Riverside Municipal Auditorium

Last updated
Riverside Municipal Auditorium
RiversideMunicipalAuditorium20090821z.jpg
Address3485 Mission Inn Ave
Riverside, California
United States
OwnerCity of Riverside
Operator Live Nation [1]
TypeAuditorium
Capacity 1,400
Website
www.riversiderma.com
Riverside Municipal Auditorium and Soldiers' Memorial Building
USA California location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in California
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in United States
Coordinates 33°58′55″N117°22′14″W / 33.98194°N 117.37056°W / 33.98194; -117.37056 Coordinates: 33°58′55″N117°22′14″W / 33.98194°N 117.37056°W / 33.98194; -117.37056
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1929 [2]
ArchitectArthur Benton, G. Stanley Wilson [2]
Architectural styleMission/Spanish Revival, Moorish, Mexican Colonial
Restored2012
NRHP reference No. 78000738 [3]
RIVL No.17
Added to NRHPMarch 31, 1978

Riverside Municipal Auditorium and Soldiers' Memorial Building, also known as the Riverside Auditorium and Events Center is an entertainment venue in Riverside, California, United States. [4] It is owned by the City of Riverside, but is privately managed and available to rent for meetings, conventions and social functions. [5] Opened on November 12, 1928, it also serves as a memorial to the 87 servicemembers from Riverside County who died during World War I. [6] This reinforced concrete Mission Revival style building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Contents

The building was designed by architect Arthur Benton and continued by G. Stanley Wilson after Benton's death. Both architects also worked on the historic Mission Inn. Surrounded by gardens, fountains and a waterfall, it was built on land donated by Mission Inn proprietor Frank Miller.

Events at the 1,400 seat auditorium range from charity art shows [7] to orchestral performances by the Riverside Philharmonic. [8] George Lopez, Margaret Cho, The Whispers, Jimmy Cliff, California Riverside Ballet, Frankie Beverly and Maze, David Copperfield, The Dickens Festival, Los Lobos, Children's Theatre, and Industrial shows have all headlined the facility. [9]

Renovations began in October 2011 to upgrade the historic facility. [10] The $9.5 million construction included a complete seismic retrofit, as well as new electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems. An improved sound system, a new wooden floor in the main theater, and restored historic auditorium seats were also completed in the one-year construction.

See also

Related Research Articles

Riverside, California American city in California, United States

Riverside is a city in, and the county seat of, Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Inland Empire metropolitan area. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. It is the most populous city in the Inland Empire and in Riverside County, and is located about 55 miles (89 km) east of downtown Los Angeles. It is also part of the Greater Los Angeles area. Riverside is the 58th most populous city in the United States and 12th most populous city in California. As of the 2010 Census, Riverside had a population of 303,871.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa United States historic place

The Mission Inn, now known as The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, is a historic landmark hotel in downtown Riverside, California. Although a composite of many architectural styles, it is generally considered the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States. Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Downtown Kansas City Place in Missouri, United States

Downtown Kansas City is the central business district (CBD) of Kansas City, Missouri and accounts for 4.0% of the Kansas City metropolitan area employment as of 2010. It is between the Missouri River in the north, to 31st Street in the south; and from the Kansas–Missouri state line east to Bruce R. Watkins Drive as defined by the Downtown Council of Kansas City; the 2010 Greater Downtown Area Plan formulated by the City of Kansas City defines the Greater Downtown Area to be the city limits of North Kansas City and Missouri to the north, the Kansas–Missouri state line to the west, 31st Street to the south and Woodland Avenue to the east. However, the definition used by the Downtown Council is the most commonly accepted.

Napa Valley Opera House United States historic place

The Napa Valley Opera House is a theatre in Napa, California, USA. It opened on February 13, 1880 with a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. At the time, the town had a population of 5,000 people. The original owner was George Crowey and Charles Levansaler managed the facility. The building was designed in the Italianate style by Newsom and Newsom, renowned architects of the 19th century, who also built the Carson Mansion in Eureka, California, in addition to many public and private buildings throughout the State. Construction of the theater featuring a stained glass skylight, brass chandeliers and a curved staircase leading to the balcony started in 1879. The building had stores and restaurants on the first floor while the stage occupied the second and third floor. The floor of the auditorium was uniquely constructed with a flat floor in order to accommodate local dances and pageants. The theater had an advertising curtain where local businesses were promoted.

Brady Theater theater and convention hall in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

This article is about the theater and convention hall known as Tulsa Theater since 2020. Its previous names were Brady Theater, Tulsa Municipal Theater, and Tulsa Convention Hall. It has been renamed Tulsa Theater due to the controversy surrounding the Brady name. It is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was originally completed in 1914 and remodeled in 1930 and 1952. The building was used as a detention center during the 1921 Tulsa race riot. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains in use as a theater today.

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium historic multi-purpose facility built in 1938 in Sarasota , Florida, USA

The Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, listed in the National Register as Municipal Auditorium-Recreation Club, is a historic multi-purpose facility built in 1938. It is located at 801 Tamiami Trail North and owned/operated by the municipal government of Sarasota, Florida. The auditorium has 10,000 square feet (930 m2) of exhibit space on its main floor and also contains an Art Deco style stage measuring 1,500 square feet (140 m2).

Riverside Polytechnic High School is a four-year public high school in Riverside, California, United States, and part of the Riverside Unified School District. The current facility, located on Victoria Avenue, was opened in September 1965; the traditions of the school go back to 1887, then known as the Riverside High School, making Riverside Polytechnic the oldest high school in the city.

Deerwood Auditorium community center in Deerwood, Minnesota, United States

The Deerwood Auditorium is a community center in Deerwood, Minnesota, United States. It was built as a New Deal project from 1935 to 1937. In 1995 the auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its local significance in the themes of architecture, politics/government, and social history. It was nominated for being an exemplary multipurpose municipal building funded by the New Deal, as well as Minnesota's largest project by the State Emergency Relief Administration, and a longstanding venue for community events.

Herman O. Ruhnau American architect

Herman O. Ruhnau was a Postmodern architect who founded the firm Ruhnau, Ruhnau, and Clarke. Ruhnau primarily designed buildings in Southern California, particularly the Inland Empire region.

Mount Rubidoux mountain in United States of America

Mount Rubidoux is a mountain just west of downtown in the city of Riverside, California, United States, that has been designated a city park and landmark. The mountain was once a popular Southern California tourist destination and is still the site of the oldest outdoor non-denominational Easter Sunrise service in the United States. Many historic markers and memorials have been placed on the mountain, the most prominent being the cross at the summit dedicated to Father Junípero Serra. A majority of Mt. Rubidoux is owned by the City of Riverside, while 0.43 acres at the peak is owned by Rivers & Lands Conservancy after the cross attracted a potential lawsuit and the city decided to sell it at auction it to a private organization.

Riverside Art Museum American art museum in California

Riverside Art Museum is an art museum in the historic Mission Inn District of Riverside, California. The museum is a non-profit organization.

First Church of Christ, Scientist (Riverside, California) United States historic place

First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1901, is an historic Mission Revival-style Christian Science church located at 3606 Lemon Street in Riverside, California. It has been called: "the church that introduced Christian Science to Southern California." It was designed by noted Los Angeles architect Arthur Burnett Benton. On September 22, 1992, First Church of Christ, Scientist, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is still listed in the Christian Science Journal as an active Christian Science church.

Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium Theater and meeting hall in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium is a historic performance and meeting venue at 705 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is an Art Deco building constructed between 1926 and 1929 during the administration of Mayor Lee Emmett Thomas as a memorial to the servicemen of World War I. In 1991, the auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on October 6, 2008, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Fox Performing Arts Center theater and movie theater in Riverside, California, United States

The Riverside Fox Theater, also known as the Fox Performing Arts Center, was built in 1929, and is a Spanish Colonial Revival style building in the heart of downtown Riverside, California. The theater is the centerpiece of Riverside's Arts & Culture initiative and underwent a major renovation and restoration to become a regional performing arts facility. Renovation was completed in the Fall 2009, with a grand-reopening in January 2010.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum Arena in Indiana, United States

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose auditorium and meeting space in downtown Evansville, Indiana.

Evergreen Cemetery, or Evergreen Memorial Park is a cemetery in Riverside, California, United States. The first burial occurred in 1872, and the cemetery became the resting place of many historic figures of Riverside.

Marcella Craft Operatic soprano

Marcella Craft was an American operatic soprano who performed internationally in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Frank Augustus Miller American hotelier

Frank Augustus Miller was the owner and chief developer of the Mission Inn in Riverside, California, United States, where Frank Augustus Miller Middle School was named after him. He was also a civic leader and one of Riverside's strongest promoters.

San Antonio Municipal Auditorium United States historic place

The San Antonio Municipal Auditorium was a building located at 100 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio, Texas. It was built as a memorial to American soldiers killed in World War I.

George Stanley Wilson (1879-1958) was an American architect and builder based in Riverside, California.

References

  1. City of Riverside. "Riverside Hires Live Nation to Operate Fox Theater, Municipal Auditorium" (Press release).
  2. 1 2 Riverside Cultural Heritage Board (January 2002). "Landmarks of the City of Riverside" (PDF). City of Riverside. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  4. Durian, Hal (November 10, 2007). "Hal Durian's Riverside history column: Soldiers' Memorial Hall". The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  5. Robinson, Alicia (June 16, 2010). "Riverside poised to terminate municipal auditorium contract". The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  6. Lech, Steve (2007). Riverside 1870–1940. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 37. ISBN   978-0-7385-4716-9. OCLC   127273299.
  7. Franko, Vanessa (August 3, 2010). "Sea No Evil art show brings stars to Riverside". The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  8. Auerbach, Erin (April 5, 2005). "Dueling symphonies for date". The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  9. Rice, Jerry (2008). "From the Annals of an Auditorium". Riverside Magazine. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  10. Stokley, Sandra (October 5, 2012). "Riverside: New look, new name for the Muni". The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved October 22, 2012.