Guide to the Valley Music Theatre Photograph Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Valley Music Theatre Photograph Collection
Creator:
Underhill, Larry
Identifier/Call Number: URB.VMT
Extent:
0.21 linear feet
Date: 2006
Abstract: Photographer Larry Underhill was hired
by the Los Angeles Conservancy to take photographs of the Valley Music Theatre immediately
prior to its demolition in 2006. The collection consists of forty-six silver gelatin
photographs taken by Underhill, as well as documentation of the theater designed by Hawkins
and Lindsey, Architects.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
In 2006, Larry Underhill was hired by the Los Angeles Conservancy to take the last pictures
of the building before it was demolished by the wrecking ball in the fall of 2006, too late
for the Conservancy to place the Valley Music Theatre before the landmarks commission.
The Valley Music Theatre opened on July 6, 1964. The Theatre was located at 20600 Ventura
Boulevard in Woodland Hills between the Ventura Freeway exits at Winnetka and Canoga
Avenues. Designed by the firm Hawkins and Lindsey, the theatre was the project of local
developers and businessmen Nick Mayo, Randolph Hale, and Cy Warner, who intended it to be
the first professional performing arts center in the San Fernando Valley.
In 1980, the theatre was sold to and became a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall. When the
Jehovah's Witnesses' membership outgrew the size of the building in 2004, they sold the
property to a local developer who planned on demolishing the theatre to build housing and
retail stores on the property.
Scope and Contents
The
Valley Music Theatre Photograph Collection consists of
forty-six silver gelatin photographs taken by Underhill, as well as documentation of the
theater designed by Hawkins and Lindsey, Architects. Photographer Larry Underhill was hired
by the Los Angeles Conservancy to take photographs of the Valley Music Theatre immediately
prior to its demolition in 2006.
Related Material
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open to research use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Larry Underhill, 2007
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Robert G. Marshall, Jennifer Dandurand, 2008
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Box 1, Folder 2
Exterior elevation plan and site map
Box 1, Folder 3
East elevation looking southwest
Box 1, Folder 4
North elevation looking south
Box 1, Folder 5
North elevation with light pole, looking south
Box 1, Folder 6
East elevation lobby view, looking west
Box 1, Folder 7
East elevation lobby view, closer, looking west
Box 1, Folder 8
East elevation lobby view with steps, horizontal
Box 1, Folder 9
East elevation lobby view with steps, vertical
Box 1, Folder 10
East elevation lobby view with steps, vertical, closer
Box 1, Folder 11
East elevation lobby view with steps, horizontal, closer
Box 1, Folder 12
East elevation lobby view with steps, horizontal, closer
Box 1, Folder 13
East elevation lobby shell, afternoon, looking west
Box 1, Folder 14
East elevation lobby shell, late afternoon, looking west
Box 1, Folder 15
North elevation lobby shell, looking south
Box 1, Folder 16
West elevation lobby view with steps, looking east
Box 1, Folder 17
West elevation lobby shell, looking east
Box 1, Folder 18
Inside lobby shell, looking northwest
Box 1, Folder 19
Inside lobby shell, looking east
Box 1, Folder 20
Inside lobby shell with concession area, looking east
Box 1, Folder 21
Inside lobby, main entrance doors, looking south
Box 1, Folder 22
Inside theatre shell toward main entrance doors, looking north
Box 1, Folder 23
Inside theatre looking through control room window, north
Box 1, Folder 24
Inside theatre looking through sound booth window, north
Box 1, Folder 25
Inside theatre, detail of stage and lighting drop, looking north
Box 1, Folder 26
Inside, long view, looking east
Box 1, Folder 27
Inside, long view, looking south toward sound booth
Box 1, Folder 28
Inside, long view, looking south, with ceiling lights
Box 1, Folder 29
Inside, long view, looking west
Box 1, Folder 30
Detail of women's restroom entrance, looking west
Box 1, Folder 31
Exterior exit #7, detail, looking east
Box 1, Folder 32
West elevation with exit #7 (left view), looking east
Box 1, Folder 33
West elevation with exit #7 (right view), looking east
Box 1, Folder 34
West elevation detail with exit #7, looking south
Box 1, Folder 35
South elevation from parking lot, looking north
Box 1, Folder 36
South elevation from parking lot, looking north (left view)
Box 1, Folder 37
South elevation from parking lot, looking north (right view)
Box 1, Folder 38
Shell detail, service feed, looking north
Box 1, Folder 39
Light pole from parking lot, looking north
Box 1, Folder 40
South elevation with satellite building roof, looking north with more
sky
Box 1, Folder 41
South elevation with satellite building room, looking north
Box 1, Folder 42
Theatre shell and satellite building detail, looking east
Box 1, Folder 43
Inside satellite building, looking through windows, west
Box 1, Folder 44
Inside satellite building hallway, looking east
Box 1, Folder 45
Satellite building and shell, exit #4, detail, looking south
Box 1, Folder 46
East elevation with exit #3
Box 1, Folder 47
Masonry detail, exit #2, looking west
Box 1, Folder 48
Masonry detail, side view exit #2, looking southeast
