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Stockton History
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| Stockton
Memorial Civic Auditorium
Center Street
Era: 1969
Photographer: Leonard Covello
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In October, 1920, a bond election was held in order to raise funds
to purchase a site and construct a Memorial Auditorium in Stockton.
The City had been considering the necessity for a large facility
to house community events for many years. Following World War I,
when plans were being made to commemorate the Stockton men who had
lost their lives in the war, it was proposed that an auditorium
be built. Many sites were considered, with the final decision being
to create a Civic Center with a central plaza surrounded by the
City Hall, Library, and the Civic Auditorium. Existing buildings
were condemned and sold and removed from the site on McLeod Lake.
On July 11, 1924, contracts for the construction were awarded. Three
architectural firms were selected to act as an Architectural Commission
to prepare plans and supervise construction. One firm later withdrew
and Glenn Allen and Wright and Satterlee undertook the entire task.
W.J. Wright was appointed the Supervising Architect. The design
seems to have been by Glenn Allen. The general contractor was Frank
Tucker.
The outside walls of the building are brick, with cement plaster
finish in imitation of Indiana limestone. The interior partition
walls are brick, reinforced concrete or metal lath and plaster.
The structural parts of the roof and balcony are reinforced concrete.
The arena floors are white maple over concrete sub-floor. The roof
is of "Armso" iron over felt.
When the building was dedicated, it included two bronze tablets
in the lobby, with the inscriptions: "To the men of Stockton,
California who gave their lives in the World War" from
the Women of Stockton; and "To the men of San Joaquin County
who gave their lives in the World War" from the Board of
Supervisors.
Approximately 3,000 people can be accommodated in the Auditorium.
The entire rear of the building is occupied by a large stage (45'
x 96') and originally included twelve dressing rooms, nine committee rooms, a press room
and two dressing rooms for the lecture room stage.
The inscription on the building was written by City Clerk Albertis
L. Banks. It says: "Tomorrow and forever, the people of
Stockton will hold in memory the valor of their sons who, on land
and sea, at home and abroad, served their country in defense of
liberty."
The completed building was accepted by the city on November 4, 1925,
and dedicated on Veteran's Day that same year.
The Auditorium has served the community of Stockton as a site for
all sorts of patriotic, civic and social events. In 1990, the building
was designated a Stockton Historic Landmark by the City Council.
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Photo
and information courtesy of the
Bank
of Stockton Photo Collection. |
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Stockton,
CA 
