San Gabriel Mission Playhouse facts for kids
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The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse is a really old and special place in San Gabriel, California. It's a historic theater where people go to watch shows and performances. This beautiful building has a rich history and unique design.
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A Look Back: How the Playhouse Began
The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse was built a long time ago, between 1923 and 1927. It was created for a very popular show called The Mission Play, written by John Steven McGroarty. An architect named Arthur Burnett Benton designed the building. He used a style called Mission Revival. This style looks like the old Spanish missions found in California.
Design and Special Features
The front of the Playhouse looks like Mission San Antonio de Padua, which was one of McGroarty's favorite missions. Inside, the theater has 1,387 seats. The ceiling is painted and carved with designs inspired by Native American art. You can also see cool replicas of Spanish lanterns hanging from the ceiling. These lanterns were used on big ships called galleons in the 1800s.
In 1927, King Alfonso XIII of Spain gave the Playhouse beautiful woven tapestries as a gift. These tapestries still decorate the sides of the theater today. The Playhouse also has a special 1924 Wurlitzer pipe organ. This amazing musical instrument was carefully fixed up and works perfectly. It was first made for a theater in New York.
Changes Over the Years
After The Mission Play stopped running, the Mission Playhouse became a movie theater for a while. During World War II, the dressing rooms were even used as small apartments!
Since 1945, the City of San Gabriel has owned and managed the Playhouse. When the city bought it, they changed its name to the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. But on September 26, 2007, the theater got its original name back and is once again called the Mission Playhouse.
Fun Facts and Famous Visitors
Some people say the Playhouse might be haunted by the friendly ghost of its first owner, John Steven McGroarty. Locals affectionately call him "Uncle John."
The Playhouse has also been a filming location for TV shows and movies. You might have seen it in episodes of The Love Boat or Remington Steele. Many famous people have performed on its stage over the years. These include musicians like B.B. King and Tony Bennett. Actors like Tippi Hedren and comedians like Lilly Tomlin have also visited.
