The Wiltern

The Wiltern began its life as a vaudeville theater in 1931. One of Los Angeles' most beautiful theaters at the time, it remains a wonderful example of Art Deco design, thanks to efforts in the 1980s to save the building. The restored theater opened in 1985 and remains one of the city's largest and most popular venues for live music. As of 2002, the ground floor of the theater was converted to standing-room only, while the two balcony levels – loge and mezzanine – still offer fixed theater seats. The Wiltern is an eclectic venue, with shows ranging from concerts by groups like Gov't Mule and Chick Corea Elektric Band to stand-up comedy from Margaret Cho and even special swing dancing evenings.