User:Jstroudr/Ramona bowl
The Ramona Bowl is an outdoor natural amphitheater located in the foothills of Hemet, California. Commonly referred to as the "bowl" by local residents, it is best known for being the home of "Ramona", the official outdoor play of California. It has a seating capacity of around 5,000. As well as hosting "Ramona", it also hosts small concerts, graduation ceremonies, weddings, and local musicals.[1]
History
[edit]The Ramona Bowl was originally constructed to host just the Ramona play. It was Garnet Holme who insisted on the play having a natural setting. The original plan for presentation was to stage the production in Hemet, possibly on high school athletics fields. Holme looked at the hills surrounding the valley and thought there was a better location. A local of the valley suggested a canyon southeast of they city. This would become the home of the amphitheater after Holme tested the acoustics of the location, and thought it would be a good setting.
In 1925 the Hemet chamber of commerce, and eventually the Ramona Pageant Association bought 160 acres in, and around the canyon. Land above the canyon was also purchased to prevent future development that could possibly harm the location. There was no road to the amphitheater until 1925, and no parking near the entrance until the 1930's. The first seats were not installed until 1926, and more were added over the years until 1965. The first permanent building was a block of restrooms was built in 1936. The facade of the ranch house was also built the same year. The administration building, what is now the museum was built in 1941. The administration building received a substantial addition in 1972. Other buildings were added in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's. In 1965 the first sound system was put in, with fixed microphones scattered around the bowl, until that time the actors had to project to the audience. Another major change came in 1988, when the lower area was filled in to create a new stage, to bring the actors closer to the audience.[2]