Shrine Auditorium: the auditorium

665 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 | map |

The Shrine Auditorium pages: history | exterior views | lobby areas | auditorium | backstage | expo hall + support areas | 

Vintage views:

A September 30, 1925 view by Dwyer Studios across the balcony as the trusses were being assembled. It's a photo appearing with the article "Unusual Engineering Features of the Al Malaikah Temple, Los Angeles" by R. McC. Beanfield, structural engineer for the project. The article, from The American Architect, is on Internet Archive. Thanks to Mike Hume for going on the search to find it. The photo also appears in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The American Architect caption: 

"Outer ends of balcony cantilever trusses were supported by cables from roof trusses before riveting. Plate girder ends of cantilever trusses are used to reduce deflection at outer end."

 

A 1925 look across the main balcony truss. Photo: American Architect - "Unusual Engineering Features...." It's also in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The caption:

 

"Main balcony truss and cantilevers. Cantilevers were hoisted to cambered position. Holes were drilled and matched before riveting. Note pin joints in upper chord."

A 1926 Mott Studios photo from the California State Library collection set #1387004. 

 

The California State Library has 44 photos of the building in four sets. | set #1445667 - 5 exterior and outer lobby shots plus one auditorium view | set #1387004 - 18 photos of lobbies, auditorium, backstage, expo hall and exterior | set #1447647 - 18 photos of lobbies and exterior | set #1385653 - two exterior views |

 

The Mott photo above appeared with the American Architect article "Unusual Engineering Features..." A copy is also in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. We're looking at a drop, not the asbestos. The American Architect caption: 

 

"The proscenium has a clear span of 100 ft. and a height of 37 ft. at the crown. Amplifying speakers are concealed in the jeweled crown of the arch."

 

 

A Mott view of the house right box and organ grille. It's from the California State Library collection set #1387004. 

 

 

A drawing of this area that accompanied the previous photo when it appeared in the September 1926 issue of Architectural Forum. Thanks to Bob Foreman for locating it on Internet Archive. Visit his Vintage Theatre Catalogs site for a wealth of information related to historic theatres and their tech equipment. 

 

 

A 1926 Mott Studios view in the California State Library collection set #1445667.  A version is also in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note the projection booth at the rear of the main floor. Two projectors that used to be in the booth are up in the Shrine Museum. See some photos of them on our page about the lobby areas.

The auditorium lighting is discussed in "Electrical Equipment of the World's Largest Stage," an article by C.A. Sanborn in the August 1, 1926 issue of the Journal of Electricity: 

"In addition to the ceiling coves and main fixture, decorative coves in three colors are installed around the front and side walls about 18 ft. below the main ceiling. A secondary ceiling above the orchestra pit is cove lighted in three colors, no white light being used. At the center of this ceiling is a smaller crystal fixture also in three colors. The soffit of the balcony is panelled to provide ventilation grilles. In each of the seventeen panels is provided a fixture in four colors. The ceiling space outside the panels is provided with fixtures in white light only, to give uniform illumination during conventions." 

Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the article on Internet Archive.

A 1926 closeup of the chandelier. The photo is from the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library. The chandelier is discussed in the August 1, 1926 issue of the Journal of Electricity: 

"Reported to be the largest electric chandelier ever built, this fixture weighs approximately five tons and has a diameter of 20 feet and an overall length of 28 feet. The lighting is in four colors, the total load in the fixture being 65Kw. Relamping is accomplished through a trap door in the canopy ceiling above the fixture through which a ladder may be lowered."

 

 

 

A 1926 shot by Keystone Photo Service that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. We're looking at the asbestos curtain.

 

 

A house right view. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library set #1387004 - 1926 

 

 

A mural detail from the previous photo. 

 

Another 1926 view by Keystone, here showing the painted detail on the asbestos to a greater extent. It's a photo that's on display in the Shrine Museum upstairs in the building. 

 

Another look at the asbestos. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library set #1387004 - 1926

 

The house left side of the proscenium. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library set #1387004 - 1926

A mural detail from the previous photo.  

 

 

The house left wall. Photo: Mott Studios - California State Library set #1387004 - 1926

 

A Keystone Photo image on display in the Shrine Museum. It's the set that was used for the building's dedication ceremonies in January 1926. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for getting the shot of this one. Check out her Shrine Auditorium 3.5.2022, a lovely set on Facebook that features 49 photos she took at the March 2022 open house.  

 

A Keystone Photo view of performers onstage for the January dedication ceremonies. It appeared in a program for the Shriners' April 1926 "Spring Ceremonial" that's in the collection of the Homestead Museum. Thanks to Paul R. Spitzzeri for sharing the image in "Nobles of this Temple..." a 2020 article about the building for the Homestead Museum blog.  

Another 1926 photo by Keystone of the set seen at the building's dedication. It's from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. 

 

A look at the set from the top of the balcony. It's another from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. 

 

 

A luscious 1939 Dick Whittington Studio photo in the USC Digital Library collection. If you search the USC collection for Shrine Auditorium photos you get over 400 hits, although many of those photos are Shriner's parades, etc. 

A view from the house right box that appeared in the January 1979 issue of Tom B'hend and Preston Kaufmann's magazine The Console. The issue is in the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. Thanks for sharing this, Ron! Note the console of the 4 manual 78 rank Moller concert organ at the far end of the pit. At the time of the photo it wasn't on a lift. Now there's a scissor lift at that location so the console can come up to stage level and be rolled backstage for storage.


Recent main floor views:

A look in from the back of the house. Thanks to Mike Hume for the 2018 photo. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for hundreds of terrific photos of the theatres he's explored in the Los Angeles area and elsewhere. And don't miss his page on the Shrine Auditorium.

A view along the crossaisle. Note the sound booth at the rear. The original projection booth is hiding behind it. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019. Two projectors that used to be in the booth are up in the Shrine Museum. See some photos of them on our page about the lobby areas.

The vista down the center aisle. Thanks to Ken Roe for his 2002 photo on Flickr.  For the full tour, start at Ken's facade photo and you can page through sixteen more views from his Shrine visit.

The view to the stage with the curtains flown. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

A look onto the great stage from house left. Photo: Ken Roe - Flickr - 2002

The stage with drapes in for a presentation. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

The front of the main floor -- with another bonus peek backstage. Thanks to Dave Bullock the 2007 photo. See his set of over 75 terrific photos of the building that appear in the Shrine album his website eecue.

The view from down front house left. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

A peek in from the front exit house left. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

The stage from the house left box. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

 

The box view to the ceiling. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for sharing her 2022 photo. For a fine time browse the 32 photos in her Open House at 1926 Shrine Auditorium album on Facebook.

The box view to the rear. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

The house right box. Photo: Dave Bullock - eecue - 2007

The box and the organ grille house right. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

 

 

A closer look at the house right organ grille area. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2022

 One of the light fixtures in the box. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

The view from the house right box. Photo: Ken Roe - Flickr - 2002

The vista up to the ceiling from the box. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

Across the house from down front. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

Looking across from farther back. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

The house left organ grille area. Thanks to the Shrine Auditorium for the photo. It appears on the Shrine website's venues page. The page also offers an interactive tour where you can pan around the theatre.

A look back toward the huge balcony. Photo: Dave Bullock - eecue - 2007

Another view to the rear of the house. It appears on the Shrine website's venues page.

The five ton chandelier. Thanks to Floyd Bariscale for his 2008 photo, included in his 46 photo Shrine Auditorium set on Flickr. And don't miss the fine article about the Shrine Auditorium on his blog Big Orange Landmarks.

A lovely look at the chandelier and part of the tented ceiling surrounding it. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

A closer look at the chandelier from below. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

 

Recent balcony views: 

 

A look to the stage during L.A. Philharmonic's performance of Mahler's Eighth Symphony conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. The Philharmonic's photo appears on the site Arts Meme. Escott O. Norton comments: 

 

"I performed on that stage as part of the Mahler 'Symphony of A Thousand.' We had over 800 singers, and 2 full orchestras with around 200 players. So many people that they had to extend the stage over the first rows of the audience. An ENORMOUS stage that still wasn't big enough for Gustavo Dudamel's vision!"

The stage from the front of the balcony. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

A closer look at the house left proscenium mural. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

The house right mural. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

Down close to the front of the balcony house right. Photo: Mike Hume - 2024

A closer look at the coves above the front balcony crossaisle. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

G. Albert Lansberg's famous tented ceiling. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

Looking in from a 4th floor vomitory. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

 

A wide angle look across. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for his 2015 photo. He's taken snippets of images from various archival sources (including an interactive image once on the theatre's website) to create this panoramic view.

 

A closer look at the chandelier and house right organ grille. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2022. Thanks! See her 32 photo Open House at 1926 Shrine Auditorium album on Facebook.

The stage from house left. Note the organ console in place but covered. Photo: Ken Roe - Flickr - 2002

A look down from the middle of the balcony. Thanks to the Shrine Auditorium for the photo. It appears on the Shrine website's venues page

The stage set for a Shrine Circus. Photo: Floyd Bariscale - Flickr - 2008

A circus view from house right. Note the location of the orchestra in the proscenium box. Photo: Floyd Bariscale - Flickr - 2008

A look down in 2007. Photo: Dave Bullock - eecue

 

Another ceiling view. Photo: Floyd Bariscale - Flickr - 2008

The chandelier as seen from the middle of the balcony. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

Another look to the stage from mid-balcony. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

A ceiling detail. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

The upper portion of the balcony. Photo: Ken Roe - Flickr - 2002. Thanks, Ken!

 

Up at the top on the left are the doorway to the elevator vestibule, the stairs down, and the door leading to the attic, south dome and the roof.

A nice look at the details of the house right wall. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

A ceiling detail. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018 

The ropes to the tent portion of the ceiling in the center. Note the tie wires -- and the stars stuck on the ceiling. Photo: Mike Hume - 2018

Up at the top. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

 

From the top house left. Photo: Bill Counter - 2024

 

 

In the house right exit passage:

 

 

Go out the side exits upstairs and this is the area you end up in. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for sharing her photo. Check out her Shrine Auditorium 3.5.2022, a lovely 49 photo set on Facebook that features her shots from the March 2022 open house.  

 

 

A closer look at the stairs up to the top of the balcony house right. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2022

  

In the attic:

A view from inside the door on the the stairs up from the top of the balcony house right. We're looking along the south side of the building. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019 

 

At the left it's a walkway running along the back of the attic toward house left. The walkway going forward on the building centerline can be seen between the closest two trusses. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

On the center walkway looking toward the stage end of the building. Photo: Dave Bullock - eecue - 2007. Thanks for the photos, Dave!

Part way forward, looking off to house right. Roof decking has been installed in some areas where riggers are always working. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

The area above the center chandelier. It's not on a winch. You climb down into it. The item with the yellow tag gives you a line to attach your harness to when you're down inside. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

Step one: find the hatch. It's there at the base of the short wood ladder.  Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

The hatch is heavy, being covered with an inch or so of plaster on the bottom side. Here theatre explorer Ron Mahan is looking down. It we were getting serious, another ladder would be lowered to climb down inside the chandelier. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019 

Another look down. In the upper right it's some of the auditorium seating way below. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

Farther forward, off to the left of the catwalk, it's the winch for the small chandelier out in front of the proscenium. From here a cable goes horizontally to a sheave and then down to the chandelier. The ceiling that the chandelier hangs from is about 20' lower than that over the rest of the auditorium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2020

On the center walkway looking back toward the west end of the building. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

Heading to the South Dome:

A corridor leading to the dome. On the left the stairs go down to the top of the balcony house right. Access to the attic is behind the photographer. Photo: Dave Bullock - eecue - 2007

In the south dome. Photo: Dave Bullock - eecue - 2007. Thanks, Dave!

Another south dome view.  Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

The roof of the south dome. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019

Looking out toward the north dome. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

The view out to the south. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019 

The North Dome:

 

Across the back of the house from house left. The elevator vestibule is around the corner to the right. The door we see goes up to the south dome, the elevator equipment room, and the roof. The stairs down from this level are just out of the frame to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022 

 

 

The stairs up. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for sharing her photo. Check out her Shrine Auditorium 3.5.2022, a lovely 49 photo set on Facebook that features her shots from the March 2022 open house.

 

 

Looking into the north dome. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022 

 

 

The southwest side of the interior. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022 

 

 

North toward downtown. Photo: Bill Counter - 2022

 

 

  

South toward the other dome. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2022. She says: "I should have opened the window!"

 

 

The north dome ceiling. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2022

 

 

A wide angle view by Wendell Benedetti. He notes that this was stitched together from several 2021 iPhone shots. This was shared as a comment on a post about the theatre on Mike Hume's Facebook page. 

 

Looking back to the stairs. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2022

 

 

Looking out onto the roof from a level above the north dome. That's the roof of the Expo Hall beyond. Thanks to Mike Hume for the 2021 photo. He comments: 

 

"Unlike the south side, there's no attic access from here. On this side the stairs continue up an additional level to an elevator room. There is roof access out onto the sloping side of the auditorium roof. Very stupid arrangement which spits you out onto the 40-degree-or-so sloping roof with a 6ft-ish slide down to the roof edge and wall.  No stairs, grab handles, or anything. Getting back up to the door must be a challenge."  

 

Visit Mike's Historic Theatre Photography site for hundreds of terrific photos of the theatres he's explored. And check out his page on the Shrine Auditorium. Also see his August 2021 post about the theatre on the Theatre Architecture Facebook page.  

 

 

Another look out the door. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2022

 

 

The elevator equipment room. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2022. Thanks!  

 

The Shrine Auditorium pages: history | exterior views | lobby areas | back to top - auditorium | backstage | expo hall + support areas | 

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