Vintage Photo Friday

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center

Tomorrow is our last meet-up of Strummers in the Summer, the ukulele strum-a-long and workshops hosted by Active Arts at the Music Center.  I have really enjoyed this series.  It's always an event, traveling downtown to play music.   I feel like a REAL musician when I'm walking around the Music Center carrying my ukulele case!

During the holiday season we had a workshop at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.  We ended up performing Christmas and Chanukah songs in the area surrounding the auditorium, under those glorious chandeliers.

1965.  Photo from Water & Power Associates Website

1965. Water & Power Collection.  7,000 fans wait in line for tickets to see "Hello Dolly."

In August, the ukulele workshops moved to Little Tokyo during Nisei Week.  We had classes at the Japanese American Cultural Center and then participated in a ukulele flash mob in the courtyard near MOCA.  I'm glad to be returning to the Music Center this coming Saturday.

I soooo remember when the Music Center was built, between 1964 and 1967 on Bunker Hill (Welton Becket and Associates, architect).  It was a major deal for Los Angeles.  Thank you, Buffy Chandler.  The Philharmonic Auditorium on Olive St., that had been housing the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra since 1920, closed.  I do remember attending a performance of the L.A. Civic Light Opera presentation of "Oklahoma" at the Phil when I was a small girl.  It was such a hassle getting downtown, parking, etc.  Once the Music Center was built with ample parking, it was so much easier attending performances.  In the old days, everyone took the street car downtown.  Once the street car lines were taken out and the automobile ruled the L.A. roads, more parking was required.  The Music Center was modern, sleek and glamorous!  We visited often.

See you tomorrow, my Ukulele Ladies!!  Fancy lunch, after class, please!