Phoenix Theater facts for kids
The Phoenix Theater is a cool place in Petaluma, California, where people of all ages can go to enjoy live music and concerts. It's like a concert hall and a community center all in one! This theater has been around since 1905 and has an amazing history of bouncing back, even after being damaged by fires several times.
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| Former names | Hill Opera House California Theater Showcase Theater |
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| Address | 201 Washington St Petaluma, CA |
| Coordinates | 38°14′06″N 122°38′35″W / 38.235001°N 122.643056°W |
| Owner | Petaluma Phoenix Center, Inc. |
| Operator | Tom Gaffey |
| Type | Live music venue |
| Genre(s) | music, concerts, theater, youth center and education |
| Capacity | 720 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1896 |
| Opened | December 4, 1905 |
| Renovated | 1924 (fire) August 5, 1957 (fire) |
| Expanded | 1982 (addition of live concerts) |
| Architect | Josie F. Hill |
| Website | |
| The Phoenix Theater | |
Contents
The Phoenix Theater's History
The Phoenix Theater has a long and interesting story, full of changes and comebacks. It's been many things over the years, always finding a way to keep going.
From Opera House to Movie Theater
The building first opened its doors in 1905. Back then, it was called the Hill Opera House. It was a small town opera house, a place for people to enjoy live performances.
In the early 1920s, a big fire almost completely destroyed the theater. This forced the building to close down for a while. But it didn't stay closed for long! By 1925, the theater was fixed up and reopened, this time as a movie theater.
Around 1935, a company called California Movie Theater bought the building. They changed its name to the California Theater.
Rising from the Ashes: Live Music Begins
On August 5, 1957, another fire hit the building. This time, the roof was badly damaged. But once again, the theater was restored! The Tocchini family fixed it up and renamed it the Showcase Theater.
Soon after, the very first live concert was held there. A local musician from Petaluma named Jeff Dorenfeld performed. This was a big moment for the theater.
The Tocchinis hired a young man named Tom Gaffey. Years later, in 1982, Ken Frankel bought the theater. He rehired Tom Gaffey, who then became the theater manager. Tom Gaffey decided to rename the theater after the mythical phoenix. He chose this name because the building seemed to "rise from the ashes" after each fire, just like the legendary bird.
Earthquakes and Community Spirit
In 1989, a big earthquake called the Loma Prieta earthquake shook California. The earthquake caused some damage inside the theater. This led to some much-needed repairs and updates for the building.
In the late 1990s, the theater's owner planned to sell the Phoenix Theater. The new owner wanted to tear it down and build an office building instead. Many people in the community were against this idea.
Luckily, four employees from a company called Cerent Corporation stepped in. They were all musicians, and two of them used to go to the Phoenix Theater often. They worked with other important local citizens to save the theater. They created a non-profit group called Petaluma Phoenix Center, Inc. This group now owns The Phoenix Theater. Their goal is to keep the theater going and to offer even more services to the community.
Famous Bands at The Phoenix
The Phoenix Theater has been a starting point for many famous rock bands and performers. They played here on their way to becoming big stars! Some of these bands include:
- The Ramones
- Green Day
- Arcade Fire
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Metallica
- Primus
- Sublime
- Pennywise
In 2015, the band Neutral Milk Hotel played their last concert ever at The Phoenix Theater.
