Million Dollar Theatre
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The elaborate frontage of Million Dollar Theatre makes a fitting introduction to Broadway’s movie-palace years. At Third Street and Broadway, its sculpted exterior gives pedestrians plenty to study before reaching the entrance. Sid Grauman wasn’t aiming for an ordinary picture house.
Opened in 1918 as Grauman’s first Los Angeles theatre, the Million Dollar preceded his Egyptian and Chinese theatres. Spanish-language films and variety shows later made it an important destination for Latino audiences.
UPDATE: Its years as a church were one chapter rather than the end of its entertainment history. Special screenings, tours, and cultural events have brought visitors back inside. Beside Grand Central Market, the theatre remains another good reason to stop at this historic downtown corner. 10-26
Palace Theatre
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The glowing marquee and glittering entrance bulbs at Palace Theatre recall the days when Broadway offered one showplace after another. Located at 630 S. Broadway, the Palace gives evening visitors a reason to pause before heading down the block. The entertainment starts at the sidewalk, where an old-fashioned theatre entrance can still make a night downtown feel like an occasion.
Opened in 1911 as the Orpheum, the theatre was designed by G. Albert Lansburgh for the vaudeville circuit. Its Renaissance-inspired exterior introduced audiences to a house built for live entertainment, with a succession of performers sharing the bill. Harry Houdini was among the famous names associated with its stage. Renamed the Palace in 1926, it moved into silent films and later sound pictures.
Palace Theatre
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: Here's a close-up shot of the Palace Theatre sign, unfortunately showing a blank slate at this time. 10-06
UPDATE: The Palace no longer operates as the daily first-run movie house described in the original entry. It continues as a venue for special events, performances, filming, and occasional screenings. More than a century after its opening, the old theatre still offers something that a plain multiplex entrance rarely can: a little Broadway showmanship before you reach your seat. 10-26
Cameo Theatre (Closed)
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The powder-blue and pink marquee of Cameo Theatre made this Broadway movie house easy to recognize. Located between the Roxie and Arcade at 528 S. Broadway, its familiar entrance welcomed moviegoers for an impressive 81 years.
Opened in October 1910 as Clune’s Broadway Theatre, it was designed by Alfred Rosenheim specifically for motion pictures. Renamed the Cameo in 1924, it carried on through silent films, sound pictures, and decades of changing downtown audiences.
UPDATE: The Cameo stopped showing films in 1991, ending what was then the city’s longest continuous theatre run. Retail use took over the entrance, but this photograph brings back the colorful marquee that once promised another picture inside. 10-26
Arcade Theatre (Closed)
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The arch above Arcade Theatre still calls attention to this former Broadway showplace. At 534 S. Broadway, looking above the storefronts reveals a little of the building’s entertainment past.
Opened in September 1910 as the Pantages, it was the first Los Angeles theatre leased to the Pantages vaudeville circuit. Designed by Morgan & Walls, the house later took the Arcade name and welcomed movie audiences.
UPDATE: The Arcade closed in 1992, and its lobby became retail space in 1993. The old arch remains a reminder of the crowds that once passed beneath it. Alongside the Cameo and Roxie, it gives this block three good reasons to look up. 10-26
Million Dollar Theatre
Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre
Cameo Theatre (Closed)
Arcade Theatre (Closed)
