Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-27
AMERICAN AUDITORIUMS
By Frederic j. Haskin

hinges on the provision of proper acous-
tic properties in the proposed struc-
ture. Professor Heinrich Hammer,
celebrated musician who has started
fifty symphony orchestras all over the
world. is backing this scheme, 1t Is
also suggested that the new building
should provide for an armory, riding
academy and a suitable arena for in-
door athletic meets. subscriptions ag-
gregating q large amount Will depend
upon provision for these features.
Two of the newest auditoriums In
the United States are located at st.
Louis and st. Paul. The Coliseum at
st. Louis was occupied one of the first
times by Mr.. Taft In addressing an au-
dience of 1900 last year. The ST. Paul
auditorium, seating 10000 people and
costing $460,000. Is said to be one OF
the most modern in the country. 1t
has movable wall, stage and prosce-
MUM arch, so that the hall may be
made large or small, according to re-
quirements,
The Democratic party is a sort of
promoter of auditorium construction.
Five years ago a fine auditorium was
built at Kansas City to accommodate
the national Democratic convention.
Seating $1,000 persons, this building has
an automatic sprinkler system for fire
protection purposes, being the only
building of the sort so equipped 1t Is
claimed. AS result of the installa-
ton of that improvement it is said that
the Kansas City auditorium will pay
for itself in reduced insurance within
five years. Again, last year an audito-
rum was built at Denver especially
for the benefit of the Democratic con-
vention at cost of s550000. 1t can
seat $4,000 people and it's exits are so
numerous that 1t can be completely
emptied in two minutes. Besides con-
ventions 1t is used for roller skating,
horse and stock shows, dancing festi-
walls, etc.
Perhaps the most historic auditorium
in the country is Madison Square gar
den, New York city. There the great
est orators of the world have addressed
vast audiences for many years. The
building has also seen innumerable
horse shows, bicycle races, cavalry
drills, and all sorts of other gatherings
Carnegie hall and Cooper union are
also used for convention purposes in
the metropolis. The New York hippo
drome, with it's enormous stage and
artificial lake. is familiar to every Wis
itor
The Coliseum at Chicago is known to
almost every politician in the country,
as both political parties have held
their national conventions there at In
tervals during a number of years. 1t
can seat upward of $4,000 people. The
Annex connected Herewith has floor
space of IL 400 square feet. The Coli
scum is considered out of date by many
and it is said that a newer and greater
auditorium will be built in Chicago.
Philadelphia has long felt the need of
modern auditorium seating 10000 or
more. In the past that city has erect
ed temporary buildings for such pur-
poses from time to time.
In Boston Mechanics hall has re-
placed the ancient and historic Faneuil
hall as a place for political and other
gatherings. Mechanics hall seats 5000,
which is not considered large enough
for "the Hub" so the Fenway garden
has been projected to cost 100000 and
earn II per cent dividend from rentals
for conventions, horse shows, circuscs.
operas, concerts and an ice skating
rink, which can be attended by audi
ences of 1900 each.
Cincinnatfs Music hall has been the
scene of many notable conventions, po-
litical gatherings and music festivals.
1t can hold 5000. Los Angeles has
probably the only auditorium building
constructed entirely of concrete. 1t
cost $750,000. 1t is comparatively small.
however, only seating 1000, but from
the standpoint of acoustics, ventilation
and lighting 1t has been pronounced
one of the NEST successful auditoriums
ever built. The auditorium at Salt
Lake City, famed for its great organ.
has another wonderful feature-its
dome, said to have been designed by
the old Mormon prophet, Brigham
Young. This dome has no pillars or
supports of any kind. The acoustic
properties of this structure are so fine
that If a pin is dropped or a person
rubs his hands together the sound can
be plainly heard on the opposite side of
the hall.
Milwaukee is building a big audito-
rum and Atlantic City is contemplate
ing doing so. Ocean Grove, it's sister
resort on the Jersey coast, has hall
seating 10000 people, which has proved
great success. Ocean Groves next
door neighbor, Asbury Park, has a
similar project on foot. Some OF the
cities which have large auditoriums or
similar halls are Topeka, Indianapolis.
Scranton and Harrisburg, Pa; Column
bus, Ohio; Springfield and Peoria, ILL.,.
Louisville. Des Moines, Chattanooga.
Dayton, Oklahoma City. Cleveland.
Omaha and Spokane. The list is con-.
stantly growinf; larger.
Whether the auditorium idea devel-
oped from the convention habit, or the
convention habit followed the construc-
ton of auditoriums, the two are now
travelling hand in hand throughout the
length and breadth of the land. It is
estimated that there are at least 5000
conventions held every year in the
United States. Suppose 500 people at
tend each convention-and that proba-
bly, is a fair estimate. If each one of
the 100000 delegates and visitors ac-
companying them spends $25, the enor-
nous total of $62,500,000 is made yearly
on account of conventions. Is 1t any
wonder that there is a great and grow
ing demand for auditoriums to accom-
modate the conventions and warmer
competition to secure conventions for
the auditoriums?
Copyright 1909. by Frederic j Haskln.)