Hayworth Theatre
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA historic Spanish Colonial Revival theater and performing-arts venue on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Hayworth Theatre was a historic theater and performing-arts venue in Los Angeles's Westlake neighborhood. The building, located at 2511 Wilshire Boulevard, was completed in 1926 in an ornate Spanish Colonial Revival style associated with the Churrigueresque tradition. Its design was linked to Stiles O. Clements of Morgan, Walls & Clements, an architectural firm responsible for numerous Southern California theaters and buildings in the Wilshire district. The venue opened in 1926 as the Masque Theatre, a vaudeville house. In 1950, it was converted into a movie theater and renamed the Vagabond Theatre. Dwight Gibbs, known for his work on the Carthay Circle Theatre, handled the conversion. The theater's interior was once decorated with murals depicting scenes from silent films, and the property also included Vagabond's House, a restaurant described in historical accounts as a possible early Los Angeles tiki bar. During its movie-house period, the venue became known as a revival theater. Its business was pressured by the spread of home video in the late 1980s, but it continued operating into the 1990s and screened classic films, including 3-D presentations of titles such as Kiss Me Kate and Dial M for Murder. The building later returned to a stronger live-performance identity. The Hayworth Theatre Company became resident in 2006, and the New American Theatre occupied the venue from 2006 through 2011. Performers associated with the venue included Jack Stehlin, Alfred Molina, Katie Lowes, Jill Gascoine, and Robert Cicchini. Television writer Jenji Kohan acquired the building in November 2013. Plans associated with the purchase included using the second floor for production offices for writers and editors working on television projects. In 2015, architect Linda Brettler, with associate Lydia Dubois-Wetherwax, renovated the building into production and writing offices while retaining historic architectural elements. The theater space was renovated again in 2017. That same year, Jamie Flam, a former Hollywood Improv booker and artistic director, launched a Kickstarter campaign intended to reopen the venue as Dynasty Typewriter. The successor venue began presenting events in January 2018, shifting the building's public identity toward comedy, variety, screenings, and filmed performances. It hosted appearances by performers including Hannah Gadsby, Adam Sandler, Ilana Glazer, Patton Oswalt, and Margaret Cho. The building has also served as a film and television location, appearing in productions such as The Formula, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, La La Land, and Too Late. Under Dynasty Typewriter, it became a location for filmed comedy specials distributed or produced by outlets including Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, Peacock, and Dropout.
History
The Hayworth Theatre building was constructed in 1926 at 2511 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles's Westlake neighborhood. Its architecture is associated with Stiles O. Clements and the firm Morgan, Walls & Clements. The design belongs to the Spanish Colonial Revival tradition and incorporates highly ornamental Churrigueresque detailing, making the building part of Los Angeles's historically significant theater and Wilshire Boulevard architectural landscape. The venue initially opened as the Masque Theatre, a house for vaudeville performances. On May 26, 1950, it was converted into a movie theater and renamed the Vagabond Theatre. Architect Dwight Gibbs carried out the conversion. The property included a restaurant called Vagabond's House, which has been described as possibly one of Los Angeles's earliest tiki bars. Historical descriptions also note murals depicting scenes from silent films inside the theater. As a cinema, the venue became a popular revival house. Like many traditional theaters, it faced serious pressure from the growth of home video during the late 1980s. It nevertheless remained open into the 1990s, showing classic films and specialized presentations, including 3-D screenings of Kiss Me Kate and Dial M for Murder. The building's live-performance role strengthened in the 2000s. The Hayworth Theatre Company became resident in 2006, and the New American Theatre used the venue from 2006 to 2011. Artistic Director and actor Jack Stehlin was associated with the company, while performers including Alfred Molina, Katie Lowes, Jill Gascoine, and Robert Cicchini appeared in connection with the theater. In November 2013, television writer Jenji Kohan purchased the building. Kohan and her husband and business partner, Christopher Noxon, discussed using the second floor as offices for writers and editors working on her television productions. In 2015, architect Linda Brettler and associate Lydia Dubois-Wetherwax renovated the property for production and writing use. The work retained important historic features rather than treating the structure as a wholly modern office conversion. The theater portion was renovated again two years later. In 2017, Jamie Flam, formerly associated with booking and artistic direction at the Hollywood Improv, launched a Kickstarter campaign to reopen the venue under the name Dynasty Typewriter. The venue began operating in January 2018 and developed a program centered on stand-up comedy, variety shows, screenings, and other live or recorded events. Its performers included Hannah Gadsby, Adam Sandler, Ilana Glazer, Patton Oswalt, and Margaret Cho. The theater also became a filming location for comedy specials and other productions, including projects connected with Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, Peacock, and Dropout. Before and during its later performance history, the building appeared in film and television productions including The Formula, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, La La Land, and Too Late. The Hayworth Theatre name therefore describes an important phase in the history of a building whose functions have included vaudeville, repertory cinema, theater, television production, live comedy, and screen production.
- 2018
Dynasty Typewriter launches
[1]The successor venue opens in January, presenting comedy, variety, screenings, and filmed events.
- 2017
The theater space is renovated
[1]A further renovation updates the theater space before its reactivation under a new operating identity.
- 2015
Office and production-space renovation
[1]Architect Linda Brettler and associate Lydia Dubois-Wetherwax renovate the building while retaining historic architectural features.
- 2013
Jenji Kohan purchases the building
[1]Television writer Jenji Kohan acquires the property and considers adapting its upper floor for television production offices.
- 2011
New American Theatre residency ends
[1]The New American Theatre's documented residency at the venue concludes after running from 2006.
- 2006
The Hayworth Theatre Company becomes resident
[1]The Hayworth Theatre Company establishes a resident presence, marking a renewed emphasis on live performance.
- 1950
Conversion to the Vagabond Theatre
[1]On May 26, the venue is converted into a movie theater and renamed the Vagabond Theatre.
- 1926
The Masque Theatre opens
[1]The building opens on Wilshire Boulevard as the Masque Theatre, a vaudeville venue designed in an ornate Spanish Colonial Revival style.
Products and positioning
A historic Los Angeles theater whose identity evolved from vaudeville and repertory cinema into live theater, comedy, variety programming, and screen-production use.
Live entertainment · 1926
Vaudeville performances
The building's original public function was as the Masque Theatre, a vaudeville house opened in 1926. Its early programming formed the foundation for the venue's long-running identity as a performance space rather than solely a cinema.
Film exhibition · 1950
Revival cinema
After its 1950 conversion into the Vagabond Theatre, the venue operated as a movie house and became known for revival programming. It continued screening classic films into the 1990s, including selected 3-D presentations.
Performing arts · 2006
Live theater and performing arts
The venue hosted resident theater companies and theatrical productions, particularly during the residency of the Hayworth Theatre Company and the New American Theatre. Its programming connected established actors and Los Angeles theater communities.
Comedy and variety · 2018
Dynasty Typewriter programming
From 2018, the reactivated venue presented stand-up comedy, variety shows, screenings, and special events. It also served as a recording and filming site for comedy specials and hosted nationally recognized comedians.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Dynasty Typewriter Kickstarter reopening campaign
Los Angeles, California
Jamie Flam launched a Kickstarter campaign to reopen the former Hayworth Theatre as Dynasty Typewriter, with a program focused on comedy, variety, screenings, and other live events.
Outcome. The venue launched its new public identity in January 2018.
Brand decisions
2017
Reopen the venue as Dynasty TypewriterStrategyBackground
Following renovations, the theater required a new operating model and public identity.
Action taken
Jamie Flam initiated a crowdfunding campaign and relaunched the venue around comedy, variety, screenings, and special events.
Aftermath
Dynasty Typewriter began operating in January 2018 and became the building's subsequent public-facing venue identity.
2013
Adapt upper floors for television production officesStrategyBackground
After acquiring the property, Jenji Kohan sought to use the building in connection with television production rather than relying only on public theater operations.
Action taken
Plans were developed to use the second floor as offices for television writers and editors, followed by a 2015 renovation.
Aftermath
The building retained its historic elements while gaining a production-office function.
1950
Convert the vaudeville house into a cinemaStrategyBackground
The original Masque Theatre was adapted for the changing entertainment market and converted into a movie theater.
Action taken
The venue was redesigned by Dwight Gibbs and reopened as the Vagabond Theatre on May 26, 1950.
Aftermath
The building operated for decades as a movie and revival theater, with an associated restaurant called Vagabond's House.
Sources2 sources
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