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 for live shows in Hollywood, California. It's inside the Ovation Hollywood shopping and entertainment center. This theatre is on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
It opened on November 9, 2001. Since then, it has been the home of the yearly Academy Awards ceremony. The theatre is right next to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It is also across the street from the El Capitan Theatre. Besides the Oscars, many other concerts and shows have been held here.
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Theatre Design and Features
The Dolby Theatre was made by David Rockwell. He designed it especially for the Oscar ceremonies. The stage is very large. It is about 113 feet wide and 60 feet deep. This makes it one of the biggest stages in the United States.
However, the theatre only holds about 3,332 people. This is about half the size of some other big stages. The theatre is well-known for TV shows. American Idol and the Academy Awards are examples.
Special Features for TV Shows
The designers worked with Hollywood TV experts. They made sure the theatre had great cables. There's an underground area for cables. This connects to TV trucks outside. The theatre also has a lot of power. This power is easy to access.
There's a special control area for cameras and sound. It's located in the audience seating. This helps manage the live broadcasts.
Grand Entrance and Red Carpet
The path from the front door to the main stairway is special. It leads up to the theatre itself. This path has shops on both sides. It also has cool Art Deco columns. These columns show the names of movies that won Academy Award for Best Picture. There are even blank spaces for future winners. These spaces are ready until the year 2071.
Before the Academy Awards, the building gets a makeover. Sometimes, it gets a different sign. Red drapes hide the shops. The famous red carpet rolls up the grand stairway. This makes it look just like a movie set.
History of the Theatre
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) wanted a new home for the Academy Awards. They had problems with other places. So, in 1997, AMPAS started talking with a company called TrizecHahn. They planned to build a new entertainment center. It would be at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
Seven months later, they made a deal. The Academy signed a 20-year lease. This meant the Oscar ceremony could be held at the new theatre.
Hosting the Academy Awards
The Academy Awards first came to this new theatre in 2002. This was for the 74th ceremony. It was the first time the Oscars were held in Hollywood since 1960. The Dolby Theatre has hosted every Oscar ceremony since then.
The only time it didn't was in 2021. That year, the 93rd Academy Awards were smaller. They moved to Union Station because of the COVID-19 pandemic in California.
Name Changes: Kodak to Dolby
The theatre was first called the Kodak Theatre. This was because the Eastman Kodak Company paid $75 million. They bought the right to have their name on the building. This deal lasted until February 2012.
In early 2012, Eastman Kodak had money problems. They filed for bankruptcy. This ended their naming deal. For a short time, the theatre was called the Hollywood and Highland Center.
On May 1, 2012, a new name was announced. It became the Dolby Theatre. Dolby Laboratories signed a 20-year deal. Dolby then improved the sound system. They added Dolby Atmos sound. They plan to keep adding new sound technologies.
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The front 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 before the 2022 Oscars
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Other Events and Shows
Besides the Academy Awards, the Dolby Theatre has hosted many other events.
- The American Film Institute has held its Life Achievement Award galas here.
- It hosted the 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2002.
- The theatre was home to the Miss USA 2004 and Miss USA 2007 pageants.
Cirque du Soleil and TV Shows
From 2011 to early 2013, the theatre hosted Iris. This was a Cirque du Soleil show. It was inspired by the history of movies. Big changes were made to the theatre for this show. Lifts were added deep under the floor. However, Iris closed in January 2013. It didn't make enough money.
The TV show American Idol held its season finales here. This was during its original run on Fox. It happened from 2002, 2004-2007, and 2015-2016. The theatre also hosted live shows for America's Got Talent. This was from 2016-2019 and again in 2021.
Music Concerts
The Sonic Symphony had a concert at the Dolby Theatre. This happened on September 30, 2023. It featured Johnny Gioeli and Jun Senoue from Crush 40. The theatre also hosted the MAMA Awards on November 21, 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Dolby Theatre para niños
- List of music venues
- L.A. Live
