Saying Goodbye to the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, February 22, 1959

Posted on February 22, 2009 by lmharnisch
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Photograph by Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times

A huge crowd surrounds Pan-Pacific Auditorium for an appearance by presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower, Oct. 9. 1952.
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Los Angeles Times file photo

Skating at the Pan-Pacific, about 1941.

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Photograph by Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times

Pan-Pacific up for sale, Aug. 26, 1976.

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Photograph by Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times

Burned in a fire blamed on fireworks, July 4, 1982. One of several blazes
before it was destroyed in 1989.

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Photograph by Cassy Cohen / Los Angeles Times

A target for taggers, June 25, 1985.

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Photograph by Ellen Jaskol / Los Angeles Times

Pan-Pacific Auditorium, awaiting probable demolition, April 7, 1986.

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USC and UCLA played basketball for the last time at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, one of Southern California’s landmark facilities. The schools would begin playing in the Los Angeles Sports Arena the next season. For the record, USC defeated Oregon and UCLA got past Stanford in a doubleheader.

The Times’ Mal Florence didn’t say much about the farewell other than to report "no one shed any tears." The auditorium was destroyed in a 1989 fire.

"The Pan was an intimate place," said Al Buch, a former Cal basketball player who in 1959 hit a last-second shot there to defeat UCLA. "It only seated about 6,000 for basketball, but with an exciting game the noise level was very high."

The Times’ Earl Gustkey noted that the arena was never UCLA’s home court but the Bruins played some games there from 1949-59 because there was more capacity than the campus gym. USC played there regularly and the Pan also was the site of Harlem Globetrotter games, college and minor league hockey and a host of other events. 

Ester Schraeder and Patt Morrison, writing in The Times on May 25, 1989, recalled how journalists described the Pan when it opened: "The auditorium, huge as it is, has an architectural dignity."

–Keith Thursby
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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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9 Responses to Saying Goodbye to the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, February 22, 1959

  1. Sam Flowers's avatar Sam Flowers says:
    February 22, 2009 at 7:24 am

    I remember riding my bike out Beverly Bl. to attend the Autorama. I remember walking on a fibreglass trunk of a Corvette to demonstrate how tough fibreglass was. That was about 1953. I always liked the modern look of Pan Pacific…

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  2. Gary Alexander's avatar Gary Alexander says:
    February 22, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    For many of us, it’s still Xanadu.
    -sigh-

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  3. Carol Gwenn's avatar Carol Gwenn says:
    February 23, 2009 at 10:28 am

    It’s not just the auditorium itself that brings back memories.
    There was the Pan Pacific Theatre, where neighborhood kids spent many a Saturday afternoon. Next to the theatre was a really ratty diner – great milkshakes! And of course, all those acres of parking lots, where almost every teen worked at learning to drive.

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  4. keith's avatar keith says:
    May 8, 2009 at 7:06 am

    if anyone has any more photos of the Auditorium PLEASE let me know, ive fell in love with the place!!
    the whole visage of it was amazing!!!
    the frontage with the flag poles was so 1920’s & its a fashion of pure quality! something we dont see much now a days eh!
    the frontage was based on a airplane look kinda like a sleekness & style, it had all of that there is no doubt!
    im gutted its gone! they should of kept the main entrance or at least the towers!
    if anyone has any more info or pics PLEASE email me at: keithgoddard72@yahoo.co.uk
    kindest regards
    keith (UK) btw im only 37!! but i remember Xanadu!!

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  5. Concerned Citizen's avatar Concerned Citizen says:
    December 20, 2009 at 11:14 pm

    I remember this fire like it was yesterday.
    I weep every time I think about it, or see the photos.
    On that day May 24th, 1989.
    I just finished doing some photography work with a local band. (I am a photographer)
    As I left their building, it was late afternoon, and I saw the plume of smoke rising from the auditorium.
    I drove to the auditorium to shoot some photos for my portfolio and possibly for the local newspapers.
    I had a press card, so I was able to get very close to the building, and started shooting the firemen at work, the fire itself, etc.
    After I was there awhile, I was standing outside of the building on the left side of the building, unfortunately I was standing too close when the wall fell down outward,
    crushing me under it, everything went black, and I came to in an ambulance, on my back on a stretcher,
    with an oxygen mask on my face.
    After my vision and head cleared up a bit, I sat up and the paramedics told me what happened, then I noticed the time and realized I was late for work.
    So I jumped out of the ambulance, got to my car and went to work, when I got there my employer was wondering what happened, because I came in dirty, burned, scratched, etc.
    I explained to him what happened, and he cared enough to tell me to leave work and go to the hospital,
    after going to the hospital, getting cleaned up and patched up,I went home for the night to get some sleep.
    And to this day I still wonder why God saved me from this.
    Why me? I am just me, not special to anyone.
    Those are my memories of this fire, have a good night,
    And God bless you to all the firemen and women, and paramedics and officers who worked this fire.
    Without all of you either, I would not be here today to tell the tale.
    Good night,
    Jay

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  6. john christie's avatar john christie says:
    December 31, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    looking for photos of this building or pictures during the fire or as the building was being taken down please ? can anyone help me, any info on where they took all the remains,or any info would be great?
    john

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  7. Adam N. Carr's avatar Adam N. Carr says:
    January 5, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    I first saw this building in the movie Xanadu when I was a little kid, my Mom is a big fan of it and I always thought the building even in its run down state in that film had a beautiful look to it. Now that I’m in my 30’s and am very much into Art Deco design I always think of that building.
    Tonight while doing some research on it, I was saddened to find out that it was destroyed by a fire. I’ve found alot of information on the fire, but would like to view more photos or any video footage of the buildings destruction, couldnt find anything about it on youtube.
    I would also like to know from anyone if there were ever any historical books written about the Pan Pacific Auditorium as well.

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  9. Jon M Hornlein's avatar Jon M Hornlein says:
    December 6, 2020 at 11:32 am

    Go to The Disney Hollywood Studios Main Entrance at Disney World and know the Pan Pacific facade has been immortalized there.

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