A Movie Palace in Downtown Los Angeles

Every summer, the Los Angeles Conservancy hosts a classic film festival called  Last Remaining Seats, where the public can view classic films the way they were meant to be viewed, in grand movie palaces.  The Los Angeles Conservancy started this annual event in 1987 to support the preservation and use of historic theatres in Los Angeles, the city that launched the film industry. This year, I attended one of the film screenings at the Los Angeles Theater that featured Planet of the Apes (1968) with Charlton Heston. Walking through the theater was a magical experience, that I am certain, has been felt by anyone who has visited this movie palace since it opened in 1931.  

The Los Angeles Theater in 1931.  Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library Digital Collections.

The Los Angeles Theater in 2023.