Redlands Bowl facts for kids
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The Prosellis
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The Prosellis at Redlands Bowl
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| Address | 25 Grant St Redlands, CA 92373 United States |
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| Location | San Bernardino County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°03′13″N 117°11′06″W / 34.0535°N 117.1849°W |
| Owner | City of Redlands |
| Operator | Redlands Bowl Performing Arts |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Herbert J. Powell |
The Redlands Bowl is a famous outdoor theater, also known as an amphitheatre, in Redlands, California. It was founded in 1924 and is known for hosting music and plays that are free for everyone to enjoy.
The Bowl is located inside the Smiley Park Historic District. This area also includes the beautiful A.K. Smiley Public Library and the Lincoln Memorial Shrine. It's a special place full of history and culture.
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The Story of the Redlands Bowl
The idea for free public concerts began with a local woman named Grace Stewart Mullen. In 1923, she started the Redlands Community Music Association. By 1924, she had organized the first summer of concerts in Smiley Park.
At first, the performers used a small stage. But the concerts became very popular. Mrs. Mullen worked hard to collect donations to make sure the music festival could happen every year.
A Generous Gift
In 1929, a new family in town, Florence and Clarence G. White, decided to give a wonderful gift to the city. They paid for a brand-new, much larger amphitheater. They called it the "Prosellis," which is a Latin word that roughly means "before the seats."
The Prosellis was designed by architect Herbert J. Powell. He made it look similar to the nearby A.K. Smiley Public Library. Above the stage, there is a famous quote from the Bible (Proverbs 29:18) carved into the structure. It says, "Without vision a people perish."
Free Performances for Everyone
The Redlands Bowl is owned by the City of Redlands, so it's a public park. A non-profit group called The Redlands Bowl Performing Arts Association manages the events.
The Summer Music Festival
Every summer, the association hosts the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival. From late June to August, you can see about 18 to 20 different shows on Tuesday and Friday nights. The festival features all kinds of music. It is the oldest continuous music festival in the United States where you don't have to pay to get in.
Shakespeare in the Park
For many years, the Redlands Shakespeare Festival also took place at the Bowl. From 2004 until 2013, they performed three of Shakespeare's plays each May. The festival also included workshops and talks for the community.
Other Community Events
The Redlands Bowl is a busy place. It's not just for music and plays. Local high schools in the Redlands area often hold their graduation ceremonies there.
The Mission Gables House
Next to the Bowl is a large, historic house called the Mission Gables House. In the 1990s, the house was in bad shape and the city thought about tearing it down. Instead, the Redlands Community Music Association bought it.
The group raised over $1.8 million to completely fix up the house. They even dug out the basement to add new restrooms for people attending events at the Bowl. Today, the beautiful house has a great view of the stage. It is used as the main office for the people who run the Bowl's performances.
