Attached to the Biltmore Hotel at the intersection of Fifth and Olive Sts in downtown Los Angeles, Biltmore Theatre was a popular venue for live shows from 1924 to 1964. But the opening of the Music Center a few blocks away meant it was no longer needed, so down it came in late ‘64. And that’s what we’re seeing in this photo looking southeast along Fifth St. But it’s easy to be distracted from that unfortunate event by the streetlight in the foreground. Being so tall, we seldom get to see one this close up, so this is a rare opportunity to appreciate their ornate design, and marvel about how much thought and detail went into something that most Angelenos would never see up close.

Glen N. said: “The street light dominating the photo is the Union Metal UM 1906–designed especially for Los Angeles.”

This is the same view in May 2024. An office tower now occupies the site of the theater and that long beige building is the rear of the Central Library.