1960s - 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. The amphitheater, officially known as the Burbank Starlight Theater, was designed by architect E. Dean Cowley. Cowley was an executive of the Burbank Symphony Orchestra Association, the group that led the drive for the construction of the Bowl, according to the Times. Construction on the Bowl began in July, 1950. According to notes on the photo, this shot was taken in the early 1960s.

1249 Lockheed View Drive, Burbank, CA 91501

Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.)
Amphitheaters
1960s
Starlight Bowl (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)

8x10 b&w photo

Burbank Public Library, Burbank in Focus Office

cco00137

City Clerk’s Office