Broadway between 3rd and 9th Streets
In 1931, New York's Empire State Building staked its claim as the world's tallest building, but across the continent, downtown Los Angeles boasted its own record. Six blocks here, along Broadway between Third and Ninth Streets, held the world's greatest concentration of movie houses, gilded venues that often eclipsed the films they played, with more than 17,000 seats among them.
Entrepreneur Sid Grauman built some of the area's first and biggest theatres, but later triggered the area's decline when his Chinese and Egyptian Theaters enticed patrons to the new Hollywood boomtown eight miles away. When people moved to the suburbs after World War II, Broadway's grand dames, abandoned, slid into disrepair.
Twelve surviving movie palaces form the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Broadway Theater and Commercial District, but the designation provides little protection. According to the National Trust, people who own private property listed with them can dispose of it as long as there is no Federal involvement. These landmarks' continued existence ultimately depends on people who care.
While they still stand, the Los Angeles Conservancy offers tours of the Broadway Theatre District weekly. Because they give visitors a chance to get inside some of the theatres, both ruined and renovated that are otherwise closed to the public, it's a better option than exploring on your own. Reservations are required.
Another way to enjoy the grand old movie palaces is during the annual Last Remaining Seats series, when classic films are shown in selected locations. This event takes place during May and June and sells out fast, so plan ahead.
You can walk south on Broadway between 3rd and 9th to explore some of the remnants of the old theatre district. To get to the last two stops on this tour, go east a few blocks on 9th for some of the city's best shopping.
