Kaiser Convention Center
| Kaiser Convention Center | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Oakland Auditorium |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts[1] |
| Location | Oakland, California |
| Address | 10 10th St. |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John J. Donovan |
The Kaiser Convention Center is a historic, publicly owned multi-purpose arena in Oakland, California. The facility includes a 5,492-seat arena, a large theater, and a large ballroom.[2] The building is #27 on the list of Oakland Historic Landmarks.[3]
Contents |
[edit] History
The Beaux-Arts style landmark was built in 1914; the architect was John J. Donovan.[3] Originally known as the Oakland Auditorium, it was renamed in honor of Henry J. Kaiser after a 1984 renovation.
The city closed the facility in 2006 and its future is uncertain.[1] In 2006, Oakland voters defeated a ballot proposition advocating a library space in the building.
The facility was owned by the City of Oakland until 2011, when it was sold to the local redevelopment agency for $28 million.[4] However, the redevelopment agency was dissolved by the State of California in 2012,[5] so ownership will revert to the city of Oakland.
[edit] Location
The building is located next to the Oakland Museum, near Laney College and Lake Merritt. Parking at the building is very limited, which affects the building's viability as a major event space.
[edit] Notable events
In the 1950s and 1960s the Roller Derby played there hundreds of times. The auditorium hosted the Oakland Symphony Orchestra until 1972, and the arena was home to the Oakland Skates roller hockey team in 1996.
For almost 70 years, from 1919 until 1987, the arena was home to the annual Christmas Pageant (later the Oakland Children's Holiday Pageant) involving at least 1,700 youngsters from 70 city schools. The organizer, professional ballerina and dance teacher Louise Jorgensen,[6] went to each school to train the children for their role as elves, toys, poinsettias or fairies.[7]
From 1985-1989, the Grateful Dead, an American rock band, performed at the Convention Center 34 times, and would typically perform "runs" of shows in which the band would perform several shows over the course of three to four days.[8][9]
Elvis Presley performed at the Convention Center on June 3, 1956 and again on October 27, 1957.
In January 2012, Occupy Oakland stated that they were moving to reclaim this abandoned space for the people.[10] The action and subsequent incidents that day resulted in over 300 arrests by the Oakland Police Department.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Phillips, Ryan (February 13, 2012). "Once the Center of Civic Life, Former Oakland Auditorium Now Vacant with Future Still Uncertain", San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ Ward, Jennifer Inez (June 28, 2011). "Historic Kaiser Convention Center's Future Remains Unknown", Oakland Local. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ a b Oakland historic landmarks
- ^ Johnson, Chip (July 25, 2011). "Oakland Budget Saved by Bizarre Building Transfer", San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ [1] "City of Oakland Minimizes Job Losses Following Adoption of Amended Budget to Close $28 Million Deficit from Elimination of Redevelopment", City of Oakland. February 23, 2012
- ^ Louise Jorgensen obituary, San Francisco Chronicle, June 17, 1995
- ^ "A Beloved Pageant: Oakland event still stirs memories, hearts of those who danced in it, San Francisco Chronicle, December 28, 1998
- ^ Grateful Dead ticket stubs. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^ Internet Archive - Grateful Dead (audio archives). Retrieved May 2009.
- ^ Baker, David R., and Ho, Vivian (January 29, 2012). "Oakland Police, Occupy Protesters Clash — 100 Held", San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ "Oakland Assesses City Hall Damage after Occupy Break-in", MSNBC, January 28, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
[edit] External links
- Kaiser Convention Center is at coordinates 37°47′51″N 122°15′42″W / 37.797522°N 122.261562°WCoordinates: 37°47′51″N 122°15′42″W / 37.797522°N 122.261562°W
