Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

The 'Hidden Staircases' of the Hollywood Bowl

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today . 

There is something so completely odd, yet refreshing, about running up and down the stairs at the Hollywood Bowl during daytime hours. In a place you're used to sharing with 17,000 other people, being there completely alone--not even a security guard in sight--made us realize that this is one of Hollywood's biggest secrets (Read Part 1 of this series, The Hidden Staircases of Hollywood Heights, which are right next door).

It's not like running stairs is some unpopular activity in Los Angeles. In Santa Monica, residents are in uproar at how crowded their famous stairs and nearby medians get with exercisers. In Echo Park and Silver Lake, one man has made a whole walking tour of those neighborhood staircases. Over at the Hollywood Bowl, next to one of the densest parts of the city, it can be utterly dead.

The little known fact is this: Hollywood Bowl is actually an LA County Regional Park that is leased to the LA Phil for programming. But since there is a little thing called an "off-season" and since concerts are not happening all day long, it's still the public's space for their use as they see fit.

So here's the deal. The park, or the bowl and its picnic grounds, are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, save for when concerts are planned. Everyone is welcome to go picnic, run the stairs (Hollywood High School's track team occasionally does, it's about 168 stairs from top to bottom), hang out, read, check out the historical displays, etc.

Support for LAist comes from

On concert days, the park is still open for activities, but on a more limited basis. Generally speaking, during the Hollywood Bowl season, rehearsals take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and usually are open to the public (of course, some groups may request their rehearsals be closed). Running and working out is not allowed during rehearsals (but you can before as of sunrise), but those activities may continue after them until about 3 p.m. when security begins to clear the park for that night's show.

On the weekends, the park is generally open until 3 p.m., but again, there may be rehearsals and special or high profile events that require shutting the park down earlier (for example, the Playboy Jazz Festival is an all day event).

The season officially begins in July (but June things are picking up), so until then, the park is pretty empty. Once the season begins, use is very situational, Hollywood Bowl officials told us, but generally is still open for use as long as you're flexible.

Parking is also free during off-times, but once the Bowl is clearing out for a show, it must be removed or they will remove it for you.

On May 2nd, the Hollywood Bowl store opens during daytime hours and tickets for the season go on sale. There's also the Hollywood Bowl Museum, which is open year round.

LAist recommends you combine Hollywood Bowl stair walking/running with the staircases of Hollywood Heights.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist