Sunset Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sunset Cultural Center
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Sunset Center
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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 cool place in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA. It's a performing arts center where you can watch concerts, comedy shows, plays, and dance performances. It used to be a school called the Sunset School. In 1965, the city of Carmel bought it to turn it into a place for arts and culture. The famous Carmel Bach Festival also calls it home. The Sunset Center was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 1998, which means it's an important historical building.
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History of the Sunset Center
The Sunset School started as a public school in 1903. It began with just seven students. Classes were first held in a home in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
The school moved a few times. In 1906, the first Sunset School building was built. It was located at 9th Avenue and San Carlos Street.
Building the School
Architect John J. Donovan designed the school. He used a style called late Gothic revival. This style looks like old European churches.
The first building had only two rooms. A third room was added before 1915. Today, part of the old school property is used for public parking.
More classrooms were built in 1929. These were designed by M. J. Murphy. They were on the northwest corner of Mission Street and 10th Avenue. Now, these rooms are used as offices and adult classrooms.
Growing the School
The school district bought more land nearby. In 1931, a large auditorium was built. This auditorium had 718 seats. It was needed for the growing number of students.
Sometimes, other groups used the auditorium. The Carmel Bach Festival was one of them. The auditorium had a special roof design by architect Columbus J. Ryland. M. J. Murphy built it.
Becoming an Arts Center
By 1964, the Sunset School needed big repairs. It also needed more space. So, the school district decided to sell it.
The City of Carmel bought the school for $550,000 in 1965. The city wanted to turn it into a performing arts center. Most people in Carmel voted yes to this plan. The old school was then renamed the Sunset Center.
Managing the Center
The Cultural Commission of Carmel City Council looked after the new center. The first director was Cole Weston, a photographer. He used to be a student at the school.
Over the years, other directors managed the center. Frank Riley, a director in 1970, said it was hard to change the building. He said it was built as a school, not an arts center. In 1998, the Sunset Center was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Modern Upgrades
From 2001 to 2002, the theater got a big makeover. The City of Carmel and private donors worked together. They spent a lot of money to make it better.
In 2003, a special sound system was added. It was called LARES. Before this, the auditorium sometimes made it hard for performers to hear themselves. A famous actor, Christopher Plummer, once joked about needing a "real theater." The new sound system helped make the sound clearer.
Who Runs It Now?
In 2002, the city created a non-profit group to run the center. This group helps manage all the shows and activities. Christine Sandin became the executive director in 2011.
Besides the main theater, the Sunset Center has other cool spaces. There's a photography gallery, pottery studios, and dance studios. It's home to groups like the Carmel Adult School Pottery Studio and the Center for Photographic Art. Many local arts groups also perform there.
From 2017 to 2022, the Sunset Center also helped manage the nearby Forest Theater.
Concerts and Recordings
The Sunset Center has hosted many amazing concerts. Some of these performances were even recorded and sold! Here are a few famous ones:
- Concert by the Sea, 1956, by Erroll Garner
- Concert by the Sea, 1959, by Cal Tjader Sextet – This recording includes an early version of "Afro Blue" by Mongo Santamaría.
