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 |
| Designated | 16 October 2024 |
| Reference no. | 100010919 |
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The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a famous building in Santa Monica, California. It's a big place used for many different events, like concerts, shows, and meetings. The city of Santa Monica owns it.
This auditorium was built in 1958 and designed by a famous architect named Welton Becket. It can hold up to 3,000 people for concerts. Because of its history and design, it's recognized as a special landmark in Santa Monica and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cool Building Design
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is made from strong reinforced concrete. It combines features of a theater, a concert hall, and a place for big trade shows.
Outside, you can see unique curved supports called pylons. These hold up a large, overhanging roof that covers the entrance. There's also a big glass curtain wall and a special patterned wall called a brise soleil. This wall helps block the sun's bright glare.
The main hall inside is very flexible. It can be set up for many different things. For example, it has 11,775 square feet for trade shows. The stage adds another 4,485 square feet, making a total of 16,260 square feet. There are also other rooms, like the East Wing meeting room with 4,200 square feet, and a large lobby with 6,708 square feet.
One of the coolest things about the main hall is its floor. It can actually tilt! In just a few seconds, a special system can raise or lower the floor. This creates sloped seating for plays or a flat surface for dancing or exhibits. This means the auditorium can easily change from a concert venue to a sports arena or a banquet hall. It can seat 3,000 for concerts, 720 for banquets, and 2,500 for sports events.
The auditorium building and its surrounding land are located between Main Street, 4th Street, the county building, and Pico Boulevard.
A Look Back at History
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. The land where it stands was acquired by the city for public use.
This $2.9-million project quickly became a popular spot for music. Many famous artists performed here over the years. These included David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, Village People, Mötley Crüe, Dave Brubeck, Laura Nyro, The Limeliters, Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Free, Traffic, Prince, Tim Buckley, and Bob Dylan.
In October 1964, the auditorium hosted the T.A.M.I. Show. This was a filmed concert featuring music legends like James Brown and The Rolling Stones. The auditorium was also home to the Academy Awards from 1961 to 1968. Today, it still hosts the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra. Pink Floyd also played a show here on May 1, 1970.
George Carlin recorded his comedy album Class Clown at the auditorium on May 27, 1972. The album was released later that year. The Eagles performed three shows here in July 1980 during their The Long Run Tour. Much of their live album, Eagles Live, was recorded during these performances. Blue Öyster Cult also played a show in March 1986. Some songs from this performance were later released in a box set.
On April 9, 1982, "Weird Al" Yankovic had one of his first big performances here. His band opened for Missing Persons. He later said it was a challenging experience. Phish made their only appearance at the venue on December 10, 1994. This was the last show of their 1994 fall tour.
Over the years, the auditorium faced some challenges. By the 2000s, it was costing the city a lot of money each year. There were discussions about renovating it, but these plans were put on hold. The building needed important upgrades for safety and access. Many people believed it was a landmark worth saving, even though a full renovation would be very expensive.
As of 2016, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is available for limited uses. These include filming, photo shoots, private events, and meetings. The parking lot is also used for events like the AltCar Expo Conference. This expo showcases cool electric vehicles and new technology.
See also
- AltCar Expo
- List of convention centers in the United States
