Flames Destroy L.A.’s Historic Pan Pacific Auditorium

A hearty congratulations to Los Angeles and its citizens for the inattention that led to the loss to one of its architectural gems. The loss of the Pan Pacific Auditorium was just a matter of time (Part I, Metro, May 25-26). It allows us to continue to avoid the sticky issue of how to care for cultural and architectural landmarks.

Through inattention, the Pan Pacific deteriorated to the point where the costs of repairing it would have been astronomical. Like the homeless, it had been abandoned by society. Now it’s gone.

In an era where everything must be run like a business and all aspects must be cost effective, the Pan Pacific failed the profile. If a culture is judged by how well it recognizes and protects its resources (both human and architectural), then this city has certainly failed.

Long before I set eyes on Los Angeles, I knew of the auditorium and had seen its pictures. Those, of course, were in its better days.

This city has a finite number of treasures and it has just pulled another one off its list. Now that the Pan Pacific is gone, maybe we can put up another strip mall.

RICHARD LAURENT KATZ

Los Angeles