Ceiling damage inside the El Rey Theater, which forced the evacuation of about 150 people on the evening of September 15, has indefinitely closed the
Art Deco landmark.
According to Building and Safety spokesperson Bob Steinbach, the L.A. Fire
Department and Department of Building and Safety inspectors were called to the
club after the venue's management became concerned about lighting equipment being
hung from the trusses, reports the Los Angeles Independent.
A production company filming an NBC-TV special featuring singer Faith Hill, while
hanging the lighting equipment, caused two of the trusses to crack which caused
fears that the ceiling might collapse, said Steinbach.
A second inspection the following day confirmed the trusses were damaged, and the
theater was ordered closed until the damage was repaired.
"The building is still in sound condition," said Steinbeck. "It's not an imminent
hazard. But any time you have damage to trusses, you wouldn't want people
underneath them."
According to the El Rey Web site, only the September 18-19
Sleater-Kinney shows had been moved to another venue, "The
Highlands."
