Norfolk Municipal Auditorium was a 5,200 seat multi-purpose arena and music venue in Norfolk, Virginia, USA that opened in May 1943. The arena was constructed after the City of Norfolk and the military found a need to construct an entertainment venue in the city after the population of the city doubled between 1938 and 1941 as a result of World War II-related military buildup.[1]
The building was constructed with combined funds from the City of Norfolk, who gave $245,000, and the Military, who allocated $278,000 from the Federal War Fund. The building, designed by architect Clarence Neff, contained a 3,000-person auditorium and sports arena and a 1,800-person theater.
The City of Norfolk took full ownership of the facility in 1947.
Operationedit
The venue was host to a large variety of events: trade shows, conventions, industry events, concerts, high school and college graduations, plays, and the television studios of the predecessor to WTKR. Elvis Presley was one prominent act to play at the Norfolk Auditorium.
The venue also served as the alternate home to the William & Mary Indians basketball team; the Indians (now known as the Tribe) usually played one or two home games a year in Norfolk (away from their usual home at Blow Gymnasium in Williamsburg).
Decline and renovationedit
The building began to fall out of use with the opening of the modern Norfolk Scope Arena in 1971. William & Mary stopped playing games in Norfolk and Old Dominion University (formerly known as the College of William and Mary in Norfolk) began playing its basketball games at the ODU Fieldhouse on its campus.
Nonetheless, the building saw a massive renovation in 1993 in order for the Virginia Opera, which was founded in 1974 by a group of community leaders organized by Edythe Harrison, to make use of the auditorium's Center Theater. The renovation, which cost around $10 million, added "a dynamic new facade, a three story grand lobby with floor to ceiling windows, glittering chandeliers, and an enclosed elegant staircase to the grand foyer and balcony levels." The theater-portion of the theater, with a new seating capacity of 1,632, was henceforth known as the Harrison Opera House.
Current statusedit
The old gymnasium and arena, which is still visibly attached to the back of the renovated Opera House, is no longer in use and now serves as a storage and construction area for the Virginia Opera as well as the location for the Opera's administrative offices.
^"Norfolk Memorial Auditorium". Scotty Moore. 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
April 11, 2024
norfolk, municipal, auditorium, seat, multi, purpose, arena, music, venue, norfolk, virginia, that, opened, 1943, arena, constructed, after, city, norfolk, military, found, need, construct, entertainment, venue, city, after, population, city, doubled, between,. Norfolk Municipal Auditorium was a 5 200 seat multi purpose arena and music venue in Norfolk Virginia USA that opened in May 1943 The arena was constructed after the City of Norfolk and the military found a need to construct an entertainment venue in the city after the population of the city doubled between 1938 and 1941 as a result of World War II related military buildup 1 Norfolk Municipal AuditoriumNorfolk ArenaCoordinates36 51 30 N 76 17 23 W 36 85833 N 76 28972 W 36 85833 76 28972OwnerCity of NorfolkOperatorCity of NorfolkCapacity3 000ConstructionOpened1943Closed1993Construction cost 543 000TenantsWilliam amp Mary Indians alternate The building remains standing but has been converted into a storage and administrative facility for the adjoining Harrison Opera House Contents 1 History 1 1 Construction 1 2 Operation 1 3 Decline and renovation 1 4 Current status 2 See also 3 ReferencesHistory editConstruction edit The building was constructed with combined funds from the City of Norfolk who gave 245 000 and the Military who allocated 278 000 from the Federal War Fund The building designed by architect Clarence Neff contained a 3 000 person auditorium and sports arena and a 1 800 person theater The City of Norfolk took full ownership of the facility in 1947 Operation edit The venue was host to a large variety of events trade shows conventions industry events concerts high school and college graduations plays and the television studios of the predecessor to WTKR Elvis Presley was one prominent act to play at the Norfolk Auditorium The venue also served as the alternate home to the William amp Mary Indians basketball team the Indians now known as the Tribe usually played one or two home games a year in Norfolk away from their usual home at Blow Gymnasium in Williamsburg Decline and renovation edit The building began to fall out of use with the opening of the modern Norfolk Scope Arena in 1971 William amp Mary stopped playing games in Norfolk and Old Dominion University formerly known as the College of William and Mary in Norfolk began playing its basketball games at the ODU Fieldhouse on its campus Nonetheless the building saw a massive renovation in 1993 in order for the Virginia Opera which was founded in 1974 by a group of community leaders organized by Edythe Harrison to make use of the auditorium s Center Theater The renovation which cost around 10 million added a dynamic new facade a three story grand lobby with floor to ceiling windows glittering chandeliers and an enclosed elegant staircase to the grand foyer and balcony levels The theater portion of the theater with a new seating capacity of 1 632 was henceforth known as the Harrison Opera House Current status edit The old gymnasium and arena which is still visibly attached to the back of the renovated Opera House is no longer in use and now serves as a storage and construction area for the Virginia Opera as well as the location for the Opera s administrative offices See also editHarrison Opera House ODU Fieldhouse Norfolk Scope Norva Theatre Met ParkReferences edit Norfolk Memorial Auditorium Scotty Moore 2008 Retrieved February 7 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norfolk Municipal Auditorium amp oldid 1100141570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
