Podcast Tour: Showtime - How the Lakers Staged Modern Los Angeles

Los Angeles, USA
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Duration2h 5m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesGerman, English
Group sizeUp to 99 travelers

Overview

Step into 1980s Los Angeles, where real estate magnate Dr. Jerry Buss turned a professional basketball team into the city's defining cultural export. On this walking journey through downtown LA, trace the spatial geography of victory: from the bronze monuments of Star Plaza along the historic parade corridors of South Broadway, past Hollywood's movie palaces, and up to City Hall. Discover how Black athletic royalty, Hollywood glamour, working-class street life, and civic ambition merged to transform downtown streets into a theatrical stage.

- A 4.2 km self-guided tour with 7 stops over 125 minutes
- Ideal for travelers interested in Pop Culture & Media Landscapes and Power, Protest & Civic Spaces
- Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals
- Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app

What's included

  • Verified facts woven into an engaging story
  • Interactive in-app guide for questions about the story and surroundings
  • Precise navigation between the stops
  • Immersive podcast-style audio featuring experts and locals

What to expect

  1. Crypto.com Arena
    10m
    At Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena, see the modern pantheon of Los Angeles sports entertainment, including bronze monuments to Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and key architects of the Showtime era.
  2. 10m
    At the intersection of South Broadway and Olympic Boulevard, discover the historic starting point of 1980s Lakers championship parades, where large crowds gathered before the downtown victory processions.
  3. 10m
    See the exterior of the 1927 flagship theater of United Artists, an architectural example of how Hollywood staging influenced modern sports presentation.
  4. 10m
    View Clifton's Republic and the surrounding Historic Broadway Commercial District from outside. This legendary multi-level dining institution evokes the working-class streetscape where everyday fans gathered during downtown parades.
  5. 10m
    Visit this historic sanctuary honoring Bridget 'Biddy' Mason. The memorial celebrates early Black landownership and civic leadership in downtown Los Angeles.
  6. 10m
    Explore this 12-acre terraced civic park connecting Bunker Hill to City Hall, designed as a modern gathering space for civic celebration and public life.
  7. 10m
    Finish outside the monumental 1928 Art Deco seat of municipal government, the official culmination point for championship parades and civic ceremonies.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena on South Figueroa Street. From the main transit hub in Los Angeles, take local transit toward the arena and walk the final stretch to Star Plaza. Check the current local connection on the day of travel.

End point

The tour ends at Los Angeles City Hall on North Spring Street. From here, walk to the nearest transit stop and travel back to the main transit hub in Los Angeles. Check the current local connection on the day of travel.

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Operated by Red Thread · Booked through Viator
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