Santa Monica Civic Auditorium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Monica Civic Auditorium |
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Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
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| Built | 1958 |
| Architect | Welton Becket & Associates |
| Designated | 9 April 2002 |
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The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a large building in Santa Monica, California. It is used for many different events. You can find it at 1855 Main Street. The City of Santa Monica owns this important building. It was built in 1958 and designed by a famous architect named Welton Becket.
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What Does the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Look Like?
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is built from strong concrete. It was designed to be many things at once. It can be a theater, a concert hall, or a place for big trade shows.
Cool Features of the Building
Outside, the building has special curved supports called pylons. These hold up a large, overhanging roof at the front. There's also a big glass wall and a patterned screen. This screen helps block the sun's bright glare.
How Big is the Auditorium?
The main hall is very large. It has about 11,775 square feet for trade shows. The stage adds another 4,485 square feet. This means there's a total of 16,260 square feet of space. An extra meeting room, called the East Wing, has 4,200 square feet. The main entrance area, or lobby, is also big with 6,708 square feet.
Flexible Space for Any Event
The main hall is super flexible! It can change for many different events. It hosts trade shows, sports games, and music concerts. It's also used for meetings and awards shows. For concerts, it can hold 3,000 people. If it's set up for a banquet, 720 people can sit at tables. For sports, it can seat up to 2,500 fans.
The Amazing Tilting Floor
One of the coolest things about the Civic Auditorium is its main floor. It can actually tilt! A special hydraulic system can raise or lower the floor. This lets it become a sloped seating area for plays. Or, it can be a flat surface for dancing or exhibits. This makes the space very useful for all kinds of gatherings.
Where is the Auditorium Located?
The auditorium and its surrounding land are in a key spot. It's bordered by the county building to the north. Main Street is on its west side. Fourth Street is to the east, and Pico Boulevard is to the south.
History of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium first opened in the summer of 1958. At that time, it was the second-largest auditorium in the Los Angeles area.
Building on Historic Land
The land where the auditorium stands was once known as Belmar. This was the first community in Santa Monica for African Americans. The city gained the land using a process called eminent domain. This means the government can take private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell.
A Stage for Music Legends
The auditorium quickly became a very popular place for music. Many famous artists performed here. These include David Bowie, Eric Clapton, and Frank Sinatra. Other stars like Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bob Dylan also played on its stage.
Famous Concerts and Recordings
- In 1964, the auditorium hosted the T.A.M.I. Show. This was a filmed concert with James Brown and The Rolling Stones.
- Pink Floyd performed here on May 1, 1970.
- George Carlin recorded his comedy album Class Clown here in 1972.
- The Eagles played three shows in 1980. Parts of these shows were used for their live album, Eagles Live.
- Blue Öyster Cult recorded a show here in 1986. Some songs from this show were later released.
- Phish made their only appearance at the venue in 1994.
"Weird Al" Yankovic's First Big Show
On April 9, 1982, "Weird Al" Yankovic had his first major performance at the auditorium. He opened for the band Missing Persons. He later said it was a tough show, with the audience throwing things for 45 minutes!
Future of the Auditorium
By the 2000s, the Civic Auditorium was losing money each year. The City of Santa Monica had to cover these costs. There were plans for a big renovation. However, these plans were put on hold.
The auditorium needed at least $23 million for safety and access upgrades. A full renovation would cost over $50 million. Some people thought it might be cheaper to build a new one. But many believe it's an important landmark worth saving. The city is still deciding its priorities for the building.
Current Use of the Civic Auditorium
As of 2016, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is still used. It is available for filming movies and photo shoots. It also hosts private events and meetings. The parking lot is also used for events. For example, the AltCar Expo Conference took place there in 2016. This expo showed off new electric vehicles.
Images for kids
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The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium building.
