Avalon Hollywood facts for kids
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| Former names | The Hollywood Playhouse, The WPA Federal Theater, El Capitan Theatre, The Jerry Lewis Theatre, The Hollywood Palace, The Palace |
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| Address | 1735 N. Vine Street |
| Location | Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 34°06′10″N 118°19′37″W / 34.1027°N 118.3270°W |
| Owner | Hollywood Entertainment Partners |
| Type | Concert hall, nightclub, afterhours, lounge, restaurant, bar |
| Genre(s) | Big band, rock and roll, pop, electronic dance |
| Seating type | Standing room only, dance floor |
| Capacity | 1,250 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | January 24, 1927 |
| Renovated | 2007–2008 |
Avalon (also known as Avalon Hollywood) is a famous nightclub in Hollywood, California. It is located near the well-known intersection of Hollywood and Vine. The address is 1735 N. Vine Street.
This historic building has had many names over the years. Some of its past names include The Hollywood Playhouse, The WPA Federal Theatre, El Capitan Theatre, The Jerry Lewis Theatre, The Hollywood Palace, and The Palace. It can hold about 1,500 people. The club is right across the street from the Capitol Records Building.
Contents
History
The Hollywood Playhouse: Early Days
The building first opened its doors on January 24, 1927. It was originally called The Hollywood Playhouse. The theater was designed in the beautiful Spanish Baroque style. Architects Henry L. Gogerty and Carl Jules Weyl created its look in 1926–1927.
Federal Theatre Project: A Time of Change
During the Great Depression, many people struggled to find work. The U.S. government started programs to help. One of these was the Federal Theatre Project. This project was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The Hollywood Playhouse became a place for government-supported plays and shows. It helped artists and performers find jobs during tough times.
The El Capitan Theatre: Radio and TV Home
In the 1940s, the theater changed its name to The El Capitan Theatre. It became home to a popular live variety show called Ken Murray's Blackouts.
Famous comedian Bob Hope also broadcast his NBC radio show from here in the 1940s.
In the 1950s, NBC turned the theater into a television studio. A very important political speech happened here on September 23, 1952. Richard Nixon gave his famous "Checkers speech" from a set on its stage. People sometimes confuse this with another theater on Hollywood Boulevard.
Many popular NBC shows were filmed here. These included The Colgate Comedy Hour, Truth or Consequences, and This Is Your Life. Later, ABC moved in and filmed The Lawrence Welk Show at the El Capitan.
The Jerry Lewis Theatre: A Star's Own Stage
In 1963, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) spent $400,000 to update the building. Comedian Jerry Lewis then used the theater for his weekly Saturday night TV show.
The theater was renamed The Jerry Lewis Theatre just for his program. The show ran for 13 weeks, from September to December 1963. The building was completely updated for television production. New seating was added for the audience.
The Hollywood Palace: A Variety Show Hit
After Jerry Lewis's show ended, ABC renamed the building The Hollywood Palace. In January 1964, a new weekly variety series began there. It was also called The Hollywood Palace.
This show featured many different guest hosts each week. Famous stars like Bing Crosby, Liberace, Jimmy Durante, and Judy Garland hosted. It was a huge success, running for over seven years and 194 episodes. The final show aired on February 4, 1970.
The show was created to compete with The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS. It was known for its unique stage transformations. Sets would change right on camera without commercial breaks. This kept the audience watching. The large parking lot next door allowed for big acts. These included wire walkers, aerialists, and even animal acts.
In 1965, ABC upgraded The Hollywood Palace. It became the network's first color TV broadcast facility on the West Coast. Many other TV shows were filmed here over the years.
The Palace: A New Era of Entertainment
In 1978, ABC sold the theater to a private owner, Dennis Lidtke. He worked to restore the building. Four years later, in 1982, it reopened with a shorter name: The Palace.
The original audience seating was removed. The floor was made flat, creating a large open space from the lobby to the stage. This allowed for bands to play on the stage. A double staircase was added for access to the balcony. The balcony had tables and seating for people to watch the bands and dance floor below.
The Palace hosted many concerts and specials. The punk band Ramones played their final show here on August 6, 1996. This concert was recorded for their album We're Outta Here!. The building also hosted the American Music Awards.
Avalon: A Modern Nightclub
In September 2002, Hollywood Entertainment Partners bought the building. They renamed it Avalon. Since 2004, it has been a popular nightclub known for its "Avaland" nights.
"Control" nights at Avalon focus on dubstep, Trap, and Electro music. "Avaland" nights feature bigger-name DJs playing house music, trance, and techno music. The owners wanted to create a full visual and production experience.
Many top EDM artists and DJs have played at Avalon. These include Tiesto, Markus Schulz, Sasha, John Digweed, and Paul Oakenfold.
Avalon Hollywood also hosted special events. These included a fundraiser with the Black Eyed Peas and a birthday party for actor Bruce Willis.
The owner, John Lyons, used to own an Avalon club in Boston. The success of Avalon Hollywood led to new ventures. In 2007, Club 86 opened nearby. In 2011, Avalon expanded to Asia, opening a large club in Singapore.
See also
In Spanish: Avalon Hollywood para niños
Images for kids
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The Avalon Hollywood building.
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A 1937 poster for a play at the Hollywood Playhouse. It was part of the Federal Theatre Project.
