Hollywood Pantages Theatre facts for kids
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The Pantages
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The theater in 2012
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 Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
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| Former names | RKO Pantages Theatre |
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| Location | 6233 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028 |
| Coordinates | 34°06′07″N 118°19′34″W / 34.102°N 118.326°W |
| Public transit |   Hollywood/Vine |
| Operator | Nederlander Organization |
| Type | Indoor theatre |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 2,691 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1929 |
| Opened | June 4, 1930 |
| Renovated | 2000 |
| Designated: | July 5, 1978 |
| Reference #: | 193 |
| Architect: | B. Marcus Priteca |
| Architectural style: | Art Deco |
| Designated: | April 4, 1985 |
| Part of: | Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment National Historic District |
| Reference #: | 85000704 |
The Hollywood Pantages Theatre, often called The Pantages, is a famous theater in Hollywood, California. It's located on Hollywood Boulevard, a very well-known street. This building was once a movie theater, but now it's a popular place for live shows.
A talented architect named B. Marcus Priteca designed it. The Pantages was the very last theater built by a showman named Alexander Pantages. It was also the last grand movie palace ever built in Hollywood.
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History of the Pantages Theatre
The Hollywood Pantages Theatre opened its doors on June 4, 1930. It was the last theater built by Alexander Pantages for his chain of theaters. It was also the last big movie palace built in Hollywood. The theater was designed to hold 3,212 people. However, it opened with wider seats and more legroom. This reduced the seating to 2,812.
When it first opened, the Pantages showed new movies. It also featured live stage shows called vaudeville acts. But because of the Great Depression, a tough economic time, the theater had to save money. So, starting in 1932, it mostly showed movies. Live shows were only performed sometimes.
Changes in Ownership and Famous Events
Alexander Pantages sold the theater in 1932 to Fox West Coast Theaters. Later, in 1949, a famous businessman named Howard Hughes bought it. He even moved his own offices to the second floor of the building.
From 1949 to 1959, the Pantages Theatre was the home of the Academy Awards. This is where the famous Oscar statues are given out! In 1965, Pacific Theatres bought the building. It continued to be a major place for special movie showings until the 1970s. Big movies like Spartacus and Cleopatra played there for many months. In 1974, the Emmy Awards were also held at The Pantages.
From Movies to Live Shows
The Pantages stopped showing movies in January 1977. But it reopened very quickly the next month with a live musical called Bubbling Brown Sugar. After that, it became a regular home for stage productions. Many famous shows have played there. These include Beatlemania, Man of La Mancha, and La Cage Aux Folles. Stars like Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney performed in Sugar Babies. Yul Brynner also starred in King and I.
Protecting a Historic Building
In 1978, the Pantages Theatre was named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. This means it's an important building that should be protected. In 1984, the area around it, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District, was added to a national list of historic places. The Pantages Theatre is a key part of that historic area. In March 1999, the theater hosted the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
Modern Times and Big Shows
In 2000, the theater had a huge makeover that cost $10 million. It was restored and updated to look amazing. Today, the Pantages is run by a company called the Nederlander Organization. It's one of the most successful places in Los Angeles for live stage shows. Many big Broadway-style productions come to the Pantages.
Some of the most popular musicals have played there. These include Wicked, Hamilton, and The Book of Mormon. Disney's The Lion King was at the theater for over two years!
The theater still sometimes shows movies. For example, the movie Star Wars: Rogue One had its first showing there in 2016. It also hosts music concerts. Famous musicians like Alice Cooper, Prince, Shakira, Dream Theater, Foo Fighters, and Mark Knopfler have performed at the Pantages. In 2006, the Mexican pop group RBD recorded their live CD/DVD Live in Hollywood there.
Past productions
Architecture and Design
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The Pantages Theatre was designed by B. Marcus Priteca and opened in 1930. It was originally planned to be a twelve-story building. Two stories would be for the theater, and ten stories above would be for offices. However, the office part was never built. The two-story theater cost $1.25 million to build.
Art Deco Style
The theater is made of concrete and designed in the Art Deco style. This style was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It uses bold geometric shapes and rich colors. The outside of the building looks like stone. The first-floor windows have cool zigzag metal frames. The second floor has Egyptian lotus flower designs. Sculpted goddesses decorate the roofline.
The front entrance area, called the forecourt, has a beautiful ceiling. It's decorated with gold, silver, and bronze starbursts. These patterns create many geometric shapes.
Inside the Theater
Inside, the lobby is very grand. It's 110 feet wide and 60 feet deep. The ceiling is shaped like a fan and has many colors. It's decorated with a zigzag design in gold and reddish-brown shades. Three huge, frosted glass chandeliers light up the area. They hang from three star-shaped domes.
At each end of the lobby, there's a wide carpeted stairway. These stairs are lined with statues that look like they're from ancient Egypt and Babylonia. One statue even shows an Art Deco style camera crew filming! Above the elevator doors in the lobby, you can see bronze sunburst designs.
The stage area is also impressive. The opening to the stage, called the proscenium, is 54 feet wide. Above it are three painted pictures. One shows the Greek god Apollo with his horses. Another shows California's oil wealth. The third shows Native Californians. On each side of the proscenium, there were once small side-stages. These were next to large organ chambers.
The area where the orchestra plays, called the orchestra pit, can move up and down. The stage itself is huge, measuring 180 feet wide and 70 feet deep. It's the second largest stage west of Chicago, after the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.
The most beautiful part of the theater's Art Deco design is its double ceiling. Designed by Anthony B. Heinsbergen, it has sunray patterns that come from the center. A large frosted glass and bronze chandelier hangs from the middle.
A Familiar Look
If you've ever been to Disney California Adventure, you might recognize parts of the Pantages. The front of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area at the park is based on the Pantages Theatre. It only uses the part of the theater to the left of its entrance and marquee. That's why it doesn't look exactly like a theater.
See also
In Spanish: Pantages Theatre para niños
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Hollywood
- List of contributing properties in the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District
