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Spreckels Theatre facts for kids

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For the building in San Francisco formerly known as the Spreckels Building, see Central Tower (San Francisco).
Spreckels Theatre Building
Spreckels Theater Building.jpg
Spreckels Theatre in July 2006
Location San Diego, California
Built 1912
Architect Harrison Albright
Architectural style Chicago-style
NRHP reference No. 75000467
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP 1975

The Spreckels Theatre is a famous building in San Diego, California. It's a place where people enjoy live shows and movies. When it opened, it was called the "first modern playhouse west of the Mississippi River."

A kind person named John D. Spreckels had it built. He wanted it to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. The theater first opened its doors in 1912. It was made for live plays and performances. Later, in 1931, it was changed to show movies. The theater was sold in 2021 and has been closed since then. There are plans to fix up the building.

Spreckels Theatre: A Historic San Diego Landmark

Building Design and Features

The architect Harrison Albright designed the Spreckels Theatre. He created it for John D. Spreckels, who was a very generous person. The building opened on August 23, 1912. It was built to remember the opening of the Panama Canal.

Like many buildings from that time on the West Coast, it's made of strong concrete. It also has special decorative pieces called architectural terra cotta. These were made by a company called Gladding, McBean.

The Spreckels Theatre is a six-story building. It has a large sign, called a marquee, over its main entrance. Inside, the auditorium has 1,915 seats. The interior is decorated in a fancy style called Baroque.

The auditorium is wide open. There are no pillars or columns to block your view of the stage. The number of seats, 1,915, was chosen to match the year of the Panama–California Exposition (1915). The stage itself is huge, measuring 82 feet by 58 feet. It was one of the biggest stages ever built.

A Look Back at Its History

When the Spreckels Theatre first opened, it showed live plays. Many famous performers appeared on its stage. These included Enrico Caruso, John Barrymore, Al Jolson, and Will Rogers. Even the comedy duo Abbott and Costello performed there.

In 1931, the theater changed. Its owner, Louis B. Metzger, turned it into a movie house. It became a place to see the newest films.

Later, in 1976, Louis Metzger's daughter, Jacquelyn Littlefield, took over. She brought back live theater to the Spreckels. She worked with the Nederlander Organization to bring big Broadway shows to San Diego.

When the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego burned down in 1978, the Spreckels Theatre helped out. It hosted the Old Globe's shows for the 1978-79 season.

Between July 2015 and July 2019, the TV channel TBS rented the theater. They used it for a week each year for Conan O'Brien's talk show, Conan. This happened during the San Diego Comic-Con. Four episodes were filmed each week, airing the next evening. Many stars from popular shows and movies visited, like those from Breaking Bad and Top Gun: Maverick.

What's Happening Now

Spreckels Theatre sign (2013) DSCN0454
Spreckels sign at night (2013)

The Spreckels Building in San Diego was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's recognized as an important historic site. The theater is currently closed.

Famous Performers and Shows

Many talented artists have performed at the Spreckels Theatre over the years. Here are some of them:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Teatro Spreckels para niños

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