Here we have a central piece of L.A.’s social life under construction: the Hollywood Palladium dance hall at 6215 Sunset Blvd. Built by L.A. Times publisher, Norman Chandler on the site where Paramount Pictures once stood, the place featured a 11,200-square-foot dance floor, eight bars, and room for up to 3,800 people. The project broke ground on June 10, 1940 and had its big opening (which featured Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra and vocalist Frank Sinatra) on October 31, 1940. So this photo was taken during the summer of 1940.
In 2016, the theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so it’s still around. This image is from May 2019.
it is still there, but sad to see how many store fronts are boarded up, and how the city has been unable to address the homeless crisis. Any ideas on what can be done to bring Hollywood back to life?
Yes, it is there, but barely. And around it isn’t great, especially since the Covid pandemic kicked in.
I remember seeing The Clash there in 1979. With typical punk bravado they proclaimed L.A as “the ugliest city so far on their tour.” There reward was a nonstop rain of spit. So disgusting.