Los Angeles started developing rapidly at the turn of the century. In 1920s, it had 80% of global film production, and the world’s highest concentration of movie theaters in its Downtown district. While the golden age of movie palaces is long gone, and many of the theaters closed down or were re-purposed, their architecture is still there to admire, so why not have a look.
The Belasco
Bradbury Bldg
Bradbury Bldg
Bradbury Bldg
Bradbury Bldg
Bradbury Bldg
Broadway Bar
LA City Hall
LA City Hall
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Eastern Columbia Bldg
Eastern Columbia Bldg
The Globe
Los Angeles Theater
Los Angeles Theater
Los Angeles Theater
Mayan Theater
Metropolitan Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
Million Dollar Theater
The Orpheum
Palace Theater
Palace Theater
Hollywood Palladium
Hollywood Palladium
Roxie Theater
Spring St Arcade Bldg
Sun Realty Bldg
The Tower
LA Union Station
LA Union Station
LA Union Station
LA Union Station
LA Union Station
LA Union Station
United Artists
United Artists
If these photos leave you thirsty for more, you can take a virtual Theater Tour, or a real-life one through the LA Conservancy.
Also, the ever-essential Wikipedia has an abundance of information about Downtown LA, the Broadway, the Theater District, and on particular theaters — the Los Angeles, the Mayan, the Metropolitan, the Million Dollar, the Orpheum, the Palladium, the Tower and the United Artists — as well as other buildings: the Broadway Arcade, the Bradbury, the City Hall, the Eastern Columbia and the Union Station.
Note I use the theater spelling here for consistency but some venues actually spell their names with an -re. Also note that not all these buildings are examples of Art Déco architecture, other styles include for example Gothic Revival.