Al Malaikah Temple
Also known as: Shrine Auditorium
Why it's listed
Occupying nearly a full city block south of downtown Los Angeles, the Shrine Auditorium is a flamboyant Moorish Revival complex built in 1926 for the Al Malaikah Shrine organization. Its exterior features onion domes, horseshoe arches and elaborate plaster relief work, while the interior is richly stenciled and the main hall has a tented concrete ceiling. The building combines an auditorium of roughly 6,700 seats with a large exhibition hall. John C. Austin and A.M. Edelman designed it, with theatre architect G. Albert Lansburgh as consulting architect. Built of reinforced concrete with steel trusses, it was the world's largest theatre when finished and remains the largest in the United States. It replaced an earlier Shrine hall destroyed by fire in 1920. The building has hosted vaudeville, ballet, opera, religious gatherings and television productions, as well as the Academy Awards in 1948 and 1949. Some balconies and interior details have been removed over time, but much of the original design survives.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was the world's largest theatre when completed and is still the largest in the United States. It was designed by John C. Austin and A.M. Edelman with consulting architect G. Albert Lansburgh, and is noted for its acoustics, theatrical design and innovative reinforced concrete and steel construction. It has served as Los Angeles's civic auditorium and played a major role in the city's cultural life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87000577, listed April 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 655 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | April 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000577 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926 |
| Architect / builder | John C. Austin & A.M. Edelman, architects; G. Albert Lansburgh, consulting architect |
| Architectural style | Moorish Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the Shrine headquarters and public auditorium; condition listed as excellent, with some alterations such as an enclosed outer lobby, a new ticket booth and removed balconies. |
| Acreage | 5.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.02346, -118.28113 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87000577.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q731437
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.