Dorothy Chandler Pavilion facts for kids
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 Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Location in California
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Location in the United States
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| Location | 135 North Grand Avenue Los Angeles, California |
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| Coordinates | 34°3′23″N 118°14′55″W / 34.05639°N 118.24861°W |
| Public transit |  Civic Ctr Grand Av |
| Owner | Los Angeles Music Center |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 3,156 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1962–1964 |
| Opened | September 27, 1964 |
| Architect | Welton Becket & Associates |
| Main contractors | Peter Kiewit & Sons |
| Tenants | |
| Los Angeles Opera Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center |
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| Website | |
| Official website: https://www.musiccenter.org/visit-explore/visit-explore/campus/dorothy-chandler-pavilion/ | |
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is a famous building in Los Angeles, California. It's part of the Los Angeles Music Center, which is one of the biggest places for performing arts in the United States. Other well-known halls at the Music Center include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Today, the Pavilion is home to the Los Angeles Opera and hosts dance performances presented by Glorya Kaufman. Before 2003, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and Los Angeles Master Chorale also performed here. They moved to the nearby Disney Hall when it opened.
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was also a special place for movies. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held its annual Academy Awards (the Oscars!) here many times. The Oscars were held at the Pavilion from 1969 to 1987, and then again in 1990, 1992 to 1994, 1996, and 1999.
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History of the Pavilion
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion has 3,156 seats for audiences. These seats are spread out over four levels. The building is known for its beautiful chandeliers, wide curving stairways, and rich decorations.
Construction of the Pavilion began on March 9, 1962. It officially opened on September 27, 1964. The building is named after Dorothy Buffum Chandler. She worked very hard to create a great home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and to bring more performing arts to Los Angeles. Her efforts led to the creation of the Music Center. She raised over $19 million in private donations for the project.
The building was designed by architect Welton Becket. His company managed everything from the design to the construction and even the interior decorations. This ensured that the entire building looked and felt connected. The main builder was Peter Kiewit & Sons, now known as Kiewit Corporation.
A Special Holiday Tradition
To get permission to build the Pavilion, Dorothy Chandler made a promise. She told Kenneth Hahn, a local leader, that the building would be open to the public for free one day each year. This promise led to the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration. It's a special Christmas Eve tradition sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
This celebration is broadcast on PBS SoCal. An edited version of the show from the previous year is also shown on other public television stations through PBS.
First Performances and Famous Guests
The very first concert at the Pavilion was on December 6, 1964. Zubin Mehta conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The famous violinist Jascha Heifetz was a special guest. They played music by composers like Richard Strauss, William Schuman, Ottorino Respighi, and Beethoven.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by Music Director Roger Wagner, was another group that performed regularly at the Pavilion from the beginning. Before the Los Angeles Opera company was formed, the New York City Opera often visited. They performed operas like Madama Butterfly and La Traviata. Famous singer Plácido Domingo performed in several of these operas in 1967.
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On December 16, 1970, the hall hosted a huge 12-hour concert. It was a "Beethoven Marathon" to celebrate Beethoven's 200th birthday. Tickets cost only $1. The concert ended late at night with the Los Angeles Philharmonic playing Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
The sound quality, or acoustics, of the hall was a topic of discussion when the Los Angeles Philharmonic played there. Some people felt the sound was too loud in certain spots, while others thought it was muffled. However, many praised how intimate the large hall felt. It allowed the orchestra to play with great emotion without sounding too harsh. The main acoustical consultant, Abe Meltzer, explained in 1986 that the Pavilion was designed for many types of performances, not just orchestral concerts.
Annual Holiday Celebration
Since 1964, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion has hosted a free annual Holiday Celebration on Christmas Eve. This event is funded by Los Angeles County. It used to be a six-hour show featuring music and dance groups from all over Los Angeles County.
However, due to budget changes, the celebration is now three hours long. Performers usually do two or three musical numbers each. Because so many people want to attend, audience members often arrive hours early. They receive colored wristbands to get in. The performances now run from 3 PM to 6 PM Pacific Time, without breaks. As mentioned, the performances are also broadcast on PBS SoCal. A one-hour version has been shown on PBS since 2002.
See also
In Spanish: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion para niños
- List of opera houses
- Bridges Auditorium
- Shrine Auditorium
