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Location Information:
The
Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in
the Hollywood and Highland retail,
dining, and entertainment complex on
Hollywood Boulevard and North
Highland Avenue in the Hollywood
district of Los Angeles. Since its
opening on November 9, 2001, the
theatre has been the home of the
annual Academy Awards Ceremonies
(The Oscars), which were first held
there in March 2002, and is the
first permanent home for the awards.
Since 2002, the theater was also the
home for American Idol.
The
theatre was designed by David
Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, and
Theatre Projects Consultants
specifically with the Oscars in
mind. It has a seating capacity for
up to 3,401 people. The stage is one
of the largest in the United States,
roughly tied with the Elliot Hall of
Music at Purdue University,
measuring 113 feet (34 m) wide by 60
feet (18 m) deep. The theatre was
sponsored by the Eastman Kodak
company, which paid $75 million to
have its name associated with the
building. It is owned by CIM Group.
The
theatre is particularly successful
as a venue for a televised theatre
performance (improving production
values and economies in American
Idol and the Academy Awards) through
the planning and technical design.
The architect and advisers undertook
extensive consultation with many of
the leading production personnel in
Hollywood which led to highly
functional production cable
infrastructure systems including an
underground cable bunker which
passes below the theatre to truck
locations in adjacent streets,
accessible and substantial power,
and a unique camera, sound and stage
management cockpit designed by
Rockwell in the orchestra seating
area.
The
Grand Staircase entrance columns
hall to the Kodak Theatre is flanked
by columns displaying the names of
winners of the Academy Awards for
Best Picture since 1927-1928, with
blank spaces left for future Best
Picture winners well into the 21st
century. Still, a visitor during the
rest of the year might have a hard
time recognizing the landmark. In a
fashion reminiscent of Hollywood's
movie-making process, the building
is "dressed" before the ceremony,
including a different sign (though
not always), drapery to hide all the
storefronts, and the famous large
red carpet.
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