After completing their extensive historic restoration of the Tower Theatre, Apple has officially opened their first Apple Store in downtown Los Angeles. The store in the Broadway Theater District was worked on for years with the help of preservation experts and restoration artists.
Originally opened in 1927, the Tower Theatre was one of the first theatres in Los Angeles wired for film with sound. It was officially closed for theatre in 1988 but used rarely for concerts or film shoots.
Apple then started to restore the building in 2018 to preserve its original “movie-magic” splendour, and has now opened it to the public during its launch on 24 June as one of Apple’s most significant flagship stores. The building still has its original French Renaissance-style details, as well as its namesake clock tower.
Inside, the lobby keeps its grand marble staircase decorated with brass handrails and red carpet with the original crystal chandelier. Apple also restored the building’s ornate stained glass window.
Through the lobby, you’ll find the full height of the auditorium, painted with a sky motif and surrounded by tiled plaster rosettes. The balconies are decorated by murals and attentively repainted plaster work.
To celebrate the grand opening of Apple Tower Theatre, Apple is also launching Today at Apple Creative Studios – LA. The initiative aims to connect under-represented youth with creative resources.
“We can plan for the future by respecting the past. When the credits roll at Tower Theatre, Apple can be proud to have its name on the screen,” wrote Apple.
You can check out more of what Apple’s Tower Theatre looks like in their site. It genuinely looks like a work of art, and I think it’s a great idea to have something like the Theatre be preserved and “re-used”.
Additionally, visitors of the store will no longer be required to wear face masks starting this week. Apple announced that they will drop the mask requirements at a number of its retail stores and offices, but retail employees will still be required to wear masks.
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