Greek Theatre

The Greek Theatre, designed by Samuel Tilden Norton, Frederick Hastings Wallis, and the Tacoma firm Gove, Bell, and Heath, had its cornerstone laid in 1928 and was dedicated on September 25, 1930, opening to roughly 4,000 people on June 26, 1931. Later changes added a roof over the stage, expanded seating, and enclosed the original columns within walls, though the columns themselves still stand. The site was used as barracks during World War II, and the stage has featured Theodore Roosevelt, Sarah Bernhardt, Luciano Pavarotti, and the 14th Dalai Lama.

The Greek Theatre operates as a 5,900-capacity open-air amphitheater in Griffith Park, hosting concerts and comedy beneath pines near the Observatory since 1930. Colonel Griffith J. Griffith arrived from South Wales in 1882, donated the three-thousand-acre Los Feliz Rancho to Los Angeles in 1896, and established a million-dollar trust in 1919 to fund the venue's construction. A 2006 renovation restored the original façade for the 75th anniversary, setting capacity at 5,900.

The Greek Theatre, owned by the City of Los Angeles through LA Recreation and Parks and operated by SMG, traces its origin to the vision of Griffith J. Griffith. A multi-year renovation led by historic preservation firm Page & Turnbull restored the entry doors and green-glazed tile roof ahead of the venue's 90th anniversary. Major performers including Carlos Santana, Sir Elton John, and Aretha Franklin have taken the stage there, and Neil Diamond's Hot August Night remains a touchstone in the venue's concert history.