Hollywood Palladium

The Hollywood Palladium sits at 6215 Sunset Blvd, on the corner of Argyle, under a tall vertical sign you can spot from a block away. The building opened on Halloween 1940 with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and a then-unknown Frank Sinatra on the bill. The venue's own history calls the Streamline Moderne ballroom the world's largest dining and dancing hall. Over the decades it has hosted big band, jazz, rock, punk and hip hop, plus the Lawrence Welk Show. Check the shows list for what's on now.

These days it's a standing-room venue only, so every ticket is a spot on a wide open ballroom floor and there are no seat sections to compare. What you do have to decide is how early to arrive. Fans who want the rail show up well before doors, and everyone else drifts in around the opener. Doors generally open one hour before the posted start, which leaves time to find a spot and grab a drink.

There's also a lounge on site called the Vinyl Room, which the venue pitches as a premium spot for true music lovers. It has its own FAQ and membership pages if you want a different way to watch.

Most shows are open to ages 5 and up. Some tours are 18+ or 21+, so look at the show page when you buy, and bring a valid ID, because it's checked before entry on those nights. Wear clothes and shoes, and that's the whole dress code at the public entrance. Bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches are allowed, and anything larger can end up at a coat check that costs extra.

You can park on site, at the Argyle and Sunset entrance. Or ride the Metro Red Line to Hollywood / Vine and walk.