Via Former Location –
Melodyland was Southern California’s first theater-in-the-round. The location hosted many pop concerts as well as a church-in-the-round.
Located across Harbor Blvd. from Disneyland, the 3,200-seat Melodyland Theater, opened on July 2, 1963. In 1969, Rev. Ralph Wilkerson bought Melodyland for use as a church. The church retained the name as well as the original Melodyland sign.
Melodyland was demolished in 2003. As of July 2022, the property on which Melodyland sat is now part of Anaheim GardenWalk, a lifestyle shopping center. Freedman Way is now called Disney Way.
Notable concerts held at Melodyland Included:
7/9/0969 – Bobby Darin
6/17/1969 – The Ventures
5/25/1969 – Ray Charles
11/24/1968 – The Chambers Brothers
10/13/1968 – Jackie DeShannon
9/28/1968 – The Beach Boys
9/27/1968 – The Grass Roots
7/23/1968 – Sly & The Family Stone
7/22/1968 – Strawberry Alarm Clock
⅞/1968 – Little Richard
6/6/1968 – The Association
5/11/1968 – The Troggs
3/26/1968 – Jefferson Airplane
3//1968 – Grateful Dead
9/3/1966 – Buffalo Springfield
6/5/1966 – The Mamas & The Papas
6/4/1966 – Simon & Garfunkel
6/12/1965 – The Dave Clark Five
11/16/1964 – Sonny & Cher
10 W. Freedman Way (Now Disney Way)
Anaheim, CA 92802
My boyfriend (husband) took me on a date to Melodyland to see My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison. Was in the mid 60s. Would love to know who played Eliza. I can’t really. Is there any way to find this information.
My girlfriend at the time and I went to Melodyland in Anaheim and watched a show with two ( at the time) relatively unknown bands – the Mommas and the Pappas and Simon and Garfunkel. Both on stage the same evening. It was an inexpensive date by today’s standards and an amazing evening.
I was there too that night. I was in in a high school rock band and we all went. Goofy kids who didn’t know we were watching history. Never forget it. Amazing show.
In 1967 (I believe it was) my sister and I saw the Righteous Brothers there. At the opening of the show they each came down an aisle on opposite sides of the stage, singing You Lost That Loving Feeling. Bobby Hatfield stopped at our row and sang it to both my sister and me, then gently kissed our hands. We both swore we’d never wash that hand again, but our mom refused to let us eat if we didn’t (LOL).
I saw Billy Graham, there! Never forgot it.
Saw Buffalo Springfield there, September, 1966. Sly and the Family Stone, July, 1968, Classics IV, June, 1969.
I worked at Melody theater in 1966 as a scene changer and extra, I meat a lot of stares, Rocky Nelson, Dick VanDike to name just a few one of the best times of my life, I still remember the smell of the place.
I saw Doug Kershaw and Hank Thompson there with my Parents. I still listen to their music. Can, remember the year.
I saw Jose Feliciano,, George Shearing, and Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Ponies there super venue
I was in the choir there in 1995 & in a number of productions. Was a most wonderful experience. Will never forget it. So sad to see it go down.