Cinematheque 16
Cinematheque 16 was a small 150 seat cinema located in a former retail store that was advertised in the cover artwork of Freak Out! under the heading Freak Out! Hot Spots:
#1 The Cinematheque 16 still happens on a psychedelic level with rare and interesting films from the Great Underground. Located at 8815-½ Sunset Bl. (657-6815).
The 16 in the name referred to it only having 16mm equipment. Originally opened in the early 1960s to show softcore pornography this proved to be unsuccessful with the growing youth audience of that time. Lewis Teague took over the management in 1966 and started showing experimental and art house films, everything from Anger to Warhol, accompanied by what was described as, psychedelic film trips. This attracted a sizeable audience which inspired the opening of other Cinematheque 16 venues: one in Pasadena which did not survive very long and a more successful one in San Francisco.
John Magnuson showed his film of one of Lenny Bruce's final performances. In May 1969 Jim Morrison premiered the unfinished Feast of Friends and recited his poetry there.
By the early 1970s the cinema had returned to its Adult/pornography roots. It was renamed as the Sun Art and then the Orpheum Theatre which enjoyed a brief renaissance in the late 1970s as a venue for the then growing Punk Rock scene.
The buildings were demolished and the area redeveloped during the 1980's.
