[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE ALEX THEATRE'S 90TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Alex Theatre upon 
its 90th anniversary.
  The Alex Theatre has been a cornerstone of the Glendale community 
since its establishment in 1925. In its early years, the Alex Theatre 
was home to Vaudeville theatrics and silent films. For the next 60 
years, the Alex Theatre previewed first-run films, ranging from 1937's 
Saratoga to 1977's Star Wars, solidifying its continuing identity as 
the epicenter of Hollywood glamour.
  Originally designed by architects Charles R. Selkirk and Arthur G. 
Lindley, the theatre facade was remodeled in 1940 by S. Charles Lee--a 
remodel that included the extraordinary 100-foot Art Deco tower.
   The Alex Theatre continued hosting Hollywood premieres until the 
1980s, at which point the theatre began to fall into disrepair. In 
1991, however, the Glendale Redevelopment Agency restored the Alex 
Theatre to its former glory, investing over $6 million.
   The renovated theatre opened on New Year's Eve in 1993 to serve as a 
community arts theatre and civic center. Owned by the City of Glendale 
and operated by Glendale Arts, the Alex Theatre was placed on the 
National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
   Since its redesign in the 1990s, the Alex Theatre has retained its 
identity as a center for arts, but has increased its functions. Another 
expansion project began in July 2013 and was completed in June 2014. 
This $5.2 million renovation added 6,600 square feet to the backstage 
area.
   The Alex Theatre is currently home to four companies: the Los 
Angeles Ballet Company, the Alex Film Society, the Glendale Youth 
Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. In addition to 
hosting these companies, the Alex Theatre also hosts dance, comedy, 
theatre, music, and special events to serve more than 100,000 people 
who pass through its doors annually. To attest to the theatre's 
versatility, I had the great pleasure of hosting the 21st State Senate 
Arts Competition at the Alex Theatre in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
   The Alex Theatre is destined to continue its impressive legacy as a 
local and national landmark. I am honored to recognize the Alex Theatre 
for its great cultural value to the community, and ask all members to 
join me in congratulating the Alex Theatre upon its 90th anniversary.

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