Hollywood Masonic Temple
Hollywood Masonic Temple, now known as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre and also formerly known as Masonic Convention Hall, is a building on Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The building, built in 1921, was designed by architect John C. Austin, also noted as the lead architect of the Griffith Observatory. The Masons operated the temple until 1982, when they sold the building after several years of declining membership. The 34,000-square-foot building was then converted into a theater and nightclub, and ownership subsequently changed several times, until it was bought by the Walt Disney Company's Buena Vista Pictures Distribution in 1998 for Buena Vista Theatres, Inc.
Hollywood Masonic Temple | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 277 | |
Hollywood Masonic Temple, 2008 | |
| Location | 6840 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°6′4.73″N 118°20′24.5″W |
| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | John C. Austin |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000355 |
| LAHCM No. | 277 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 28, 1985 |
| Designated LAHCM | June 12, 1984 |
Buena Vista Theatres uses it as a promotion tool by creating themed environments to go along with movie premieres. The center is also rented out for industry parties, premieres, record releases and product roll-outs. Since 2003, the building's theater has been the home of Disney-owned ABC's late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The building is rumored to have had a secret tunnel to Grauman's Chinese Theatre that would allow movie stars to evade mobs at movie premieres. If it existed it is possible that the B Line (Red) subway construction destroyed the tunnel.