Los Angeles, California Travel Guide
About Know the Neighborhoods Getting Around Attractions Hotels
Eats & Nightlife Essentials & Practicals
Kirk Douglas Theatre
Overview: Every theatre and movie buff knows the legendary actor Kirk Douglas (Ulysses, The Man from Snowy River, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral). Just like the actor the theater was named after, the Kirk Douglas Theatre has achieved high status after the city declared the theater a historical landmark. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located in the Downtown Culver Plaza area just near the convergence of Washington Blvd and Culver Blvd.
The Kirk Douglas Theatre is the latest acquisition by the Center Theatre Group (in 2004). It first opened in 1947 under the Culver Theatre name and operated as a Streamline Moderne movie palace. The trademark “Culver” marquee still sits atop the theatre. After several ownership changes throughout the years, the Center Theatre Group finally acquired the theater with a $2.5 million donation from Kirk Douglas, renaming it after one of the greatest actors of all time.
The theater is the smallest of the Center Theatre Group’s venues (Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum) with 317 seats, giving the audience an intimate stage experience. The theater also provides a bar and lounge in the lobby. It’s one of the most well-respected mid-sized live performance theaters on the “westside” of Los Angeles with off-the-beaten path yet scalable productions. The theater opened with Kirk Douglas’ own autobiographical, Before I Forget.
Location: 9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Site: www.centertheatregroup.org
Ph: (213) 628-2772
Cost: $20 to $40
Parking: Free parking across the street at City Hall
Accessibility: The Kirk Douglas Theatre is wheelchair accessible with accomodations on both the gallery section and floor seating. The Center Theatre Group also provides accessible public transportation. Call 1 (800) 431-7882 or visit www.asila.org. For theater arrangements and tickets, call (213) 628-2772.
Getting There: www.ladottransit.com, www.metro.net