Police Investigate Troubled Theater Operation to See If Shows Will Open

The Los Angeles Police Department began an investigation Tuesday into a new theatrical operation that has promised to present major musical and dramatic productions in North Hollywood.

“We have to make sure the producer has a reasonable intent of putting on the shows and a way of paying the money back to ticket buyers if he cannot,” said Detective Richard Levos of the bunco-forgery division. The investigation was requested by the city attorney’s office, Levos said.

The producer, Kevin Von Feldt, began selling tickets two weeks ago to the series that is to debut on May 7 with the “The Music Man” at the old El Portal Theatre on Lankershim Boulevard. But several of the actors he advertised as the stars of upcoming productions have either quit or said they had never agreed to appear.

Additionally, the Equity actors’ union said the backstage areas of his theater need extensive renovations before it will allow performers to work there.

The producer said all of Equity’s requirements, including the posting of a bond, will be met in advance of the scheduled opening in three weeks. Von Feldt was jailed in 1987 after pleading no contest to charges of false and misleading advertising for running a bogus airline agency and selling tickets to a nonexistent movie series. In 1989, his planned production of “Scrooge” at the Wilshire Theatre was canceled when its star, George C. Scott, quit because he had not been paid.