Wadsworth Theatre, Theater in West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Historic District, United States.
The Wadsworth Theatre is a Mission Revival building on Eisenhower Avenue in Building 226 of the Sawtelle Veterans Home, within the 388-acre West Los Angeles VA complex between Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevards. It was built in 1939 to seat 1,500; a 2002 renovation cut capacity to 942.
Built in 1939 on the grounds of the Sawtelle Soldiers' Home, the theatre was reported by the Los Angeles Times as a $162,000 hall designed to seat 1,500 for veterans' plays and films. It was named in 1976 after Maj. James W. Wadsworth, a Civil War officer and advocate for disabled veterans. A renovation completed in 2002 cut seating to 942.
The theater hosts performances and events attended by the local community and veterans. Visitors experience a mix of theatrical productions, film screenings, and special performances that shape the cultural life within the VA complex.
The theater sits within a larger VA campus that provides parking and accessibility accommodations for visitors. It is recommended to check the event schedule before visiting, as the venue hosts programs for both veterans and the general public.
In March 1992, a planned UCLA screening of the satire "Article 99", about a doctor-patient revolt in a veterans hospital, was moved to Royce Hall after objections from the hospital. The theater was leased by UCLA at the time.
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