Venerable Venues: The Forum — Long Story Short

Every city has certain places that define the town's consciousness. I have highlighted many significant venues that are a part of Los Angeles' music culture, but only a few sites cross all boundaries of the city's being. The Forum is one of the places.

Built in 1967, the Forum was one of the largest stadiums in the United States. Charles Luckman, who also designed the Los Angeles International Airport Theme Building, modeled the building after the Roman Coliseum with its rows of arches and circular shape. The stylized look of the building is distinctly midcentury and defines Los Angeles' architectural vernacular during the 1960s. The building was so popular and so luxurious that it was nicknamed the "Fabulous Forum" by Angeleno's who frequented the space for important sporting events over the next forty years.

Jack Cooke, founder of the L.A. Kings, in front of the Forum Site, courtesy of the L.A. Conservency

Los Angeles International Airport Theme Building, courtesy of the Los Angeles Conservency

The Forum was the home of the The Lakers from the 1960s to 1999 and was the first place that the L.A. Kings played the ice. If you went to any sporting event at the venue in the 80s of 90s you probably saw some of the greats play including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wayne Gretzky. In 1999, the Staples center was finished and all L.A. indoor sports were moved to the new arena. From then on, the Forum has been used exclusively for special events such as awards shows and concerts.

My first experience at the Forum was thrilling. Seeing Kanye West for the third time in a venue with such history made his music even better. I highly recommend seeing a show at the Forum. You can feel the energy of old school L.A. while enjoying some of the best music La La Land has to offer.

Cheers,

Hugh