The pages on the United Artists: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | outer lobby | inner lobby | lounges | upper lobby areas | earlier auditorium views | recent auditorium views | projection | stage and stage basement | other basement areas | attic | office building/hotel interior | roof |
An early postcard view of the inner lobby from the collection of Michelle Gerdes. She had it as a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. A slightly different version of the card appears on page 11 of the Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles." The page is part of the preview on Google Books.
This rendering of the inner lobby as viewed from the mezzanine level was included in a profile of the new theatre in "The Film Capital's New Picture Theatre," an article in the January 7, 1928 issue of Motion Picture News. It's on Internet Archive.
A 1927 Mott Studios look at the south wall of the inner lobby. It's in the California State Library collection, one of eight photos in their set #001407480.
Another Mott Studios inner lobby shot from the California State Library. We're looking at the southwest corner of the lobby.
Another south wall view near the back stairs. The photo appeared, along with a floorplan, in the July 1928 issue of Architect and Engineer. It's on Internet Archive.
Another Mott Studios take of the south wall with a painting added. It appeared with "Theatrical Theatres," an article in the January 1929 issue of Pacific Coast Architect. They also discuss the Carthay Circle and the Dufwin in Oakland. Thanks to Mike Hume/Historic Theatre Photography for finding the article on Internet Archive.
A ceiling detail from the July 1928 issue of Architect and Engineer. The issue also has a facade view plus an article "United Artists Theatre Los Angeles" with photos inside the entrance, at the outer lobby stairs and in the auditorium.
Working on a painting of Napoleon for the lobby. It's an undated photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
Recent inner lobby views:
A look down into the inner lobby before the June 28, 2025 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining
Seats" double
feature of "The 39 Steps" and "The Lady Vanishes." Thanks
to Mike Hume for sharing the photo. He was the official photographer
that day. Mike included this shot in a Facebook post. See his event archive for 17 photos and don't miss the page about the UA on his Historic Theatre Photography site.
A view toward Broadway from the mezzanine level house left. Photo: Mike Hume - June 28, 2025
Broadway is off to the left at this alcove under the outer lobby's
stairs to the mezzanine. We're on the south side of the lobby at the
boundary between outer lobby and inner lobby. The new Ace sculpture, now
removed, was within a 1927 fountain. The dark arch leads down to the
men's smoking room and the screening room that's underneath the outer
lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
Time for a drink? The bar is along the south wall. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The inner lobby ceiling. That opening in the lower center of the photo
is a peek into the balcony level lobby -- now with a very dark paint job
after the Ace renovations. The painted ceiling was executed by Heinsbergen Studios. Photo: John Hough - 2016
A north wall detail. In the mirror we're looking at the bar along the south wall. Above, we get peeks at the mezzanine and balcony level lobbies. Photo: John Hough - 2016
One of the light fixtures. Many of the
lobby area fixtures got simple red perforated metal shades during the
Ace renovations. Thanks to Jim Kohat for sharing his photo. It's part
of his fine UA Theater Ace Hotel set on Flickr with images taken during the February 1, 2014 LAHTF tour of the building.
The
west end of the lobby. Photo: John
Hough - 2016
The house left stairs. Upwards gets you to the
mezzanine and balcony levels of the lobby, down to the ladies lounge.
Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
A December 2013 construction peek from the house left aisle. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart for sharing his photo. Keep up with his explorations: hunterkerhart.com | on Flickr
A ceiling view, pointed back toward Broadway. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The view from the mezzanine level house right. Thanks to John Hough for sharing his 2016 photo.
An upward look from the mezzanine level house right. Thanks to Stephen Russo for this February 2014 photo he shared on the LAHTF Facebook page. The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is involved in the
study and preservation of the many vintage theatres in the L.A. area and occasionally offers tours.
Another ceiling view from the house right end of the mezzanine. Photo: John Hough - 2016
A mezzanine level view on election night, November 8, 2016. Thanks to Mike Hume for sharing his photo. See his full election night set on the LAHTF Facebook page.
A south wall vista from the mezzanine in 2014. Photo: Hunter Kerhart
A south wall detail from the house left end of the mezzanine. Photo: John Hough - 2016
A pilaster and light fixture detail. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014
Looking back toward Broadway. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
Another view toward Broadway from the house left stairs at mezzanine level. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The view from the house right end of the lobby at the balcony level. Photo: Mike Hume - November 8, 2016
The south wall as seen from the balcony level. Photo: Mike Hume - November 8, 2016
The chandelier. Photo: John Hough - 2016
A detail of the ceiling work. Thanks to Jim Kohat for sharing his 2014 photo.
Another look at some of the amazing plasterwork and painted detail on the south wall. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014
A 2025 look toward the south wall. Thanks to Mike Hume for sharing this photo taken at a June 28 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining Seats" screening. It's on his events archive page. Don't miss the page about the UA on his Historic Theatre Photography site.
Photos from 2012, as the Ace renovations were beginning:
An inner lobby ceiling view. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
A wide angle view of the south and west walls. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
A wide angle view of the south and west walls. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
A ceiling painting detail. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
The west chandelier. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - October 2012
The south wall looking down from the balcony level. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
The south wall looking down from the balcony level. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
Want to head up? Here's the way. The sign is visible in the lower right corner of the photo above. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
A south wall mirror view -- with a peek back behind us into the auditorium. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2012
The view into the auditorium at aisle 2. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - October 2012
At the head of aisle 1 pointed toward Broadway. The arch in the center gets you to the theatre's elevator -- and to the exit passageway east of the theatre. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - October 2012. Thanks again, Hunter! See where his architectural photography practice has taken him lately: hunterkerhart.com | on Flickr
Photos from 2009 and 2010, when the building was for sale:
Looking into the inner lobby from the east mezzanine level. Broadway is behind us. Thanks to the late Pat Lile for her 2009 photos that appear on these pages. She was the real estate broker for the church group's 2011 sale of the building to Greenfield Partners and their operating partner Ace Hotels.
In the same balcony as the view above but out more toward the railing. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010. Ms. Pickford is the author of "Conversations with Rodolfo" and the adapter of "Rudolph Valentino: A Wife's Memories of an Icon" by Natacha Rambova. Both are available on Amazon.
A detail of that plasterwork you see in the arch on the balcony level in the photo above. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A view up to the balcony level of the west end of the lobby by Don Solosan. The photo once appeared with "Historic United Artists Theatre for Sale, Can it be Saved?," a July 2010 LAist story by Zach Behrens about the theatre and the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation's efforts to save it. Also see Don's "Insider's Peek #6 - United Artists" video on YouTube. Thanks, Don!
Exit doors out onto the alley west of the building. The stairs at the left head to ladies lounge in the basement. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
A closer look at the west exit doors. Don't you love that faux marble paint job? Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
A south wall view. Here we get mirrors -- on the north side the balconies open onto the mezzanine and balcony lobby levels. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A north wall view with a peek into the auditorium Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - 2010
Photos from 2009 and 2010, when the building was for sale:
Looking into the inner lobby from the east mezzanine level. Broadway is behind us. Thanks to the late Pat Lile for her 2009 photos that appear on these pages. She was the real estate broker for the church group's 2011 sale of the building to Greenfield Partners and their operating partner Ace Hotels.
In the same balcony as the view above but out more toward the railing. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010. Ms. Pickford is the author of "Conversations with Rodolfo" and the adapter of "Rudolph Valentino: A Wife's Memories of an Icon" by Natacha Rambova. Both are available on Amazon.
A nice view looking up high toward the west end of the lobby. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A detail of that plasterwork you see in the arch on the balcony level in the photo above. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A view up to the balcony level of the west end of the lobby by Don Solosan. The photo once appeared with "Historic United Artists Theatre for Sale, Can it be Saved?," a July 2010 LAist story by Zach Behrens about the theatre and the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation's efforts to save it. Also see Don's "Insider's Peek #6 - United Artists" video on YouTube. Thanks, Don!
Exit doors out onto the alley west of the building. The stairs at the left head to ladies lounge in the basement. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
A closer look at the west exit doors. Don't you love that faux marble paint job? Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
An exit sign detail. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
The stairs to the ladies lounge. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
A south wall view. Here we get mirrors -- on the north side the balconies open onto the mezzanine and balcony lobby levels. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A south wall ceiling detail. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A north wall view with a peek into the auditorium Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - 2010
A view up along a pair of pilasters. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
The auditorium entrance on the house left side of the booth -- Aisle 3. The doorway in the shadows was to the main floor projection booth. It's now been revamped with a ramp starting on the other side. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A glorious view into Aisle 3 from a different angle. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A north wall light fixture detail. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
Looking up toward the mezzanine lobby ceiling. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
The vista down from the balcony level of the west end of the lobby. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A chandelier view -- again it's from the balcony level of the lobby. Behind the chandelier you're seeing the mirrors of the south wall. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A chandelier view looking directly south -- again from the balcony level of the lobby. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
How rich can one theatre lobby get? Here we're on the balcony level of the lobby looking east toward the light of Broadway. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
Looking up toward the mezzanine and balcony levels on the Broadway end of the lobby. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A detail of an uplight at the east end of the lobby. Photo: Hala Pickford - 2010
A detail of ceiling ornament and an air diffuser at the east end of the lobby. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
A main floor view out toward toward Broadway. The auditorium is off to the left. Photo: Pat Lile - 2009
And one shot from 2002:
An evocative view toward house left. The exit doors straight ahead go out to the alley west of the building. The display cases were showing off the bible collection of the church group that then owned the theatre. Above the left one it appears we still had the remains of a snackbar. It's a Betty Sword photo in the collection of Brooklyn-based theatre historian Cezar Del Valle. Visit his Theatre Talks website and Facebook page.
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