Franklin Avenue

The Sale of Silence
L.A.'s Silent Movie Theatre is for sale. Charlie Lustman, who bought the property in 1999, is asking for $2.9 million.

Lustman spruced up the place after buying the theatre, and opened the venue up for events and parties. That, along with the decision to run classic "talkies" mixed in with silent fare, has not made Lustman popular with some purists and movie buffs.

But at least Lustman kept the place alive. The Silent Movie Theatre seemed destined to be closed for good after Lawrence Austin, who ran the place, was murdered at the theatre by a hired gun -- who, it turns out, was put up to the task by the theatre's projectionist, James Van Sickle. Van Sickle was also Austin's live-in lover -- and stood to inherit the theatre.

The story then got weirder -- after Austin's death, it was revealed that he wasn't even the rightful owner of the theatre. He had apparently suckered original owner Dorothy Hampton, who opened the Fairfax-area theatre with husband John in 1941, out of the property's deed.

Lustman bought the property on a whim, and spent $1 million renovating the place. I've only been there once -- and, I'm ashamed to admit, it wasn't even for a silent film. It was for a "Will & Grace" party in 1999. I know, for shame.

According to the L.A. Times' "Hot Property" column, Lustman is looking to move to London, and wants to sell the theatre to an individual or foundation that cares about silent films.

(The property) includes the nearly 3,200-square-foot theater, built in 1942 for showing silent films and completely renovated by Lustman soon after he bought it in 1999; the 5,000-square-foot lot; a 1,066-square-foot back patio; all of the furniture, fixtures and equipment; 210 original, fixed theater seats; new floors in the lounge and offices; silent movie-star portraits, posters and lobby cards; and a film collection of more than 185 titles.