History of Hollywood Bowl in Timeline

The Hollywood Bowl is a renowned amphitheater and public park nestled in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. Recognized as one of the top live music venues in the U.S. by Rolling Stone in 2018, it holds a significant place in American entertainment and culture. In 2023, the Hollywood Bowl was added to the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its legacy as an important historical landmark. It is a popular destination that hosts a variety of musical performances and events, attracting audiences from around the world.

1919: Site selection for outdoor performances

In 1919, William Reed and his son H. Ellis Reed selected the site of the Hollywood Bowl, then known as Daisy Dell in Bolton Canyon, for outdoor performances by the Theatre Arts Alliance.

November 11, 1921: Women's World Peace Concert and Sunrise Service

On November 11, 1921, the Women's World Peace Concert took place at the Bowl. Additionally, on the same day, the first Sunrise Service was held at the bowl, marking one of its first major events.

1921: Children perform Sibelius' Finlandia

Beginning in 1921, children were invited to perform at community events with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Community Chorus, starting with Sibelius’ Finlandia.

July 11, 1922: Official opening of the Hollywood Bowl

On July 11, 1922, the Hollywood Bowl officially opened with the building of the first stage, which consisted of wooden platforms and canvas.

1922: Construction of stage

In 1922, proceeds from early events at the Hollywood Bowl were used to finance the construction of new elements, such as the stage.

1923: Construction of seating

In 1923, proceeds from early events at the Hollywood Bowl were used to finance the construction of new elements, such as the seating.

1924: Addition of stage backdrop

In 1924, a backdrop was added to the stage at the Hollywood Bowl.

1924: Land deeded to the County of Los Angeles

In 1924, the land of the Hollywood Bowl was deeded to the County of Los Angeles.

1925: Fritz Reiner joins orchestra

In 1925, Fritz Reiner migrated to the orchestra from the Cincinnati Symphony.

1925: Bowl Orchestra performed

In 1925, a Bowl Orchestra performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

1926: Maud Allen performance

In 1926, ballet dancer Maud Allen performed during the production of the Pathétique Symphony by Tschaikowsky under the direction of Alfred Hertz.

1926: Original shell design by Allied Architects Association

In 1926, the Allied Architects Association designed the original shell for the Hollywood Bowl, which was deemed visually and acoustically unacceptable.

1926: New Hollywood Bowl shell incorporated elements

The new Hollywood Bowl shell in 2004 incorporated the prominent front arch of the 1926 shell.

1927: Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn performance

In 1927, Ballet Dancers Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn performed solo dances under direction of Hertz. Also, Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn raised their arms to point at the California Stars during the Russian Ballet sur le point at the Hollywood Bowl.

1927: Elsa Alsen performance

In 1927, Elsa Alsen performed Santuzza in Cavalleria.

1927: Second shell design by Lloyd Wright

In 1927, Lloyd Wright designed the second shell, featuring a pyramidal shape reminiscent of southwest Indigenous architecture. It was known for having the best acoustics in Bowl history but was demolished due to its unpopular appearance.

1927: Ring-shaped structure hung within shell

In 2004, the ring-shaped structure hung within the shell, supporting lights and acoustic clouds, echoes a somewhat similar structure hung within the 1927 shell.

1928: Andreas Pavley and Serge Oukrainsky performance

In 1928, Andreas Pavley, a tenor, and Serge Oukrainsky, a ballet dancer, performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

1928: Third shell design by Lloyd Wright

In 1928, Lloyd Wright designed a wooden shell with the now-familiar concentric ring motif. Although designed to be easily dismantled, it was neglected and ruined by water damage.

1928: Live recording of Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

In 1928, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra made a live recording.

1928: New Hollywood Bowl shell incorporated elements

The new Hollywood Bowl shell in 2004 incorporated the broad profile of the 1928 shell.

1929: Norma Gould performance

In 1929, Norma Gould brought her Los Angeles dancers to the bowl to perform during Schubert's Unfinished Symphony and Tschaikowsky's Nut-Cracker Suite.

1929: Concertized opera performances

In 1929, a concertized form of the opera Carmen was performed by Alice Genytle, Paul Althouse and Alexander Kisselburgh. The same cast later performed moments from the opera Tannhäuser.

1929: Allied Architects build new shell

In 1929, the Allied Architects built a new shell that would stand until 2003, using a transite skin over a metal frame. Though not as acoustically strong as the Lloyd Wright shells, it was deemed satisfactory at first.

1929: Original bandshell construction

In 1929, the distinctive bandshell, a set of concentric arches, was constructed at the Hollywood Bowl. This structure remained until 2003.

1929: Acoustic liability shell built

In 1929, the shell was built, and by the late 1970s, the Hollywood Bowl became an acoustic liability because of continued hardening of its transite skin.

1929: Original shell before demolition

The Los Angeles Philharmonic concert "Bugs Bunny on Broadway" was the final performance in the 1929 shell, before its demolition in September of 2003.

1929: New Hollywood Bowl shell incorporated elements

The new Hollywood Bowl shell in 2004 incorporated the unadorned white finish (and most of the general lines) of the 1929 shell.

August 1930: Michio Ito performance

In August 1930, Michio Ito brought five dancers to the Hollywood Bowl to perform in the Russian Ballet Prince Igor.

1931: Adolph Bolm Performance

In 1931, Adolph Bolm performed at the Bowl for Debussy's Les Nuages. He also performed The Spirt factory. This was later called the Mechanical Ballet, composed by Alaxander Mosolov. Dancers Elise Reiman and Robert Bell also performed in the Mechanical Ballet.

1931: Los Angeles Grand Opera performances

In 1931, the Los Angeles Grand Opera performed segments of Marouf.

1932: Samson and Delilah opera performed

In 1932, Samson and Delilah was performed by Paul Althouse, local singers, the Belcher Ballet and the Civic Chorus in concert style.

1932: Belcher's ballet performance

In 1932, the Belcher's ballet was performed in Greek Costumes as a dedication to the Olympic-Games Athletes.

1934: Nina Koshetz and Nelson Eddy performance

In 1934, Nina Koshetz performed Carmen and Nelson Eddy sang Escamillo in the opera Carmen. Koshetz also sang the lead in Tschaikowsky's Eugene Onegin.

1935: Lohengrin performance

In 1935, Lohengrin was performed, with Jeanette Vreeland performing Elsa and Dan Gridley performing Lonhengrin.

1940: Muse Fountain installed

In 1940, the Muse Fountain, designed by George Stanley, the designer of the Oscar statuette, was placed outside the Hollywood Bowl's main entrance.

1945: Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra formed

From 1945 to 1946, the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra was formed and made several classical recordings under music director Leopold Stokowski.

1945: Leopold Stokowski forms Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra

In 1945, Leopold Stokowski formed the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, drawing its players from among members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and various film studios orchestras. He made a number of 78 rpm recordings with them for RCA Victor during his two seasons there.

1946: Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra recordings

From 1945 to 1946, the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra made several classical recordings under music director Leopold Stokowski.

1951: Financial crisis closes Hollywood Bowl

In 1951, a financial crisis forced the Hollywood Bowl to close during its summer season. Dorothy Chandler organized fundraising concerts to reopen it.

1953: Reflecting pool installed

In 1953, a reflecting pool was added in front of the stage at the Hollywood Bowl. It remained until 1972.

1953: Partnership with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

In 1953, the Hollywood Bowl partnered with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (formerly Southern California Rapid Transit District) to provide green alternatives to driving, such as shuttle buses.

1972: Reflecting pool removed

In 1972, the reflecting pool in front of the stage at the Hollywood Bowl was removed, after having been in place since 1953.

1984: Tea Room opening

In 1984, the Tea Room opened at the bottom of Peppertree Lane.

1991: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra re-launched

In 1991, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association re-launched the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra under principal conductor John Mauceri.

1996: Edmund D. Edelman Hollywood Bowl Museum rebuilt

In 1996, the Tea Room was rebuilt as the Edmund D. Edelman Hollywood Bowl Museum.

September 2003: "Bugs Bunny On Broadway" concert

In September 2003, "Bugs Bunny On Broadway" was the final Los Angeles Philharmonic concert to be performed in the 1929 shell before its demolition started the following day, making way for the new shell.

2003: Original bandshell replacement

In 2003, the original bandshell consisting of concentric arches was replaced with a larger one in preparation for the 2004 season.

2003: 1929 shell replaced

Shortly after the end of the 2003 summer season, the 1929 shell was replaced with a new, somewhat larger, acoustically improved shell.

2003: Original Allied Architects shell standing until now

The shell from 1929 lasted at the Hollywood Bowl until 2003, when it was replaced with a new shell with a somewhat larger and acoustically improved design.

2004: New bandshell debut

In 2004, the Hollywood Bowl's new, larger bandshell debuted for the season. The original bandshell was replaced to allow for an improved acoustic experience.

2004: Incorporate shell design elements

In 2004, the new Hollywood Bowl shell incorporated the prominent front arch of the 1926 shell, the broad profile of the 1928 shell, and the unadorned white finish (and most of the general lines) of the 1929 shell. Also during the 2004 season, a white curtain was hung at the back because the back wall was not yet finished.

2005: Finished back wall revealed

Beginning with the 2005 season, the curtain was removed to reveal a finished back wall on the new shell.

2006: John Mauceri finishes tenure

In 2006, John Mauceri finished his tenure as principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

2013: Inspiration for Vinewood Bowl in Grand Theft Auto V

In 2013, the Hollywood Bowl heavily inspired the creation of the Vinewood Bowl, which appears in the video game Grand Theft Auto V.

2018: Top 10 live music venues

In 2018, Rolling Stone magazine named the Hollywood Bowl as one of the 10 best live music venues in the United States.

2023: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

In 2023, the Hollywood Bowl was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2024: Changes to parking and shuttle services

In 2024, the Hollywood Bowl reduced on-site parking, introduced a rideshare parking lot, increased parking fees, and offered more shuttles.

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