Historic theater at Hollywood & Vine
Avalon Hollywood Wedding Photographer
A landmark 1927 Hollywood theater turned production-grade event venue, trading garden views for a dramatic multi-level stage, balconies, and full concert lighting.
About Avalon Hollywood
Avalon Hollywood opened in 1927 as the Hollywood Playhouse, a Spanish-Baroque theater at the corner of Hollywood and Vine designed by Gogerty and Weyl. Over nearly a century it became the El Capitan, the Jerry Lewis Theatre, and the Hollywood Palace before its current life as Avalon, a two-level nightclub and special-event venue with a soaring proscenium stage, wraparound balcony, 4K LED wall, and one of the best in-house production rigs in Los Angeles.
Couples choose Avalon when they want drama and scale rather than a garden. The main room seats hundreds beneath the historic dome while the upstairs Bardot lounge delivers a separate Roaring-Twenties world of art-deco bars, an open-air courtyard, and a chandelier tent room. It is a turnkey venue — in-house catering, bar, production, lighting, and staff — set in the heart of Hollywood with movie-premiere energy.
Location · Hollywood & Vine, central Hollywood
Style · Historic 1927 theater / nightclub
Capacity · Up to ~550 seated; 1,000+ standing
Venue fee from · $4,000 (6-hour rental)
Best season · Year-round (fully indoor)
Last updated July 2026 · official venue site (avalonhollywood.com), Wedding Spot
The complete Avalon Hollywood planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Ceremony · Up to 400
Reception · Up to 550 seated
Cocktail/standing · Up to 1,000+
Rentable spaces
- Avalon Main Room — two-level historic theater with a proscenium stage, seated capacity ~320 on the floor, plus dance floor and 4K LED screen array
- Balcony / Mezzanine — upper tier seating roughly 150, overlooking the main floor and stage
- Bardot Rooftop Lounge — art-deco upstairs venue with three spaces: a bar/lounge, an open-air courtyard, and a chandelier tent room
- Stage — full concert stage with EAW line-array sound, in-house lighting, and multiple LED displays
- Bride's and groom's dressing areas — private getting-ready rooms on site
- Full commercial kitchen supporting in-house and approved outside catering
Pricing
Venue rental from · $4,000 (6 hours of event time)
Packages from · ~$7,798 (based on ~50 guests)
Catering & bar · In-house, priced per person / per bar
Music ends · 2:00 AM
Catering & bar
Avalon provides in-house catering, full bar/beverage service, security, and event staff as a full-service venue; all alcohol is provided by the venue. Outside caterers may be permitted upon request and approval, and there is an on-site commercial kitchen for them to use.
Rules & restrictions
- Music and events must end by 2:00 AM
- Amplified music is indoor only (an enclosed theater, not an outdoor venue)
- All decorations must be approved by venue management in advance
- General liability insurance is required
- Alcohol must be provided by the venue's bar
- Confirm open-flame/candle and confetti policies with the events team
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready · Dedicated bride's and groom's dressing areas inside the venue
Parking · Adjacent parking lot plus valet options; abundant Hollywood parking and Metro nearby
Accessibility · Limited wheelchair access given the historic multi-level theater layout — confirm specifics with the venue
Rain plan · Not a concern — the venue is fully indoor and climate-controlled
How to book
Contact the special-events team at specialevents@avalonhollywood.com or (323) 466-0270 to request the brochure, floor plans, and available dates; because the space also runs as a nightclub, weekend wedding dates and daytime access should be locked in well ahead.
Photographing Avalon Hollywood
This is a controlled-light, indoor venue, so timing is driven by production rather than the sun. The house lighting rig and 4K LED wall let you sculpt dramatic, saturated scenes on the main floor and stage, but you'll want fast lenses and off-camera flash for the darker theater interior. Schedule couple portraits before doors or during a lighting reset so the room is clean and the rig is set for your look.
The strongest backdrops are the proscenium stage under the historic dome, the sweeping balcony staircase and railings, the glowing LED wall for a modern-Hollywood frame, and the art-deco bars and chandelier tent room up in Bardot. Step outside to the Hollywood & Vine signage and marquee for classic Old-Hollywood exterior portraits at blue hour.
Engagement sessions at Avalon Hollywood
Avalon's historic stage, art-deco Bardot lounge, and the Hollywood & Vine marquee make a bold, cinematic engagement or pre-wedding session for couples who want theatrical, city-glamour imagery.
Best light · Controlled indoor rig; Hollywood & Vine marquee at blue hour
Signature spots · Proscenium stage, balcony staircase, LED wall, Bardot lounge
Access · Working nightclub — sessions arranged around the event calendar
The studio coordinates lighting with the in-house production team and books off-hours access so the stage and balcony read dramatic rather than dark.
What couples love
- Iconic, genuinely historic Hollywood theater with real star pedigree
- Dramatic multi-level room, stage, and concert-grade lighting and LED
- Large capacity for big, high-energy celebrations
- Separate Bardot rooftop lounge adds a second world for one event
- Turnkey in-house production, catering, bar, and staff
- Central Hollywood location with easy access and hotels nearby
Good to know
- It operates as a nightclub, so daytime access and date flexibility can be limited
- Ceremonies are indoor only — there is no garden or outdoor ceremony lawn
- The large, dark theater can feel cavernous with a smaller guest count
- All decor must be pre-approved and alcohol must come through the venue
- Wheelchair access is limited by the historic multi-level design
- Urban Hollywood setting means city noise, traffic, and paid parking
A typical wedding day at Avalon Hollywood
Getting ready — dressing rooms on site, or at a nearby Hollywood hotel
Ceremony — on the historic stage beneath the dome with theatrical lighting
Cocktail hour — up in Bardot's art-deco lounge and open-air courtyard
Reception — dinner and dancing on the main floor with the LED wall and full rig
Golden hour — step out to the Hollywood & Vine marquee for blue-hour portraits
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can Avalon Hollywood hold?
Weddings can seat roughly 400 for a ceremony and up to about 550 for a reception, and the space holds well over 1,000 standing for a concert-style event.
How much does it cost to rent Avalon Hollywood?
Venue rental starts around $4,000 for six hours of event time, with full packages beginning near $7,800 for smaller guest counts; catering and bar are additional and priced per person.
Can I have an outdoor ceremony there?
No. Avalon is a historic indoor theater. Ceremonies take place inside, most dramatically on the stage; the only open-air area is the Bardot rooftop courtyard upstairs.
Who caters and handles the bar?
Avalon provides in-house catering and full bar service. Alcohol must be provided by the venue, though outside caterers may be approved to use the on-site kitchen upon request.
What time does the music have to stop?
Events and music must end by 2:00 AM, which is unusually late and makes it a strong choice for a party-forward reception.
Is the venue accessible?
Wheelchair access is limited because of the historic multi-level layout with balconies and staircases; discuss specific needs with the events team in advance.
Is there parking?
There is a parking lot adjacent to the venue plus valet options, and it sits at Hollywood & Vine with additional lots and Metro Red Line access nearby.
What is the Bardot space?
Bardot is the upstairs art-deco lounge with three areas — a bar/lounge, an open-air courtyard, and a chandelier tent room — often used for cocktail hour or a separate vibe within one event.
Does Avalon provide production and lighting?
Yes. It has professional in-house sound (EAW line array), concert lighting, a 4K LED main screen, and additional displays, plus DJ gear and technical staff.
Do I need event insurance?
Yes, general liability insurance is required, and all decorations must be approved by venue management beforehand.
Is the building really historic?
Yes. It opened in 1927 as the Hollywood Playhouse and is part of the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment National Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 1735 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
From LAX · ~11 mi · ~30–40 min
From Hollywood Burbank (BUR) · ~8 mi · ~20 min
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Kimpton Everly Hotel (steps away)
- Loews Hollywood Hotel
- Thompson Hollywood
- W Hollywood
The history behind Avalon Hollywood
- Opened January 24, 1927 as the Hollywood Playhouse, designed by Henry L. Gogerty and Carl Jules Weyl in Spanish-Baroque style.
- Operated over the decades as the WPA Federal Theatre, El Capitan, the Jerry Lewis Theatre, and the Hollywood Palace (1964–1970).
- Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 as part of the Hollywood Boulevard Historic District.
- Richard Nixon delivered his televised Checkers speech from a stage set here in 1952.
- Renamed Avalon in 2002, with major restorations in 2007–2008 and 2014.
- Over its history the stage has hosted performers from Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra to Prince, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones.
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: Greystone Mansion · The Biltmore · Alexandria Ballrooms · The Majestic · La Venta Inn.
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