Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation

What Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation does

Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Los Angeles that exists to protect, preserve, restore, and sustain the operation of historic theatres across Los Angeles County. It does not own or operate theatres; instead, it functions as an advocacy and education intermediary that monitors endangered venues, lobbies for Historic-Cultural Monument and National Register designations, facilitates adaptive reuse transactions between owners and tenants, and provides public programming. Its core delivered services are the ALL ABOUT behind-the-scenes tour series (priced at $25 general / $15 member), educational events including the annual "Theatres at Risk" announcement, coalition-building with peer preservation organizations (LA Conservancy, Hollywood Heritage, Art Deco Society of Los Angeles), and direct advocacy before LA City Council, the Cultural Heritage Commission, and planning bodies.

LAHTF is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operated without a fixed physical office (only a PO Box in Los Angeles). Its revenue model is a multi-tier membership program ($35 Basic to $1,000+ Marquee Club), supplemented by donations, tour ticket sales, and merchandise, processed through the OvationTix ticketing platform. Customer segments are predominantly individual theatre enthusiasts, preservation advocates, historians, and local community organizations in neighborhoods surrounding at-risk theatres. Quantifiable outcomes include the 2019 Million Dollar Theatre landmarking, the Earl Carroll Theatre Historic-Cultural Monument designation, the Fox Inglewood National Register listing, and the 2020 Eagle Theatre Conditional Use Permit win for Vidiots. The organization also records losses, notably the 2019 demolition of the Star Theatre in La Puente despite advocacy efforts.

Name

Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation

Legal name

Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation

Website

https://lahtf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Founded in 1987, the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for the preservation of historic theatres across Los Angeles County through regulatory engagement, public tours, educational programming, and coalition-building with preservation partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Preservation

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Historic theatre preservation
• Cultural heritage advocacy
• Nonprofit arts education
• Heritage conservation tours
• Community preservation events

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees at multiple levels ranging from $35 Basic to $1000+ Marquee Club, providing members with benefits including discounts on events and merchandise.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from supporters to support advocacy efforts and theatre preservation initiatives.
3. Tour and Event Revenue: Revenue from ALL ABOUT behind-the-scenes tours of historic theatres, with tiered pricing for general public and members.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales of merchandise with discounts offered to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, restoring, and sustaining the operation of historic theatres across Los Angeles County. It does not own or operate theatres; instead, it monitors endangered theatres, advocates for preservation designations and adaptive reuse, conducts signature ALL ABOUT behind-the-scenes educational tours, publishes an annual Theatres at Risk report, and runs a tiered membership program with merchandise sales to support its mission.

Product overview

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, restoring, and sustaining historic theatres in Los Angeles County. The organization does not own or operate theatres but serves as an advocacy organization that monitors threatened theatres, advocates for preservation, conducts educational tours (ALL ABOUT Tours), and provides membership programs. LAHTF works with theatre owners, developers, city officials, and community groups to ensure historic theatres are maintained and reactivated for public use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ALL ABOUT Behind-the-Scenes Theatre Tours Signature in-person behind-the-scenes educational tours of historic theatres in Los Angeles County, taking participants from below stage to projection booth and other restricted areas. Ticketed at $25 general admission and $15 for LAHTF members.
• LAHTF Membership Program Annual membership program with tiered levels (Basic $35, Household $60, Artist $100-$499, Producer $500+, Marquee Club $1,000+) providing members with discounts on tours and merchandise and invitations to exclusive events including Marquee Club private functions.
• LAHTF Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful advocacy led to Historic-Cultural Monument designation for Million Dollar Theatre (2019)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Los Angeles ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing preservation coalition partner collaborating on advocacy efforts, 'Last Remaining Seats' film series, and working group meetings with city officials on historic theatre issues
• Hollywood HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreservation coalition partner particularly active on Hollywood Boulevard and Hollywood Warner Theatre advocacy; jointly nominated theatres for Historic-Cultural Monument status
• Art Deco Society of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner focused on Art Deco and Streamline Moderne theatre preservation, particularly involved in Earl Carroll Theatre advocacy
• Disney (Walt Disney Company)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney partnered with Pacific Theatres for the museum-quality restoration of the El Capitan Theatre (1989-1991), led by Joseph Musil with National Park Service supervision. Disney continues as operator premiering feature films at the venue.
• Pacific TheatresmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-owner and operator of El Capitan Theatre with Disney; involved in theatre restoration projects including Crest Westwood renovation with UCLA
• VidiotsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVideo-store-turned-film nonprofit that negotiated a long-term lease on the Eagle Theatre in Eagle Rock; planning to restore it as an independent movie theatre with DVD/Blu-Ray rental store. LAHTF supported their efforts to obtain Conditional Use Permit with extended hours.
• Thaddeus Hunter Smith (Music Box Theatre @ FONDA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew tenant for Earl Carroll Theatre through Music Box Theatre partnership; signed lease to revitalize the venue as a 38,000 sq ft entertainment complex with restoration of Streamline Moderne design
• Brian LevianmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate investor and billboard entrepreneur partnering with Thaddeus Smith on Earl Carroll Theatre revitalization project
• UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture / Center for the Art of Performance at UCLAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcquired Crest Westwood Theatre in 2018; renaming it the UCLA Nimoy Theater in honor of Leonard Nimoy; planning renovation with BAR Architects for emerging contemporary performing artists
• Langdon Street CapitalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate investment company that purchased the Million Dollar Theatre, Edison Building, and Grand Central Market in late 2017; submitted successful Historic-Cultural Monument application
• City of San GabrielcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOwner of San Gabriel Mission Playhouse since 1945; LAHTF advocates for continued operation and sustainability of the venue
• Los Angeles City Council / Office of Historic ResourcescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity officials and staff who work with LAHTF on Historic-Cultural Monument designations, working group meetings, and preservation policy
• NetflixmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcquired Egyptian Theatre from American Cinematheque in 2019; pursuing 'restoration rewind' to return theatre close to 1922 roots with focus on historic character restoration
• American CinemathequemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer owner/operator of Egyptian Theatre; continues programming Friday-Sunday at venue and at Aero Theatre under new ownership arrangement with Netflix

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Friends of the Rialto: Smaller nonprofit founded by LAHTF Treasurer Escott Norton in 1983 to preserve the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena; comparable grassroots historic-theatre preservation model operating at a single-venue scale.
• American Cinematheque: Nonprofit that programs film screenings at historic venues including the Egyptian and Aero Theatres; overlapping mission of activating historic theatres for cultural programming and a frequent collaborator/competitor for preservation outcomes in LA.

Regional players

• Bringing Back Broadway: LA-based downtown Broadway corridor revitalization initiative with overlapping historic-theatre preservation goals; Escott Norton (LAHTF Treasurer) has worked directly with the initiative.

Direct peers

• Art Deco Society of Los Angeles: Specialty preservation society focused on Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architecture in LA; directly comparable as a coalition partner working with LAHTF on Streamline Moderne theatres such as the Earl Carroll.
• Hollywood Heritage: Preservation nonprofit specifically focused on Hollywood's historic built environment; LAHTF's most direct peer given shared focus on Hollywood Boulevard theatres and joint advocacy on landmark nominations.
• League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT): National membership organization for owners, operators, and advocates of historic theatres; Mike Hume (LAHTF Secretary) is a member, indicating direct programmatic overlap in theatre preservation best practices.
• Theatre Historical Society of America: National nonprofit dedicated to documenting and preserving historic American theatres; comparable as a theatre-specific preservation and archival organization operating at a broader geographic scale than LAHTF.
• Los Angeles Conservancy: LA's largest preservation advocacy nonprofit covering historic buildings citywide; directly comparable as a fellow LA preservation coalition partner that collaborates with LAHTF on theatre advocacy and operates the Last Remaining Seats film series.

Broad incumbents

• Save America's Treasures: Public-private partnership between the National Trust and National Park Service providing preservation grants for nationally significant historic sites; a funder and broader-scope counterpart to LAHTF's advocacy work.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The largest US preservation advocacy organization with significantly greater resources and national scope; overlaps with LAHTF on theatre advocacy and represents the primary competitor for preservation-related donor dollars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/official_lahtf
• Facebookfacebook.com/LosAngelesHistoricTheatreFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/official_lahtf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/los-angeles-historic-theatre-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation