The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, and was operated by film producer Maurice Cohen. The dance hall was designed by Gordon Kaufmann, architect of the Greystone Mansion, the Los Angeles Times Building and the Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia. He was also the architect for the Hoover Dam and early Caltech dorms.

From 1955 to 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.

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.

In 1973, Stevie Wonder performed with Taj Mahal in what was advertised as an "Afrocentric concert" to benefit African refugees.

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. 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. The Hollywood Palladium was also used as the memorial service site for DJ AM on September 3, 2009.

For the 2008–2009 season, a yearlong table for four cost $30,000. In August 2018, the district court ruled all steps were taken during EIR/DEIR. The AHF filed an appeal. The AHF lost the appeal in November 2019 and Crescent Heights plans to proceed.

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File:Hollywood Palladium.jpg|The Palladium in 2005, prior to its 2008 renovation

File:Hollywood Palladium in 1947.jpg|Bandleader Opie Cates was on the bill in 1947.

File:Inside palladium.jpg|Inside the Palladium in 2012, following its renovation

File:Banks @ Hollywood Palladium 08 11 2022 (52514234925).jpg|The Palladium as seen in 2022

File:Los Angeles, California (September 10, 2022) - 223.jpg|Side view of the Palladium in 2022

File:Palladium in Hollywood.jpg|View from across the street in 2019

File:Taylor Tomlinson show at the Hollywood Palladium 2024.jpg|Marque prior to Taylor Tomlinson show

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The Hollywood Palladium has been featured in many films and television productions 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.
  • The Day of the Locust (1975).
  • The last scene of the series finale of Adam-12 was filmed at the Palladium in 1975. Officer Jim Reed, played by Kent McCord received the Los Angeles Police Department Medal of Valor for saving Officer Pete Malloy, played by Martin Milner.
  • Warren Zevon's self titled 1976 album features the singer-songwriter on the cover in the Palladium's parking lot, photographed on the same night as the 18th Annual Grammy Awards.
  • Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979).
  • The final concert scene in The Blues Brothers depicted as "Palace Hotel Ballroom". The exterior was actually the South Shore Country Club in Chicago. (1980).
  • Keith Richards released a CD and DVD of his solo concert Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988.
  • The punk band Bad Religion recorded Live at the Palladium in 2006, a collection from their two days of performances.
  • Thrash metal bands Megadeth and Testament have both produced live recordings at the Palladium, Megadeth recording a live version of their album Rust in Peace and Testament recording Return to the Apocalyptic City.
  • Luna Sea performed their first American concert at the Palladium on December 4, 2010. It was recorded in 3D and released as both a live album and concert film, Luna Sea 3D in Los Angeles.
  • In 2016, Dave Chappelle filmed a Netflix special at the Palladium.
  • On July 18, 1971, the jazz label, CTI Records, staged a concert featuring the CTI All-Stars at the Palladium. Performing were Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Hank Crawford, Johnny Hammond, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham and Airto Moreira. It was released as a double LP in 1972 titled California Concert.

See also

  • List of music venues in Los Angeles
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles
  • List of theatres in California
  • House of Blues

References