The Hollywood Palladium is a landmark music and entertainment venue situated at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood, Los Angeles. Designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann in the Streamline Moderne Art Deco style, it opened on October 31, 1940, at a construction cost of $1.6 million funded by Los Angeles Times publisher Norman Chandler. Its sprawling 11,200-square-foot dance floor accommodates up to 4,000 guests, making it one of the largest ballrooms on the West Coast.
From its very first night—when Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra took the stage with a young Frank Sinatra on vocals—the Hollywood Palladium has been a crossroads of American culture. Over the decades it has hosted The Jimi Hendrix Experience, President John F. Kennedy, televised award shows, and political gatherings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 and designated Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument No. 1130, the venue continues to operate today under Live Nation Entertainment.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 6215 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
- Type: Ballroom / Concert Hall
- Opened: October 31, 1940
- Capacity: 4,000
- Dance Floor: 11,200 sq ft
- Architect: Gordon Kaufmann
- Operator: Live Nation Entertainment (since 2007)
- Famous for: Opening night with Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra
A Stage Built for Legends
The Palladium’s debut on Halloween night 1940 set the tone for everything that followed. Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra, with Frank Sinatra singing, drew a capacity crowd eager for the grand new ballroom. Through the 1940s and 1950s the venue served as a premier big-band destination, and during World War II it hosted radio broadcasts through which actress Betty Grable relayed song requests from servicemembers overseas. In 1961 President John F. Kennedy attended a California Democratic Party dinner on the floor where Sinatra had once crooned.
The rock era brought a new wave of icons. Pop Expo ’69 put The Jimi Hendrix Experience on the Palladium’s stage, and the decades since have seen an equally eclectic roster spanning rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. The venue’s combination of intimacy and scale—standing-room general admission on the dance floor, mezzanine viewing above—makes it a favored stop for touring artists who want something grander than a club but more electric than an arena.
Art Deco Architecture and Modern Upgrades
Gordon Kaufmann, the architect also responsible for the Hoover Dam and the Greystone Mansion, gave the Palladium a design he described as ‘a futuristic vision of tomorrow.’ Its Streamline Moderne curves and sweeping horizontal lines remain visually striking more than 80 years later. The building’s status as a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument (No. 1130) and its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 ensure those details are protected.
Live Nation completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2007–2008 that upgraded the stage infrastructure, concessions, restrooms, and exterior facade while preserving the original Art Deco character. Today the venue is easily accessible via the Los Angeles Metro B Line at the Hollywood/Vine station, cementing its place as one of Southern California’s most storied and still-active concert destinations.
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Hollywood Palladium FAQs
When did the Hollywood Palladium open?
The Hollywood Palladium opened on October 31, 1940, with a dance performance by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra featuring vocalist Frank Sinatra.
What is the capacity of the Hollywood Palladium?
The venue holds up to 4,000 people on its 11,200-square-foot dance floor, which is configured as general-admission standing room with an upper mezzanine level.
Is the Hollywood Palladium a historic landmark?
Yes. In 2016 it was both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument No. 1130, recognizing its architectural and cultural significance.
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Photo: Doug Goodwin / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.