There is perhaps no more important figure in the film industry over the past fifty years than John Williams. The composer of iconic films like E.T., Superman, Jurassic Park, the Indiana Jones and Star Wars sagas, and countless others created the soundtrack to a generation. And for the past several decades, he’s conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic to thousands of loyal fans at the Hollywood Bowl. Now, according to Variety, Williams is getting the ultimate honor from the Hollywood Bowl, as they are naming the actual stage after him. This is the first time in the historic venue’s history that they’ve dedicated the stage to a single artist.
At a private dedication ceremony, the Hollywood Bowl marked the brand-new stage signage. The dedication found support from several well-known names associated with John Williams. Among them are Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Seth MacFarlane, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and the J.J. Abrams Family Foundation. In recent years, Williams himself has refrained from conducting his annual Maestro of the Movies concert. Yet it goes on without him, with different conductors celebrating his iconic scores. A tradition among fans is to bring their lightsabers, and raise them in unison whenever any Star Wars themes play.
Although the 93-year-old John Williams has announced his retirement a few times, he keeps coming back out of it. A few years ago, he announced his retirement from making music for Star Wars. But later, he composed a new theme for Obi-Wan Kenobi. He then said Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny would be his swan song. Then recently, he confirmed that he’s currently creating the score for Spielberg’s new U.F.O. movie. The man just can’t resist composing new orchestrations. And although he’s more than earned a happy retirement, the world is a better place as long as he keeps making beautiful music.