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H is for Hollywood Bowl Museum: A Free to See #AtoZChallenge Post

 

"Hollywood Bowl Music for Everyone" is written on the wall at the entrance to the museum
I'm living in southern California this year, and decided to use my exploration of the area as my focus for the #AtoZChallenge. I'm concentrating on free to see places, though I will include locations that require a parking fee. This is the eighth post in the series. 

The Hollywood Bowl is a cultural icon, and there is something almost magical about gathering in that open-air venue to hear world-class musicians. Did you realize, though, that you can visit the Hollywood Bowl--and the Hollywood Bowl Museum--for free when performances are not going on?

The museum offers a look back at the history of the Hollywood Bowl, which is over 100 years old. I learned that the shell over the stage is not the original shell, but has had several different designs over the years. 

A display in the museum shows the different shells the Hollywood Bowl has had in its history
Other displays feature the genres of music that have been performed in the bowl, and how the Hollywood Bowl has been portrayed in television and film.

Information about pop, rock, and jazz music is given on one side of the museum and symphonic music on the other
Several stations are set up throughout the museum where you can listen to various tracks of songs played at the Hollywood Bowl.

An eclectic mix of music, from Billie Holiday to Mariachi Las Alondras is available to listen to
The room upstairs is devoted to the photography of Otto Rothschild, who took more than 10,000 photographs at the Hollywood Bowl over the course of his career. 
A quote from Rothschild is written on a wall upstairs: "It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera. . . they are made with the eye, heart, and head."

After visiting the museum, it is just a short walk up the hill to see the famous venue in person, and a short walk down to see the statue of the muse. If you are a music fan or interested in the history of the Hollywood Bowl, I recommend a visit to the Hollywood Bowl Museum.

A view of the stage and shell at the Hollywood Bowl as seen from the back of the closest section to the stage 

The statue of the muse greets visitors to the Hollywood Bowl










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