The Historic Theatre District of Los Angeles runs along S Broadway from 3rd to 9th Street. Most of the structures were built between 1910 - 1932, progressing from vaudeville theatres, to silent films (with live music from elaborate organs), to the talkies, movie theaters. Most of them had grand exteriors with extravagant interiors displaying the ostentatiousness of the period. |
| Details on Palace Theatre |
Roxie - 518 S Broadway, open in 1931, built on the site of Quinn's Superba Theatre, was the last theatre to open on Broadway in November of that year. It was created to handle live stage performances along with movies and closed in 1989.
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| Roxie Theatre 1931-1989 |
Cameo - 528 S Broadway, opened as Clune's Broadway, a nickelodeon, in 1910. In 1924, it was remolded and became the Cameo. When it closed in 1991 it was known as LA's oldest continuous movie theater.
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| Cameo Theatre 1910-1991 |
Here's a public domain image of it's original look:Los Angeles - 615 S Broadway, built in 1931, it was the last movie palace built on Broadway. Open in 1932 with the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights, which had a live orchestra performing the soundtrack. (The film was well received, even though all of Hollywood had switched to sound films in 1929.) This French Baroque style theatre had a ballroom, restaurant, nursery and barbar shop on the lower level. The very spectacular 50' ceiling, main lobby is complete with crystal chandeliers, marble, gold leaf, silk damask wall coverings, walnut paneling and a crystal fountain at the head of the grand staircase. There were two crying rooms on the mezzanine level, marble in the restrooms and a periscope system in the basement lounge in order to view the movie. But the most unusual feature is the main stage curtain that has an incredible 3-D scene of French royalty with stuffed clothing and human hair wigs.
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| Los Angeles Theatre 1931 |
Palace - 630 S Broadway, built in 1911, renamed the Palace in 1926.
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| Palace Theatre 1911 |
It is the oldest remaining theatre in the world that was part of Orpheum Circuit, Inc.
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| Palace Theatre Originally The Orpheum Theatre |
There are several 3-D statues along the outside.
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| Palace Details |
Loew's State - 703 S Broadway, Spanish Renaissance built in 1921. The Gumm Sisters (Judy Garland) performed on its' vaudeville stage.
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| Loew's State Theatre 1921-1997 |
Globe - 744 S Broadway, originally call the Morosco Theatre. When it opened in January 1913, it was the first legitimate playhouse on LA's Broadway St vaudeville row. The name changed to President in 1928; when it was converted to motion pictures in 1930, it became the Newsreel Theatre and finally the Globe in 1948.
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| Globe Theatre 1913 |
2023 Update: In 2015 the Globe got a five year, multi-million dollar renovation and is now a state-of-the-art venue available for rental: GlobeTheatre-LA.com
Tower - 802 S Broadway, opened in 1927 with the silent film The Gingham Girl but it was the first movie palace in downtown LA wired for sound. Claim to fame: sneak preview location for The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialouge.
A gorgeous building in beautiful condition, this is the skylight:
Grand Central Market - 317 S Broadway, since 1917 offering fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, and prepared food.
Like the Arcade, it runs through a whole block and is LA.'s largest open-air market.
Across Hill Street is Angels Flight.
Not part of the Historic District, the Los Angeles Public Library Downtown (630 W 6th St) is a wonderful old building.
