This old stand-by in LA's historic Broadway theater district is still sharp after all these years.

While the Orpheum has been extensively renovated, it hasn't lost any of its original charm. The performance space, which once hosted Judy Garland, Jack Benny and Ella Fitzgerald, is just as swinging as it was when it opened in 1926. Given its proximity to pawn shops and bars with “dancing ladies,” the Orpheum may not seem too glam from the outside, but once visitors step inside, they’ll think they made a wrong turn (which is not uncommon in Downtown LA), and ended up in Paris or Vienna. The venue’s ornate gilt ceilings, white marble, sophisticated wood paneling, antique chandeliers and lavish red upholstery are more reminiscent of a European opera house than a vaudeville chain theater. Patrons can also behold the Wurlitzer pipe organ, the last remaining original theater organ in Los Angeles. Aside from the odd organ recital, the space hosts everything from “American Idol” auditions to “BET’s Celebration of Gospel.” And now that Downtown is a hotbed for hip bars, galleries and restaurants, the theater does its part by booking indie acts like Jenny Lewis, Damien Rice, Cat Power and The Shins. —Elisa Jacobs