The century-old Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles was designated to the National Register of Historic Places effective Dec. 22, according to an email Tuesday from the National Park Service.
The Hollywood Bowl, situated in the Hollywood Hills about 1 1/2 miles north of Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66), long has been considered one of the most iconic music venues in the country. The famous “Hollywood” sign stands to the northeast.
The National Register nomination form noted the Hollywood Bowl had lost or altered many of its historically significant structures, but added:
Despite the unusual ratio of contributing to noncontributing resources, the historic district is able to convey its significance for its cultural and social impacts on the history of Los Angeles through the iconic natural amphitheater and balloon-shaped seating area and retains all aspects of historic integrity.
According to an extensive Wikipedia article:
The site of the Hollywood Bowl was chosen in 1919 by William Reed and his son H. Ellis Reed, who were dispatched to find a suitable location for outdoor performances by the members of the newly formed Theatre Arts Alliance, headed by Christine Wetherill Stevenson.
The Reeds selected a natural amphitheater, a shaded canyon and popular picnic spot known as ‘Daisy Dell’ in Bolton Canyon, which was chosen for its natural acoustics and its proximity to downtown Hollywood. The Community Park and Art Association, then headed by F. W. Blanchard, was the first organization to begin building the Bowl.
The Hollywood Bowl officially opened in 1922. It’s undergone several renovations since, including the last one in 2004 that resolved some longstanding acoustic issues with the shell.
The Hollywood Show has seen some legendary shows, including two by The Beatles and one by the Doors — both of which were released as albums after those bands broke up.
Van Halen and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers also performed their final shows there.
(Image of the Hollywood Bowl by Michael Li via Flickr)