Dolby Theatre
| File:Dolby Theatre Street view.jpg Front facade of the Dolby Theater in Hollywood | |
 | |
| Former names | Kodak Theatre (2001-2012) Hollywood and Highland Center (2012) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°06′09.75″N 118°20′24.5″W / 34.1027083°N 118.340139°W |
| Owner | CIM Group |
| Type | Indoor theatre |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 3,332 [1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1997 |
| Built | 2001 |
| Opened | November 9, 2001 |
| Construction cost | $94 million[1] |
| Website | |
| dolbytheatre.com | |
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The Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre, and temporarily renamed the Hollywood and Highland Center theatre)[2] is a live entertainment theatre in the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, United States. Since its opening on November 9, 2001, the theatre has been the home of the annual Academy Awards ceremonies (the Oscars), which were first held there in March 2002, and is the first permanent home for the awards.
Architecture
The theatre was designed by David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, and Theatre Projects Consultants specifically with the Oscars in mind.[3] The stage is one of the largest in the United States, roughly tied with the Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music at Purdue University, measuring 113 ft (34 m) wide and 60 ft (18 m) deep. However, it has a seating capacity for up to 3,332 people, about half the size.[1]
The theatre is particularly successful as a venue for a televised theatre performance (improving production values and economies in American Idol and the Academy Awards) through the planning and technical design. The architect and advisers undertook extensive consultation with many of the leading production personnel in Hollywood which led to highly functional production cable infrastructure systems including an underground cable bunker which passes below the theatre to truck locations in adjacent streets, accessible and substantial power, and a unique camera, sound and stage management cockpit designed by Rockwell in the orchestra seating area.
The hallway leading up to the grand staircase entrance to the theatre from the front facade is flanked by storefronts as well as Art Deco columns displaying the names of past recipients of the Academy Award for Best Picture, with blank spaces left for future Best Picture winners well into the 21st century. In a fashion reminiscent of Hollywood's movie-making process, the building is "dressed" before the ceremony, including a different sign (though not always), red drapery to hide all the storefronts, and the famous red carpet running up to the staircase.
History
The theatre is rented to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for weeks before the Oscar night. During the rest of the year, it hosts numerous live concerts, award shows, symphony performances and others. However, the 7,000 seat Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live has largely replaced the Dolby Theatre as the premier auditorium in L.A. since it opened in 2007, and some events formerly held at the Dolby are now regularly held at the Nokia, including the American Idol finals.
The theatre was sponsored, until February 2012, by the Eastman Kodak Company, which paid $75 million for the naming rights to the building.[4] In early 2012, Eastman Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection, and thus ended its naming rights deal. The theatre's name was then changed to The Hollywood and Highland Center at the suggestion of the venue's landlord.[5] On May 1, 2012, it was announced that the theatre will be renamed the Dolby Theatre after Dolby Laboratories signed a 20-year naming rights deal.[6]
Dolby updated the sound system first by installing Dolby Atmos, then plans to continue to update the Dolby Theatre with newer technologies as they arrive.[7]
Past events
The Dolby Theatre is most commonly used for public cultural events such as concerts, shows, and performances. It is however used on occasion for private purposes such as weddings.[8]
Artists who have appeared at the theatre include Christina Aguilera, Elissa, Céline Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Dixie Chicks, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé Knowles, Alicia Keys, Elvis Costello, Vanilla Ice, Charice, Philipp Kirkorov, The Corrs, Barry Manilow, Prince, The New Power Generation, Ian Anderson, David Gilmour, Valy Hedjasi, Shohreh Solati, Leila Forouhar, Andy Madadian, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Broadway musicals, dance shows, symphony performances and opera.
Other events have included the AFI Life Achievement Award to Tom Hanks, the ESPY Awards for excellence in sports performance yearly, the BET Awards and American Idol finales. In April 2006, it was home to the 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards, and it hosted the 34th Daytime Emmy Awards on June 15, 2007.
On March 20, 2004, 19-year-old Adán Sánchez became the youngest headliner to perform a sell-out concert at the theatre. He died in a car accident only seven days later.
In 2005, Nintendo launched its latest game console, the Wii, at the theatre before E3 began. Nintendo used the venue again in 2006 for its pre-E3 news conference. The 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was also held at the theatre for the first time, having been held in New York in previous years.
The theatre has also hosted the Miss USA pageant twice, in 2004 and 2007.
Nintendo once again borrowed the venue for their 2008 E3 Press Conference after holding their previous year's conference in Santa Monica.
In December 2008, a production of "A Christmas Carol", adapted, produced and directed by Kevin Von Feldt and starring Christopher Lloyd, John Goodman and Jane Leeves played sixteen performances over a two-week period.
In August 2009, the theatre hosted the So You Think You Can Dance finale for the first time.
On September 15, 2009, a concert by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, was filmed in the Theatre. The concert was a PBS Great Performances Christmas special of Bocelli's first ever Holiday album, My Christmas.
On January 9, 2010, Japanese metal band X Japan made their first U.S. public appearance on top of the Theatre recording four music videos for their songs "Rusty Nail", "Jade", "Endless Rain", and "I.V.".
From September 2011 until early 2013, the venue was the home of the permanent Los Angeles resident Cirque Du Soleil show Iris, a 90 minute acrobatic journey through the world of cinema featuring an original score by Danny Elfman. The show made significant changes to the theatre, including adding lifts that go deep under the original floor of the space. It only leaves the theatre for the annual Academy Awards. It was announced on November 29, 2012 that the Cirque Du Soleil show Iris would close on January 19, 2013 after two seasons failed to develop a profit. The theatre hosted the Academy Awards again on February 24, 2013, and is now expected to reopen for touring acts and headliners.
References
- ^ a b c "Profile". Kodak Theatre. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Finke, Nikki (Tuesday, 1 May 2012). "Kodak Theatre - Oscars Keeps Home At Hollywood & Highland In Newly Named Dolby Theatre". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ John Calhoun (1 April 2002). "A Kodak Moment". Live Design Online. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ "Kodak Theatre". Kodak Theatre. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ Higgins, Kat. "Goodbye Kodak: New Name For The Home Of The Oscars". Sky News. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^ "Oscars' home renamed Dolby Theatre". CBS News. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) [dead link] - ^ "Introducing the Dolby Theatre". Dolby.
- ^ "Kodak Theatre". Kodak Theatre. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
External links
