A Long Beach landmark with a history perhaps as rich as any other is making waves again, restored by a committee and now operated as a nonprofit seeking only to bring entertainment and information free of charge to residents.
The Long Beach Municipal Band Shell, located in Recreation Park, has a rich history, hosting a variety of events including concerts, theater, and even political speeches. In its early days, it was a popular venue for the Long Beach Municipal Band, according to Steve Pruitt, a guiding force behind the facility’s restoration.
Over its history, it has featured speeches by notable figures like then-President Herbert Hoover and candidate Richard Nixon spoke there as well.
More recently, the bandshell has been revitalized by the Friends of Recreation Park Bandshell (FORPBS), a non-profit organization, which has brought back events like Shakespeare by the Sea, bluegrass festivals, and high school band competitions.
The bandshell was envisioned during a period of growth and development in Long Beach, emphasizing outdoor performance spaces, similar to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles and the Hollywood Bowl. It was designed to accommodate a large audience with bench seating for 600 and additional space on the surrounding lawn.
With its 1929 historical marker firmly attached to a hidden bandshell in central Long Beach, Steve Pruitt is hoping to restore the glory of a little-known 600-seat venue, with shaded and grassy areas surrounding it giving it a capacity of as much as 1,500.
In an interview this week by ENE, Pruitt said the facility is now being marketed as the Live at the Shell, and “is a community resource seeking to regain its rightful place in the area’s rotation of recreation and entertainment.”
Accordingly, the outdoor amphitheater-style facility has programmed a wide variety of entertainment options that it offers to the community for free.
For instance, the outdoor facility will present the Long Beach Gospel Music Festival on August 23 as the Shell winds down its entertainment offerings for the year.
He said a grant from the U.S. Navy has facilitated the complete renovation of the Shell’s huge stage and other partners allow them to present programs without charging for admission.
“This is a beautiful facility,” said Pruitt
It is located at Recreation Park, 7th & Park Ave in Long Beach, across from Wilson HS. The Shell at Rec Park is Long Beach’s premier outdoor amphitheater, and he said admission is free for the Aug. 23 Gospel Music Festival.
Beyond its role as an entertainment venue, Pruit said the Bandshell holds deep significance as a community gathering place. For decades, he said, families and friends have gathered on its expansive grounds for picnics, social outings, and leisurely afternoons, the open-air design fostering a sense of camaraderie among residents.
He said the Recreation Park Bandshell stands as both an architectural landmark and cultural touchstone, a Long Beach gem that for nearly a century has provided a beautiful stage for performances and community events.
Pruitt said the non-profit Friends of the Recreation Park Bandshell (FORPBS) was formed in 2022 to restore the bandshell and welcome back all manner of theater groups and musical acts to use the space, he added.
Performances include plays presented by Shakespeare By the Sea, concerts by the Camerata Singers, including a celebration of the music of Laurel Canyon. There will be jazz and bluegrass, rock and 80s tribute bands, all of it offering what FORPBS co-founder Steve Pruitt called a “return to the bandshell’s glory days.”
For more information see: www.liveattheshell.org