Consumers May Win the Battle of the Bowls

Los Angeles Philharmonic officials reported Monday that they would honor requests for refunds resulting from a conflict Saturday night at Hollywood Bowl. Patrons seated in the upper portions of the Bowl reported they could not hear the Philharmonic’s Irving Berlin tribute because of a rock concert across the freeway at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.

The competing event at the Ford Amphitheatre, featuring Thelonius Monster and the Ramones, could be heard at the Bowl in seats higher than the shell, patrons said. Even the rock concert’s lighting effects were visible, they claimed.

Monday morning, a Philharmonic official said the Bowl management had called the Ford about the situation on Saturday night, without getting effective results. The official contended that this placed the Ford producer, Goldenvoice, in breach of its contractual obligation to prevent such occurrences, adding that the Philharmonic Assn. will take the matter up with Los Angeles County officials. The Ford Amphitheatre, like Hollywood Bowl, is a county-owned facility.

Goldenvoice representative Gary Tovar told The Times his company was aware of the problem, which he attributed to the Ramones’ insistence in starting their portion of the concert early. Usually, the main act in productions that conflict with Bowl concerts begin performing only after the Bowl event is over, he said.

For future shows, Tovar said that his company will try to book acoustical opening acts and keep the headliners to the late start.

“I think we’ll be able to solve it easily,” he said of the concert conflict.

Tovar also said that Goldenvoice would contribute to the refunds.