About Broadway Movie Palaces: a self-guided walk
Details
Architecture, cinema history, Art Deco
Walk Downtown LA Broadway from 3rd Street to the United Theater, discovering historic movie palaces, early cinemas and Art Deco landmarks. This independent, self-guided walk has 12 stops and links 16 places. Allow 90-120 minutes for approximately 1.4 km, with extra time for optional food, retail visits or performances.
Plan your visit
- How to visit
- Self-guided
- Admission
- Free
- Admission details
- The public-sidewalk walk is free. Food, performances, guided tours and any optional paid visits are separate.
- Booking
- Not required
- Accessibility details
- Not assessed for step-free access. Check current crossings, curb ramps, street works and individual entrances.
- Finding the entrance
- Start on the east side of Broadway at 3rd Street, beside the Bradbury Building. Finish at the United Theater, 929 South Broadway.
- Visit duration
- 90–120 minutes
Visitor information sources
- Source website · Checked 2026-11-07
Experience this place
Awards & Recognition
The walk, stop by stop
About 1.4 km · 90–120 minutes · North to south
Start: Broadway at 3rd Street, beside the Bradbury Building (east sidewalk)
Finish: The United Theater, 929 South Broadway (west sidewalk)
Main walk follows public sidewalks and mapped signal-controlled crossings. Most stops are exterior views. Cross only at marked crossings and follow current signals and street conditions. Optional market, arcade and store visits add distance and depend on opening hours. Theatre interiors and performances are separate; Eastern Columbia residences are private.
Dark pins show stop numbers. Green circles group nearby stops; select a group to zoom in.
Mapped pedestrian paths and crossings checked 7 November 2026; not field surveyed. Step-free access has not been assessed. Approximate distance excludes optional interior and market detours. Pins mark sidewalk viewing points, rather than building entrances. Route data: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Bradbury Building, Million Dollar Theatre and Grand Central Market
0 m from start
Start on the east sidewalk beside the Bradbury Building. View Million Dollar Theatre and Grand Central Market across Broadway. Use the marked 3rd Street crossing for an optional market visit; this detour is excluded from the route distance.
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Roxie, Cameo and Arcade theatres
417 m from start
Historic façades; no assumption of operating cinemas or public interiors.
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Spring Arcade Building
522 m from start
View the Broadway entrance to Spring Arcade. Food businesses are optional and opening times vary; upper floors are residential.
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Los Angeles Theatre
636 m from start
Exterior architecture. Interior access depends on events or organised visits. View the facade from the east sidewalk; do not cross mid-block.
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Palace Theatre
689 m from start
Exterior stop at the historic vaudeville venue.
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State Theatre
813 m from start
Exterior stop; confirm any interior programme independently. View the facade from the east sidewalk; do not cross mid-block.
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Globe Theatre
934 m from start
Exterior heritage stop; event operation requires a separate current check.
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Apple Tower Theatre
1009 m from start
Optional interior visit during Apple store opening hours.
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Rialto Theatre
1045 m from start
Marquee and façade stop; no assumption of an operating cinema.
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Orpheum Theatre
1125 m from start
Exterior stop; an evening performance could be booked separately.
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Eastern Columbia Building
1235 m from start
Art Deco exterior and clock tower; private residences, no interior access proposed. Reach this west-side stop using the mapped 9th Street crossing, then return to the intersection to continue south.
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The United Theater on Broadway
1375 m from start
Finish at the historic United Artists theatre; concerts and screenings require their own booking.
Prefer a guided visit? Check LA Conservancy's separate Broadway tour. Its itinerary, access, price and booking arrangements differ from this independent TravelXchange walk.