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Stough Park, Starlight Bowl, and DeBell Golf Course

Nestled in the hills of Burbank are three gems offering relaxation, entertainment and exercise opportunities. DeBell Golf Course opened mid-twentieth century with newly planted trees and crowds of people. Hiking trails in the hills offer wonderful opportunities to explore nature. The Stough Canyon Nature Center opened in 2000 with exhibits and programming. The Starlight Bowl, built in the Burbank hills in 1948, has long been Burbank's best-kept secret. Over the years it has presented movies, stage shows, and concerts. Today the popular venue hosts summer concerts by the Burbank Chamber Orchestra and a variety of popular music groups, children's participatory theater, and the City's 4th of July concert with fireworks.

1930s - Burbank Choral Club Performing in Stough Park
Members of the Burbank Choral Club, under the direction of Charles Monroe, perform on an open-air stage in a ravine in Stough Park, near the future location of the Starlight Bowl. The Burbank Choral Club was founded in 1920 by members of the Burbank Women’s Club as a community choir, and has performed continuously for decades. The club was renamed Burbank Chorale in 1985. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for scheduled performances in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1951. Notes on the back of the photo: “Photo Art Shop, Burbank, Calif. In locality of Stough Park, Burbank Choral Club. Director, Charles Monroe. About 1930.” (Despite the date on the back, other accounts indicate that the seating shown was not installed until at least 1935, suggesting that this photo was taken later.)
1936 - View from Inspiration Point in Stough Park
View from Stough Park’s “Inspiration Point” in 1936, near the present location of the Starlight Bowl. According to the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department, Stough Canyon Park originated in 1916 as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. Improvement of the upper portion, known as “Inspiration Point,” began in 1934 and, by 1950, included facilities for picnics and camping as well as a wading pool. Note in the lower-left corner of the photo: “Photo Art Shop ’36.” Note on the margin of the negative: “Inspiration Point: Stough Park.”
1940s - Burbank Symphony Orchestra Performs at Stough Park
The Burbank Symphony Orchestra, conducted by founder and musical director Leo G. Damiani, during a 1940s performance in Stough Park, in a ravine near the future location of the Starlight Bowl. Founded in 1944, the orchestra was nationally renowned and regularly played at the Starlight Bowl for decades. Following a series of financial and fundraising difficulties in the 1980s and early 1990s, the board of directors reorganized the group as the Burbank Chamber Orchestra in 1991 and as the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002. Damiani resigned from the orchestra in 1959 after fifteen years as conductor, although he remained involved and occasionally returned as a guest conductor until his death in 1986. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for performances in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating, and served as the rehearsal and performance space for the Burbank Symphony Orchestra until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1951. Notes on back of photo: "Starlight Bowl concert before new one was built. Burbank Symphony Orchestra, Stough Park."
1940s - Starlight Bowl
From notes on photo: “Starlight Bowl 40’s.”
1940s - Starlight Bowl
From notes on photo: “Starlight Bowl- 40’s.”
1940s - Starlight Bowl
From notes on photo: “Starlight Bowl- 40’s.” Men watch construction of the Starlight Bowl.
1940s - Starlight Bowl
The Starlight Bowl was dedicated June 17, 1951. It was built at a cost of $175,000 with an original capacity of 2500 people. The site, “a natural amphitheater with good acoustics created by curving mountain slopes,” according to the Los Angeles Times, had already been home to performances for decades before the Bowl was built. Easter sunrise services were popular events in the unimproved space going back to the 1930s and the Burbank Symphony Orchestra held successful concert series there in the 1940s. This photo shows an area near the natural amphitheater in the 1940s. From notes on back: “Starlight Bowl - 40’s.”
1945 - Burbank Symphony Orchestra Performs at Stough Park
Guest conductor John Ellis leads the 75-piece Burbank Symphony Orchestra in a performance at Stough Park on July 29, 1945, in a ravine near the future location of the Starlight Bowl. Founded in 1944 by conductor Leo G. Damiani, the orchestra was nationally renowned and regularly played at the Starlight Bowl for decades. Following a series of financial and fundraising difficulties in the 1980s and early 1990s, the board of directors reorganized the group as the Burbank Chamber Orchestra in 1991 and as the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002. Damiani resigned from the orchestra in 1959 after fifteen years as conductor, although he remained involved and occasionally returned as a guest conductor until his death in 1986. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for performances in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating, and served as the rehearsal and performance space for the Burbank Symphony Orchestra until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1950. Notes on back of photo: "Stough Park 7-29-45. Burbank Symphony Orchestra."
1945 - Burbank Symphony Orchestra Performs at Stough Park
The 75-piece Burbank Symphony Orchestra, conducted by founder and musical director Leo G. Damiani, during a performance in Stough Park on July 29, 1945, in a ravine near the future location of the Starlight Bowl. Founded in 1944, the orchestra was nationally renowned and regularly played at the Starlight Bowl for decades. Following a series of financial and fundraising difficulties in the 1980s and early 1990s, the board of directors reorganized the group as the Burbank Chamber Orchestra in 1991 and as the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002. Damiani resigned from the orchestra in 1959 after fifteen years as conductor, although he remained involved and occasionally returned as a guest conductor until his death in 1986. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for performances in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating, and served as the rehearsal and performance space for the Burbank Symphony Orchestra until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1950. Notes on back of photo: "7-29-45. Burbank Symphony Orchestra, Stough Park."
1945 - Burbank Symphony Orchestra Performs at Stough Park
The 75-piece Burbank Symphony Orchestra, conducted by founder and musical director Leo G. Damiani, performs in Stough Park on July 29, 1945, in a ravine near the future location of the Starlight Bowl. Founded in 1944, the orchestra was nationally renowned and regularly played at the Starlight Bowl for decades. Following a series of financial and fundraising difficulties in the 1980s and early 1990s, the board of directors reorganized the group as the Burbank Chamber Orchestra in 1991 and as the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002. Damiani resigned from the orchestra in 1959 after fifteen years as conductor, although he remained involved and occasionally returned as a guest conductor until his death in 1986. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for performances in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating, and served as the rehearsal and performance space for the Burbank Symphony Orchestra until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1950. Notes on back of photo: "7-29-45 Stough Park. Bur. Community Symphony Orchestra."
1946 - Easter Servcies at Stough Park
A crowd of people listen to Easter morning services at Stough Canyon Park on April 21,1946. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for performances and events in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating, and served as the rehearsal and performance space for the Burbank Symphony Orchestra until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1950. Notes on back of photo: Easter 1946 Stough Park. Paul E. Wolfe photography."
1946 - Easter Services at Stough Park
A crowd of people listen to Easter morning services at Stough Canyon Park in 1946. According to the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation, Stough Canyon Park originated as a gift to the city of over 128 acres to be used exclusively as public parkland from real estate developer Oliver J. Stough. The natural bowl of the ravine was first used for performances and events in 1935, with salvage lumber and telephone poles used for seating, and served as the rehearsal and performance space for the Burbank Symphony Orchestra until the permanent Starlight Bowl was built and opened in 1950. Notes on back of photo: "Easter 1946 Stough Park. Paul E. Wolfe photography."

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