Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium

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.[4] 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][5]

Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium is located in Shreveport Downtown
Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Location705 Elvis Presley Boulevard (formerly Grand Avenue), Shreveport, Louisiana
Coordinates 32°30′29″N 93°45′11″W
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1929
Built byAshton Glassell Company, Inc.
ArchitectJones, Roessle, Olschner & Wiener
Architectural styleArt Deco
Part ofShreveport Commercial Historic District (ID82002760)
NRHP reference No.91000624[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 28, 1991
Designated NHLOctober 6, 2008[2]
Designated CPMay 16, 1997[3]

The building also became a contributing property of Shreveport Commercial Historic District when its boundaries were increased on May 16, 1997.[3]

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.[6]

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).[7] 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.[8]

Renovations

The auditorium underwent renovations from 1994 through 2004. Recent improvements to the auditorium have included air conditioning, renovated restrooms, installation of ramps and an elevator.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  3. "Shreveport Commercial Historic District" (PDF). State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  4. Brock, Eric J.: "Municipal Auditorium Now Being Restored." The Times, 1994-09-17
  5. Patricia Duncan; Jody Cook & Caridad de la Vega (March 2007). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium" (PDF). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. National Register of Historic Places nomination form, 1991
  7. "Frank Page Obituary". Shreveport Times. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  8. Eric J. Brock (1966-2011), "Louisiana Hayride Gave Elvis His First Boost," Shreveport Times, 1999-05-15
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