Hazard's Pavilion

Showman George "Roundhouse" Lehman had planned to construct a large theatre center on the land he purchased at this location, but he went broke and the property was sold to the City Attorney (and soon to be Mayor), Henry T.

It opened in April, 1887 with a modest civic flower festival, but a month later it hosted the National Opera Company with 300 singers, ballet dancers, and musicians.

Booker T. Washington, William Jennings Bryan and Carrie Nation were among the famous people who spoke to crowds gathered at Hazard's Pavilion.

[2] The future World Heavyweight Champion, Jim Jeffries, had only one fully recorded bout in Los Angeles, his hometown, when he fought Joe Goddard there in 1898.

The man who would go on to be the first African-American World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Johnson, fought in eight main events on cards staged by Tom McCarey at the pavilion during a period from 1902 to 1904.

Other famous fighters who had bouts at Hazard's Pavilion include Joe Bernstein, Frank Childs, Kid McCoy, Hank Griffin, Dixie Kid, Denver Ed Martin, Sam McVey, Al Neill, Frankie Neil, Solly Smith, Joe Walcott, and Billy Woods.

[3] The landmark pro-Ku Klux Klan film The Birth of a Nation had its world premiere at Clune's Auditorium on its way to becoming a massive success.