Los Angeles has quite a few gorgeous old churches, temples and shuls. On Wilshire Boulevard alone are a half-dozen striking landmarks from the 1920s, such as the dark gothic Immanuel Presbyterian and the soaring Italianate Wilshire Methodist (where the pastor got fired for enlisting heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey to fight a benefit boxing match). It's been said there should be a book on L.A.'s spiritual palaces -- and now there is. Sacred Spaces: Historic Houses of Worship in the City of Angels from Balcony Press has photographs by Robert Berger, text by Alfred Willis and an introduction by California State Librarian Kevin Starr. It includes 132 images of sanctuaries built between 1850 and 1952.

Audio of the photographer and author on "Larry Mantle's Airtalk" on KPCC.