I was doing some research on the Pan Pacific Auditorium that used to be in L.A. and came across this picture. One of my all time favorite pictures was taken there in 1955 by famed Hot Rod photographer Eric Rickman. The picture is of the SanChez 1953 Studebaker that became a legendary Bonneville car. I wasn't able to get it to copy, so here's the link to it, http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/1953_studebaker_coupe/photo_03.html A lot of people performed there over the years including Elvis in 1957. Anyway, a lot of car shows were held there over the years so I thought I'd see if anyone had any pictures and/or memories of the car shows that were held there.
It was a perfect example of the streamline style of architecture (I'm guessing 1930's), one of my favorites. I attended the 1965 Winternationals car show there, it was set back a block or so south of Beverly Blvd. Somewhere I have a photo of the entrance, falling apart in decay, which I took in the early 1980's, but I can't find it right now.
My favorite building in the world! It was in the crappy '80s movie Xanadu. The front of Bobby Greene's shop looks a lot like it.
One of my all time favorite buildings. My Dad took me there when I was a kid for some car shows. What a shame that the building is no longer with us. I have had this photo in my office, it is of a The Motorama Show in 1954, the 54 Corvette is inset on the side of the Pan Pacific building, and Advertising for Vogue Tyres and Chevrolet. Karpo
The entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida is patterned after the front of the Pan Pacific. It's pretty cool.
I remember going there for the GM Motorama in the mid 50's I think I saw M/T LSR car there at a car show in later in the 60's or 70's.
Hers a few more... This a scaled down replica next to the original site..Pan Pacific Park The end.....May 24, 1989
If I remember correctly there were some homeless folks living in there when the fire started....not sure, though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Pacific_Auditorium
what a shame,,, probably would have been knocked down by some greedy assholes to build a parking lot sooner or later anyway... i always hate to see such examples of deco and/or 50s architecture torn down or just plain neglected..
I play softball there every Thursday night. The have built a kids rec center on the spot and some ball fields. The rec center is built in the "style" of the original building. The Auditorium was going to be restored and was to become the home of the Los Angeles Film Festival back in the early 90's but funding never came through and eventually it was torched by what many think were homeless people living there. Gilmore Field was right next to the Auditorium--that's where the Hollywood Stars of the PCL played. And Gilmore Stadium was there too--some football and CAR RACING too! Now it's all a public park and backs up to the Farmers Market and a retro mall called 'The Grove.'
Wow , so the Pan Pacific was where the grove is now? I was just in the area on sunday. Can anyone repost some of the pics that were deleted on this thread. To be able to go to a custom show at this great place would of just been a unforgetable.
There's a ton of pictures of it and several first-hand accounts in this thread, Jeff. Unfortunately, it's a rather long thread to look through.... The good news is that there are pics of indoor carshows in it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446547&highlight=history+of+la
On saturday I finally made it over to the PanPacific Park,it was very cool to see that re creation and to be where the Holy Grail of auditoriums once stood. I read somewhere that the one pillar they have was saved from the fire and they used it on the new rec center but I dont know if that is true or not.Either way it was great to be right where it all went down.
i'd love to see that photo ,of the pan pacific auditorium if you find go here www.ppaplayground.ning.com john This site is devoted to the pan pacific auditorium
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