Los Angeles Theatres: Pantages: main lobby

An eye-popping view of the west end of the Pantages lobby. The auditorium is off to the right. The main lobby chandeliers are re-creations of the originals that were scrapped in the 40s. Down the steps it's a bar and the main ladies lounge. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation - 2010. Thanks, Wendell!

The LAHTF is actively involved in the study and preservation of the vintage theatres in the Los Angeles area. The group frequently supports events and offers tours of the buildings. www.lahtf.org | group Facebook page | official FB page

What does it take to change a light bulb? The three chandeliers are on winches. See a nice August 2021 time lapse video on the Broadway in Hollywood Facebook page of master electrician Joe Mongelli and his team relamping the fixtures.

An unusual view of many rows of seats in the lobby that had been removed from main floor during a recarpeting project. Others went onstage. Thanks to the Pantages for the photo. It appeared with "Tearing it Up!," their 2017 blog post about the process.

A view across from the house right stairs. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Lomara for the 2016 photo. It was taken during an open house held by the theatre for new subscribers. A set of eight views appears on Noirish LA post #37599.

Looking east at the house right stairs. Downstairs on this end of the lobby used to be the main men's lounge area -- now with an added ladies toilet area as well. Thanks to Don Solosan for his 2010 photo. It originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

A railing detail. Thanks to Cat Lukaszewski for sharing her photo. It's one of 49 great views she has in a Hollywood Pantages album on Facebook that were taken at the April 2022 LAHTF "all-about" tour.

Another take on the east lobby stairs. The photo was a post on the Facebook page Art Deco. The aviation and movie sculptural units also appear on the west lobby stairs.

A lobby ceiling detail. Photo: Stephen Russo - 2013. The photo originally appeared on the LAHTF group Facebook page. Thanks, Stephen!

Thanks to Lee Bothast for this ceiling shot. It's one of six photos in a 2016 post by Lee on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.

A c.2010 chandelier detail. Thanks to Robin Keefe on Flickr for the photo.

Thanks to Mike Hume for this 2016 wide angle view of the south wall. That's Hollywood Blvd. out through the open door. Over 200 photos, including many Pantages views, are in his Theatre set on Flickr. For more treats visit the Historic Theatre Photography section of his website.

Another south lobby wall detail. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Lomara for the 2016 photo, appearing on Noirish LA post #37599.

A detail of one of the doors out to the entrance vestibule. Photo: Mike Hume - 2016

An exit sign detail. Photo: Mike Hume - 2016

A south wall detail. Photo: Mike Hume - 2016

A north wall sculpture detail. Photo: Mike Hume - 2016

Another lobby sculpture detail. Photo: Mike Hume - 2016

Another look at the homage to music on the lobby's north wall. Thanks to Steve Shriver for the photo taken at the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation August 2010 tour. It's one of 57 terrific views in his Hollywood Pantages Theatre set on Flickr.

The sculptural tribute to aviation on the west balcony stairs. Photo: Mike Hume - 2016. Thanks again, Mike! Don't miss the Pantages Theatre section on his website for more photos, drawings and technical specifications.

Another angle on the west stairs aviation sculpture, a view from Somah. It was once posted on Flickr but the account has now vanished.

A look across part of the west stairs sculpture taken by John Edward Linden. This is one in a set of seven from Arcaid Images taken to document the 2000 restoration of the Pantages by SPF Architects.

Thanks to Lee Bothast for this 2016 north lobby wall detail. As you can see by the sign, we're over near the west stairs and the ladies lounge end of the lobby. It's one of six photos in a post by Lee on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.

A closer look at the figure in the photo above. Thanks to Lee Bothast for the photo on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.

The tribute to the movie industry on the east stairs. Thanks to Don Solosan for his 2010 photo on the LAHTF Facebook page. Also from Don on the page: looking down into the lobby - 2010 | east stairs view - 2010 |

A typical busy night at the Pantages. Thanks to Somah for the photo, once posted on Flickr but now vanished. We're looking east -- that's the inner lobby off to the left.

The lobby chandeliers lowered for relamping. Thanks to Howard Nugent for the photo, a post on the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page in 2013. At the time, Mr. Nugent was the master electrician at the Pantages.

"How Many People Does It Take To Change a Light Bulb?," an August 2015 post on the Pantages blog about lobby relamping, included this up-in-the-air vista along the three chandeliers.

One of the chandeliers lowered -- they're on winches, of course. The two on the ends are over the stairs, making the job a bit more interesting. It's another photo from the ""How Many People..." blog post.

At least you can lie down for part of the job. Thanks to the Pantages for the great views. See the "How Many People..." blog post for more photos -- and a video.

A chandelier getting assembled during the 2000 restoration. The fixture is a replica of a 1930 original. The photo is from the site of Lite Makers, a firm that did much of the fixture restoration and replication for the project. See the company's replication page for more of their work.

Vintage main lobby views:

A 1930 view down the length of the lobby toward the west stairs. The auditorium is on the right. The Mott Studios photo is in the California State Library set # 001387249. A similar view is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

Another Mott Studios look west with slightly different lighting and composition. It's from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The photo is also in the USC Digital Library collection from the California Historical Society. A version is also in the AMPAS Tom B'Hend - Preston Kaufmann Collection.

A closer view of the house left stairs to the balcony. Down the steps on either side gets you to the main ladies lounge. It's a Mott Studios photo in the California State Library's set # 001387250. The display on that easel to the left is advertising the Fancho & Marco "Seeing Double" Idea. It was the stage show with "The Texan," a film that opened June 19, 1930.

From the top of the house left (west) stairs. Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo from his collection. It appears on Flickr. Check out the Angel City Press book Eric wrote with Tom Zimmerman: "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965." Also see Eric's 2016 book "Signs of Life: Los Angeles is the City of Neon."

Another view of the house left stairs. It's a 1930 Mott Studios photo in the California State Library's set # 001387250.

A north wall detail near the house left stairs. The main ladies lounge is off to the left. The 1930 Mott Studios photo is in the California State Library set # 001407754. The men's lounge is under the stairs at the other end of the lobby. See the page on the main lounges for photos.

A view along the same wall as seen in the view above, only farther toward house right. That's the inner lobby through the arches. It's a 1930 view from Mott Studios that's in the California State Library set # 001407732.

A portion of the lobby's ceiling. The Mott Studios photo is in the California State Library set # 001387249.

A chandelier detail. The Mott Studios photo is in the California State Library set # 001387249.

Looking west from the house right stairs. The 1930 Mott Studios photo is in the AMPAS Tom B'hend - Preston Kaufmann Collection.

A view of the west stairs by an unknown photographer that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

More 1930 Mott Studios photos: The California State Library has about 200, although organized randomly and with many duplicates. Scroll down to the bottom of the vintage auditorium views page for a list of their sets that have Pantages photos.

A perhaps 40s view of the lobby south wall -- when you could stash your belongings in a handy locker while you went to the movie. And take your picture in the photo booth as a souvenir on the way out. It's a photo from the collection of the L.A. County Natural History Museum. The theme here must be "lockers" as this photo is paired on the website with another lobby locker view not of the Pantages but of the Metropolitan / Paramount Theatre downtown.

The lobby of the Pantages during the run of the Disney film "Cinderella" in 1950. It's a Harry Sureus photo in the Tom B'hend and Preston Kaufmann Collection, part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library Digital Collection.

When we go into the lobby of New York's Monolith Hotel in "The Shadow" (Universal, 1994) we find ourselves at the Pantages looking at the Pacific Theatres circular snackbar. The film features Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, Jonathan Winters, Ian McKellen and Andre Gregory. Russell Mulcahy directed. The cinematography was by Stephen H. Burum. Thanks to Dave Hunter for spotting the theatre in the film. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for ten additional views from the Pantages scenes.

Joel Schumacher's "Batman Forever" (Warner Bros., 1995) used the theatre's lobby for that of the Ritz Gotham Hotel. Thanks to Mike Hume for the screenshot. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for three more shots from the lobby party scene as well as views of two scenes shot in the Los Angeles Theatre.

We get this great view of the lobby in "Black Sheep" (Paramount, 1996). Chris Farley, the out-of-control brother, is with Tim Matheson, playing a candidate for Washington State governor. David Spade is also featured in the comedy directed by Penelope Spheeris. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for another lobby shot and two backstage views where Farley pretends to be a security guard.

The lobby is set up as a high-end auto auction house in Bret Rattner's "Money Talks" with Chris Tucker and Charlie Sheen (New Line Cinema, 1997). See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for three more shots from the scenes at the Pantages.

The lobby has been seen in many, many films from "The Good Fairy" (1935) and "Footlight Serenade" (1942) to "The Aviator" (2004). Scroll down to the movie section of the Pantages: Overview page for screenshots from many more.

Above the ceiling:

Looking in from an access door near the toilet at the west end of the projection booth. We're looking south toward Hollywood Blvd. In the center of the image note the shape of the barrel-vaulted ceiling. There's an access door to get in the other end of the space in the fan room at the east end of the booth. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

A look over to the platform above the center of the ceiling that has the winches for the three chandeliers. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

A look toward the center from deeper in the space. That cable in the upper right is going to the west chandelier. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

The sheave for the west chandelier. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

Pages about the Pantages Theatre:

1 comment:

AnonymousJuly 3, 2022 at 12:41 AM
I am Tom W Pantages My father, William, was a cousin of the Pantages brothers and lived in Hollywood. They were generous to take him in. He was 19 and lived with them until he enlisted in the USA army. My entire life, I was told many stories about his Hollywood life.