TV Land Awards take to Barker stage
SANTA MONICA AIRPORT With the constant soundtrack of planes jetting off the runway and the look of an oversized barn, the Barker Hangar would appear to be one of the odd-est event sites in Southern California.
It’s certainly one of the most popular. “The sky’s the limit in there. You can do anything you want,”said Pam Perez of Allure Occasions, an event planning firm in Pasadena. “I think it’s one of the most unique locations in Southern California.”
The Barker Hangar, located alongside the south side of the Santa Monica Airport runway, has been home to corporate and private events, conferences, conventions, benefits and even award shows since the Barker family opened the venue to private events in 1994.
In the late 1960s, Jim Barker purchased the 36,000-square-foot building from the Airmotive Corporation, eventually signing a lease with the city to store planes in the hangar. In 1986, Barker’s daughter, Judi Barker, assumed management duties over the hangar following her father’s death and, in 1994, began moving the planes out and opening the facility up for private events.
The hangar did host aviation-related events prior to 1994. Still in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration standards, the Barker Hangar continues to serve as a parking structure for planes today, but only when there aren’t events scheduled.
“Being down there with the planes lifting off, there’s something almost magical about it,”said Perez, who has produced several charity events at the hangar.
Several famous awards shows kicked off their inaugural ceremony at the Barker Hangar, including the Billboard Music Awards in 1989, and later, the Teen Choice Awards. The Kids Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, the Stunt Awards and People’s Choice Awards have also set up shop inside the Barker Hangar.
The most recent award show to hit the air — the TV Land Awards — was filmed at the hangar last weekend. Hosted by Kelly Ripa, the awards show will air on Sunday.
One of Judi Barker’s fondest awards show memories was at the Video Game Awards in 2005, when she saw Tiger Woods putting outside of a trailer, shooting a promo for the awards with Snoop Dogg.
“We were all freaking out,” said Barker, a fan of the famous golfer. “Oh my god, Tiger Woods was putting with Snoop Dogg.”
The facility is often used as a staging ground for musical artists about to perform a concert at another venue, artists such as Janet Jackson.
“One day she was sitting in there with someone walking like they were her, and she said ‘I didn’t like that light, make that (light) pink.’ They can get a good eye for what other people like,” Barker added.
The hangar has been a favorite of expositions for the past few years, with the city of Santa Monica-sponsored Alt Car Expo and upcoming Alt Building Expo both calling Barker Hangar home.
Several exhibitions and trade shows are scheduled for the immediate future. The Alt Building Expo will be held next month and after the past few years at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the E3 Media & Business Summit will come to Santa Monica in July.
Most recently, the fourth annual CABOOM independent design show held a three-day exhibition at the hangar for the first time after holding previous shows in the Santa Monica Civic Center. One of the qualities making the hangar a popular choice is its flexibility. Unlike many auditoriums with their bolted-in seats, the hangar offers a large empty space free from any obstructions.
“Having the ability to create the space and having a blank canvas is spectacular,” said Charles M Trotter, founder and executive producer of CABOOM4.
But along with the pros are the cons — the facility lacks a formal entry way and restrooms and there isn’t enough parking to accommodate the amount of guests it could hold, Trotter said.
“It would be great if the city could get organized with the parking and run it like they would run any other venue,” he said.
Some organizations come to the Barker Hangar every year for their annual events. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has held its wine tasting and auction fundraiser at the hangar at least seven of the past eight years, said Shelley Ginsburg, spokeswoman for the Make- A-Wish-Foundation.
The fundraiser, which will be held on May 5, draws between 1,500 and 2,000 guests to sample offerings from 75 wineries.
In an attempt to book a more central location, the Make-A-Wish Foundation moved the auction to the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood last year. After hearing rave reviews about the Barker Hangar from fundraiser regulars, organizers decided to move the event back.
“The square space allows a layout that brings in energy and good flow. People really like that space,” Ginsburg said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.