CARISSA MARSH
A&E Assistant
As a major center for the music industry, few cities boast the number and quality of classic concert venues as Los Angeles. Many of these longstanding institutions have roots reaching far back into musical history. Presented here are just a few of the legendary concert theaters renowned for their contribution to the music scene.
The Greek Theatre
2700 North Vermont
Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Greek Theatre was built in 1929, but its long history dates as far back as 1882 when Griffith J. Griffith, who came to America penniless and made his fortune in gold mining speculation, settled in Los Angeles.
Griffith bought the 4,000-acre Los Feliz Rancho and grew fond of his adopted city. During Christmas week of 1896, Griffith decided to make a gift to his beloved town and presented the city with 3,000 acres of his estate to be used as a park, now known as Griffith Park.
It was not until after Griffith’s death in 1919 that construction began on the park. His will gave instructions to set up a trust fund of $1 million for an observatory as well as a Greek theater where Los Angeles residents could be entertained.
The natural acoustics of the park’s canyon made it an excellent setting for theater. The cornerstone was laid in late 1928 and the building was officially dedicated in two years later.
Despite a grand opening, the theater was not consistently used until it was more than 18 years old. In the 1950s, Los Angeles showman James Doolittle recognized the potential of the then-crumbling theater and began to pump life and funds back into the Greek.
Still, it was not until 1975, when the James M. Nederlander Companies took over management of the Greek, that the theater truly began to flourish. The Nederlanders repaired, renovated and rejuvenated the theater.
Today, the Greek Theatre welcomes a variety performers. Among their most recent performers are Black Eyed Peas, Sarah McLachlan, Los Lonely Boys, Jack Johnson, Avril Lavigne and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“All of our shows have been sell outs,” said Alicia Martinez, office manager at the theater.
The Wiltern LG
3790 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
The Wiltern LG’s history is an eventful one, filled with many ups and downs. From construction to near demolition and then finally preservation, the theater has withstood the test of time.
Businessman Germain Pellissier purchased the land upon which the Wiltern Theater would be developed. Henry de Roulet, the grandson of Pellissier, followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and became a real estate developer. De Roulet decided to build the office building and theater at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in Los Angeles.
The art deco landmark began construction in 1929 and on October 7, 1931, crowds packed the streets to watch celebrities arrive for the grand opening of the theater.
But the theater was closed within a year.
“It was right during the depression so my presumption is that Warner Bros spent a lot of money, but ultimately it proved to be more expensive than they could afford right at the height of the depression,” said Reid Bartlett, production manager at the Wiltern LG.
In the following years the theater was re-opened (as The Wiltern Theater, named for the cross streets in front of the theater), sold and closed again.
During the 1970s, preservationists realized the theater was in danger and so ensued years of fighting to save the Wiltern. Finally, in 1981, Ratkovich Company purchased the theater and restored the Wiltern to its original richness and splendor.
The Wiltern received a final face-lift in 2002 when many of its seats were removed to allow a standing-room only section.
Many believe the Wiltern is a special venue because it can host both seated events and standing events.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” Bartlett said.
House of Blues – Sunset Strip and Anaheim
8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
In 1992, the House of Blues Company converted a historic colonial house in Cambridge, Mass. into the original House of Blues. Its doors opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1992 to feed the homeless before opening its musical halls to the public.
Over the years, the original House of Blues has grown to include 10 club venues across the nation.
The House of Blues is the home for live music and southern-inspired cuisine in an environment that celebrates the African-American cultural contributions of blues music and folk art. The walls of each club venue feature American folk art that the House of Blues Company call “the visual blues.” The venue boasts over 1,000 original pieces of folk art making it one of the largest publicly displayed folk art collections in America.
Performers in almost every genre of music have appeared on House of Blues stages.
“It’s a really relaxed vibe, not really dressed up, but more t-shirt and jeans,” said senior English major Nicole Christy.
Chris Graue, a sophomore telecommunications major, went to the House of Blues to see the band Something Corporate perform.
“The art on the wall is pretty funny and the curtains are a nice touch. It may not be best suited for a sold out show aimed for teenagers. It’s an adult venue,” Graue said.
Besides a broad musical spectrum, the House of Blues also offers distinctive Southern cuisine. Chefs prepare artistic adaptations of traditional southern favorites all served with southern hospitality.
The House of Blues also combines good food with good music in their award-winning Sunday Gospel Brunch, which features a buffet and live gospel performances to satisfy both the body and soul.
The Whisky A Go-Go
8901 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
In 1964, a mainstay in the Los Angeles rock scene was born: the Whisky A Go-Go.
Located along the Sunset Strip, the Whisky has been home to some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most legendary bands. The Doors, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin made their mark at the Whisky and today’s up-and-coming new artists are doing the same.
Johnny Rivers opened the nightclub in 1964 and, since then, the Whisky has remained an important part of musical history in the United States. As suggested by the club’s full name, mini-skirted dancers in cages known as go-go girls got their start at the Whisky in the early 1960s.
While the Sunset hot spot is world-renowned for its musical contribution during the swinging ‘60s, it also played a key role during the 1970s punk explosion as well as in the 1980s metal scene. Though times have changed, the Whisky still provides music lovers with a flavor from the era in which it got its start.
“I thought the venue was really awesome,” said sophomore Andrea Esguerra. “It catered to a whole bunch of different crowds and no one judged anyone else.”
The Doors is one band that played regularly at the Whisky, developing a fan base that helped pushed them to the top of the charts.
While club competition weakened the roster during the 1980s, the Whisky is back in full swing and features major names once again.
“I liked the informal atmosphere,” Esguerra said. “I wasn’t dressed for a mosh pit — I was wearing heels. Next time I would wear pants.”
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave
Hollywood, CA 90068
A Los Angeles cultural landmark, the Hollywood Bowl commenced its first season of music under the stars in July 1922. Seated on simple wooden benches that lined the natural hillsides of Bolton Canyon, the audience listened to music as directed by conductor Alfred Hertz.
Celebrated as one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922. Throughout the years, the Bowl’s summer music festivals have continued, becoming as much a staple of Southern California culture as beaches and barbeques.
The Hollywood Bowl’s history includes performances by legendary artists such as Sinatra, Streisand and Stravinsky. The Beatles brought the screams of female fans to the amphitheater, and the cool elegance of Fred Astaire has danced across its stage. Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Elton John, Judy Garland and Garth Brooks have headlined star-studded shows at the Bowl.
“Classical, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll and world music have and always will be big at the Bowl,” said Carroll Merrill, curator of the Hollywood Bowl museum.
During its long history, the Bowl has featured world-renowned musicians and conductors. The site offers more than classical events as popular music, jazz programs, recitals, performances by visiting ensembles, fireworks spectaculars and big-screen movies-plus-music have been added over the years to the Bowl’s line up.
Pre-concert picnics are also common among music lovers at the Bowl, especially after 1952 when the Bowl went from banning picnics to encouraging them.
The events have remained popular and accessible to a wide cross-section of Southern California’s diverse population because seats are as inexpensive as $1.
09-08-2005
