Los Angeles Theatre facts for kids
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Los Angeles Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Los Angeles Theatre, 2017
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 615 S. Broadway Los Angeles, California |
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| Architect | S. Charles Lee S. Tilden Norton |
| Architectural style | French Baroque |
| Part of | Broadway Theater and Commercial District (ID79000484) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 9, 1979 |
The Los Angeles Theatre is a huge, historic movie theater with 2,000 seats. It's located at 615 S. Broadway in the famous Broadway Theater District in Downtown Los Angeles. It's known for its amazing design and rich history.
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History of the Los Angeles Theatre
This beautiful theater was built very quickly between late 1930 and early 1931. A film owner from Chicago, H.L. Gumbiner, asked for it to be built. He also built the nearby Tower Theatre.
The theater was designed by S. Charles Lee and Samuel Tilden Norton. Its inside looks like a fancy French palace, with a style called French Baroque. It has a grand staircase in the middle and gold drapes. Many people think it's one of the most luxurious buildings in the city.
The amazing interior is said to be inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Versailles in France. You can find a crystal fountain at the top of the grand staircase. There was also a restaurant and a ballroom on the lower level.
Building it Fast
The theater was built in less than six months! In August 1930, there was only a hole in the ground. By January 1931, the theater was ready for its grand opening. The architect, Lee, made construction faster by having the fancy plaster decorations made somewhere else. These pieces were then brought to the building and put together like a giant puzzle. Usually, these decorations were molded right on the building by workers on scaffolding.
Opening Night and Beyond
The famous actor Charlie Chaplin even helped pay to finish the theater. He wanted it ready for the premiere of his movie City Lights in January 1931. This was the last big movie palace built on Broadway. At that time, the area was starting to feel the effects of the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money. Also, Hollywood Blvd. was becoming a popular place for entertainment.
During World War II, many factory workers would visit the theater before or after their shifts. This kept attendance strong. However, after the war, more people moved to the suburbs of Los Angeles. This caused fewer people to visit the downtown theaters in the later part of the 20th century.
The Los Angeles Theatre closed to the public in 1994. It has been empty for many years, but you can still rent it for special events. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical building.
Los Angeles Theatre in Movies and Music
Today, the Los Angeles Theatre is often used as a place for filming. You can see it in many commercials, TV shows, and movies. It has appeared in films like Funny Lady (1975), New York, New York (1977), Man on the Moon (1999), and Charlie's Angels (2000). It was also seen in the TV series Mad Men.
The theater has also been featured in many music videos. Some of these include "Safe and Sound" by Capital Cities (2013), "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera (2011), and "Delicate" by Taylor Swift (2018). The K-pop group BTS also filmed their "Black Swan" music video here in 2020.
In 2004, a special theater show called "Alma" was performed here. It was about Alma Mahler-Werfel.
Inspiration for Disney
The front of the Los Angeles Theatre and its famous sign were used as an idea for the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim.
See also
