THE VENUE:
YOST THEATER
10
INTERESTING
facts
ABOUT THE YOST
Let’s face it. You don’t always orchestrate a symphonic night
heard of, but in a year’s time everyone will be
1: The Yost is the oldest Theater in Orange
out. The world of music can be unpredictable, and thusly
talking about them. So yes, basically we are on
County and is currently registered as a
your taste for tunes should be just as spontaneous. So for the
the cusp of the scene and helping artists grow!
Historic Landmark.
next occasion in which your legs drag you out to wander in
2: Built for the booming Vaudeville
the winter wilderness, get to know the different places and
Q: Can you define the relationship the venue has
spaces dedicated to bumping and burying their sounds in the
with its community?
ground. Each venue of the OC family has its own unique spirit
CL: For local businesses, Downtown Santa Ana
named The Auditorium only to be renamed
to meet whatever kind of tone or key you’re feeling for, and
is like a tribe. We all help each other in any way
The Clunes that same year. It wasn't until
Chris LaSoya, Assistant General Manager of the Yost Theater,
we can. One businesses success is everyone's
Ed Yost purchased the theater in 1919 that
pulled back the velvet curtain on all the historic stage has got
success. We have a very special relationship with
she acquired the name The Yost Theater.
to give this season.
the surrounding businesses. Santa Ana has been
Q: In general, what would you say is the venue’s mission in terms of its role in the music industry? Chris LaSoya: When we opened two years ago, our goal was to specialize and showcase artists in Electronic Dance Music culture as well as provide an amazing concert experience. Because of the historic theater aspect (Yost was built in 1912) –Yost is the oldest theater in Orange County – we knew it would also be great to have Burlesque shows and other eclectic forms of vintage performances. Q: In a few words, how would you describe the typical concert experience at the Yost Theater? CL: Yost has great site lines, so the visibility at Yost is incomparable. We have focused on our production and feel lighting and sound is the epicenter of the concert experience. Ours is top notch and creatively different from most other concert rooms in the surrounding areas. It's also great to look around a room that has been standing for over 100 years and see the original light fixtures, marquee, balcony, etc. If these walls could talk...oh the stories! Q: Does the venue have a specialty drink that you personally favor? CL: We have recently dove into the culinary cocktail business and have a new menu featuring delicious martinis and other gourmet cocktails that are a real hit to people with a more refined taste than your normal Vodka-Redbull club goer. We even offer real martini glasses (I know you're thinking...big deal), but it is for a venue that has had nothing but plastic cups being served for two years! Quick shameless plug: Yost also has amazing Gourmet food served nightly. Q: What has been a recently memorable/well-reviewed show? CL: I think the recent Rusko show was one for the books. The last Excision tour had insane cutting-egde visuals. Also Martin Solveig and Showtek a few months back were both great. We have had so much great talent; it's hard to pick one. Dita Von Teese was surely one for the books as well. Our production makes the artists look larger than life, and that's the way it should be. Q: Are there any stand out, local artists that you believe have “proven” themselves at this venue? CL: Well, we have helped bring up some of the EDM talent that are now household names. A few examples: Nervo first played for us in 2011; they had a small buzz at the time. Then we had them back every four months or so, and next thing you know, they are selling out the room. They got huge on an International level. Local DJ duo Sex Panther is now touring internationally. Zedd played here in 2011 to a half-full club, now after four plays at Yost since; he is a huge International
the underdog...but not for long. Downtown Santa Ana is absolutely blowing up, and we are the biggest venue in downtown and soon to be almost
movement in 1912, The Yost was first
3: Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle appeared on stage at The Yost Theater in 1917. In what was one of the first Hollywood scandals, he
double the size (major top secret expansion in the
was later arrested and tried for the murder
works). Oh no...there goes the secret!
of a young starlet named Virginia Rappe.
In the next year there are so many exciting new venues and businesses opening up, I don't even know where to start! Downtown Santa Ana is
4: Famous stars of their time, such as silentfilm comedian Ben Turpin and vaudeville star Eva Tanguay, performed at The Yost.
poised to become Downtown Orange County.
5: Legendary singer Ernest Ball died in the
You just watch!
dressing room at The Yost in 1927 while on tour with “Ernie Ball and His Gang.” Ball was
Q: Do you believe the Yost has a unique type of crowd? How does this affect the DJ's/bands you book and the overall concert experience? CL: Well the Yost has an extremely diverse crowd due to our diverse programming.
posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. His grandson is the guitar string entrepreneur Ernie Ball. 6: Downstairs in the basement of The Yost were once makeshift cells for holding the drunks and
On the club front, you have your EDM fans, which split into many genres that have very different types of fan bases. You have your house music fans, bass music fans,
criminals of historic Orange County. 7: During the Golden Age of Mexican
trance fans, and so on. On weekends, we do 21+ club
Cinema, owner Louie Olivos Jr. brought
nights and Thursdays we do an 18+ EDM college night. We
talent of Mexican cinema to The Yost
are soon launching a weekly Latin Sunday night with radio
including Antonio Aguilar, and Vicente
station Super Estrella, and we have decided on Fridays to
Fernández. Later in the 1970s, Olivos had
go to a more mixed format with our music and are about
celebrities such as Ike and Tina Turner and
to launch KIIS FM Live! KIIS will be broadcasting live from
Sonny and Cher perform at The Yost.
Yost every Friday with local favorite DJ Alex Dreamz. We think this will be a great addition to our already exciting
8: On April 12, 2008, El Centro Cultural
and diverse programming.
and Calacas, with the generous help of the Chase Family, hosted the first cultural event
Regarding concerts, it's challenging to get what we want.
at The Yost after the theater had remained
There are some other rooms in the county that primarily
dormant for years.
focus on concerts, so for us to land the acts we want isn't always easy. It's a competitive market, especially for concerts. We still do get some great talent. That talent also
9: In 2009 two ambitious guys, Dennis Lluy (founder of Koo's Arts Cafe) and Dave Leon
varies in music genres from Punk, Metal, Reggae, Indie,
signed the lease to take over the business
Rock, Psychedelic, etc.
of The Yost. Their goal is to see The Yost Theater come to life again—Being the
Then you get into the Yost special event department where
oldest theater with the newest technology.
we offer sporting events like MMA/Cage fighting, Masked
In 2011 the theater has never looked better
Lucha Libra wrestling, monthly themed burlesque shows and
and this goal will soon be realized.
micro brew festivals. I can't think of another venue that has such diverse crowds and programming as we do...and that's
10: The Yost celebrated her 100-year
the way we like it! We are diverse people.
birthday in 2012.
Q: Can you share an interesting fact or two about the Yost
(“This one goes to 11!”)
Theater that not many people know about?
11: The Yost sets aside a significant
CL: Funny you asked. We found ten interesting facts about
percentage of profits from its operations to
the Yost and put them on our website. These are all things
subsidize cultural and entrepreneurial-based
that give the Yost unmistakable character. Check them out!
education programs for teens in Santa Ana.
success. I think we are helping the scene grow and bring in upcoming artists that many of OC may have never seen or
| Holiday 2013 Issue | 151