War Memorial Opera House facts for kids
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 War Memorial Opera House
Location in San Francisco
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| Address | 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, California United States |
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| Coordinates | 37°46′43″N 122°25′15″W / 37.7786°N 122.4208°W |
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| Owner | San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center |
| Type | Opera house |
| Capacity | 3,126 seated 200 standing |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1932 |
| Rebuilt | 1993 |
| Architect | Arthur Brown Jr., G. Albert Lansburgh |
| Tenants | |
| San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet | |
The War Memorial Opera House is a famous opera house in San Francisco, California. It is located on Van Ness Avenue, right across from the San Francisco City Hall.
This building is part of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center. It has been the home of the San Francisco Opera ever since it first opened in 1932.
The Opera House is also famous for a big historical event. In April 1945, it was where the San Francisco Conference took place. This was the very first meeting of the newly formed United Nations.
Building Design
In 1927, the city decided to build the first opera house owned by a city in the United States. They raised $4 million to pay for its design and construction.
The main architects for the building were Arthur Brown Jr. and G. Albert Lansburgh. Arthur Brown Jr. also designed the nearby San Francisco City Hall. G. Albert Lansburgh was known for designing theaters.
The Opera House was finished in 1932. Its design is classic and serious, with tall columns. This style was chosen to honor everyone who served in World War I.
Inside, there is a grand entrance hall. It has a high, curved ceiling with decorative panels. Staircases at each end lead to upper levels.
The main theater space has a huge chandelier made of aluminum and glass. It hangs under a blue, arched ceiling. The arch around the stage is decorated with golden sculptures. The theater can seat 3,146 people. There is also standing room for 200 more behind the main seating areas.
History of the Opera House
The San Francisco Symphony used to perform many of its concerts here. They played in the Opera House from 1932 until 1980.
In the spring of 1945, a very important event happened here. The United Nations held its first big meeting, the San Francisco Conference, at the Opera House. The UN Charter, which is like the UN's rulebook, was later written and signed next door in the Herbst Theatre.
Six years later, in 1951, another important document was signed here. This was the Treaty of San Francisco, which officially ended the war with Japan. It was signed both here and in the Herbst Theatre.
Over the years, the Opera House needed more space. It didn't have enough offices or rehearsal rooms. In 1974, The Pointer Sisters became the first pop music group to perform at the theater.
In 1979, the backstage area was made bigger. Then, in 1981, a new part of the building was added. This new section provided more space for sets, coaches, and dancers. It also created more office space. Around the same time, the Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall opened nearby. It has a stage the same size as the Opera House stage.
In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake caused a lot of damage to the Opera House. In 1992, architects and theater experts were hired to fix the building. They also made it stronger to protect it from future earthquakes.
During this time, many improvements were made, thanks to private donations:
- A new, very advanced lighting system was installed. At the time, it was one of the best in the world.
- New restrooms were added. These were badly needed since the building was first built.
- An underground area was built beneath the nearby plaza. This created more dressing rooms and backstage facilities.
See also
In Spanish: War Memorial Opera House para niños
