Original Santa Monica Opera House

Across the street from the Clock Tower we see the Shoe Palace which originally was an English music hall-styled vaudeville theater designed by architect Henry C. Hollwedel, and built in 1910 as the Santa Monica Opera House. On December 12, 1911, it re-opened under the new name Majestic Theater, when live shows proved unpopular, it featured silent movies and vaudeville acts.

In 1974, the theater was used to film the famous "Puttin' on the Ritz" sequence in Young Frankenstein.

In 1989, it housed the Los Angeles wing of The Second City comedy troupe. Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Candy, John Belushi, Bill Murray, mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell and many others got their start with Second City with studios in Los angles, Toronto and Chicago. . 

Head back to 3rd Street Promenade and tour left.