Hollywood Bowl Overlook

The Hollywood Bowl Overlook, constructed in 1984 alongside the Universal City Overlook, was timed and funded to accommodate crowds during the Summer Olympics. The site takes its name from Jerome C. Daniel, a conservation philanthropist who helped acquire over 50,000 acres of parkland. Photographers planning a visit should note the overlook's Olympic-era origins and its pairing with the neighboring Universal City Overlook, both built as viewing platforms during the 1984 games.

The Hollywood Bowl has been entertaining the public for over 90 years as a venue in Los Angeles County. It is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, jointly managed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. The site includes an overlook with an original wood post retaining wall that deteriorated past repair after decades of heavy tour bus traffic. Photographers documenting the location may find interest in both its long history and its aging infrastructure.

The Jerome C. Daniel Overlook is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, perched directly above the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. On an evening when Sheryl Crow was performing at the Bowl below, the author made a visit to the site. The elevated mountain vantage point looks directly down at the amphitheater and the concert activity taking place there.