Angelenos arrive at the Pan Pacific Auditorium to see the silver jubilee auto show, Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, October 1937

Angelenos arrive at the Pan Pacific Auditorium to see the silver jubilee auto show, Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, October 1937People who are unfamiliar with Los Angeles architecture might be excused for thinking this shot of the Pan Pacific Auditorium on Beverly Blvd was a still from a movie using a matte painting background. But for over 35 years (1935 to the early 1970s) this streamline moderne gem was the premier location for indoor public events in L.A. This particular shot was taken in October 1937 and those people are going to see the silver jubilee auto show.

This is the sort of show that greeted them. This shot was taken inside the Pan Pacific two years later at the 1939 auto show:

Interior shot of the 1939 auto show at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles

Susan M said: “After the Sports Arena opened in ’59, the Pan Pacific was not the big destination it had been for events. The ice shows, ice hockey, the circus and basketball all moved to the Sports Arena. The ’60 Democratic Convention was held at the new Sports Arena. We still had a lot of trade shows at the Pan Pacific after the Sports Arena opened however.”

See also: A collection of photos of the Pan Pacific Auditorium, 7600 West Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles

 

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13 responses to “Angelenos arrive at the Pan Pacific Auditorium to see the silver jubilee auto show, Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, October 1937”

  1. Bill George says:

    https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AYQuIx_XcJM/maxresdefault.jpg

    This is the entrance to Disney’s hollywood studio!

  2. Gordon L Pattison says:

    I’d happily take any one of those beautiful cars.

  3. Rich says:

    I’d happily empty my bank account to go back and walk around there
    for a couple days.

  4. Stephen says:

    I think that Elvis played there in the 1950s or early 1960s.

  5. Gordon L Pattison says:

    Speaking of Elvis, I once saw him in the late 1950’s driving down Hollywood Blvd. in a pink Cadillac.

  6. Skip says:

    …and in the late 50’s “the Pan” was the home court of UCLA basketball.

  7. Jack Rogers says:

    I was at the Pan Pacific in 1966 or ’67 for the Auto Show. I met the stars of the TV show “The Green Hornet” – Van Williams and Bruce Lee (yes, that Bruce Lee!) in his first role in America. They were there with “Black Beauty,” the Green Hornet’s car. Bruce was dressed in his Kato outfit.

  8. Mark says:

    XANADU, used in the 1980’s musical.

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