Alexander Theatre
Also known as: Alex Theatre
Why it's listed
Alex Theatre is a vaudeville and movie house on Brand Boulevard, Glendale's main commercial street. Built in 1925 from designs by Arthur G. Lindley and Charles R. Selkirk, it seated 1,958 and was developed by theater magnate C. L. Langley, who named it for his son. Its facade and lobby use Greek, Roman and Egyptian motifs, and the auditorium is an atmospheric design with a ceiling painted and lit to suggest a twilight sky. In 1940 S. Charles Lee added a 100-foot neon tower, marquee and canopy in the forecourt, with Art Deco and Streamline Moderne details. A 1948 fire led to redecoration, which was reversed in a 1993 rehabilitation. Listed for its role in Glendale's civic life and the film industry, and for its architecture, it is the last historic theater of its kind in the city, and one of few atmospheric theaters in Southern California.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theater is tied to Glendale's civic and social development and to the motion picture industry, and is the last remaining historic theater of its type in the city. It is also an example of the vaudeville-movie palace type, a surviving theater with a forecourt, and one of few atmospheric auditoriums in Southern California. The 1940 marquee and tower were designed by prominent theater architect S. Charles Lee.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96000102, listed February 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | February 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000102 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Arthur G. Lindley and Charles R. Selkirk, Associates, architects, 1925; S. Charles Lee, architect, 1940; Robert E. Power Studios, decorator, 1925; Kinne & Westerhouse, Engineers, builder, 1925 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival and Egyptian Revival; Modern Movement: Art Deco and Moderne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a theater. A major rehabilitation and restoration was completed in 1993, reversing 1948 alterations and adapting the building for live presentation. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.14908, -118.25428 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96000102.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4717884
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.