Masonic Temple
The El Capitan Entertainment
Centre, once known as the Hollywood
Masonic Temple, is a building
located on Hollywood Boulevard in
Hollywood, California. In 1985 it
was listed in the National Register
of Historic Places. The
architect, John C. Austin, who
designed the Masonic Temple was also
a lead architect of the Griffith
Observatory.
The Los Angeles Times described the
building thus in 2002: "It's an
impassive presence that seems to
transcend the ebb and flow of
Tinseltown glamour-a somber
Neoclassical temple that stands in
stark contrast to the evolving
parade of movers, shakers,
panhandlers and paparazzi that have
passed
before it.”
In the early 1990s, the El Capitan
Theater was renovated and cartoon
mogul, Walt Disney Pictures, began
leasing the building for special
events, specifically using it as a
"toy box" for the premiere of the
“Toy Story” in 1995. Disney bought
the building in 1998.
Disney reinvented the building as
the El Capitan Entertainment Centre
in 2002, after an enormous amount of
renovation. Disney restored original
lighting fixtures, including
back-lit stone filigree, wrought
iron torchieres, Batchelder tiles
and old post boxes that were once
used by Masonic officers. ABC's
late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel
Live!” has its broadcasting base
from a studio in the building since
2008. |
