The rundown theater serves today as a symbol of our video and smartphone era, when people no longer go out to attend live performances. They prefer to stay home and squint into TV screens and little smartie phones.

The now-lonesome building on Santa Monica Boulevard dates back to 1925, and has just 99 seats. Charlie Chaplin lived just a few blocks away, and managed several productions in the theater. Called the Players' Ring Theatre in the 1940s, it featured live performances by future stars including James Arness, Marlo Thomas and Jack Nicholson. Now the once-busy facade is a rest stop to a homeless wanderer.