Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre facts for kids
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Mountain Theatre
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Jefferson Airplane performing at the Fantasy Fair
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| Full name | Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre |
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| Location | Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California |
| Seating type | Open-air |
| Capacity | 4,000 |
| Opened | 1913 |
The Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre is a cool outdoor theater in Mount Tamalpais State Park, California. It's also known as the Mountain Theatre. This special place can hold up to 4,000 people. It's a great spot for plays and concerts, surrounded by nature.
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History of the Mountain Theatre
Since 1913, Mount Tamalpais has been a special place for outdoor plays. These shows are called Mountain Plays. They happen in a natural amphitheatre high up on the mountain.
A group called the Mountain Play Association started these shows. John C. Catlin was the first president. He helped pay for the very first play in 1913.
Back then, people had to hike or take a special train to get to the shows. This train was called the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway. A businessman named Sidney B. Cushing led the railway.
In 1933, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps started building a new theater. They used huge serpentine rocks to create a 4,000-seat stone amphitheater. They named it the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre to honor Mr. Cushing.
In 1967, the theater hosted a big music event. It was called the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Many people think this was the first outdoor rock festival ever. It happened during a time known as the "Summer of Love." Today, the amphitheater still hosts plays every spring.
Music for a Good Cause
On June 21, 2013, a special concert was held. It was called Mount Tam Jam. This event helped raise money for California State Parks. The parks needed help with their budget. Michael Nash produced the eight-hour festival. It was a huge success with a sold-out crowd. Famous bands like CAKE and Galactic performed.
Sound Summit Concerts
In 2014, Michael Nash started a group called Roots & Branches Conservancy. Since 2015, this group has put on a concert series called Sound Summit. These concerts also raise money for Mount Tamalpais State Park. They have raised over $200,000!
Many popular artists have played at Sound Summit:
- In 2015, the lineup included Tedeschi Trucks Band and Dr. John.
- Sound Summit 2016 featured Wilco and Los Lobos.
- In 2017, the event celebrated 50 years since the Magic Mountain Festival. Performers included Bob Weir and Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead.
- The 2018 concert had jazz legend Herbie Hancock and Grace Potter.
- The event took a break in 2019. It was also postponed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sound Summit returned in 2021. It was a joyful event with performances by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and Father John Misty.
Images for kids
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Panoramic view of the amphitheater
