The Los Angeles Theatre is a historic movie palace at 615 S Broadway in Downtown LA’s Broadway District. Opened in 1931 for the premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights, it is known for its French Baroque-inspired interiors, including a grand staircase, chandeliers and an ornate lobby modeled on Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors. Attend a classic film screening or another scheduled event to see the rooms in use. The upper seating levels can get warm, and there is no drinking fountain, so consider bringing water.
A movie palace built for City Lights
The Los Angeles Theatre opened on Broadway in 1931, timed to the premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights on January 30. Chaplin helped finance its construction. The cinema was built as a single-screen movie palace, a format that gives a screening here a different setting from a modern multiplex.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1979. The LA Conservancy has helped restore it, and its events give audiences a chance to see the theater in use. Its Last Remaining Seats program, held in June, pairs classic films with the original kind of movie-house surroundings.
The lobby and its ornate details
The lobby draws on French Baroque design. Its layout and decoration include a dramatic staircase, marble staircases, crystal chandeliers, pillars and elaborate ceiling artwork. The main lobby was modeled on the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, with gold detailing and a large fountain noted in descriptions of the building.
The theater extends across several levels, with seating tiers above a basement floor. A ballroom and a nursery room are also part of the building; the nursery was used around 90 years ago. Access to individual rooms can depend on the event, so a ticket to a screening does not necessarily mean every space will be open.
What to expect at an event
Film screenings and live performances take place in the theater. Its stage curtain is another detail to look for: it has a three-dimensional design, including horses made with real horsehair. The building has also appeared as a film location, including in The Prestige.
The theater’s age is part of its character, but it does not have some modern comforts. There is no air conditioning or drinking fountain, and upper seating levels can feel warmer. Bring water and think about your comfort when choosing a seat, particularly if you are sensitive to heat. The venue lists wheelchair-accessible seating, an entrance, restrooms and parking.
FAQ
When did the Los Angeles Theatre open?
It opened in 1931 for the premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights, on January 30.
What is the Los Angeles Theatre known for?
The historic movie palace is known for its French Baroque-inspired interiors, including a lobby modeled on the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, a grand staircase and chandeliers.
When is the Last Remaining Seats film series?
The LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats events take place in June.
Does the theater have air conditioning?
No. The theater has no air conditioning, and upper seating levels can get warm. There is also no drinking fountain, so bring water.
