Dolby Theatre

The Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre) is a live-performance auditorium in the Ovation Hollywood shopping mall and entertainment complex, on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. Since its opening on November 9, 2001, it has been the venue of the annual Academy Awards ceremony. It is adjacent to the TCL Chinese Theatre and opposite the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Besides the Academy Awards, the venue has hosted other concerts and theatrical performances.

Architecture

The theater was designed by David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group specifically with the Oscar ceremonies in mind.[2] Although the stage is one of the largest in the United States, roughly tied with the Elliott Hall of Music at Purdue University, measuring 113 ft wide and 60 ft deep, its seating capacity is only about half that of the Hall of Music,[3] accommodating 3,332 people.

History

The theater was developed by TrizecHahn (later Trizec Properties), in partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS),[4] aiming to overcome logistical issues met during previous Academy Awards that were hosted at other venues, such as the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Shrine Auditorium.[5] In August 1997, AMPAS and Canadian development firm TrizecHahn began negotiations for the development of the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex located on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, adjacent to the Mann's Chinese Theatre.[6] Seven months later, both the Academy and TrizecHahn agreed on a 20-year lease that allowed for the ceremony to be held at the new venue.[7][8]

The Academy Awards were first hosted at the theater for its 74th ceremony, in 2002, marking the first time it was held in Hollywood since the 32nd ceremony at the Pantages Theatre in 1960.[7] The complex was acquired, in February 2004, by CIM Group,[9] and remained the venue for all Academy Awards ceremonies held for over two decades, with the exception of the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021, which were downsized and moved to Union Station due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California.[10] In 2026, it was announced that the ceremony would move to the Peacock Theater starting in 2029.[11]

The theater was sponsored, until February 2012, by the Eastman Kodak Company, which paid $75 million for naming rights to the building.[12] In early 2012, Eastman Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection, thus ending its naming-rights deal. The theater was temporarily renamed to the Hollywood and Highland Center[13] at the suggestion of the venue's landlord.[14]

On May 1, 2012, it was announced that the venue would be renamed the Dolby Theatre, after Dolby Laboratories signed a 20-year naming rights deal.[15] Dolby updated the sound system first by installing Dolby Atmos. The company plans to continue updating the auditorium with newer technologies as they become available.[16]

In October 2024, the theater was sold by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to Jebs Hollywood Entertainment.[17][18]

mapframe	yes
mapframe-zoom	15
map caption	Interactive map of the Dolby Theatre's location
former names	Kodak Theatre (2001–2012)
location	6801 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028
coordinates	34.10278°N, -118.34028°W
public transit	Hollywood/Highland
owner	Canyon Partners
type	Indoor theatre
seating type	Reserved
seating capacity	3,400‡R1R‡
broke ground	1997
built	2001
opened	November 9, 2001
cost	$94 million
general contractor	McCarthy Building Companies
website	https://dolbytheatre.com

Architecture

History

Other events

See also

Bibliography

External links

References