Orchestra Hall (Detroit) facts for kids
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Paradise Theater
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Orchestra Hall and Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center
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| Address | 3711 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan United States |
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| Operator | Detroit Symphony Orchestra |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity |
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| Construction | |
| Opened | 1919 |
| Reopened | 1989, 2003 |
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Orchestra Hall
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| Architect | C. Howard Crane |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000429 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1971 |
Orchestra Hall is a beautiful concert hall located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It is famous for its excellent sound quality. This hall is the home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). The DSO is one of the oldest orchestras in the United States. In 2003, Orchestra Hall became part of a larger building called the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. The hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Contents
History of Orchestra Hall
Building a Home for Music
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra used to play at the old Detroit Opera House. However, their music director, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, wanted a better place. He insisted the DSO build a proper concert hall. Construction on Orchestra Hall began on June 6, 1919. It was built very quickly, in less than six months.
The famous architect C. Howard Crane designed the hall. It had 2,014 seats. The first concert was held on October 23, 1919. Orchestra Hall was the DSO's home until 1939. In 1924, a large organ was given to the hall. This organ had 4,355 pipes and was very impressive.
The Paradise Theater Era
During the Great Depression, the orchestra faced money problems. They had to leave Orchestra Hall in 1939. They moved to the Masonic Temple Theatre to save money. Orchestra Hall was empty for two years.
New owners bought the hall and reopened it on Christmas Eve 1941. For ten years, it became a jazz club called the Paradise Theater. Many famous jazz musicians played there. These included Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Shows at the Paradise Theater often featured live music and a movie. The Paradise Theater closed in 1951.
Saving and Restoring the Hall
After 1951, Orchestra Hall was empty for almost 20 years. In the late 1960s, there were plans to tear it down. They wanted to build a restaurant on the land. However, Paul Ganson, a musician from the DSO, led a group to save the hall. They worked to find the hall again and raise money to fix it.
Renovation work started in 1970 and lasted for about two decades. It cost around $6.8 million. The original building needed many repairs. This included a new stage, new seats, and fixing the plaster. All the restoration work aimed to keep the hall's amazing sound quality. Orchestra Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The DSO finally moved back into Orchestra Hall in 1989.
Becoming the Fisher Music Center
More work was done on the hall in 2002 and 2003. This was part of creating the new Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. People often call it "the MAX." This project added new lobbies and reception areas. It also added dressing rooms, storage, and rehearsal spaces. A new 450-seat venue was built for smaller performances. Today, the mayor of Detroit gives the annual State of the City address at Orchestra Hall.
Images for kids
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Orchestra Hall in 1970
See also
- List of concert halls
