Until eclipsed by Hollywood in the mid-1920s, Broadway was LA’s entertainment hub with no fewer than a dozen theaters built in a riot of styles, from beaux arts to east Indian to Spanish Gothic. Their architectural and historic significance even earned them a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. However, since this area is now a decidedly ungentrified slice of cut-rate retail and gritty urban action, they’re usually closed to the public. The best way to see them is by joining one of the excellent tours offered by the Los Angeles Conservancy.
