933 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90015 | map |
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 interiors | roof |
Seating: The auditorium, once with 2,214 seats, is now down to 1,647. The current count is 825 on the main floor and 822 in the balcony. The booth on the main floor installed in 1955 for the TODD-AO run of "Oklahoma!" gobbled up a chunk of space. There are also a few rows missing down front. And the mezzanine, once seating about 200, was removed in 1955. The idea was to improve sightlines to the top of the huge TODD-AO screen from the back of the main floor.
The
story is that Mary Pickford wanted the theatre especially comfortable
so the seats installed were wider than was standard at the time. One
article talked about their air-inflated backs. The
screwjack orchestra pit lift and organ lift both still work. The organ was removed in 1955. The drapes inside the proscenium arch cover the plaster damage from the installation of the big deeply curved TODD-AO screen.
Recent main floor views:
Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" on the big screen for a June 28, 2025 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining
Seats" matinee double
feature. It was paired with "The Lady Vanishes." Thanks
to Mike Hume for sharing the photo. He was the Conservancy's official photographer
that day. See his event archive for 17 photos and don't miss the page about the UA on his Historic Theatre Photography site.
Movies do occasionally play the theatre. Digitally, that is. It hasn't run film for decades. There have been preview screenings from various distributors. Cinespia has done some events and, beginning in 2014, the L.A. Conservancy has
sometimes included the UA in their "Last Remaining Seats" schedules.
The full screen. Note the red velour traveler, here seen flown. It had been newly installed at the time of this April 2014 photo. Also part of the package were the red legs that replaced yellow ones, made out of the old 1955 TODD-AO curtain, which had been in place for years. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart for the photo. Keep up with his explorations: hunterkerhart.com | on Flickr
An August 2014 view onto the bare stage. Thanks to Rebecca Renoso of Cap Equity Locations for sharing the company's photos appearing on our pages.
The stage from back under the balcony. Thanks to John Hough for sharing his 2016 photo.
A great shot by Mike Hume of the 1927 Paramount feature "Wings" hitting the screen for a June 2017 Los Angeles Conservancy "Last Remaining Seats" screening. It was shared by Mike in a post on the private Facebook group Theatre Architecture. More of his fine photos of the event appear on the LAHTF Facebook page.
The election on the big screen at the UA. Photo: Mike Hume - November 8, 2016. Thanks, Mike! See his full election night set on the LAHTF Facebook page. .
An election night view to the rear of the house. Note an interesting development. The doorways to the mezzanine (closed off since the mezzanine was removed in 1955) had been opened again -- giving one a look at the mezzanine lobby from the main floor. Photo: Mike Hume - November 8, 2016
Election night from house right. Photo: Mike Hume - November 8, 2016
The proscenium area with the theatre in a pink mood. Photo: Cap Equity Locations - August 2014
Up the outer proscenium cove to the ceiling's stalactites. Photo: Cap Equity Locations - August 2014
Another proscenium plasterwork detail. Photo: John Hough - 2016
A look skyward from the main floor. Thanks to Bringing Back Broadway for the photo. It was taken during the 2nd "Night on Broadway," January 30, 2016. It's included in their Facebook page Night On Broadway photo album.
A wide angle view to the dome. Photo: John Hough - 2016
Another dome view. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The ceiling from onstage. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The ceiling from the front of the main floor. Thanks to Stephen Russo for sharing his 2015 photo, one originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page. Also on the page by Mr. Russo: proscenium view - 2014 | another proscenium view - 2014 | stage from main floor - 2014 | balcony sidewall - 2014 | dome - 2014 | above proscenium - 2014 | new curtain - March 2014 | The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is involved in the study and preservation of vintage theatres in the L.A. area and occasionally offers tours.
The rear of the main floor -- and the former mezzanine area above. Photo: Cap Equity Locations - August 2014.
Another look to the rear of the house. Note the installation of surround speakers for film presentations. Photo: Cap Equity Locations - August 2014
Recent photos up in the balcony:
A look across the house before the June 28, 2025 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining
Seats" screenings of "The 39 Steps" and "The Lady Vanishes." Thanks
to Mike Hume for his photo. See his event archive for 17 photos and don't miss the page about the UA on his Historic Theatre Photography site.
The view over the rail. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The house right organ grille. Photo: John Hough - 2016
During the 2nd "Night On Broadway." Photo: Mike Hume -
January 2016. Thanks, Mike!
The theatre in more of a blue mood Photo: Mike Hume - January 2016
A 2016 view across. Photo: John Hough
The balcony murals are attributed to Vsevolod Uhlianoff, an artist who was born
in 1880 in Russia and died in 1940 in Los Angeles. The work is mentioned as being by Ulianoff in
"Take Your Olympic Guest on a Mural-Paintings Tour," a May 29, 1932 L.A.
Times article by Arthur Millier that was located by Lisa Kouza Braddock. The site AskArt
has a page about Uhlianoff. The late Tony Valdez had noted that José Rivas was on the Heinsbergen crew that executed the work.
At the house right end of the crossaisle with "Wings" running for a Los Angeles Conservancy "Last Remaining Seats" audience. Photo: Mike Hume - LAHTF Facebook page - June 2017
Up in the upper section on election night 2016. Photo: Mike Hume
In
a green mood for an October 2022 L.A. Opera screening of "Frankenstein"
with a full orchestra. Thanks to Mike Hume for sharing his photo in a
post on the LAHTF Facebook page.
A house left wall detail. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The upper section. The booth occasionally gets used for followspots. Photo: John Hough - 2016
A terrific look down from the top of the balcony. Thanks to Joshua Gardner for his 2015 photo. It originally appeared on the Bringing Back Broadway Facebook page.
A 2016 vista from the top. Photo: John Hough - 2016
The view from the top before the June 28, 2025 L.A. Conservancy "Last Remaining
Seats" screening of "The 39 Steps" and "The Lady Vanishes." It's a photo by Mike Hume, the Conservancy's official photographer for the event. See his event archive for 17 photos and don't miss the page about the UA on his Historic Theatre Photography site.
Photos taken around the time of the reopening - January/February 2014:
The main floor from house right. The small screen wasn't the normal picture size -- it was a setup for a presentation by theatre historian Ed Kelsey at the LAHTF tour. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
The United Artists showing off some of its new lighting. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page. - February 2014. Thanks, Wendell! The event was the LAHTF "all-about" tour.
"Inside the New Ace Hotel's Dazzling Old United Artists Theatre," a Curbed L.A. article by Pauline O'Connor, appeared in February 2014, just before the theatre's reopening. The article was accompanied by 22 stunning photos by Elizabeth Daniels.
Another Elizabeth Daniels photo from the February 2014 Curbed L.A. article taken back a bit farther under the balcony. Thanks, Elizabeth!
Looking up toward the Gothic plasterwork above the proscenium and on the sidewalls. Photo: Jim Kohat. The photo is part of Jim's fine UA Theater Ace Hotel set on Flickr with images taken during the February 1, 2014 LAHTF tour of the building. Thanks, Jim!
Up to the heavens -- the ante-pro area. Note the Altec multicell horn hiding up there. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
Another look upwards. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
The house left organ grille and the dome beyond. It's an Elizabeth Daniels photo appearing with "Inside the New Ace Hotel's Dazzling Old United Artists Theatre,"
a February 2014 Curbed L.A. article by Pauline O'Connor.
Another gaze up at the dome from the main floor. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
Across the stage to house right. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
The view toward house left. Photo: Jim Kohat - February 2014
Another house left view with a nice view of the balcony soffit. It's an Elizabeth Daniels photo that had once appeared with the February 2014 Curbed L.A. article.
The main floor rear house left. Note that ugly 1955 TODD-AO booth and the doorways that once served the now-missing mezzanine. The booth now has some black drapes on the front. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014.
Across the rear of the main floor. The remains of the mezzanine are visible at the left. The new darker wall colors of the Ace renovation make the loss less noticeable. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
A sidewall view from near the orchestra pit. This was five weeks prior to the first show and the auditorium was still lit with work lights. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
The house right organ grille showing off some of its new LED lighting. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - January 2014
The house left wall from the stage. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
Looking back toward the main floor booth as construction wraps up. At the time of the photo the house was open for a press preview as work continued in many areas. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
Up toward the booth and the dome. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
The panorama across from house left. Note the earlier yellow drapes, leftovers from 1955 to cover the proscenium damage from the 1955 TODD-AO re-do. Soon after reopening Ace replaced them with new red ones and also got a new red traveler. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
The upper section of the balcony and back toward the booth. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
Another view along the crossaisle. It's one of 22 lovely photos by Elizabeth Daniels with "Inside the New Ace Hotel's Dazzling Old United Artists Theatre," a February 2014 Curbed L.A. article by Pauline O'Connor that appeared just before the theatre's reopening.
A view across the auditorium and a look at the asbestos) after the Ace renovations. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - January 2014. Also on Facebook see a slightly different view he took across the balcony in February. He also has a photo of the house right mural with discussion in the comments about various overpaintings.
The house left organ grille from the balcony. Photo: Jim Kohat - February 2014. The photo is part of Jim's fine UA Theater Ace Hotel set on Flickr with images taken during the February 1, 2014 LAHTF tour of the building. Thanks, Jim!
Another look down toward the stage. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
An organ grille detail house right. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
A house left wall detail. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
The house right mural. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
A house right mural detail. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
An exit door house right. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
A closer look at the plasterwork above one of the house right exits. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
A house right sidewall detail. Photo: Jim Kohat - February 2014
A sidewall plaster detail. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
The scintillating dome. Photo: Jim Kohat - February 2014
A dome detail. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
Another look at the arcade around the dome. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
The upper balcony from house left. It's an Elizabeth Daniels photo appearing with the February 2014 Curbed L.A. article.
The mysterious rear of the balcony house right. Photo: Jim Kohat - February 2014
Toward the booth across the refurbished seats. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
Across the back of the balcony under the booth. There's a door at each end of the back row to get you up to the booth, fan room and attic. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2014
The view down from the upper house left corner. Thanks to Elizabeth Daniels for her photo, appearing with the February 2014 Curbed L.A. article.
A top of the balcony view. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
A wider view down from the top. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - February 2014. Thanks, Wendell!
A detail of the starburst plasterwork outside the dome. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - February 2014
A last view from the top. Thanks to Elizabeth Daniels for the photo and Pauline O'Connor for the February 2014 Curbed L.A. article "Inside the New Ace Hotel's Dazzling Old United Artists Theatre" that it appeared with.
The pages on the United Artists: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | outer lobby | inner lobby | lounges | upper lobby areas | earlier auditorium views | back to top - recent auditorium views | projection | stage and stage basement | other basement areas | attic | office building/hotel interior | roof |
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What was accomplished by the removal of the mezzanine?
ReplyDeleteBetter sightlines from the back of the main floor to the top of the big TODD-AO screen they were installing in 1955. And perhaps they needed clearance for the height of the new main floor projection booth.
Delete