Behind the Building: Carthay Circle Theater

When you walk down Main Street, there’s a magical pink castle waiting for you at the end, signifying your entrance into another world. And in California Adventure, Buena Vista Street‘s answer to an iconic castle is the Carthay Circle Theater. Let’s take a closer look at the street’s crown jewel and its real life inspiration.

Carthay Circle was a real theater in Los Angeles, operating from 1926 – 1969. The name stemmed from two sources:

• Carthay: Carthay Center, the neighborhood it resided in
• Circle: the auditorium shape, forming a perfect circle set inside of a square

Carthay Circle Theater became known as one of the “movie palaces” of Hollywood’s golden age, hosting numerous high profile events during its 43-year run.

 Source: LA Conservancy

California Adventure’s version of the theater utilizes the same Spanish Colonial Revival architecture as the original, complete with white facade and blue and black trim.

The neon marquee permanently displays a premiere, as a nod to the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Fantasia premieres in the original theater (and many other big premieres throughout the building’s lifetime).

The building’s most distinctive feature is the tower. Both the “real” tower and the Buena Vista Street version were/are octagonal in shape, sitting in the front corner above the marquee. In true Disney fashion, the tower utilizes forced perspective to make the upper floors appear slightly taller than they actually are.

California Adventure’s version of the building obviously takes some creative liberties. For example, the interior is not a theater – it’s a restaurant and lounge. And on the outside, the roofline is quite different. The original Carthay Circle’s cylinder-shaped auditorium rose above the roofline and created a parapet that looked somewhat like a circus tent. In the park the roofline is squared off, keeping your eye’s focus on the tower.

Carthay Circle Theater is a perfect example of Los Angeles’ early architecture, standing out in an art-deco heavy street. Though no building will ever be as iconic in Disney lore as the castle, the theater holds its own in California Adventure. As The Architect and Engineer wrote of the original building:

Simple, massive, and dignified, the building stands out for its intrinsic beauty.