Acoustics at Bowl

* Perhaps the time has come to refit the Hollywood Bowl for better acoustics (“Hollywood Bowl May Shed Famous Shell,” Aug. 26). Plans to rebuild the shell in the Streamline Moderne style of architecture show some sensitivity to the era in which it was first constructed. Rather than opposing this approach to solving the bowl’s long-standing sound problems, preservationist groups might better serve the community by working for the restoration of the original reflecting pool.

The pool gave the bowl a grace and elegance it has never regained since the pool was unceremoniously removed to provide high-priced seating for a few. Who knows, beyond lifting our spirits and beautifying the night, bringing back the pool might even improve the sound.

ALAN KISHBAUGH

Los Angeles

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* Should the Hollywood Bowl shed its famous shell? Upon arrival to rehearsal on Tuesday, I discovered that the timpani and bass drum were wet from leaks in the famous shell. The xylophone just missed being soaked by a few inches. Behind the famous shell and under its rear roof, I noticed that one of the percussion storage trunks was wet. For the rehearsal, the orchestra was forced to set up in the rear of the famous shell so that no one would be directly exposed to the precipitation. Should the Hollywood Bowl shed its famous shell?

RAYNOR CARROLL

Principal percussion