Dolby Theatre facts for kids
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The front facade of the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, the actual theatre is at the rear of the complex.
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| Former names | Kodak Theatre (2001–2012) |
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| Location | 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028 |
| Coordinates | 34°06′10″N 118°20′25″W / 34.10278°N 118.34028°W |
| Public transit |   Hollywood/Highland |
| Owner | Canyon Partners |
| Type | Indoor theatre |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 3,400 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1997 |
| Built | 2001 |
| Opened | November 9, 2001 |
| Construction cost | $94 million |
| General contractor | McCarthy Building Companies |
The Dolby Theatre is a famous place in Hollywood, California. It's a big theater where live shows happen. It used to be called the Kodak Theatre. You can find it inside the Ovation Hollywood shopping and entertainment center. This theater is on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Since it opened in 2001, it has been the home of the yearly Academy Awards ceremony. It's also very close to the Grauman's Chinese Theatre and across from the El Capitan Theatre.
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What the Dolby Theatre Looks Like
The Dolby Theatre was designed by David Rockwell. He made it especially for the Oscar ceremonies. The stage is one of the biggest in the United States. It's about 113 feet wide and 60 feet deep. Even with such a big stage, the theater holds about 3,332 people.
The theater is known for hosting big TV shows. For example, American Idol and the Academy Awards have been filmed here. The designers worked with Hollywood experts. They made sure the theater had excellent wiring and power for TV productions. There's even a special area for cameras and sound control.
When you walk from the entrance to the grand stairway, you'll see shops. There are also cool Art Deco columns. These columns show the names of movies that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. There are even blank spaces for future winners, all the way up to 2071! Before the Academy Awards, the building gets a special makeover. They might put up a different sign and hang red drapes. The famous red carpet also rolls up the grand stairway.
History of the Theater
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) wanted a special place for the Academy Awards. They had problems hosting the show at other venues. In 1997, AMPAS started talking with a company called TrizecHahn. They planned to build an entertainment complex in Hollywood.
Seven months later, they made a deal. The Academy signed a 20-year lease for the new theater. This meant the Oscar ceremony could be held there.
The Academy Awards first came to this theater in 2002. This was the 74th Academy Awards show. It was the first time the Oscars were held in Hollywood since 1960. The Dolby Theatre has hosted almost every Oscar ceremony since then. The only exception was in 2021. That year, the show was smaller and moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theater was first sponsored by the Eastman Kodak Company. They paid $75 million to have their name on the building. So, it was called the Kodak Theatre until 2012. Eastman Kodak faced financial problems in 2012. This ended their naming deal. For a short time, the theater was called the Hollywood and Highland Center.
On May 1, 2012, the theater got a new name: the Dolby Theatre. This happened after Dolby Laboratories signed a 20-year deal. Dolby has improved the sound system. They added Dolby Atmos sound. They plan to keep adding new technology to the theater.
Other Events at the Dolby Theatre
Besides the Academy Awards, the Dolby Theatre hosts many other events. The American Film Institute has held its AFI Life Achievement Award gala here. The theater also hosted the 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2002.
From 2011 to 2013, the theater was home to Iris. This was a Cirque du Soleil show inspired by movies. The theater was changed a lot to fit the show. However, Iris closed in 2013 because it wasn't making enough money.
The reality music show American Idol held its season finales at the Dolby Theatre. This happened during its original run on Fox. It hosted finales in 2002, from 2004 to 2007, and in 2015 and 2016. From 2016 to 2021, the theater also hosted the live shows for America's Got Talent.
Images for kids
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The front facade of the Kodak Theatre
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The Grand Staircase leading up to the Dolby Theatre
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The entrance to the theatre ahead of the 2022 Oscars
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See also
In Spanish: Dolby Theatre para niños
- List of music venues
- L.A. Live
