Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Wow - the Tower theatre -- looks like it was a beauty in its heyday. Alas, downtown Los Angeles is so strange (one of the oddest downtowns I've ever seen), that of course, it's abandoned, and covered in graffiti. Or did Mickey and his pals do that? ba-da-BING!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt The last time I was in downtown LA (last March) it was anything but abandoned.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Some of those lower Broadway theatres in LA are amazing. We sort of did a tour of them maybe ten years ago. Some were still showing (bad) films, some were flea markets. But they have the potential to be spectacularly restored.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <The last time I was in downtown LA (last March) it was anything but abandoned.> Where were you? What part of downtown?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Jim I was mostly in the vicinity of the Nokia theater and LA Live, but spent time hanging out in and around Figueroa near Wilshire. Went to the Standard one night for cocktails on the rooftop bar and it was fantastic. While downtown LA certainly is't like Chicago or San Francisco in terms of hustle and bustle, it was very busy with people and traffic all around during my visit.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Broadway in Los Angeles is a very busy area during the day. Alas, not with theater-goers, though. I do not believe a single Broadway movie house is still showing movies-- not even the Spanish language films that kept many of them viable through the 80s and 90s...
Originally Posted By DBitz2 >>The last time I was in downtown LA (last March) it was anything but abandoned.<< I work in downtown LA. Trust me, it is anything but abandoned! In fact, many, many of the old buildings have been converted to residential spaces in the last few years and more and more people are moving to downtown. There's also been new developments such as LA Live, with more on the way, to further revitalize downtown. A new street car system is in the works as well. Lately, filmmakers have returned with a vengeance, too. You can barely go two blocks lately without stumbling on a film crew shooting something. No, downtown LA is anything but abandoned!
Originally Posted By DBitz2 >>Went to the Standard one night for cocktails on the rooftop bar and it was fantastic.<< The offices I work in (in the Paul Hastings tower of City National Plaza) look down on top of The Standard! (The Bonaventure, too!)
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Where were you? What part of downtown?" Where were you? Skid Row? Civic Center also empties out by 5-6PM since it's mostly government entities around there (courts, city hall, etc.).
Originally Posted By DBitz2 >>Some of those lower Broadway theatres in LA are amazing. We sort of did a tour of them maybe ten years ago. Some were still showing (bad) films, some were flea markets. But they have the potential to be spectacularly restored.<< A couple of them have had restoration work done since then, but, they are still mainly used for special events and filming. I went on an LA Conservancy Broadway theater district tour a few years ago and we got to go inside a few of the theaters. I highly recommend those tours. They're great.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt In fact, many, many of the old buildings have been converted to residential spaces in the last few years and more and more people are moving to downtown. I noticed that. I was surprised to see a Ralph's supermarket just a few blocks from LA Live on the ground floor of a newish looking condo/apartment complex.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The area around LA Live and the Staples center really has done pretty well recently. It seems like there has been a lot of development associated with those projects, and it looks like downtown LA might be starting to turn itself around. That pocket is pretty lively at night, and there are a few other little areas with people, but much of it is downright creepy after 6. I'd say the farther west you are (but still east of the 110), the more lively it will be, and there's also more going on toward the south side. A lot of those theaters are looking raggedy these days, but they do look like they could regain a lot of their glory. I doubt most of them will get proper rennovations, but some of them are bound to!
Originally Posted By mapleservo Take a look at Bringing Back Broadway on Facebook. It's a great group involved in revitalizing the LA Broadway Theatre area. (Apologies if this is common knowledge) This theatre here... from their Facebook album, looks to be at least part inspiration for Disney's Hyperion. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150097438312070&set=pt.303526117069&theater" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/photo....&theater</a>
Originally Posted By cheesybaby <<I work in downtown LA.>> So do I. I'm there right now. Rumors of the death of downtown L.A. have been greatly exaggerated.
