Fritz Coleman’s show, Unassisted Residency, continues its third year of playing to capacity houses at the intimate Monroe Forum at the historical landmark El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, which is celebrating its centennial year in 2026.

Marking 100 years as an entertainment venue, the El Portal started as a vaudeville house then showed movies, later switching to Spanish-language films. Designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural landmark in 1993 before being damaged by the Northridge quake the following year, the theatre was restored and re-opened as a multi-stage performing arts complex in 2000. Originally designed by noted architect Lewis Arthur Smith featuring an Art Deco marquee, the lobby was later enhanced by bas-relief artwork by Anthony Heinsbergen, illustrating scenes from California history. The restored venue is a place to host entertainment, often called the Jewel in the North Hollywood Crown.

The El Portal will have its Centennial Gala on Saturday, Nov. 28. The event, open to the public, will be hosted by Coleman and will feature a star-studded array of personalities with celebratory performances and recognitions. Coleman will resume his regular show the following day, Nov. 29.

Unassisted Residency, created and performed by Fritz Coleman, is the longest-running solo show in the history of the El Portal.

Coleman is a beloved figure locally. The honorary mayor of Toluca Lake, the five-time Emmy® Award winner spent 39 years at KNBC Channel 4 where he was the public’s go-to person to get up-to-date information about California’s weather. Unassisted Residency returns him to his comedy roots as he was a comedian before becoming a weatherman and popular local television personality.

Coleman delivers a show with clean content (a rarity in live comedy these days) filled with the warmth, wisdom and wit that his many, many fans have come to expect from Fritz Coleman.

Coleman is now a senior and that’s the basis of Unassisted Residency. Said Coleman, “I’m old and I can’t do anything about it. I spend an hour and a half describing the common experience of aging – what it’s like to be a grandparent, what it was like having your grandkids home during the pandemic, all the changes that happen to your body, your mind and your family life.” 

The show is a platform to talk about those topics which emerge from Coleman’s current perspective: that of a still vital 70 something, covering things like retirement, becoming vegan, pharmaceuticals, celebrating growing up and growing old. The show will also feature some of his favorite stories and observations about modern life.

The show is a matinee performance. 

“The show starts early … because I’m trying to be sensitive to the needs of my particular demographic: old people and their parents,” he said. “I promise to have you home by dark.”

The El Portal Theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. 

Performances are Sundays at 3 p.m. on Sept. 27, Oct. 25 and Nov. 29; admission is $40. Cocktail seating is $50 (must purchase two tickets for cocktail seating).

  Online ticketing is available at https://elportaltheatre.com/fritzcoleman.html.