Greek Theater 1963 - 1969

Opened 1930

4,400 seat capacity

2,700 Vermont Ave

Griffith Park, Los Angeles

City owned - leased and operated by Greek Theatre Assn. James Doolittle producer and operator. 

1960 LAPL Digital Photo database

The Doolittle Years Pt. 2  (1963 - 1969)

At this time, the Greek Theatre Assn. leased and operated the city - owned Greek Theater. James Doolittle's 11th season of presenting musical productions, opera and ballet at the Greek. 

However, there was a growing political controversy over Doolittle's operation of the theater. There were questions about his reported income and expenses of shows.  Doolittle felt he was being victimized by a few appointees to the Recreation and Parks Commission. Doolittle felt that in order to attract an audiance he needed to present a high level of excellence in the operation. By doing so productions at the Greek contributes to the cultural welfare of Los Angeles. 

1963 

My Fair Lady JULY 3 - 10

A Man For All Seasons JULY 22 - AUGUST 3

Madame Butterfly AUGUST 6, 8, 10

Hary Belafonte AUGUST 12 - SEPTEMER 7

Kingston Trio, Henry Mancini SEPTEMBER 9 - 15

1964

Puccini's opera Tosca JUNE 27, 29, JULY 1 & 3

Jose Greco and Spanish Dancer JULY 6 - 11

Nat King Cole Sights and Sounds JULY 13 - 18

Johnny Mathis JULY 20 - 27

Henry Mancini, New Christy Minstrels JULY 27 - AUGUST 1

New York City Ballet Midsummer's Night Dream AUGUST 18 - 23

New Christy Minstrels SEPTEBER 8 - 12

Media SEPTEMBER 14 - 19

Johnny Mathis SEPTEMBER 21 - 27

In 1964 the Huntington Hartford Theater in Hollywood was purchased by the Greek theatre Assn. for $1 million. 

The L.A. Music Center opens.

1965

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying JUNE 24

Henry Mancini, Young Americans JULY 12 - 18

The New Christy Minstrels, Woody Allen JULY 19 - 25

Kingston Trio, Roger Miller JULY  26 - AUGUST 1

Maurice Chevalier AUGUST 2 - 7

Harry Belefonte AUGUST 9 - SEPTEMBER 4 (four weeks)

Maurice Chevalier AUGUST 2

American Ballet Theater SEPTEMBER 6

Judy Garland SEPTEMBER 13 - 18 (with broken arm)

The Greek theatre Assn. was still in a row with the City Council and Park and Recreation Commission over the lease and rent of the facility. There was also a dispute over maintenance and improvements expences for the theater.  Some at the City did not like the Doolittle attitude. 

The City finally granted to a three year lease contract with Doolittle's Greak Theatre Assn. for operation of the outdoor amphitheater. 

1966

The Royal Hunt of the Sun JUNE 30 - JULY 10

Johnny Mathis JULY 11 - 17

Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass JULY 18 - 25

Jose Greco Carmen JULY 25 - 30

Carol Burnett, Jackie Vernon, Goodtime Singers AUGUST 8 - 14

Victor Borge AUGUST 15 - 20

Nancy Wilson AUGUST 22 - 27

War and Peace AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 10

The Harkness Ballet SEPTEMBER 12 - 17

Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington SEPTEMBER 19 - 25

1967

Sweet Charity w/ Juliet Prowse JULY 2 -9

National Ballet of Mexico JUNE 24 - 29

Henry Mancini and the Doodletown Pipers JULY 10 - 16

Andy Williams, Erroll Garner JULY 17 - 23

Donald O'Connor Show, The Association (1st time rock 'n' roll has ever appeared in an outdoor showplace) JULY 24 - 30

Smothers Brothers, Vikki Carr, Pat Paulsen  JULY 31 - AUGUST 6
Tony Bennet  AUGUST 7 - 12

Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba AUGUST 15 - SEPTEMBER 3

Land of Smiles  SEPTEMBER 4 - 11

Righteous Brothers, Ramsy Lewis, The Blossoms SEPTEMBER 11 - 17

Rodger Miller, Young Americans, Bobby Gentry  SEPTEMBER 18 - 23

1968

Brasiliana JULE 17

Festival from India , Ravi Shankar JUNE 24 - JUNE 30

Trini Lopez, Frank Gorshin JULY 8 - 13

Jerry Lewis JULY 15 - 21

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London JULY 22 & 23

On a Clear Day you Can See Forever w/ Tammy Grimes JULY 29 - AUGUST 11

Jack Jones, Buddy Rich, George Kirby AUGUST 12 -18

Jose Greco AUGUST 19 - 24

Sonny and Cher AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1

Lou Rawls, Flip Wilson, Shirley Bassey SEPTEMBER 2 - 8

Sergio Mendes and Brasi '66, Jose Feliciano SEPTEMBER 9 - 15

1969

Pete Seeger MAY 18

Tom Jones JULY 7 - 13

5th Dimension JULY 14 - 20

Johnny Mathis, Henry Mancini JULY 21 - 27

Harry Belafonte JULY 31 - AUGUST 23

Crosby, Stills, Nash, Joni Mitchell AUGUST 25 - 31

Jose Feliciano SEPTEMBER 1 - 7

Don Ho SEPTEMBER 8 - 14

Engelbert Humperdinck SEPTEMBER 22 - 28

The Grand Kabuki OCTOBER 1 - 7

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