St. Paul, MINNESOTA - Auditorium & Convention Center

Description: St. Paul, MINNESOTA - Auditorium & Convention Center - 1909: The St. Paul (Municipal) Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota was built between 1906 and 1907 and was located in downtown St. Paul between W 5th and W 4th streets, west of the St. Paul Hotel. Always in competition with nearby Minneapolis, the city began construction of an addition to the St. Paul Auditorium which would consist of a much larger arena adjacent to the existing building. The addition was designed by renowned African American municipal architect Clarence W. Wigington, and built between 1931 and 1932 as the Civic Center. The facilities were used to host concerts, conventions, circuses, ice shows, rodeos and sporting events. It could accommodate seating from 8,000 to 15,000 with a secondary auditorium for legitimate theater and stage shows of 2,800. The rink and floor space was 100 feet by 200 feet and a ceiling height of 88 feet. The legitimate stage had a proscenium opening 60 feet wide and 40 feet high with 53 feet from the foot lights to the back wall. The Auditorium has hosted some of the most recognizable performers. As a hockey rink it had the city's first artificial ice rink and was one of the University of Minnesota hockey team's home rinks from the 1930s until 1950s. The Lakers used it to play basketball when their regular home in the Minneapolis Auditorium was unavailable. In 1951 the general manager, Edward Furni, referred to it as somewhat of "white elephant" in the summer months but found much success with the resurrection of summer music series. On May 13th, Mother's Day, in 1956 Elvis, Scotty, Bill and DJ started their first Midwest tour with an afternoon appearance at the St. Paul Auditorium and at a show in Minneapolis. The old Auditorium was razed in 1982. In 1984 the former and remaining arena was renovated and renamed for Roy Wilkins, a St. Paul native, Civil rights leader and former director of the NAACP. It has since hosted acts such as The Grateful Dead, David Bowie, KISS, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan (himself born and raised in Minnesota) among others. On January 1st in 1985 the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts opened, built partly on the site of the original St. Paul Auditorium. This Divided Back Era postcard, copyrighted in 1907 but mailed in 1909, is in good condition, but there is edge wear. Published by Wright, Barrett & Stillwell Company. St. Paul, Minn. No. 105.

Price: 8.5 USD

Location: Brooklyn, New York

End Time: 2024-12-02T04:01:14.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD