Last Remaining Seats opens with a hit

The Los Angeles Theatre on Broadway was packed last night for the opening film of the 24th year of the Last Remaining Seats series. "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was the movie draw, along with co-stars Robert Morse and Michele Lee on stage to talk with "Mad Men" producer Matthew Weiner. The satirical, musical riff on corporate culture was a hit with the crowd. But many also came early to check out the theater, the youngest of the Broadway movie palaces — it opened in 1931 with Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights." Designed by S. Charles Lee, the Los Angeles has a Baroque auditorium with 2,000 seats, a downstairs ballroom and over-the-top 1930s men's and women's rooms that were on the informal tours last night. (See more pics.) Councilman Jose Huizar promised the audience that by the 30th version of Last Remaining Seats, there would be a working streetcar route through Downtown as part of his Broadway initiative.

Photo: Ed Fuentes