Alex Theatre

The Alex is at 216 N Brand Blvd in downtown Glendale, and you can find it by the tower alone. A tall white spire with a starburst on top rises over a marquee that spells ALEX on three faces, and the neon still lights up Brand after dark. It opened in 1925 as a vaudeville house and movie palace called the Alexander. The city's redevelopment agency bought it in 1992, after decades of first-run films ended, and it reopened on New Year's Eve 1993 as a stage for live shows. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

You walk in through an open forecourt lined with palms before you reach the lobby doors. Accessible seats are in Row X of the orchestra, and every other part of the house takes at least eight stairs, which is worth knowing before you buy for a friend who can't climb. Wheelchair access and listening devices can be requested a day ahead.

The current operator, EVNSONG, mixes film with live work. In 2026 the Alex started running 70mm prints, and the same stage hosts touring music, ballet, stand-up and podcast tapings, plus nights rented by outside groups. One week can be a film festival and the next an orchestra.

Driving is painless by LA standards. Three city garages sit close by, the Orange Street one a block west, and the lobby validates for a $1 flat rate up to four hours. The box office opens only on show days, two hours before curtain. Will call wants a photo ID that matches the name on the order, so the person who bought the tickets should pick them up.