Sunset Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sunset Cultural Center
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The Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
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| Location | San Carlos St., Carmel-by-the-Sea, California U.S. |
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| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | John J. Donovan |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001604 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 1998 |
The Sunset Center is a famous performing arts center in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It hosts exciting events like concerts, comedy shows, plays, and dance performances. Before it became a theater, it was a school called the Sunset School.
The city of Carmel bought the building in 1965 to turn it into a place for the arts. Today, it is the main stage for the famous Carmel Bach Festival. Because of its important history, the Sunset Center was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 1998. This means it is recognized as a special and protected American landmark.
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History
The Sunset Center wasn't always a place for music and theater. It began its life over 100 years ago as the Sunset School.
From a Small School to a Grand Building
The Sunset School started in 1903 with just seven students in a private home. As more students joined, the school moved a few times before getting its own building in 1906.
The main school building you see today was built in 1926. It was designed by architect John J. Donovan in a style called Gothic Revival, which often includes pointed arches and detailed stonework, making it look a bit like a classic European building.
In 1931, a large 718-seat auditorium was added to the school. This auditorium was so nice that even outside groups, like the Carmel Bach Festival, began using it for their performances.
Becoming a Center for the Arts
By the 1960s, the old school building needed expensive updates to meet earthquake safety rules. The school district decided it was better to sell the building. In 1964, the City of Carmel bought the school for $550,000.
The city's plan was to create a home for the arts. The people of Carmel voted to approve the purchase in 1965. The vote was a landslide, with 1,330 people in favor and only 169 against.
The center's first director was Cole Weston, a famous photographer who had actually been a student at the Sunset School.
Making it a Modern Theater
Turning an old school into a modern theater was a big challenge. One director, Frank Riley, said, "It was designed as a 1920 schoolhouse, not as a center of the arts."
In the early 2000s, the center got a major upgrade. From 2001 to 2002, the theater was renovated with $22 million. This money came from a public-private partnership, where the city government and private citizens worked together to fund the project.
A new sound system called LARES was installed in 2003. Before this, the theater's sound was not very good. The famous actor Christopher Plummer once performed there and wrote, "For God's sake, get yourself a real theater." The new system greatly improved how performers sounded on stage.
Today, the Sunset Center is run by a non-profit organization. It is the home of many arts groups, including the Monterey Symphony, the Carmel Music Society, and the Carmel Bach Festival.
Famous Recordings at Sunset
Even when it was a school, the auditorium was used to record live concerts. Some of these albums became very famous.
- Concert by the Sea (1956) by jazz pianist Erroll Garner
- Concert by the Sea (1959) by the Cal Tjader Sextet, which includes an early recording of the famous song "Afro Blue"
