Mayan Theater facts for kids
Exterior of venue (c. 2010)
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| Address | 1038 South Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90015-1614 |
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| Location | Downtown Los Angeles |
| Coordinates | 34°02′28″N 118°15′32″W / 34.041028°N 118.259005°W |
| Capacity | 1,700 |
| Current use | Nightclub |
| Construction | |
| Opened | August 15, 1927 |
| Architect | Stiles O. Clements |
| Reference #: | 460 |
The Mayan Theater in Los Angeles, California is a famous building that used to be a grand movie palace. Today, it's a popular nightclub and music venue. It's known for its unique design inspired by ancient Mayan art.
Contents
History of the Mayan Theater
The Mayan Theater first opened its doors in August 1927. Back then, it was a place for live shows, especially musical comedies.
In the 1930s, a man named Leon Hefflin Sr. rented the theater. He put on a huge musical show called "Sweet N' Hot." This show featured the famous performer Dorothy Dandridge. It was a very popular show that ran for eleven weeks and got great reviews.
Mayan Theater in Movies and TV
The theater has been a filming location for many movies and TV shows. You might have seen it in:
- Sally of the Scandals
- The Bodyguard
- Save the Tiger
- Unlawful Entry
- Rock 'n' Roll High School
- A Night at the Roxbury
It also appeared in an episode of the TV series GLOW.
In 1990, the Mayan Theater changed its purpose. It became a nightclub and a place for live music. Even with this change, most of its beautiful original decorations are still there. Because of its special history and design, it is recognized as a Historic Cultural Monument.
In 2022, the music group Daft Punk shared a video of a show they performed at the Mayan Theater. This recording was from their 1997 tour called "Daftendirektour."
Architecture and Design of the Mayan Theater
The Mayan Theater was designed by Stiles O. Clements. He was part of the firm Morgan, Walls & Clements. The outside of the theater has cool patterns and figures inspired by ancient pre-Columbian art. A sculptor named Francisco Cornejo created these amazing designs. This was one of his most important works.
Mayan Revival Style
The Mayan Theater is a great example of a style called Mayan Revival. This was a popular design trend in the late 1920s. It used ideas from ancient Mayan buildings and art.
Inside the theater, you can see more of this unique style:
- The lobby is very well-preserved and is called "The Hall of Feathered Serpents."
- The main auditorium has a large chandelier. It looks like the famous Aztec calendar stone.
- The original safety curtain, which separates the stage from the audience, had pictures of Mayan jungles and temples.
Gallery
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Detail of façade, 2012
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Theater poster, 1938
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Theater poster, 1937
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Mayan stage, 2011
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Auditorium from Balcony Left, 2020
