We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gilbert Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gilbert below.

Alright, Gilbert thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

Our theatre team carries a motto, “There is no job too small.” We have a complex entertainment venue, where we present live musicals and comedies on our main stage, screenings and nighttime entertainment on our rooftop and special events that promote movies, books with personalities on tour. Our goal is to make the experience for patrons a uniqiue adventure with the backdrop of Hollywood, CA “The entertaimnet capital of the world.” Bulding events and load-in dates are strenuous, tedious and deserve full attention by all of the team members. We aim to make those days meaningful. Theatre is a family workplace.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Gil Smith was elected to the Board of Directors of The Ricardo Montalbán Foundation in September 2006, appointed to the Executive Board as Secretary in October 2006, and elected Chair in 2010. He is also the Executive Producer of The Montalbán on Vine Street in Hollywood.

During his tenure, over $5,000,000 has been invested in improvements to the theatre itself and in the presentation of many notable productions, among them Jesus Christ Superstar with the original cast, The Who’s Tommy, and most recently John Leguizamo’s Ghetto Klown. On behalf of the Ricardo Montalban Foundation, the theatre has hosted community meetings, charity functions, and no-charge performances of local non-profit performing groups such as Harmony Project. Under Gil’s guidance, with the aim of improving the audience experience, the theatre has installed a rooftop (movie theater?) court, VIP areas in the rear orchestra section of the main theatre, and digital interactive photo and listening stations. These innovative upgrades and expansions will attract high-quality productions and transform what has historically been a “roadhouse theatre” into a significant performing arts center.

Long before his involvement with the Foundation and Theatre, Gil had become an internationally recognized advertising photographer specializing in high-action automotive and sports-industry images. He is regarded as an innovator in live- and simulated-action photography, evidence of which can be seen in campaigns for American, European, and Japanese auto manufacturers including GM, Ford, Daimler Chrysler, Nissan, Jeep, Porsche, Renault, Peugeot, and Volvo. He has also helped develop memorable identities for Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Honda motorcycles, Bosche, and B.F. Goodrich, and has contributed to advertising programs of Pepsi, Oakley, and Pirelli that were aimed at sports fans.

Known for the velocity and unusual angles of his images, Gil is a member of “Explorers of Light,” a prestigious group of professionals chosen and sponsored by Canon USA to push the boundaries of existing film, digital, and printing techniques. Over the course of his 28-year career he has won numerous advertising and photography awards including AdWeek’s Belding Awards, Carnegie Mellon’s Andy Awards, Communication Arts magazine’s photographic competitions, and The One Club’s “The One Show.”

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I was working professional as a child actor in the 1950’s. As a young teenager, I was introduced to photography in summer school. My pursuit using photography as my medium for communication was sustained by my pursuit of a career in commercial imaging and branding for clients and supported by sponsorship associations with various companies manufacturing hardward and software. I was anchored by my 20 year inclusion as a photographer featured as a Canon Explorer of Light. An opportunity for me to buiild a new career evolved with my engagement with our theatre in Hollywood. In short, new chapters as always being drafted and I have adapted to the challenges of changes with technology.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

We are facing a sustained resistance by our public to minimize exposure to large crowds. Prior to the pandemic, our rooftop movie programs sold out almost every night from April to December annually. Post pandemic, our simple screening of the classic films didn’t have the blush of being the new fun outdoor activity. We have been experimenting with various forms of programming and finally with our engagement by renaming our rooftop activiities as LAexplained.com we are o[peningup a whole new avenue to attract patrons back to our venue. We have also worked on developing new main stage parodies, The Empire Strips Back, A Dark Night Revue and Mental Radio Live, The core principal for our theatre company is to be funm intelligent and engaging.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themontalban.com
• Instagram: @the_montalban
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20montalban%20theatre
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CPJOEn9cbs
• Yelp: The Montalban

Image Credits

Gil Smith portrait Lionel Garcia All additional images credit, Gil Smith