The Pantages Theatres: An Unforgettable Experience
The founder of the Pantages “empire” was born Pericles Pantages, but having great admiration for Alexander the Great, he changed his first name, not without some evidence of foresight! His first theatre was built in 1914 in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the showcasing of vaudeville acts, and Alexander Pantages the Greek entrepreneur began his Vaudeville Circuit.
Before he stopped building, there were 500 Pantages ‘playhouses’ on the circuit, ranging from Canada to the whole of the United States west of the Mississippi River. Most have fallen into neglect and decay, but a few shining examples carry on the Pantages name. In Minneapolis in 1916 the Pantages was the first public building in the city to be ‘air conditioned’, with ice as the coolant. For future reference, this one cost about $15,000 to build! Among the few that have survived in splendor through the economic swings of the intervening years are the theatres in Toronto, Canada and in Tacoma, Washington.
Of the four main survivors of the old “Vaudeville Circuit”, the Pantages Theatre Los Angeles may be the grandest of all. It was the last to be built by Alexander Pantages, and is an outstanding example of Art Deco design. Like all the other Pantages theatres, it started out as a venue for vaudeville. The first shows presented were a mixture of live acts and first run movies. Also like the others, the Los Angeles Pantages was forced by financial concerns during the Great Depression to economize by offering only movies, with just an occasional live act.
After Alexander Pantages’ infamous rape trial in 1929, he lost his empire in one fell swoop. The Los Angeles theatre was sold in 1949 to his biggest rival, RKO, and Howard Hughes moved his offices into the second floor. Through the 1950′s the Academy Award Ceremonies were hosted in the grand and glitzy landmark. For years it was a major venue for ‘road show’ movies. In 1977 it closed as a movie theatre and re-opened the next month with a stage production of Bubbling Brown Sugar, and it has operated mainly as a live theatre ever since.
The Los Angeles Pantages Theatre is a world-famous example of Art Deco architecture, and it is capable of hosting theatrical extravaganzas as well as rock concerts and, of course, the star-studded Academy Awards. The interior d’cor alone is enough to elicit awe-struck admiration. Since its operation was taken over by the Nederlander Organization, more than $10 million has been invested in re-creating and improving the original grandeur and comfort of this Hollywood landmark.
The initial investment in the building of the Los Angeles Pantages was about $1.25 million, and the performance of Disney’s The Lion King (from 2000 to 2003) made $142 million in ticket sales! Not a bad investment, it would appear. The allure of the Pantages, aside from the entertainment on stage, is born of its stunning architecture and palatial d’cor. It is pretty close to the very height of flamboyant luxury.
The theatre has been host to many of the most spectacular and thrilling performances, both theatrical and musical, that the world has ever seen on stage. It is a favorite location for the filming of movie scenes, and has even hosted rock concerts. It also has the prestige of having been the site of five of the highest-grossing weeks in all of L.A.’s entertainment history.
If you want a truly unforgettable experience, go online or call the box office and get some tickets to an upcoming performance at the Pantages. Phantom of the Opera is being performed at the time of this writing (Feb. 2009) and will be succeeded in the coming months by more brilliant entertainment such as Grease, Rain and Mamma Mia!
Anyone who appreciates the mix of art and glamour embodied in the Los Angeles Pantages (or incidentally is hoping to gain office space in this epicenter of entertainment) will be thrilled with the latest news. The theatre was originally intended to have 12 stories, with office space on the upper floors. Construction was halted, like many other projects, by the onset of the Great Depression, but plans are underway to complete the design as it was meant to be. Something to look forward to, indeed!
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