Advocacy
(most recent updates first)
Who We Are
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a non-profit, tax exempt membership and volunteer-powered organization.
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a spirited organization pursuing excellence and innovation in the creation of unique arts and entertainment destinations that bring together commercial and non-profit historic theatre enterprises. LAHTF aims to present a thoughtfully curated variety of quality film and performing arts events, advance arts education, and support communities interested in reviving historic theatres as catalysts for the arts, entertainment, new businesses, and residential living. Successful historic theatre projects build community and strengthen economic development and vitality.
Historic theatres are the bricks and mortar legacies of the visionary showmen who built them. Movie palaces, vaudeville houses, legit stages, all showcase something uniquely American, an architectural daring that mixed many styles into an improbably unified whole – a dream palace. The architecture of fantasy transformed audiences, it created an immersive experience that inspired and entertained, transported them from the cares of the day to a magical land where troubles disappear and dreams come true. Within its walls, each historic theatre spans generations of cultural, social and popular American entertainment. In these auditoriums, from these stages and screens, minds were opened, hearts were touched, romances bloomed and lives were changed. Historic theatres are repositories of memories and meaning. LAHTF protects and preserves the few remaining theatres constructed during the first half of the 20th Century. We are determined to ensure that these extraordinary theatres will endure and entertain for generations to come. Join with us. Your contributions and participation makes the LAHTF possible.
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Tax ID is 95-4164089.
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News
The latest from the LAHTF
ALL ABOUT the El Capitan Theatre
LAHTF is thrilled to be returning to the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for an exclusive ALL ABOUT event on Saturday, November 21st 2026.
Members and supporters will get to go behind-the-scenes, from the stage basement to the old projection booth way up at the back of the auditorium, and everywhere in between.
This 1926 theatre is rich in Hollywood movie history and our friends at Disney and the El Capitan are giving us an all-access pass to much of the theatre, along with a fantastic presentation on the Wurlitzer organ.
Watch this space for tickets going on sale, or join up to our mailing list if you want to be among the first to know!
L.A. Theatres At Risk 2022
At a special virtual event on 27th August 2022, LAHTF announced its “Theatres at Risk” for 2022.
If you weren’t able to attend our event at the time, click here to watch our 35-minute presentation Los Angeles Theatres at Risk 2022, on YouTube.
The presentation introduces viewers to LAHTF’s risk rating process, developed so that all theatres are assessed on the same non-subjective criteria. We then dive into the Top 11 Theatres at Risk for 2022, and conclude with information on how you can help LAHTF keep a watchful eye on the historic theatres of Los Angeles County.