The historic Vision Theatre in Leimert Park will reopen its doors Thursday evening, capping off a nearly $40 million restoration and renovation project. The goal, according to project details, was to preserve the venue’s significant architecture while equipping it with modern performing-arts facilities for the community.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was planned for 5 p.m. at the 729-seat venue. Among those expected to attend were Mayor Karen Bass, City Councilwoman Heather Hutt, and Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs General Manager Daniel Tarica, alongside various community and arts leaders. The mayor’s office also stated the event would feature performances by local artists and arts organizations, culminating in a screening of "Hair Love," the Academy Award-winning animated short film by Matthew A. Cherry.
Originally opening in 1932 as the Leimert Theatre, the building was designed in both Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Historic preservation company EverGreene Architectural Arts, which worked on the recent renovation, noted that the building is now one of the last two Art Deco theaters remaining in the Los Angeles area. The auditorium also contains a historic ceiling mural by artist Anthony Heinsbergen, according to EverGreene.
The theatre operated for decades before closing in 1968. It was later acquired by the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the late 1970s and renamed the Watchtower. In the early 1990s, actress Marla Gibbs purchased the property, renaming it the Vision Theatre with aspirations of establishing a vibrant performing-arts venue. The city of Los Angeles then acquired the property in the late 1990s. An initial $11 million rehabilitation effort, completed in 2012, brought the front portion of the building back into community use.
EverGreene was involved with this latest, comprehensive restoration project by the city. Their work included the conservation of the auditorium’s ceiling mural, extensive plaster repairs, and the replication of historic finishes on the auditorium walls and proscenium. Additionally, they performed cleaning and repairs on ceiling grilles and refinished auditorium doors.
The newly reopened Vision Theatre will be operated through a partnership between the Department of Cultural Affairs and Where Art Can Occur Theater Center, also known as WACO Theater Center, the city confirmed. This collaboration is expected to facilitate a range of programming, including community events, commercial productions, theater rentals, arts education, and other cultural offerings for Leimert Park and surrounding areas.
