Benedum Center facts for kids
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| Former names | Stanley Theatre (1928−1987) |
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| Address | 237 7th Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Owner | Pittsburgh Cultural Trust |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 2,800 |
| Screens | 1 |
| Current use | Performing arts center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | February 27, 1927 |
| Reopened | September 25, 1987 |
| Architect | Hoffman−Henon |
| Tenants | |
| Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera | |
| Website | |
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Stanley Theater and Clark Building
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 Location in Pittsburgh
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Area | Pittsburgh Cultural District |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Hoffman and Henon |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000303 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 27, 1986 |
The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts is a famous theater and concert hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's located in the city's Cultural District. This amazing building was first built in 1928 and was called the Stanley Theatre. It was designed by architects Hoffman-Henon. After being a popular movie palace for many years, it was beautifully renovated and reopened in 1987 as the Benedum Center. Today, it's a busy place for all kinds of live shows!
Contents
History of the Stanley Theatre
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The Stanley Theatre opened its doors on February 27, 1928. It was a grand "movie palace" built for $3 million. At first, it could seat 3,800 people, making it the biggest movie theater in Western Pennsylvania. The theater was designed by Hoffman-Henon, an architecture firm famous for designing many theaters.
The Stanley Theatre was operated by Warner Bros. It was the main place in Pittsburgh to see all their new movies.
Famous Performers at the Stanley
Many famous musicians and bands performed at the Stanley Theatre over the years:
- Frank Sinatra played there on December 10, 1943.
- In 1974, the bands War and King Crimson performed.
- On April 29, 1974, a show by Robin Trower was recorded for the King Biscuit Flower Hour.
- Frank Zappa played two shows on September 23, 1978.
- The Grateful Dead performed four times at the venue.
- Reggae legend Bob Marley performed his last live concert there in 1980. Pictures from this show were even featured in the documentary film Marley.
- Prince started his "Controversy Tour" at the Stanley in 1981.
- The rock band Kansas chose the Benedum Center for their 40th Anniversary Fan Appreciation Concert on August 17, 2013. All the original band members were there.
The Stanley Theatre was even named "Number One Auditorium in the U.S." by Billboard magazine several times.
Restoring the Benedum Center
On September 25, 1987, the Stanley Theatre reopened as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. This happened after a huge $43 million restoration project.
To turn the old movie palace into a full performing arts center, a new building was added behind the theater. This new part included an extension for the stage and other important facilities. The inside of the theater was mostly kept the same, but it was carefully cleaned and repaired to look like its original design. A new sound baffle was also added to improve the acoustics.
A very special part of the theater is the huge chandelier in the dome above the balcony. It weighs 4,700 pounds (about 2,130 kg) and is 20 feet (6.1 m) high and 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. Its restoration was dedicated to H.J. Heinz II.
Today, the 2,800-seat Benedum Center is home to the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. These groups used to perform at Heinz Hall. The Benedum Center is a key part of Pittsburgh's Cultural District and is one of the busiest theaters in the United States.
The center has also hosted several PBS television concert specials, including Doo Wop 50. The TV game show Wheel of Fortune even taped two weeks of shows there in 1998.
See also
In Spanish: Benedum Center para niños
- List of concert halls
- Theatre in Pittsburgh
