When it was built by the Shriners back in 1906 (and rebuilt in 1920 after a fire) the world-famous Shrine Auditorium was the largest indoor auditorium in the world, with almost 6,500 seats and boasts the largest proscenium stage in North America. For years the Shrine was the preferred venue for Hollywood's most important awards shows, including long runs of both the Oscars and the Emmys Awards. The Academy Awards show was first presented at the Shrine back in 1947 & the Emmy Awards were held at the Shrine for 10 years (from 1997 to 2007) But in the 2000's, the Shrine fell from grace with the two biggest award shows, as newer venues came on the scene. Today it still serves it's intended purpose of hosting performance and exhibit events in the Los Angeles area and also serves as the Al Malaikah Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America, a Masonic fraternal organization. The Shrine Auditorium and its adjoining Shrine Expo Center were designed by architects John C. Austin and Abram M. Edelman with interiors by noted theatre architect G. Albert Lansburgh. The Moorish history of the Mason fraternity inspired the building design, and with classic interior décor that is both beautiful and functional, The Shrine Auditorium is a perfect space for a wide variety of events.
http://www.shrineauditorium.com/history 649 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA