The Palace Theatre pages: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | ticket lobby | lobbies and lounges | vintage auditorium views | recent auditorium views | booth | backstage | basement support areas | office building |
The main lobby:
The view straight in the front doors. The lobby is quite small and, at the moment, rather plain -- quite a contrast after the opulent entry of the ticket lobby and the delightful auditorium that awaits one inside. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014. Keep up with Hunter's recent explorations: HunterKerhart.com | on Flickr
This was once just an an open standee area at the back of the main floor seating. It got enclosed when the house went to movies and a Skouras-style re-do in the 40s when the house was run by Fox West Coast. On the Palace history page there are plans of the main floor, the 1st balcony level, and the 2nd balcony level.
A floor detail just inside the entrance doors before the carpet begins. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for her 2018 photo, one in a set of 26 on Facebook.
A closer look at the ornate flowered mosaic border. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2018
Looking across the lobby from house right. The ceiling treatment you see dates from the Fox West Coast remodel in the 40s. The lit area at the center is the entrance from Broadway. The lobby areas got a big cleanup as part of a $1 million restoration project to celebrate the theatre's birthday in 2011. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2014
A Skouras-era light fixture above the landing on the house right stairs from the 1st balcony down to the lobby. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2012
The view down into the lobby from the house right stairs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Coming down the house left stairs from the 1st balcony. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2018
The newel post house right. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2018
Looking back up the house right stairs. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2018
A pre-restoration view of the house right stairs. Thanks to Broadway Theatre group for the c.2008 Gary Leonard photo. It's one of many great views appearing in the various sets in the Palace Theatre website's photo gallery. This shot is in the entrance album.
A pre-restoration look up to the house right landing. Photo: Gary Leonard / Broadway Theatre Group - c.2008
The bottom of the house right stairs when the lobby was in its red period. Thanks to Pleasure Palate for including
the photo in their '06 Last Remaining Seats set on Flickr.
Coming down the house left stairs from the 1st balcony. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2018
Looking up the house left stairs. Thanks to Michelle Gerdes for her 2011 photo. See her Palace Theatre set on Flickr for many more great views of the theatre.
A pre-restoration view of the house left stairs. Photo: Gary Leonard / Broadway Theatre Group - c.2008
A ceiling detail taken at a 2006 L.A. Conservancy screening. It's a photo from Pleasure Palate on Flickr. See the '06 Last Remaining Seats set for 48 nice shots of the theatre.
A detail of the Aisle 6 sign house left. It's a c.2007 photo from the now-vanished website L.A. Time Machines.
A lobby light fixture. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - 2012. For her full 28 photo set check out "Downtown LA's Palace Theatre, Restored (But Not Completely)," Sandi's Avoiding Regret photo essay about the July 2012 LAHTF Tour.
Another look at the ceiling. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011
A Skouras-era exit sign above one of the doors leading out to the ticket lobby. Thanks to Pleasure Palate for the 2006 photo on Flickr.
The basement lounge area:
The lower level lounge used to be just a smoking room and toilet facilities for men. The mezzanine level lounge was just for the ladies. With remodel work in 2015 both have gone co-ed. The basement men's room was expanded and modernized and a ladies room was added. A doorway was cut into the wall of the lounge allowing access into what had been the basement level of the retail space south of the theatre's entrance. This new area is used for events and exhibits. A new kitchen was added in 2018 in what had been storage space under the rear of the main floor.
Signage from the era when it used to be just a men's room downstairs. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011
The basement corridor as viewed from the bottom of the house left stairs. Across the space, those are the stairs up to the house right side of the lobby. The main lounge area is through the arch at right. Off to our left is the plenum space under the main floor as well as a kitchen. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking toward house right in the new kitchen, a 2018 installation. The door at the right gets you out into the lounge. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The view in toward the fireplace and restrooms. The ladies room to the left of the fireplace was new in 2015. No, this isn't the normal decor -- it was an art installation for a "Night on Broadway" event. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
Looking out into the lounge from near the fireplace. The kitchen is through the doorway at the end of the space. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
A look south into the new doorway to the events space. The area beyond was originally part of the basement space for the retail storefront south of the lobby. At the time of these photos it was set up for a "Night On Broadway" art installation. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The view out toward the lounge from the events space. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The look after restoration work. We're looking west. The men's room (under the Broadway sidewalk) is through the doorway to the right of the fireplace. That blank wall to the left of the fireplace would become the entrance for the added ladies room in 2015. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011
Thanks to Stephen Russo for his 2011 fireplace photo, originally appearing on the L.A. Conservancy Facebook page.
A closer look at the fireplace after restoration work. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011
The ornament above the fireplace prior to restoration. Thanks to Will Campbell for his 2009 photo on Flickr. It's one of 65 photos in his 65 photo album A Morning at the Palace Theater.
The basement lounge prior to the 2011 renovations. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
The view toward the east end of the basement lounge c.2008. Either a left or right leads to stairs up to the main floor. The open doorway gets you to a kitchen and the plenum under the main floor. Thanks to Broadway Theatre group for the c.2008 Gary Leonard photo. For the full tour head to the Palace Theatre website's photo gallery. This shot appears in the lounges album.
The house right side of the lounge. Photo: Gary Leonard / Broadway Theatre Group - c.2008
A look up the stairs. Photo: Gary Leonard / Broadway Theatre Group - c.2008
A 1911 photo of the fireplace with the men's toilet area beyond. This is one of 21 photos of the theatre that appeared
with the article "The New Orpheum Theater Building, Los Angeles" in the
September 1911 issue of Architect and Engineer. Following the main
article, G. Albert Lansburgh adds "An Architect's Tribute to Domingo
Mora," the artist who did the sculptural work on the project. The issue can be viewed on Internet Archive.
Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the articles in Architect and Engineer. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for hundreds of great photos of theatres he's explored. And, of course, there's a lovely page on the Palace.
The Architect and Engineer article noted: "So that the men may have the comfort of a smoke during the entre-act, a large and elegantly furnished lounging room has been fitted up in the basement immediately underneath the lobby. There are also coat and hat check rooms for men and women on each floor, and toilets, lavatories and retiring rooms on each balcony and gallery."
The new ladies room off the basement lounge. Note the daylight -- we're under the sidewalk. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The men's toilet area after the theatre's red period but before the 2015 renovations. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the articles in Architect and Engineer. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for hundreds of great photos of theatres he's explored. And, of course, there's a lovely page on the Palace.
The Architect and Engineer article noted: "So that the men may have the comfort of a smoke during the entre-act, a large and elegantly furnished lounging room has been fitted up in the basement immediately underneath the lobby. There are also coat and hat check rooms for men and women on each floor, and toilets, lavatories and retiring rooms on each balcony and gallery."
The new ladies room off the basement lounge. Note the daylight -- we're under the sidewalk. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The renovated men's room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The ceiling under the sidewalk in the renovated men's room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The men's room during the red period. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
The basement men's room with a look out toward the main lounge area through the doorway. Photo: Gary Leonard / Broadway Theatre Group - c.2008.
The 1st balcony's mezzanine lounge area:
The lounge looking out over the ticket lobby. This area can be entered from either set of stairs leading to the 1st balcony. This portion of the space overlooking the ticket lobby is at the center. On either side of it are toilet/sink areas. Photo: Bill Counter - 2010
Both house right and house left toilet areas used to be just for ladies. With the 2015 renovations it's a big improvement. Now it's a ladies room house right, a men's room house left. The lounge in the middle, now accessible to both sexes, remains unchanged. See a plan of the 1st balcony level on the Palace history page.
Another look at the upstairs lounge. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011. See her Palace Theatre set on Flickr for many more views of the theatre.
The ladies lounge as it was furnished for the theatre's opening. Photo: Architect and Engineer - September 1911.
The article on the theatre noted: "A feature of great interest to the ladies is the parlor and retiring rooms placed on the mezzanine, between the orchestra floor and balcony, and very accessible from either level. This parlor has a balcony or loggia overlooking the entrance lobby, so that ladies may await their escorts and still be completely out of the throng."
A closer look at the original chandelier. Photo: Architect and Engineer - September 1911
Looking through the upstairs lounge area to house left. The yellowish doorway on the left is the entrance to the ladies room. The new men's room is down there with the open door. That door we see on the right just goes in to storage inside the balcony. Photo: Bill Counter 2016
A c.2008 view across to the house left stairs. It's a Gary Leonard photo appearing on the Broadway Theatre Group's Palace Theatre website. See their lounges album for more photos of the area.
A peek into the remodeled ladies room house right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The earlier version of the ladies toilet area house right. The lounge area overlooking the ticket lobby is behind us. The wall out to the landing on house house left stairs was opened up with the 2015 renovations. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking out to the house right stairs c.2008. Photo: Gary Leonard / Broadway Theatre Group
Looking into the new 1st balcony men's room house left. Originally there had been additional ladies toilet stalls in this space. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The earlier version with a ladies toilet area house left. Through the arch you're onto the landing for the house left stairs to the first balcony. That wall has now been opened up. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
A detail of one of the sets of stairs looking down from 1st balcony level. Photo: Michelle Gerdes - 2011
Up to the 2nd balcony:
The entrance to stairs up to the 2nd balcony in the south exit passageway. It's been closed to the public for many decades. The 2nd balcony is served by three separate staircases and has its own restrooms. This area doesn't have any access to the 1st balcony or the main theatre lobby. The doorway into the office building lobby is off to the left, the alley behind the theatre off to the right. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
On the Palace history page there is a main floor plan showing the side exit passages and the dedicated stairs to the 2nd balcony. There's also a plan of the 2nd balcony level showing how the stairs enter the seating area. The house right side of that plan shows the corridor that serves as a lobby space as well as one of the restrooms for that level.
Looking back down the house right 2nd balcony stairs to the entrance doors in the south exit passageway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The house right 2nd balcony stairs: the view back down to the first landing. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The house right 2nd balcony stairs: a look up to the third landing and doors out to the fire escape. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The house right 2nd balcony stairs: from the third landing a peek in to the office building 2nd floor. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The house right 2nd balcony stairs: the final flight up into the (dark) balcony. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
At the house right end of the 2nd balcony crossaisle. Yes, there would have been a railing where the cone and tape are. Down the stairs on the left we see on the landing an open doorway that leads to the 2nd floor of the office building.
The narrow walkway we see to the right goes back to the 2nd balcony "lobby," a corridor leading to the ladies room (behind that lit hole in the wall), vomitories to the upper seating section of the 2nd balcony, and on over to the other side. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2016
A look back down the house right stairs. The open door is the 2nd floor of the office building, currently used for storage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
Looking in toward the 2nd balcony "lobby" from the house right crossaisle. The ladies room is through the door to the left. Photo: Sandi Hemmerlein - Avoiding Regret - 2012
House right -- the 2nd balcony ladies room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The 2nd balcony level -- looking across from house right. We're in the "lobby," a corridor under the 2nd balcony's upper section. At the right, a vomitory leading to the upper seating section. There are several more along the hall. At the far end is the men's room and a right turn gets you out to the crossaisle. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2015
House left -- the 2nd balcony men's room. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2015
An earlier look at the men's facilities before some ductwork was removed. Thanks to Will Campbell for his 2009 photo on Flickr. It's one of 65 photos in his 65 photo album A Morning at the Palace Theater.
In the 2nd balcony lobby looking out into the house left side of the auditorium. Just out of the shot to the left is the passage out to the crossaisle. The stairs we see won't get you there -- they only go to the upper section of seats. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - 2015
Out on the crossaisle house left. In to the the lobby /corridor straight ahead, the house left stairs down on the right. You can admire the plasterwork on your way out. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
Looking down the house left 2nd balcony stairs. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
Ductwork and bricks in the way. The house left 2nd balcony stairs have been closed off. These used to go down to the exit passageway north of the theatre. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
In the north passageway one used to be able to head out to Broadway at the north end of the facade. That end of the passage was used for an expansion of a storefront after the 2nd balcony was closed and exiting requirements decreased. The passage still serves the office building north fire escape as well as exits on the north side of the theatre. When the Broadway end of the passage was blocked, a corridor was cut through the stagehouse so that exiting could be done into the alley.
A look back up the house left stairs toward the darkened balcony. Photo: Bill Counter - 2016
The Palace Theatre pages: history | vintage exterior views | recent exterior views | ticket lobby | back to top - lobbies and lounges | vintage auditorium views | recent auditorium views | booth | backstage | basement support areas | office building |
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