Hollywood Bowl facts for kids

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Hollywood Bowl
Construction

The Hollywood Bowl in 2024 with the Hollywood Sign in background
Hollywood Bowl Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Hollywood Bowl Location in California Show map of California Hollywood Bowl Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	2301 North Highland Avenue Los Angeles, California
Coordinates	34°06′46″N 118°20′20″W / 34.11278°N 118.33889°W / 34.11278; -118.33889
Public transit	Los Angeles Metro Rail B Line at Hollywood/Highland Los Angeles Metro Bus Line 224 (both directions) Line 222 (southbound only)
Owner	County of Los Angeles
Operator	Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
Type	Outdoor Amphitheater
Seating type	reserved seating
Capacity	17,500
Opened	July 11, 1922
Renovated	2003–2004

The Hollywood Bowl is a famous outdoor concert venue in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the top 10 live music spots in the United States by Rolling Stone magazine in 2018. In 2023, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Hollywood Bowl is known for its special bandshell. This shell, with its curved arches, was first built in 1929. It was replaced with a larger one in 2004. The shell sits in front of the beautiful Hollywood Hills and the famous Hollywood Sign.

The word "bowl" describes the natural shape of the hillside where the venue is built. The County of Los Angeles owns the Bowl. It is the home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. It is also the summer home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Hundreds of musical events happen here every year.

The Hollywood Bowl is located on North Highland Avenue. It is north of Hollywood Boulevard. It is also about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Hollywood/Highland Metro Rail station. It is also right next to U.S. Route 101.

History of the Hollywood Bowl

Choosing the Location and Opening Day

The idea for the Hollywood Bowl started in 1919. William Reed and his son H. Ellis Reed looked for a good place for outdoor shows. They were sent by the Theatre Arts Alliance, led by Christine Wetherill Stevenson. The Reeds found a natural amphitheater. It was a shady canyon and a popular picnic spot called Daisy Dell in Bolton Canyon. They chose it because of its natural sound and its closeness to downtown Hollywood. The Community Park and Art Association began building the Bowl.

One of the first shows at the Bowl was Hollywood High School's Twelfth Night. The Women's World Peace Concert was held on November 11, 1921. The first Sunrise Service also took place there on November 11, 1921. The Bowl officially opened on July 11, 1922. At first, the stage was just wooden platforms and canvas.

A Place for the Community

The Bowl started as a place for the community, not a private business. Money from early events helped build new parts of the Bowl. This included a stage in 1922 and seating in 1923. In 1924, a backdrop was added to the stage.

In the early years, concert tickets cost only 25 cents. The slogan was "popular prices will prevail" to keep tickets affordable. The Bowl hosted concerts by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. It was also used for Easter services and the Hollywood Community Chorus. Young Artists Nights let younger musicians perform classical music. Children also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The Bowl hosted many Native American tribal events. It also featured music groups from around the world. In 1924, the land was given to the County of Los Angeles.

Important Women at the Bowl

Many women were very important in starting the Hollywood Bowl. Pianist Artie Mason Carter helped a lot. She connected with Los Angeles art supporters. Christine Wetherill Stevenson and Marie Rankin Clarke each gave $21,000 to buy the land. Other women like E.J. Wakeman, Leiland Atherton Irish, and Harriet Clay Penman also helped. Composers Gertrude Ross and Carrie Jacobs Bond raised money for the Bowl.

The Famous Band Shells

The Hollywood Bowl's 1970s appearance, with the large cardboard tubes

The Hollywood Bowl's 1980s–2003 appearance, with the acoustic fiberglass spheres

The Hollywood Bowl re-opening night, 2005

The Hollywood Bowl in 2004, during construction of the new shell

2012 aerial photograph showing the seating of the Hollywood Bowl

July 4 Fireworks Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl 2010

The Hollywood Bowl has had several different band shells. Lloyd Wright designed the second and third shells. The first shell from 1926 was not very good for sound or looks. Wright's 1927 shell had a pyramid shape. Many thought its sound was the best ever at the Bowl. But its look was too modern for some, so it was taken down. His 1928 wooden shell had the well-known circle design. It was meant to be easy to take apart. But it got damaged by water.

For the 1929 season, a new shell was built. It had a metal frame and a special outer layer. Its sound was okay at first. Its clean, white, half-circle arches were copied by other music venues. Over time, the sound got worse. In the 1970s, large cardboard tubes were added inside to help. In the 1980s, these were replaced by large fiberglass spheres. These helped with the sound problems. But a lot of electronic sound equipment was still needed.

The shell also changed its look. A wide outer arch was added. A reflecting pool was in front of the stage from 1953 to 1972. Sculptor George Stanley designed the Muse Fountain. It has been at the main entrance since 1940. George Stanley also designed the Oscar statuette.

After the 2003 summer season, the 1929 shell was replaced. A new, bigger, and better-sounding shell opened in 2004. Some people wanted to keep the old shell because of its history. But even when it was new, the 1929 shell wasn't the best for sound. The new shell combines ideas from the older shells. Engineers worked to make the sound even better during the 2004 season.

The current sound system uses special speakers hung in a curved way. This helps everyone in the audience hear the same sound level. The sound from the speakers is slightly delayed. This makes sure it reaches your ears at the same time as the live sound from the stage. This system is maintained by Rat Sound Systems.

The 2004 shell has the front arch of the 1926 shell. It has the wide shape of the 1928 shell. It also has the plain white look of the 1929 shell. Inside, a ring-shaped structure holds lights and helps with sound. This is similar to a structure in the 1927 shell. The new shell also has four new video screens and towers. Cameras show close-up views of the musicians during concerts.

Hollywood Bowl Orchestras

The Hollywood Bowl has had several house orchestras. A "Bowl Orchestra" played in 1925. A "Hollywood Bowl Orchestra" made a live recording in 1928. The "Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra" made classical recordings from 1945 to 1946. They also released many recordings in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra was started again in 1991. John Mauceri was its main conductor until 2006.

Early Conductors

The first conductor of the Bowl ensemble was Emil Oberhoffer. He served for one year. Then Alfred Hertz conducted for two years. In 1925, Fritz Reiner came from the Cincinnati Symphony. Sir Henry Wood later took over from Reiner. German-born Frederick Stark also conducted sometimes. He later became a music librarian at Walt Disney Studios.

Early Ballet and Opera Performances

Ballet dancer Maud Allen performed in 1926. Ernest Belcher arranged a ballet scene for "Bowl Dedication Night." Dancers from the Belcher Ballet School performed. In 1932, Belcher's ballet was performed for the Olympic Games athletes. Alexis and Theodore Kosloff performed the ballet Scheherazade. In 1932, Theodore Klosloff performed "The Flower." The ballet Chopiniana was also performed.

Ballet dancers Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn performed solo dances in 1927. In 1928, Andreas Pavley and Serge Oukrainsky performed. In 1929, Norma Gould brought her dancers to perform during Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. In 1930, Michio Ito brought dancers for the Russian Ballet Prince Igor. In 1931, Adolph Bolm performed. He also performed "The Spirt factory," a mechanical ballet. Dancers Elise Reiman and Robert Bell also performed in it.

In 1931, Los Angeles Grand Opera performed parts of Marouf. Early opera shows at the Hollywood Bowl included Carmen, Aida, and Shanewis. In 1929, a concert version of Carmen was performed. The same cast later performed parts of Tannhäuser. In 1932, Samson and Delilah was performed. In 1927, Elsa Alsen performed "Santuzza" in Cavalleria.

In 1934, Nina Koshetz performed Carmen. Nelson Eddy sang Escamillo in Carmen. Koshetz also sang the lead in Tschaikowsky's Eugene Onegin. In the 1930s, Verdi's Aida was performed. In 1935, Lohengrin was performed.

Notable Performances at the Bowl

The first season at the Hollywood Bowl began on July 11, 1922. Conductor Alfred Hertz and the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed.

In 1945, Leopold Stokowski started the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra. Its players came from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and film studios. They made many recordings.

In 1951, the Hollywood Bowl faced money problems and closed for a summer. Dorothy Chandler led a group that held fundraising concerts. This helped reopen the Bowl.

The film-and-orchestra concert Bugs Bunny on Broadway has played at the Hollywood Bowl 21 times. It is now called "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony." In 2003, it was the last Los Angeles Philharmonic concert in the old shell.

Performances in the 1920s

Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone sang in the opera Shanewis in 1926.
Rafaela Díaz performed in 1926 in Charles Wakefields Cadman's opera "Shanewis."

Performances in the 1930s

Claude Lapham's Japanese-inspired opera Sakura premiered in 1933. It had 2,000 performers and 10,000 people in the audience.
August 7, 1936: The Hollywood Bowl set a record with 26,410 people at a show by French opera star Lily Pons.

Performances in the 1940s

Bass baritone George London first performed opera in 1941.
American soprano Florence Quartararo first performed in 1945.

Performances in the 1950s

September 1950: California's state centennial show, The California Story, ran for five shows. It was a huge production with 200 singers and hundreds of actors.
August 15, 1956: A Jazz at the Philharmonic show had Louis Armstrong and His All Stars, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Tatum, and Oscar Peterson. It was the most attended event in the venue's history.
American Baritone Mack Harrell performed in 1956.

Performances in the 1960s

The Beatles performed in 1964 and 1965. Their live album The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl was released in 1977.
April 29, 1967: The Supremes performed. This was the first time Cindy Birdsong filled in for Florence Ballard.
July 5, 1968: L.A. rock band The Doors performed. Steppenwolf and The Chambers Brothers opened for them.
September 14, 1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience played at the Hollywood Bowl.

Performances in the 1970s

August 22, 1971: The Jackson 5 performed on their Second National Tour.
June 17, 1972: Ron "Pigpen" McKernan played his last show with the Grateful Dead.
July 29, 1973: The World of Sid & Marty Krofft was filmed here. It aired as a TV special.
September 7, 1973: Elton John played a concert that was filmed for a documentary.
1979: The first ... Jazz Festival was held. It has been at the Hollywood Bowl ever since.

Performances in the 1980s

1980: The Monty Python comedy group performed. A filmed show was released as Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Performances in the 1990s

July 2–4, 1991: The new Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performed for the first time. They played Independence Day concerts.

Performances in the 2000s

July 1, 2002: The Who performed their first concert after John Entwistle's death.
October 1 and 2, 2007: Dave Matthews Band performed #34 with lyrics for the first time since 1993.

Performances in the 2010s

November 8, 2013: Avicii performed. He was the first EDM artist to headline the venue.
September 25–26, 2015: Kanye West performed his album 808s & Heartbreak in full for the first time.
October 2 and 4, 2015: Van Halen performed their last concerts of their 2015 Tour. These were the last shows for guitarist Eddie Van Halen.
July 1, 2016: Garrison Keillor recorded his final episode of A Prairie Home Companion.
October 14 and 15, 2016: Kygo performed during his Cloud Nine Tour. The concerts were filmed for a documentary.
September 21, 22, 25, 2017: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers finished their 40th Anniversary World Tour. These were the final shows of Petty's career.
October 12, 2017: Depeche Mode played four sold-out nights. They were the first band to do this.
October 27, 2017: Linkin Park held a tribute concert for Chester Bennington.
May 12, 2018: Iranian singer Googoosh performed. She was the first Iranian artist to headline the Hollywood Bowl.

Performances in the 2020s

May 13, 2020: The entire season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time this happened.
2021: Billie Eilish held a concert without an audience. It was filmed for Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles on Disney+.
October 8, 2021: Burna Boy performed. He was the first African artist to headline a concert at the Bowl.
May 4, 2022: Dave Chappelle performed. He was attacked on stage but was not hurt.
July 16, 2023: Sparks performed their first show at the venue.

Musicals at the Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl has produced many popular musicals over the years. These include:

Chicago starring Samantha Barks and Ashlee Simpson
A Chorus Line starring Ross Lynch and Mario Lopez
Annie starring Lea Salonga and Ana Gasteyer
Les Misérables starring Lea Michele and Rosie O'Donnell
Hair starring Kristen Bell and Hunter Parrish
West Side Story starring Jeremy Jordan and Karen Olivo
Into The Woods starring Sutton Foster and Skylar Astin
My Fair Lady starring John Lithgow and Melissa Erico
Rent starring Vanessa Hudgens and Aaron Tveit
Mamma Mia starring Dove Cameron and Corbin Bleu

Hollywood Bowl Museum

The Hollywood Bowl Museum is at the bottom of Peppertree Lane. It used to be called the Tea Room and opened in 1984. In 1996, it was rebuilt as the Edmund D. Edelman Hollywood Bowl Museum. It has many historical exhibits. These include:

Summer Nights: Jazz at the Bowl
Hollywood Bowl: Music For Everyone
Postcards from the Bowl
Beatles at the Bowl
Concert Programs
Live from the Bowl

These exhibits show old photos, sound equipment, newspaper clippings, and videos. The museum also has items about the Bowl's history and performances. The Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame is also there. Its honorees include John Williams, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, Henry Mancini, Sarah Chang, Bernadette Peters, George Harrison, and Frank Sinatra.

The Hollywood Bowl Museum offers free entry. You can take free self-guided tours or free guided tours. It also has educational programs. The Music Mobile program teaches musical instrument lessons to students. If the museum is closed, visitors can walk through "The Bowl Walk." This walk shows historical photos of the Hollywood Bowl.

Hollywood Bowl's Green Efforts

The Hollywood Bowl is the first outdoor venue in California to be certified as an Audubon Society Cooperative Sanctuary. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and Los Angeles County work together. They encourage recycling at the Hollywood Bowl. There are many recycling bins around the venue.

The Hollywood Bowl has also worked with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority since 1953. They offer green ways to get to the Bowl. This includes shuttle buses. A guide called Know Before You Go gives details about public transport and free bike parking.

The Hollywood Bowl also saves water. It has waterless urinals and special toilets. It uses a satellite-based watering system. This system waters plants based on what animals need. The Bowl also has special grates and filters to keep its watering system clean.