City home to awards ceremonies
By IRENE MANAHAN Special to the Daily Press
SANTA MONICA During the entertainment world’s annual awards season, Santa Monica becomes the temporary home to some of the nation’s biggest ceremonies. Red carpets roll out and celebrities flock to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium or Barker Hanger to see who takes home the gold statuettes.
“Santa Monica is internationally known to have high quality things to happen here,” said Joe Loving, booking agent at Barker Hangar.
The Auditorium housed the Academy Awards from 1961 to 1968 and has since also presented the American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critic’s Choice Awards and more. The Barker Hangar has hosted the Billboard Awards, Kid’s Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, TV Land Awards and Stunt Awards among others.
Loving explained clients also like to change their venue every year.
“They grow, or do decide to it on the East Coast, or go to Hollywood,” said Loving. The facilities often exchange shows. “It’s like a circuit,” he said.
The taping of these televised awards shows have granted the venues, as well as the whole city, great recognition both nationally and internationally.
“Not that many things are broadcast from Santa Monica unless it’s at the beach or the pier,”said Loving.“Award shows get good ratings and they always announce where it’s taking place.”
Along with worldwide exposure, Manager of the Civic Auditorium, Carole Curtin, adds that presenting the shows also adds to the city’s economy, namely hotels, restaurants and shopping areas.
“I think our clients are drawn to Santa Monica as a community,” said Curtin. “Many guests come into town for days. There’s a lot to do here” and the city proves to be “quite a destination.”
Santa Monica is also popular for its prime location, that is, nearby television networks and independent production offices as well as celebrity residences.
“It’s also easier to pull in a high celebrity attendance,” said Loving. Unlike Los Angeles or the Valley, “We’re so close to celebrity residential areas like Beverly Hills, Malibu, Century City, Westwood — It’s easy and safe for them to get here,” said Loving. “It’s a matter of convenience, and we can get more celebrities on the red carpet.”
At one time residents were allowed to congregate just beyond the red carpet areas, waiting for celebrities to pass them by. The grandstand even offered a lottery allowing winners to get tickets inside, according to Curtin. Recently, the events have become strictly private, and even Santa Monicans don’t have much of a chance of even being a seat filler.
Originally opened in 1987, the versatile Barker Hangar features high ceilings and a 2,000 person capacity.
In preparation for large award shows, the Hangar begins to put things together at least six months in advance. The production crew uses that time to make arrangements with the city, including how it will impact the airport and neighborhoods. They also obtain the appropriate permits, and meet about traffic, parking and security officials.
The unique floor of the Civic Auditorium, erected in 1958, is made up of a hydraulics that allows it easily to convert from a theatre-style space for concerts to a flat floor for exhibits.
“Here, I think they are attracted to the Civic Auditorium itself, the helpfulness of its staff and the capacity of the facility, which is 3,000,” said Curtin.
Curtin said her staff starts to organize shows at least a year prior to the event.
“There are a million details that go into it and for us that’s really exciting,” said Curtin.
For the past two years, the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critic’s Choice Awards have been held at the Civic Auditorium.
The Critic’s Choice Awards is a favorite among A-list celebrities. At the 2007 awards in January, some of the industry’s best and brightest including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Forest Whitaker, Helen Mirren, Eddie Murphy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Penelope Cruz, Clint Eastwood, Spike Lee, Jessica Biel and Dakota Fanning were at the ceremony.
Nothing is official for 2008, but Curtin anticipates the Critic’s Choice Awards to come back again.
For booking at the Auditorium, (310) 458-8551 For booking at the Hangar, (310) 390-9071.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.