To ring in the roaring 2020’s in Los Angeles, you might plan to hop on the metro and head to Grand Park for some family fun, or to your favorite rooftop bar for some grown-up libations. Perhaps, if you are feeling a bit more risqué, you’ll get dressed to the nines for the 8th annual Prohibition NYE party at Union Station! If this is your speed, you would have fit right in at one of Los Angeles’s premiere New Year’s Eve party venues in the late 1800’s: the Merced Theatre. 
Due to bigger and grander theaters opening in the area and a bout of smallpox, the Merced was forced to close its doors in 1877. That darn smallpox will get you every time! The Merced struggled to find new long-term tenants. Finally, a new company, which produced satirical burlesque shows under the umbrella name “Victorian Sex Clubs,” moved into the space. Around the turn of the century, the Merced became known for its Masked Balls and New Year’s Eve parties that were a debaucherous safe haven for all. This was especially true for the LGBTQ community who, with the help of masks, found the freedom to mingle and indulge in cross dressing. Unfortunately, this freedom wasn’t to last. As the city grew, law enforcement tightened its grip on what they considered immoral, and masquerades at the Merced and across the city were soon axed. Discover Los Angeles: ‘The Best New Year's Eve Concerts & Special Events in Los Angeles’