For the 7th anniversary of Bringing Back Broadway -- the plan to revitalize downtown's Broadway corridor -- this year the organization decided to bring folks out to celebrate after dark. Last Saturday's "Night On Broadway" celebrated the street's slow and steady return to grace, and, as always, paid tribute to its classic movie palaces. Free performances took place at the Million Dollar, Los Angeles, Palace, Globe, Tower, Orpheum and Ace Hotel (aka United Artist) theaters, and a chunk of the street was closed to traffic, giving room to activities, food trucks, an events stage and more.
"This storied corridor is experiencing a surge in new retail and restaurants, and is emerging as a focal point for creative office and boutique hotel development," the organization notes. Indeed, it will be fascinating to see what Broadway looks like a decade from now. Meanwhile, here are some pics from Saturday's event:
Exciting to see so many people walking up and down Broadway at night!
This was my first time inside the Tower, which hasn't yet been rehabbed, but is now opening up to DJs and bands. On Saturday night, a DJ spun tunes and kept shouting, "LOS ANGELES!" over and over again.
The Tower lobby.
Inside the Tower. Notice there isn't much room for a widescreen. That's because the Tower mostly showed newsreels back in the day.
"Arnie" outside the Palace Theatre.
The grandest of all the movie palaces on Broadway (even if it needs a rehab), the Los Angeles Theatre.
One of the night's more unusual (and popular!) attractions: Free haircuts, right there on the street!
Mariachi band performs to a large crowd on the street.
The audience at the Million Dollar Theatre waits for a show to begin.
The magic of Sebastian Kraine, on stage at the Million Dollar Theatre.
Comedian magician David Kovac, also at the Million Dollar, wowed the kids with his impressive act.
Those sound like tasty ice pops.
Street art
Coincidentally, I saw someone dressed like Charlie Chaplin enter one of the theaters. Weird coincidence?
It is taking WAY too long for Clifton's, closed since 2011, to reopen. But this new neon signage is a good indicator that things are still happening. The "Living History" boast is a little odd (and unnecessary) but I'll let that slide.
Outside the Globe.
The best part of the evening was probably watching the String Theory band perform at the Orpheum. They sounded great, and we would have stayed there all night if we didn't have antsy kids.
Required eating next to the Orpheum: Two Boots Pizza.
Orpheum, still decked out for the event.
Here's a roundup from last year's Bringing Back Broadway event.
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