Education and Cultural Institutions  (Demographics Table of Contents) 

Music and Theater

Since the mid-19th century, when traveling theatrical companies visited the California mining camps, the theater has been an important part of Californian cultural life. In addition, the growth of the motion-picture and television industries in the 20th century attracted many actors to the state and stimulated the growth of legitimate theater. There are theaters in many Californian cities, and the state is the home of a number of active professional theater groups. Among the groups are the Buffalo Nights Theater Company, in Los Angeles. An annual summer Shakespeare festival is held in the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and classical Greek plays are staged in the Hearst Greek Theater, on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley.

   

There are fine symphony orchestras in many Californian cities. The most prominent are the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1909, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1919. The Hollywood Bowl, in Los Angeles, is famous for the evening concerts held there during the summer months. The San Francisco Opera Association has won national acclaim. Also in the city is a noted music conservatory.