Theater Hopes Variety Will Be Spice of Its New Life

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Hanging by a rope hooked to her long, dark hair, Tatiana Frelinger smiled from 30 feet above the stage. From there, she struck a series of photogenic poses for journalists watching from the floor of the historic Million Dollar Theater.

Frelinger, 19, is part of Ganas International, an entertainment company that hopes to attract a wider audience to the downtown theater among its primarily Latino clientele.

Hailed during its 1918 opening night as Los Angeles’ grandest movie palace, the Million Dollar has been graced by stars from Charlie Chaplin to Vicente Fernandez. But by the late 1980s it had deteriorated, along with the Broadway district.

The theater reopened three months ago after having been a church during most of the 1990s. Councilman Nick Pacheco said he is hopeful that the theater will help renew the district.

Starting next Friday, the theater’s variety shows will feature not only Latino musical acts but also Las Vegas-style dancing troupes and acrobats such as Dolarea.

When she performs, all eyes will be on Dolarea, who is the daughter of Guillermina Frelinger, the Chilean-born producer of the current Million Dollar shows.

Frelinger’s parents were circus performers who taught her how to glide 50 feet in the air, hung by her hair, she said. Frelinger in turn taught her daughter, Dolarea, the acrobatic act.