Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium

Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Location 705 Elvis Presley Avenue (formerly Grand Avenue), Shreveport, Louisiana
Coordinates 32°30′28″N 93°45′10″W / 32.50778°N 93.75278°W / 32.50778; -93.75278Coordinates: 32°30′28″N 93°45′10″W / 32.50778°N 93.75278°W / 32.50778; -93.75278
Area 2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built 1929
Architect Jones, Roessle, Olschner & Wiener; Ashton Glassell Co., Inc.
Architectural style Art Deco
NRHP Reference # 91000624
Significant dates
Added to NRHP May 28, 1991[1]
Designated NHL October 6, 2008[2]

Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium is a historic performance and meeting venue at 705 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is an Art Deco building constructed between 1926 and 1929 during the administration of Mayor Lee Emmett Thomas as a memorial to the servicemen of World War I.[3] In 1991, the auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on October 6, 2008, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.[2][4]

Design

The building was designed by architects Samuel G. Wiener, Sr., and Seymour Van Os, both of the firm of Jones, Roessle, Olschner & Wiener of Shreveport. Contractor for construction was the Ashton Glassell Company, also of Shreveport.[5]

Stage of Stars Museum

The Municipal Memorial Auditorium houses the Stage of Stars Museum, and a 3,200-seat auditorium, which is used for concerts, family shows, Broadway plays, boxing, and other special events. It is nationally significant, and was designated a National Historic Landmark, for hosting the Louisiana Hayride radio program, hosted by Frank Page (1925-2013).[6] During its heyday, from 1948 to 1960, the program spawned the careers of some of the greatest names in American Country and Rockabilly music. The Hayride regularly featured performers, such as Hank Williams, Slim Whitman, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, and Elvis Presley, who got his start at this venue.[7]

Renovations

The auditorium has been undergoing renovations since 1994. Recent improvements to the auditorium have included air conditioning, renovated restrooms, installation of ramps and an elevator. A fully restored auditorium is pending.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
  3. ↑ Brock, Eric J.: "Municipal Auditorium Now Being Restored." The Times, 1994-09-17
  4. ↑ Patricia Duncan; Jody Cook & Caridad de la Vega (March 2007). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium" (pdf). National Park Service.
  5. ↑ National Register of Historic Places nomination form, 1991
  6. ↑ "Frank Page Obituary". Shreveport Times. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  7. ↑ Eric J. Brock (1966-2011), "Louisiana Hayride Gave Elvis His First Boost," Shreveport Times, 1999-05-15
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