1050 S. Hill St. | map | Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213) 746-5670 Website: www.thebelasco.com Opened: November 11, 1926 as the second theatre built in Los Angeles with the Belasco name. The first Belasco Theatre, at 327 S. Main St. is discussed on our Follies Theatre page. The opening attraction at this elaborate Hill St. venue was "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" by Anita Loos. Architects:
Morgan, Walls & Clements. This was an unusual design
from a company
that produced a number of great theatres, including the Mayan--
built
next door as soon as the Belasco was finished. The entire auditorium is covered by a huge gilded dome. Some of the auditorium wall surfaces hare plaster but have the appearance of gathered draperies. In addition to
the theatre, the building has an upstairs ballroom (with a separate entrance) that can hold 400. Seating:
1601 originally. Currently the main floor seating has been removed. The fairly shallow balcony now has loose chairs and cocktail tables. History: The
Belasco was intended primarily as a house for
straight plays, while the Mayan was designed for musicals. Frederic
Belasco was one of the original partners but the theatre was named for
the more famous brother, producer David
Belasco. The
big bankroller for both this and the Mayan
Theatre was oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny, who hoped to get a new
more fashionable legitimate theatre district started away from Main
Street. For the decade that Edward Belasco was managing the theatre, the format was generally legit plays on two week runs. He had a knack for getting Hollywood talent with legit roots to appear in his productions. The venue was a hotspot for Hollywood performers and directors checking
out the latest dramas. Many attractions first appearing in Los Angeles at the Belasco were subsequently
filmed. Many of the productions were offered in conjunction with the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. Performers appearing here included Fay Bainter, Tallulah Bankhead, Lionel Barrymore, Joan Bennett, Richard Bennett, Billie Burke, Ruth Chatterton, Ina Claire, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Glenda Farrell, James Gleason, Betty Grable, Helen Hayes, Hedda Hopper, Leslie Howard, Gertrude Lawrence, Edmund Lowe, Alan Mowbray, Ken Murray, Edward G. Robinson, May Robson, Flora Robson, Gilbert Roland, C. Aubrey Smith, Sidney Toler, Frederic March and Warren William. In the late 1930s, the Belasco was used for several WPA Federal Theatre Project productions. The Belasco closed in 1952 as a regular theatrical venue. It was in use as a church until 1984. It got a renovation in the mid-80s but until 2011 had seen only occasional film shoots and other rentals.
Status:
It's been all spruced up for
renewed use as a bar, dance club and restaurant. Christina and
John Kim put almost $10 million into restoration and improvements to the
structure after securing a long term lease from building owner Mehdi
Bolour. The 2nd floor ballroom will sometimes be used for events separate from the main theatre space. There's also a downstairs lounge, a street level wine bar Vintage 10 Fifty) and two restaurant spaces. Ryan Vaillancourt of the Downtown Los Angeles
News ran a story on August 2010 "Bringing
Back the Belasco" about the Kim's struggles with the City of Los
Angeles and next-door neighbor the Mayan about the re-opening of
the theatre. There had been concerns about noise, congestion and drug
use with a doubling of crowds on the block with two theatres running. Hillsman Wright of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation noted at the time that this was precisely the kind of action the buildings were designed for. The re-opening of the Belasco had been awaited for years. The theatre got a write up by Eric Richardson in 2007 in Blogdowntown in the story "Historic Belasco Theater Awaits its Next Act. Stage Specs: Stage depth: 38' L+R wing space: 50' Dressing rooms and a large green room are in the basement. There is a pit but it's currently covered. The stage has a movable paint bridge. The
Belasco in the movies: We
get a brief glimpse of the Belasco interior in "Being John
Malkovich"
(1999) which also features a view from the stage of the Los Angeles
Theatre. The Belasco has also been featured in "Swordfish" with John Travolta (2001) and "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005). In Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige"
(Touchstone/Warner Bros, 2006) with Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine we get several interior views of the Belasco. It's functioning as the (very cluttered) workshop for Jackman's final illusion. Movie-Locations.com
has a page on "The Prestige." The film also features the Palace and
Los Angeles Theatre interiors.  The Belasco in "The Prestige." We're at balcony level. larger image | another view on the main floor IMDb has a page listing films that have been shot at the Belasco. The Belasco on Video: See
Don Solosan's terrific "Belasco Theatre
Construction Montage," a one minute thirteen second tour via
construction photos taken by the George Adair Photo Service. More
Information: See the Cinema Tour page on the Belasco for some more photos, including some nice interior shots by Bob Meza. The Cinema Treasures page on the Belasco Theatre has
lots of historical lore. Jeff Bridges (aka vokoban) did the research
on the Belasco's days as a movie theatre that finally got a page
for this venerable building. Also see the Mayan Theatre page on Cinema Treasures for lots of discussion about the Belasco that went on before the theatre got its own page. Thanks to the researchers of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation for some of the information above.  A facade detail in a 2007 view. photo: Bill Counter [ click these images to enlarge ]  photo: Bill Counter  The new 2010 signage. photo: Bill Counter about photos from other We've tried to give appropriate credit.
Please contact us if there are incorrect attributions, links that no longer work or other issues. A link near each image will direct you to a full size version on the website hosting it. Assume that all the images are subject to copyright restrictions. Contact the webmaster of the site in question concerning reproduction or other use. Jeff Bridges on FlickrSee Jeff's great Belasco Theatre Flickr set from 2008 for 32 more photos. California State Library The State Library has 21 exterior photos of the Belasco during construction including this June 15, 1926 view of framing and form work. full size view Also on this
site:
Cinema TourHere we're looking across the auditorium Other images by Mr. Meza include: 2003
exteriors by Adam Martin include:
Jericl Cat on Flickrwww.flickr.com/photos/79761301@N00  A 2008 view at the ceiling from backstage at the Belasco. Note the seismic bracing on the proscenium wall. full size view Start at Jericl Cat's first Belasco Theatre picture and explore 12 more interesting photos in the set. The Cat's Los Angeles Theaters set has over 300 great
L.A. Public Library Collection The Belasco Theatre proscenium (above) and a view  Also in the Library's collection: | facade and vertical sign | entrance | view from across the street | | exterior 1930 - note "Dancing Academy" on the 2nd floor awnings | | view from the south - 1930 | USC Archives
digitallibrary.usc.edu
 An early view of the Belasco looking north. Note that we're still building the stagehouse of the Mayan next door. USC dates this as 1939 but 1927 would be more like it. full size view  A 1931 view of the Belasco and Mayan stagehouses. In the distance to the left of the Western Pacific Bldg. is the Trinity/Embassy auditorium. full size view   A 1939 view up Hill St. from the south. The photo is by the Dick Whittington Studio. full size view Note the signage on the theatre: "Legitimate Drama."  Another 1939 Dick Whittington view -- here looking east on 11th. full size view  A late 30s view from the USC Archive. We're looking north on
Hill St.
full size view Note the "dancing" sign for the ballroom space. Also in the USC Archive: | looking north - 1932 -- from the roof of the Chamber of Commerce Building | | looking north c. 1933 | |  The Belasco, hiding behind a tree in 2007. The faded sign on the right advertised a church. The church has been gone since 1984. photo: Bill Counter [ click these images to enlarge ]  Note use of milk glass letters above the entrance. photo: Bill Counter -- 2007  Looking up at the ballroom windows at balcony level. photo: Bill Counter -- 2007  A
2008 photo of the auditorium by an unknown photographer.  A wonderful wide-angle view of the refurbished auditorium. photo: Wendell Benedetti - 2010 | view on the LAHTF Facebook photo album | | high resolution view on Flickr |  An amazing view from the stage. photo: Wendell Benedetti - 2011 | view on the LAHTF Facebook photo album | | high resolution view on Flickr |  A look at the entry lobby. How can you not want to buy a ticket after looking at this photo? photo: Wendell Benedetti - 2011 | view on the LAHTF Facebook photo album | | high resolution view on Flickr | Also in the LAHTF album: | another balcony view | exterior | And for more great work see Mr. Benedetti's Historic Los Angeles Theatres set on Flickr.
TheBelasco.comwww.thebelasco.com Visit the theatre's website for a great gallery of photos taken after the 2011 restoration. Here we're looking at the rear of the main floor. The site has 20 more views to browse. Dave Bullock -- eecue This wonderful shot of the Belasco ceiling is one of 19 2007 images of the Belasco Theatre from the basement to the booth on Dave Bullock's site devoted to photography and design. Note the booth openings at the back of the dome. full size image  A full proscenium view by Dave Bullock. Note that the pink stuff on
the side walls  15 more Belasco Theatre photos | drinking
fountain | lobby ceiling
detail | Curbed L.A. A great lobby view by Elizabeth Daniels accompanies Dakota Smith's March 2011 story about the Belasco reopening: "After 26 years..." larger view  A look at one of the newly refurbished stairwells. larger view See the article for 9 more luscious photos by Ms. Daniels including a look at the 2nd floor ballroom space. Library of Congress A poster for the WPA Federal Theatre Project
production of "Bird of Paradise" at the Belasco sometime between 1936 and 1941. full size view  A poster for "Festival of American Dance" at the Belasco, a "Federal Music Theatre," in 1938. Also see the Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection items at George Mason University | "High Tor" | Photos of Los Angeleswww.facebook.com/groups/244565982234863  Looking north on Hill St. in February 1944. It's a photo added to the Photos of Los Angeles collection by Ken McIntyre. Yes, that's snow on the ground. full size view  The Belasco stagehouse as seen by Ken McIntyre from Broadway. full size view Steve Shriver on Flickrwww.flickr.com/photos/art-works  A great view up into the dome taken by Steve at the February 2011 LAHTF "All About the Belasco" event. full size view It's one of about 20 views of the theatre on Steve's "Belasco Theatre & Downtown Walkabout" set. Also of note in the set: | exterior detail | lobby ceiling | | balcony front detail | balcony soffit detail |
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Belasco Theatre |
