The ballroom opened on October 31, 1940[2] with a dance featuring Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra and band vocalist Frank Sinatra.[3] It had six bars serving liquor and two more serving soft drinks and a $1 cover charge and a $3 charge for dinner.[3]
During World War II, the Palladium hosted radio broadcasts featuring Betty Grable greeting servicemens' song requests. Big Band acts began losing popularity in the 1950s, causing the Palladium to hold charity balls, political events, auto shows, and rock concerts. In 1961, it became the home of the long-running Lawrence Welk Show.[2][4]
From 1955–1976, the venue was the scene of Latin Music Orchestras for ragers sponsored by radio personality Chico Sesma titled Latin Holidays,” featuring childhood friend Ray Vasquez Recording Artist, Lead Vocalist and Trombonist. The Tito Puente Orchestra performed regularly between 1957-1977 to sold-out houses of 5000.[5]
President John F. Kennedy attended a dinner given in his honor by the California Democratic Party at the Palladium on November 18, 1961.
In 1964, it was announced that none of the jazz bands scheduled were to be paid and a riot ensued after the show was cancelled.[3]
The Joe Loco Orchestra and show performed on the March 1965 Latin Holiday with singer/dancer Josephine "Josie" Powell.
Pop Expo '69, referred to as a "teenage fair," was a youth-oriented event held from 28 March to 6 April 1969 at the Palladium, and included performances by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and the MC5.
In 1973, Stevie Wonder performed with Taj Mahal in what was advertised as an "Afrocentric concert" to benefit African refugees.[3]
Beginning in the 1980s and 90s, punk rock, rap and heavy metal concerts started to be booked at the venue. Several violent disturbances resulted, eventually leading to the Palladium closing for eight weeks, starting in February 1993.[6]
Since 1985, the theater has been owned by Palladium Investors Ltd., a privately held group. Curfews were implemented in 1993 and a show by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch was called off because of a brawl that occurred a few nights earlier. It was also used for Hollywood celebrity parties.[3]
Renovation and reopening
In 2007, the owners agreed to a long-term lease to operate, manage and exclusively book the Hollywood Palladium with Live Nation, a Los Angeles-based company.[7]
The Palladium reopened with a Jay-Z concert on October 15, 2008 after a year-long, multimillion-dollar renovation by Live Nation.[8] The renovation included an overhaul of the venue's interior and exterior, a new dance floor, expanded concessions, upgraded restrooms and improvements to the stage infrastructure. Jay-Z performed for nearly an hour-and-half, backed by an eight-piece band and DJ AM, who played his first show after surviving a plane crash in South Carolina.[7] The Hollywood Palladium was also used as the memorial service site for DJ AM on September 3, 2009.[9]
For the 2008–2009 season, a yearlong table for four cost $30,000.[3]
Residential expansion
The Los Angeles City Council approved an expansion of the Palladium property parking lot in March 2016. The plan consists of two 28-story residential towers that surrounds the historic music venue. Each tower will stand 350 feet (110 m) tall and create 731 condominiums, 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m2) store front retail space and a below grade-parking garage. The Towers were designed by Stanley Saitowits of Natoma Architects for developer Crescent Heights. The L-shaped design resembles and echoes the Streamline Moderne - art deco design of the Palladium.
The local AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) filed a lawsuit in 2016 citing over development and improper approval process. One of many local lawsuits filed by AHF president Michael Weinstein.[10] In August 2018, the district court ruled all steps were taken during EIR/DEIR. The AHF filed an appeal.[11] The AHF lost the appeal in November 2019 and Crescent Heights plans to proceed.[12]
In popular culture
The Hollywood Palladium has been featured in many movies and TV shows over the years:
The Hollywood Palladium exterior, with its iconic Art Deco façade, served as the fictional sound stage for Aaron Sorkin's 2006-2007 ensemble television drama Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. Stars like Amanda Peet, Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, with their impressive comedic timing, wowed audiences as they brought the show's witty dialogue and snappy scripts to life.
^ abcJezek, George Ross; Wanamaker, Marc (October 1, 2002). Hollywood: Past and Present. San Diego, Calif.: George Ross Jezek Photography & Publishing. pp. 92–93. ISBN978-0970103611.
^ abcdefghiSterling, Scott T. (October 15, 2008). "Light it Up! The Rad Return of a Hollywood Gem". Metromix Los Angeles.
Hollywood/Vine
