Coronet Theatre (Los Angeles)

In 1944, entrepreneur Frieda Berkoff Gellis commissioned Lyle Nelson Bercume, a renowned theatre architect, to build what would eventually be christened the Coronet Theatre. The theatre's rich history began when the newly constructed Coronet Theatre welcomed its first production, the world premiere of Bertolt Brecht's "Galileo Galilei," starring Charles Laughton and produced by John Houseman's Pelican Productions. That same year saw the West Coast premiere of Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of our Teeth." In the 50 years since its inception, the Coronet Theatre has presented over 300 plays and musicals. Numerous highly successful World and West Coast premieres saw the curtain rise on their productions at the Coronet, including "Dark of the Moon," "Wrong Turn at Lung Fish," "Blown Sideways Through Life," "Forbidden Hollywood," and "God Said Ha!" Legends such as Charles Chaplin, John Houseman, Orson Wells and performances by Glenn Close, Woody Harrelson, and George C. Scott have graced our stage. While theatrical productions reigned at night, the theatre was busy by day as well. In the past, rehearsal halls were filled each day - a visitor might see Betty Grable practicing a dance routine or Rod Steiger presiding over an acting class. Rodgers & Hammerstein had their West Coast offices at the theatre.