on this site:
| broadway theatres | west of broadway | spring st. theatres | main st. theatres | directory | contact |
on our pages elsewhere:
| hollywood movie palaces | wilshire blvd. theatres | more L.A. movie palaces | LA Theatres by street address |
| east LA theatres | glendale theatres | long beach
theatres | pasadena theatres | venice and ocean park | san pedro |
| LA theatre history resources | movie links & hollywood history resources
| wilshire
history resources | other
LA history resources |
see what's new or add your contribution: | www.facebook.com/losangelestheatres |
Downtown's Historic Movie Palaces and Legitimate Theatres Downtown Los Angeles has one of the most amazing collection of historic movie and legitimate theatres in the country. These theatres constitute the largest theater district (and first to be so listed) on the National Register.  Mayan facade detail >> The district is unique in both in terms of the number of surviving structures, their state of preservation and the amazing variety of architectural styles. As the money and business left downtown for Hollywood and other suburban areas in the 20s and 30s, there was little incentive to modernize the downtown theatres. Many of the auditoria are quite unchanged from when they opened. Sure, we've got retail stores in the lobbies of many of the theatres but beyond that it's an architectural wonderland. I've wandered around and taken a few pictures and done a bit of research. I hope to point you in the direction of more investigations of Los Angeles theatres using the sources we've detailed in our listings. This page has a brief rundown of the surviving theatres in the Broadway corridor. The links with each theater's description will take you to more information. Have fun exploring! -- Bill Counter on this site...Downtown Theatres by location[the theatres we've lost as
|  The Roxie, Cameo and Arcade An early morning view. [ click to enlarge any of the
photos on this page -- all are from 2007 unless noted ]
Arcade Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90013 Opened: September 26,1910 as the Pantages. Architect: Morgan & Walls Seating: 1,400 Status: Closed since 1992. The lobby is now used for retail.See our Arcade Theatre page for more information and photos. Belasco Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90015 Opened: 1926. It was named for noted producer David Belasco. Architects: Morgan, Walls & Clements. Seating: 1,601 Status: Closed in 1952. Later used as a church. After decades of sporadic use, it got a multi-million dollar makeover in 2011. It's now alive again as a club and special events venue. More Information: See our Belasco Theatre page for more information and photos.
Cameo Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90013 Architect: Alfred F. Rosenheim Opened: October 10, 1910 as Clune's Broadway. Seating: 775 originally, about 600 in later years. No balcony. Status: Closed 1991. Currently retail in the lobby. The 1910 auditorium decor is pretty much intact. The auditorium is currently used for storage. More Information: See our Cameo Theatre page for more information and photos. Globe Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Architect: Morgan, Walls & Morgan did the Garland Bldg, Alfred Rosenhein designed the theatre. Opened: January 1913 as the Morosco Theatre. Seating: 1,300 Status: Closed as a theatre in 1987. It was then re-purposed as a swapmeet and still has retail in the lobby. The auditorium and stage areas were being used as a nightclub in recent years but, as of 2012, are vacant. More information: See our page on the Globe Theatre for more information.
Loew's State Theatre | map | Los Angeles, CA 90014 Architects: Weeks and Day Opened: 1921 Seating: 2,404 Status: Currently it's being used as a church. Note the added stained glass in the organ grille area in this 2007 photo. More Information: See our Loew's State Theatre page for more data and photos.
Los Angeles Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Architect: S. Charles Lee with S. Tilden Norton Opened: Jan. 30, 1931 Seating: 2,190 Status: Closed except for film shoots, tours and special events. Occasional film screenings at the Los Angeles are sponsored by the L.A. Conservancy. More Information: See our Los Angeles Theatre page.
Mayan Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90015 Architect: Morgan, Walls & Clements Opened: 1927 as a legit theatre but was running movies as early as 1929. Seating: 1,491 Status: Closed for movies in 1990 and now thriving as a nightclub. More information: Visit our Mayan Theatre page for more details and photos. Merced Theatre 420 N. Main St. | map | Los Angeles, CA 90012 Opened:
January 30, 1871. The Merced is the oldest surviving theatre
in Los Angeles. The
building had shops on the ground floor, the theatre on the second and
living space for the owners on the top floor. Seating:
400 More Information: See our page on the Merced Theatre. Million Dollar Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90013 Architect: Albert C. Martin did the building, William Woollett was the theatre architect. Opened: 1918 as Grauman's Million Dollar. Seating: 2,345 Status: Now open again for live events and film screenings. More Information: See our page on the Million Dollar Theatre. Olympic Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Opened: 1927 as Bard's 8th St. Architect: Lewis A. Smith. Charles O. Matcham did a remodel in 1942. Seating: 600 Status: Closed around 1997 and has mostly been storage since then. More Information: See our Olympic Theatre page for more information and photos. Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Opened: 1926 Architect: G. Albert Lansburgh Seating: 2,190 Status: Alive and in great shape as the home of concerts, film shoots and occasional film screenings. More Information: See our page for the Orpheum Theatre for more information. Palace Theatre 630 S. Broadway | map |
Los Angeles, CA 90014 Opened: 1911 as the Orpheum Architects: G. Albert Lansburgh and Robert Brown Young Seating: 2,200 originally Status: The theatre unveiled a $1 million restoration to celebrate its 100th birthday on June 26, 2011. The Palace is currently is being booked for theatrical productions, concerts, film shoots, and special events. More Information: See our Palace Theatre page for more information. Rialto Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Opened: 1917. Also known as Grauman's Rialto and Quinn's Rialto. Architect: Oliver P. Dennis Seating: 1,000 originally. 840 in later years. Status: Closed since 1988. A restaurant is perhaps in the future. Regent Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90013 Opened: 1914 as the National and was also called Gore's National. By the early 40's it had become the Regent. Status: Closed in 2000 after decades as a grindhouse and (at the end) an adult venue. It's now owned by developer Tom Gilmore and is being used as a performance venue. The floor is still sloped and the proscenium and most of the original gothic inspired ceiling is intact. This is the last remaining historic movie theatre on Main St. More Information: See our Regent Theatre page. Roxie Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90013 Opened: November 25, 1931. The Roxie was the last of the Broadway theaters to open -- and was the only one in the art deco style. Architect: John M. Cooper Seating: Estimates vary from 1,335 to 1,637 Status: Closed since 1989. Retail is currently in the lobby. More Information: See our Roxie Theatre page. Tower Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Opened: 1927 Architect: S. Charles Lee Seating: 906 Status: Available for special events. Maybe a restaurant coming soon. More information: See our Tower Theatre page for lots of photos and details. Trinity Auditorium
Los Angeles, CA 90017 Opened: 1914 Architects: Thornton Fitzhugh,
Frank Krucker and Harry Deckbar Seating: 1,600 Also known as the Embassy
Auditorium More
Information: See our page on the Trinity
Auditorium.
United Artists Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90015 Opened: 1927 Architect: C. Howard Crane did the theatre, Walker and Eisen the rest of the building. Seating: 2,214 Status: Soon to be a revitalized theatre with an Ace Hotel in the office space of the building. More Information: See our United Artists Theatre page for more information and photos. Variety Arts Theatre940 S. Figueroa St. | map |
Los Angeles, CA 90015 Opened: 1924 as the Playhouse in the Friday Morning Club, a social and political group for women. Architects: Allison and Allison  Status: Currently vacant awaiting renovation by new owner David Houk. Or a new buyer. Available for special events. The photo here shows the Variety Arts Theatre in a c.1925 view in the collection of the California State Library. full size viewMore Information: See our Variety Arts Theatre page. Warner Bros. Downtown Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90014 Opened: 1920 as the Pantages Architect: B. Marcus Priteca Seating: 1,757 -- original capacity listed as 2,200. Status: Closed in 1975 . The main floor is in use as the Jewelry Mart. Most of the decor is intact. More Information: See our Warner Downtown page for more information and pics. |
