Oxygen’s latest true-crime series, The Real Murders of Los Angeles, will revisit the slaying of the iconic silent movie theater owner, Larry Austin. The all-new episode, titled “Murder on the Marquee,” airs this Friday, October 6, 2023, at 9:00 pm ET.
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Readers’ discretion is advised.
A gunman gunned down the 74-year-old man, who ran the now-closed Fairfax-based Silent Movie Showcase, on January 17, 1997. During the same incident, the man shot Mary Giles, a teenage employee. At first, the slaying seemed like a robbery gone wrong until disturbing revelations started to pour out.
The murder case resulted in the conviction of two men, namely James Van Sickle and Christian Rodriguez. Reports state that Sickle, a projectionist at the same theater, hired the latter to commit the crime for personal gain.
Larry Austin died of multiple gunshot wounds, while Mary Giles survived the shooting
According to a Los Angeles Times report, the killer shot Austin three times, including once in the face, at close range. Meanwhile, Giles, who was 19 years old at the time, was shot in the chest as she witnessed the murder but survived the incident. The attacker then shot her to make the contract killer appear like a botched burglary.
During the following investigation, detectives uncovered crucial information about the victim’s business as well as a romantic relationship with the theater projectionist James Van Sickle. Other key details stated that he was the sole beneficiary of his partner’s iconic theater, which had a value of over $1 million.
The same report mentioned that Sickle wanted Austin to get a hold of his estate and valuable films. The former offered Christian Rodriguez, the hired hitman, $25,000 to commit the murder and an additional $5,000 to kill Giles.
Both men faced murder charges as the case garnered significant media attention. Rodriguez faced the charges under special circumstances of lying in wait and for financial gain, among other charges. He also encountered one count of attempted murder for Giles’ shooting, who later testified at their trials. The duo stood separate trials and ended with life in prison without the possibility of parole despite initially facing the death penalty.
