El centro theatre

El Centro Theatre in Los Angeles, California, has two stages: The Circle (99 seats) and The Chaplin (45 seats). Founded in 1946 and originally named the Circle Theatre, it is located at: 804 N. El Centro Ave. Hollywood, California 90038

The theatre has changed names many times over the years. It was originally named the Circle Theatre. Then it was known as The Cast under Ted Schmitt, then The Theatre District under Macario Gaxiola, and now The El Centro Theatre.

In 1946, students from UCLA, including William Schallert, Jerry Epstein, and Kathleen Freeman, along with Sid Rushakoff, and Sydney Earle Chaplin, moved from their first location (a friend's living room) after their successful production of Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine. Their new space was a converted corner grocery store at Waring and El Centro Ave., which they named The Circle. The first play to be produced in the new space was Ethan Frome. Having to clean the rubbish and convert the building into a theatre was a daunting task. Bob Burns, their lighting genius, coordinated the conversion. Jack Kelly came by to help out on the work.

"The entire theatre movement in Los Angeles started in a Hollywood living room. Before that, there were only talent showcases and tired road shows. But it was The Circle Theatre that was the beginning of making Los Angeles a theatre town."- Patterson Greene, Theatre Arts, June 1961

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