Historic Los Angeles Event Venues

Los Angeles is home to a collection of unique venues, each with a history of its own. From classic theaters to architectural gems, discover the days of yesteryear at these historic Los Angeles locations.

The Looff Hippodrome, located on the Santa Monica Pier, is home to one of the few surviving all-wooden Carousels in the world. Built in 1916, the hippodrome was the last work of master carousel builder and amusement pioneer Charles I. D. Looff. This architectural gem was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987 and can host private events for up to 330 people indoors and up to 500 when the outdoor deck area is added. Rides on the antique carousel horses are, of course, included!

There are few experiences more quintessentially Los Angeles than spending an evening at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. Built in 1922, the amphitheater is one of the most famous venues in the world, with a stage that has hosted everyone from The Rolling Stones and Barbra Streisand to Prince and Lady Gaga. Whether you're planning an evening out with clients or an off-site team building night, the Hollywood Bowl offers groups the complete outdoor Southern California experience. Private events can take place throughout the Bowl’s private picnic and reception areas, making the Bowl the ideal place for small and large groups of music lovers to enjoy a night of outstanding food and memorable music under the stars.

Since 1927, The Hollywood Roosevelt has been the playground of Tinseltown luminaries such as Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe. The hotel’s history and fame has lent itself to a legendary reputation, which has inspired movie-makers and film directors to set their movies within the hotel’s storybook backdrop. The Roosevelt's Spanish Colonial architecture has been restored to its original grandeur following a recent multi-million dollar renovation and continues to evoke vintage Hollywood glamour. The Blossom Ballroom, the venue for the first Academy Awards in 1929, features 25 foot tall LED light ceilings, nearly 4,500 square feet of space, custom chandeliers, vintage tiles and original ceiling details. In all, the hotel has more than 25,000 square feet of versatile event space consisting of 13 meeting and banquet rooms that can accomodate parties of 10 to 1,500 in addition to unique locations such as their rooftop and Tropicana Pool.

Capturing the grace and elegance of the Gilded Age and classic Southern California, The Langham Huntington Pasadena is an iconic landmark hotel dating back to 1907. The property is set on 23 lush acres of gardens and grounds designed by renowned architect Myron Hunt. Stunning locations such as the Viennese Ballroom, the hotel’s original dining room, is enhanced by a gold-gild 25-foot vaulted ceiling and three crystal chandeliers designed by the same atelier who crafted the chandeliers in the palace of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The Langham’s historic ballrooms have hosted many high-society galas over the decades and boasts more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.

From their humble beginnings in 1912, The Studios at Paramount (the longest operating and only major studio remaining in Hollywood) has been on the ground floor of every major development in film - from the advent of motion pictures, to the emergence of television and onward through the digital revolution. When it’s time to roll out the red carpet, Paramount offers a number of unique venues sprawled throughout 65-acre lot such as New York Street, the Blue Sky Tank, The Alley, versatile sound stages and plush theatres that can accommodate up to 10,000 guests.

Widely regarded as “the last of the great train stations”, Los Angeles Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. Designed in a unique blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco styles by the father-son architect team of John and Donald Parkinson, the facility was completed at a cost of $11 million in 1939 and opened with a lavish, star-studded, three-day celebration attended by a half million Angelenos. The Grand Ticket Concourse, the old ticket room with high Spanish ceilings, rounded windows, Art Deco tiles and the wooden kiosks still in place, can accommodate private events for up to 500 seated and 1,000 standing.

One of L.A.’s few remaining nineteenth-century landmarks, Vibiana (originally St. Vibiana’s Cathedral) was built in 1876 by the Catholic Archdiocese in Los Angeles. With over 35,000 square feet of luxurious space, Baroque inspired interiors and an expansive lush garden, Vibiana offers beautiful customizable back drop for events of any style, including entertainment, corporate, non-profit, wedding, and performing arts. Located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, this stunning venue boasts an extensive dining and craft libations program helmed by award-winning celebrity chef Neal Fraser.

Avalon Hollywood (formerly the Palace) is truly one of Hollywood’s most historic landmarks. Since it first opened its doors in 1927, it has hosted the likes of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, The Beatles’ first West Coast gig, Duran Duran, Madonna, Nirvana and many more. It continued to gain notoriety throughout the 1970s and 1980s as the hottest nightclub in California, and was considered the West Coast version of the infamous Studio 54 nightclub. Located at the legendary Hollywood & Vine intersection, Avalon can host a wide variety of events from corporate galas and conferences to private parties and product launches. The venue can accommodate up to 2,000 people and boasts state-of-the-art sound and lighting.

The Theatre at Ace Hotel (formerly the United Artists Theater) is a delicately restored 1,600-seat movie palace with a 2,300 square foot grand lobby, an ornate open balcony and a stunning mezzanine. The historic venue, located in the Broadway Theater District of Downtown L.A., was renowned as the office building and flagship film palace for the famed movie studio founded by Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith. Built in 1927 in a Spanish Gothic style, this unique venue features vaulted ceilings, stone spires, fresco mural paintings, plaster castings, chandeliers and mirrors to reflect it all. The Theatre is a prime setting for a wide array of Los Angeles events — from large-scale concerts to movie premieres, conferences, seminars, symposiums and other performances.

Originally opened in 1923, the celebrations began almost immediately on a scale that few had ever seen. As one of the most elegant historic downtown L.A. venues, Hollywood luminaries like studio head Jack Warner, Cecil B. DeMille, Mary Pickford and then-starlet Myrna Loy all attended the opening party. At that time, Downtown Los Angeles was the center of entertainment and the theater district was still thriving along Broadway. Much of the social scene of the 1920s was at the Biltmore, and even in this time of Prohibition, the hotel's Gold Room acted as a speakeasy complete with a hidden door to help revelers avoid the police (and often the press and paparazzi). The door is still there.

The man responsible for the decorative artistry inside the hotel is Italian genius Giovanni Battista Smeraldi, renowned for his work on the White House and the Vatican. Because of its elegance, the hotel hosted the world-famous Academy Awards several times throughout the 30s and 40s. The hotel also hosted the creme de creme of other industries as well. In 1960, the Democratic National Convention took place there, and the Emerald Room was used as the "war room" for Lyndon B. Johnson while his opponent, John F. Kennedy used the Music Room for his headquarters.

Today, the hotel offers close proximity to cultural attractions--including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Ahmanson Theater and Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)--and a number of stunning spaces that add elegance to any event.

As true destination experts, L.A. Tourism offers award-winning experience, personalized service and seamless convenience. Want to learn more about Los Angeles or ready to plan your next event? Contact the L.A. Tourism Sales team to make your planning and decision-making easy, simple and stress-free. sales@latourism.org