In the midst of an urban concrete expanse, the blossoming gardens of The Velaslavasay Panorama offer an oasis of lush, tropical foliage and feeling of escape from the city's everyday toils and troubles. The ever-evolving grounds are on view to astonish and educate the public. Central features of the main garden are the Carnivorous Plant and Sinister Foliage exhibits, which host a variety of ominous plant life within the garden's exquisitely wrought gazebo - a cozy, shady refuge and vantage point from which to observe the immensity of the Panorama's thriving greenery.

 

Including exotic banana trees and a collection of fine succulents, the grounds are a calmative pleasure for the senses as well as a delight to behold.

 

 

The Velaslavasay Panorama makes its home at the beautiful Union Theatre, a neighborhood landmark in the historic West Adams district of Los Angeles.

The beautiful Union Theatre has enjoyed many incarnations over the years; in addition to being a movie and play house, it has hosted church meetings as well as serving, appropriately enough, as a meeting hall for the Tile Layers Union Local #18 for over 30 years.

Though ongoing research into the history of the Union has yet to uncover the exact year of its construction, available city records place it as being built before 1920. We hope that with further research efforts we will continue to find out more about the Union Theatre's early years. We do know that throughout its long history it has gone through a variety of owners and names, including being part of the local Fairyland chain in the late twenties, and serving as venue for acting classes and small theatrical productions in the thirties before being re-configured into a neighborhood cinema in 1939 which operated into the early fifties.

The Velaslavasay Panorama is indeed proud to inhabit such a special place, and will strive to continue the Union's tradition of bringing the public quality entertainments while fulfilling our panoramic destiny. As well as serving as a showcase for panoramic works and garden wonders, The Velaslavasay Panorama also hosts events, past examples of which include film screenings and presentations that vary from Automata's toy theatre productions, illustrated lectures, and silent film programs to craft circles and other experimentations. The theatre and grounds are also available for private rentals and filming opportunities. For more information, please contact event{at}panoramaonview{dot}org.