA
10/25/2009
We came here for "The Haunting" last night. Great, "old school" style theater and beautiful inside.
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Review from Chris C.
Glendale, CA
4/17/2010
This is a beautiful old theater, wonderfully restored. I've seen live performances, but mostly I've enjoyed the films here. Audiences here are respectful, it's like an old-time experience.
