Whether prom is hosted at a school gym, a hotel or ballroom, it’s a high school rite of passage. But some local private schools have taken prom to the next level.

What You Need To Know

  • Proms date back to the 1800s, but their popularity grew in the 1920s

  • Proms are typically hosted in the school’s gym or a local hotel ballroom, but LA Times contributor Andrew Zucker spoke to former students whose proms were held at unique venues, including Harvard Westlake

  • Zucker explained many LA schools use studio lots for their big nights, including the Fox lot,  the Paramount New York City street backlot and the Jim Henson Company Lot

  • “In 2014, Milken Community School held their prom at Lure nightclub. This is a nightclub that Snoop Dogg, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Khloe Kardashian, Rihanna, they all socialized there," Zucker said

LA Times contributor Andrew Zucker wrote about some of the unique LA venues used for high school seniors’ big night. Zucker joined Lisa McRee on "LA Times Today."

Zucker explained that proms date back to the 1800s, but their popularity grew in the 1920s. 

“We see it become more and more popular during the Depression. We see a lot of middle-class families viewing the prom as a middle class debutante ball, kind of the perfect capstone to their high school experience and getting them ready to enter the real world. By the 1950s, it becomes really popular. By the 1980s, it’s the subject of movies and TV shows, and it turns into a big, big business,” he said. 

Proms are typically hosted in the school’s gym or a local hotel ballroom, but Zucker spoke to former students whose proms were held at unique venues, including Harvard Westlake. 

“I spoke to a student who attended prom in 2017 at Harvard Westlake, and it took place at the Skirball Center, which is one of the country’s foremost Jewish institutions. It has relics and artifacts and nice art. And it also has a 9,000 square foot ballroom for students to host events,” Zucker said. 

Another popular prom destination is the Petersen Automotive Museum. 

“The representative at the Petersen told me that they host between 15 and 20 proms a year. That’s between both public and private schools. But schools like Campbell Hall and Milken have all held their prom there in recent years. The Petersen Museum costs up to $35,000 [to book]. And that means that you’ll be having prom right next to those million dollar cars,” Zucker shared. 

Marlborough School had their prom at the Grammy Museum in Downtown Los Angeles. Zucker talked about the venue. 

“That costs $10,000 to rent out that fourth floor. You do get a view of the Hollywood sign... And you also have the option on top of the $10,000 to rent out some private space in the museum for the students to check out exhibits. This year, they have an exhibit on Shakira, where they have some nice artifacts from Shakira’s personal collection and an exhibit on K-pop,” he said. 

Zucker explained many LA schools use studio lots for their big nights, including the Fox lot,  the Paramount New York City street backlot and the Jim Henson Company Lot.

Nightclubs frequented by the rich and famous have also hosted local proms.

“In 2014, Milken Community School held their prom at Lure nightclub. This is a nightclub that Snoop Dogg, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Khloe Kardashian, Rihanna, they all socialized there. And then on one night in May, you had students from Milken take it over. There was no alcohol served, of course, but nightclubs are pretty popular for LA private schools,” Zucker said. 

Prom night is big business, Zucker explained. 

“Prom will cost you thousands of dollars these days between a tuxedo or a dress, the limousine getting you to prom, hair and makeup. Prom is a big business. Some have said it’s a $1 billion business,” he said.

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