Step Inside: The Belasco in Los Angeles

The Belasco is a historic theater located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, California (1050 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90015), adjacent to the L.A. Flower District. The theater has lived many different lives since its opening in the mid-1920s, from a professional playhouse and filming location for movies and music videos to the home of a church dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.

Since its reopening as a music venue in 2011, The Belasco has become known as a lavishly grand venue for music lovers to experience some of the best acts L.A. has to offer — including Kelly Clarkson, Jessie Ware, Wiz Khalifa, Luke Bryan and Imagine Dragons — in a remarkably unforgettable setting.

The Belasco History

The Belasco’s storied history dates back nearly a century as a veritable L.A. landmark. Originally commissioned by oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny, The Belasco opened its doors in 1926 and spent the better part of three decades operating as a playhouse. (The theater premiered with a production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes!)

In the 1930s, the theater participated in the Federal Theatre Project, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal-era program designed to boost the arts nationwide in the wake of the Great Depression. After a brief stint in the late ’40s as a movie theater, The Belasco closed as a theater in 1950.

Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, The Belasco was home to a pair of churches — the Immanuel Gospel Church and early gay church the Metro Community Church — before being out of use from 1988 to 2011, when it was reopened in its current state as a music venue.

Get to Know The Belasco

Venue Features

Aside from its stage and main auditorium, The Belasco contains a variety of rooms including a Ballroom, Basement Chamber, dedicated VIP lounge, restaurant and wine bar and more. Its ornate architectural style is based on a combination of Spanish Renaissance and Moorish styles and includes a gilded domed ceiling, while the exterior of the theater boasts an homage to the Spanish Conquistadors complete with seven conquistador figures set in the pineapple-shaped niches across the top of its facade.

Seating and Viewing Options

Below its breathtaking domed ceiling, The Belasco holds a capacity of up to 1,500 attendees. The theater is general admission, standing room only, with GA seating and cocktail tables available in its tiered balconies. The venue also holds a 250-capacity Ballroom with its own entrance and smaller stage, another 250-capacity Basement Lounge and roughly 2,2000 square feet of outdoor event space.

Check out The Belasco’s seating layout (by upcoming act) here.

Venue Accessibility

While The Belasco is generally standing room only, the theater offers a section of ADA accessible seating for qualified patrons, as well as ramp access into the building and ADA accessible restrooms. (Be sure to select ADA accessible tickets when purchasing  via Ticketmaster.)

Parking and Admission at The Belasco

Multiple public parking lots are located close to The Belasco in downtown Los Angeles. While the theater itself is not responsible for the operation of these lots on Hill St., prices generally range between $5 and $25.

Nearby Attractions

Food & Drink Near The Belasco

Below are a number of dining options within a short distance of The Belasco:

• Moonlark’s Dinette, 1060 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• Dune Downtown, 199 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• Birdies, 314 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• Shekarchi Bar & Grill, 920 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• The Art Room, 908 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• The New Moon, 102 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• LALA’S Argentine Grill, 105 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• Market Restaurant, 862 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Hotels Near The Belasco

Below are a number of hotel options within just a short driving distance from The Belasco:

• Downtown LA Proper, 1100 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• The Hoxton, 1060 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, 1260 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• The Audemar Hotel, 820 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
• Hotel Per La, Autograph Collection, 649 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
• Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, 711 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
• Hotel Figueroa, 939 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, 90015