The El Centro Theatre
has a vast history and we are working on bringing you as much information as we can find.
The images and text below are from Remembering Charlie by Jerry Epstein.
In 1946, students from UCLA, including William Schallert, Jerry Epstein, Kathleen Freeman along with Sid Rushakoff,and Sydney Chaplin moved from there first location (a nice ladies large living room) after their successful production of Elmer Rice's "The Adding Machine". The Circle was created in their new space, a converted corner grocery store at Waring and El Centro Ave. The first play to be done 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 Cast of the first show at 800 N El Centro Ethan Frome

Harmon
A Young Man
Ethan Frome
Zenobia Frome
Denis Eady
Mattie Silver
Jonatham
Ed Varnum
Ethel
George
Ned Hale.
Ruth Varnum
Mrs. Hale
Sydney Chaplin
George Englund
Bill Schallert
Kathleen Freeman
Sherridan Hall
IIrene Gordon
Larry Salters
Julian Ludwig
Jere Silvern
Charles Chaplin, Jr.
Jack Kelly
Gloria Grant
Ada Fremont
The Players building the Circle Theatre, outside the garage that eventually became the New Theatre.
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The first production at 800 N. El Centro, "Ethan Frome"
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Outside the Circle Theatre. That's William Krisel's new Cadillac.

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During a performance of "Rain". Above the roof wehad rain falling. Left to right: Leah Waggner, Alice Wellman, John Austin, June Havoc. Back to camera: Bill Schallert as Rev. Davidson.
Set designed by William Krisel.
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Ron Randell as Adolphus Cusins and Diana Douglas (mother of Michael) as Barbara, in Shaw's "Major Barbara".

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Two of our regulars, Edward G. Robinson and Sam Jaffe.

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During the performance of "The Doctor in Spiteof Himself". Kathleen Freeman addressing the audience.
Back row: Rhoda Fleming, Jeanne Cagney and Florence Marley.
Middle row: Leo Penn, Olive Deering, Jerry Epstein, Charlie
Chaplin, Gene Tierney, Oona Chaplin, Constance Collier.
In front row Henry Wilcoxon, Katherine De Mille, Barbara Britton,
Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor.
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Laying the theatre floor. Left to right: Dee Tormey, Bill Schallert, Kathleen Freeman, Bob Burns and Sydney Chaplin.
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" The Time of Your Life"
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"Love on the Dole and Sam's Ego House"
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ntent for New Div Tag Goes Here
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One year anniversary, left to right: Charlie Chaplin, Lorraine and John Crawford, Sydney Chaplin, George Stern (foreground), Bill Schallert, Jerry Epstein, Joseph Schildkraut, Dee Tormey.
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Charlie Chaplin directing the first rehearsal of Rain.
Left to right: Charlie, Leah Waggner, an unknown actor,
Kathleen Freeman, Sydney Chaplin, John Peri.Back
to Camera: June Havoc.
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After a performance of Rain,The Great Fanny Brice, Leah Waggner, Constance Collier and Julian Ludwig.


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A rehearsal shot of The Time Of Your Life.
At the table on far left: Kathleen Freeman, (?), Virginia Morton
(the nurse).At the foreground table: Mary Davenport, Jack
Kelly, Jack Conrad.In the background, left to right Ray
Hyke, Bill Schallert,(?), Sydney Chaplin, Manny Robinson
(Edward G. Robinson's son),(?) George Englund, Earle
Herdan, Larry Saltersand Julian Ludwig.
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Joe Mantell as Mr. Zero and Strother Martin as Shrdlu in Elmer Rice's "The Adding Machine".
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David Niven and Robert Coote discussing The Circle Theatre
with Terry Kilburn and Jerry Epstein
Charlie Chaplin, allowed access to his vast amount of props for the production. Antics were common place at The Circle, weekly cushion fights abound. After the audience left you might have seen Sydney Chaplin or Bill Schallert pursuing Kathleen Freeman down the streets, while the children across the street at Hollygrove, (Marilyn Monroe stayed there as an orphan.) watched the mayhem.
The next play to grace The Circle's stage was, "The Time of Your Life" by William Saroyan. Sydney was in the show and at the
time dating Marilyn Monroe, bringing her to watch rehearsals. This was the first production that Charlie Chaplin came to.Next up was "Love on the Dole". Then something amazing happened, William Saroyan, sent his new script "Sam's Ego House" and asked if The Circle would consider presenting it . Mr. Saroyan made it to the show, along with Mrs. Clifford Odets and Edward G. Robinson.

The New Theatre (now the Chaplin Stage) was once one of the first silent picture movie theaters in Hollywood, (Link)
then a mechanics garage with a dirt floor. It was then converted it into a small “experimental” theater. In June 1961 Theatre Arts Magazine's Patterson Greene, a Los Angeles theatre critic, wrote: "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."Iin the early 50's and 60's, George Boroff ran the theatre, sending several plays to Broadway. The famous and infamous played Hollywood's first intimate professional theatre. The theatre changed hands in the mid 60's and housed many small companies until 1976, when Ted Schmitt took over the space and renamed it "The Cast".
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The card playing scene from "The School For Scandal". Standing behind Marie Wilson, Wheeler Dryden, Charlie's half brother. Seated on the left is Naomi Stevens as Lady Sneerwell, and opposite her Janet Brandt as Mrs. Candour.
We are always learning more of the vast history of this great theatre. If you have any information,and or any comments of your
experiences at this theatre, please leave a message or add something to our Wiki page. As we discover the vast and amazing history of this great theatre, we are renovating the space to bring back the grandeur that this landmark of Hollywood theatre deserves.
Click any image to enlarge.