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Larchmont Village Life

Been to the Bowl Lately? See Its History in Photos.

By Julie Grist

It’s the season – the Bowl season. With one of the city’s greatest treasures, the Hollywood Bowl, just a few miles north of the Hancock Park area, we thought we’d take a glimpse back into the development of the site and its rich visual history. For a more complete history check out the slide show on the Bowl’s History and Architecture page. There are wonderful photos of Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Celeste Holm and others.

Highland Avenue Looking North, circa 1895. Courtesy of Hollywood Bowl Museum Collection.
Highland Avenue Looking North, circa 1895. Courtesy of Hollywood Bowl Museum Collection.
Gertrude Ross and Anna Ruzena Sprotte, 1920. Courtesy of the Hollywood Bowl Museum.
“Discovery of the wonderful acoustics in the natural amphitheater, now the Hollywood Bowl. Gertrude Ross and Anna Ruzena Sprotte, 1920.” Courtesy of the Hollywood Bowl Museum Collection.
July 11, 1922, the Hollywood Bowl opens with a performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. When it first opened, its stage was a wooden platform with a canvas top, and audiences sat on moveable benches set on the hillsides of the surrounding canyon. In 1926, a group of Los Angeles architects built the Hollywood Bowl’s first shell. The site was a natural amphitheatre formerly known as the Daisy Dell.
July 11, 1922, the Hollywood Bowl opens with a performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
When it first opened, its stage was a wooden platform with a canvas top, and audiences sat on moveable benches set on the hillsides of the surrounding canyon. In 1926, a group of Los Angeles architects built the Hollywood Bowl’s first shell.
The site was a natural amphitheatre formerly known as the Daisy Dell. Courtesy of Hollywood Bowl Museum Collection.
Angel Trumpeters, 1929 after the new shell was installed. Courtesy of the Huntington Library.
Angel Trumpeters, 1929 with the new shell was installed. Courtesy of the Huntington Library.
Hollywood Bowl, 1944. Courtesy of the Music Center Archives/Otto Rothschild Collection
Hollywood Bowl, 1944. Courtesy of the Music Center Archives/Otto Rothschild Collection
The Bowl in 1966 with front water pool - which was removed in the early 1970s.
The Bowl in 1966 with front water pool – which was removed in the early 1970s. Photo from a vintage postcard, courtesy of Vintage Los Angeles with the caption “This may explain why they now call the front section, the “Pool Seats”. The fountain was removed in the early 70s. Perhaps too many people were jumping in it!”
The Hollywood Bowl in 2003 after the shell we reconstructed and upgraded for better acoustics and facilities. Courtesy of Hollywoodbowl.com.
The Hollywood Bowl in 2003 after the shell we reconstructed and upgraded for better acoustics and facilities. Courtesy of Hollywoodbowl.com.

The very first commercial recording ever made of a symphony orchestra outdoors was the 1928 RCA Victor album with Eugene Goossens conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (made up of members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic).

This weekend ‘Chicago: The Musical’ plays Friday – Sunday and tickets are available. See you at the Bowl!

 

 

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Julie Grist
Julie Grist
Julie co-founded the Larchmont Buzz with fellow buzzer Mary Hawley in 2011 and served as Editor, Publisher and writer for the hive for many years until the sale of the Buzz in August 2015. She is still circling the hive as an occasional writer.
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2 COMMENTS

  1. Regarding the home invasion on Highland at Rosewood which involved the police, I heard from a neighbor that it is a half-way house for felons. Is this true do you know? If so, was there a hearing about this?

    According to my neighbors, this house was established about 2 years ago. Under the circumstances it paints a scary picture and may explain several of the burglaries or attempted burglaries (as in my case) that have been going on for the past several months.

    I would appreciate reading more about this story.

    Linda B.

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