San Gabriel Mission Playhouse facts for kids
.jpg)
The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse is a super old and special place in San Gabriel, California. It's a theater where people perform all sorts of shows! It's right in the heart of the city's historic Mission District.
Contents
History of the Playhouse
The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse was built a long time ago, between 1923 and 1927. It was made for a very popular show called The Mission Play, created by John Steven McGroarty.
Building Design and Features
The person who designed the Playhouse was an architect named Arthur Burnett Benton. He made it look like the "Mission Revival style." This style copies the look of old Spanish missions. The front of the building looks a lot like Mission San Antonio de Padua, which was Mr. McGroarty's favorite mission.
Inside, the theater has 1,387 seats. Look up, and you'll see a painted and carved ceiling with designs inspired by Native American art. Hanging from the ceiling are cool lights that look like old Spanish lanterns. These were used on big ships called galleons way back in the 1800s.
On the sides of the theater, you can see beautiful woven tapestries. These were a special gift from King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1927. The Playhouse also has a huge 1924 Wurlitzer pipe organ. This amazing musical instrument was brought here after being fully fixed up!
Changes Over the Years
After The Mission Play stopped running, the Playhouse became a movie theater. During World War II, the dressing rooms were even turned into small apartments.
Since 1945, the City of San Gabriel has owned and run the Playhouse. When they bought it, they changed its name to the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. But on September 26, 2007, they changed the name back. It became the Mission Playhouse once again!
Famous Visitors and Fun Facts
The Playhouse has been a filming spot for many TV shows and movies. You might have seen it in shows like The Love Boat or Remington Steele.
Lots of famous people have performed on its stage too! Some of these include musicians like B.B. King and Tony Bennett. Actresses like Tippi Hedren and comedians like Lilly Tomlin have also visited.
Some people even say the Playhouse has a friendly ghost! It's believed to be the spirit of the original owner, "Uncle John." Locals say he sometimes makes fun, surprise appearances during shows!
