Hollywood Masonic Temple

Infobox_nrhp2 | name =Hollywood Masonic Temple
nrhp_type =


caption = Hollywood Masonic Temple, 2008
location= 6840 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California
lat_degrees = 34
lat_minutes = 6
lat_seconds = 4.73
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 118
long_minutes = 20
long_seconds = 24.5
long_direction = W
locmapin = California
area =
built =1921
architect= Austin,John C.
architecture= Classical Revival
added = 28 Feb, 1985cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
designated_other2_name = L.A. Historic-Cultural Monument
designated_other2_date = 12 Jun, 1984Citation | last = Los Angeles Department of City Planning | year = 2007 | date = September 7, 2007 | title = Historic - Cultural Monuments (HCM) Listing: City Declared Monuments | place = | publisher = City of Los Angeles | edition = | url =http://www.cityprojectca.org/ourwork/documents/HCMDatabase090707.pdf | accessdate = 2008-05-28 ]
designated_other2_abbr = LAHCM
designated_other2_color = #ffc94b
governing_body = Private
refnum=85000355

Hollywood Masonic Temple, now known as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, is a building on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California that was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The building was designed by architect John C. Austin, also noted as the lead architect of the Griffith Observatory. In 2002, the "Los Angeles Times" described the building this way:

"It's an impassive presence that seems to transcend the ebb and flow of Tinseltown glamour—a somber Neoclassical temple that stands in stark contrast to the evolving parade of movers, shakers, panhandlers and paparazzi that have passed before it."cite news|author=Al Ridenour|title=A Chamber of Secrets; Hollywood's Masonic temple, witness to the passage of time, is restored and reborn as an entertainment venue|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2002-05-02]

The Masonic Temple

In 1921, the Hollywood lodge of the Masons relocated from their existing lodge on the current site of the Kodak Theater. The construction of the new three-story building was led by lodge master, Charles E. Toberman, who was responsible for the Hollywood Bowl, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Roosevelt Hotel and the Max Factor Building. The original building cost of $176,678, a sum of $56,421 allotted to furniture and fixtures and $36,295 for the purchase of the lot. When the new temple opened, it was one of the most substantial structures in Hollywood. It had a billiard room, pipe organ, ladies parlor, ballroom and lodge rooms. One writer described the building as "unsurpassed for beauty, attractiveness and richness of equipment." The architect, John C. Austin also worked on the Shrine Auditorium, Griffith Observatory and Los Angeles City Hall.

The grand ballroom was opened in February 1923; the opening ball featured a program on “the evolution of dance” featuring dancer Lucille Means. [cite news|title=Talented Dancer to Appear at Ball: Attractive Program Arranged for Hollywood Masonic Fete|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1923-02-05] Many of Hollywood's elite over the years have been Masons, including Oliver Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fairbanks, W.C. Fields, Cecil B. DeMille, D.W. Griffith, John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. There are stories, never confirmed, of a secret tunnel running from Mann's Chinese theater under Hollywood Boulevard to the Masonic Temple.

During the Great Depression, many of the Masons lost their savings, and the Masons were forced to rent the ground floor to a social club that installed an illegal slot machine. After World War II, the Masons resumed full use of the structure, and in 1948, more than 300 people crowded into the Masonic Temple to attend a memorial service for D. W. Griffith at the Masonic Temple. [cite news|title=D.W. Griffith Paid Tribute: Hollywood Honors Its Prophet During Memorial Services|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1948-07-28] In 1969, longtime Mason, Harold Lloyd, was honored in a ceremony as his name was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in a location directly in front of the Masonic Temple. [cite news|title=Harold Lloyd Feted|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1969-06-05]

Opera theater and nightclub

By the late 1970s, Masonic membership had declined, and the Masons rented out ground-floor space to a restaurant. By 1982, the Masons were no longer using the building, and Hollywood Boulevard was becoming an eyesore. The Masons sold the building to singer Rosita LaBello who converted the structure into the Hollywood Opera & Theater Company.

The building's life with LaBello's opera and theater company was short-lived, and in 1987 the building was renovated and reopened with much fanfare as the Hollywood Live Entertainment Pavilions. Detroit developer, James Hoseyni, invested $1.5 million to convert the building into a versatile entertainment center including a cabaret, jazz club, and an 800-person dance club. The lavish interiors of the original Blue and Red Halls were restored and adapted to accommodate a disc jockey's podium, special electronic and lighting equipment and bars.cite news|author=Evelyn DeWolfe|title=Hollywood Night Life Brightens Masonic Temple to Reopen as Entertainment Center|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1987-09-06]

Renovation by Disney and Jimmy Kimmel Live

With the renovation of the El Capitan Theater next door in the early 1990s, Disney began leasing the building for special events, including its use as a "toy box" for the 1995 premiere of "Toy Story." In 1998, Disney purchased the building. In 2002, after extensive renovation, Disney reopened the building as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre. Disney restored original fixtures, including backlighted stone filigree, wrought iron torchieres, Batchelder tiles and old post boxes once used by Masonic officers. As of 2008, ABC's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" originates from a studio in the building.

ee also

*List of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles
*El Capitan Theatre

References