Modern Day Interior
DATES OF INTEREST
1902 - The first city
auditorium called the Asheville Auditorium, opens its doors at the
intersection of Haywood and Flint streets. A privately owned
facility, it was built by popular subscription.
1903 - The Asheville Auditorium burns following a performance of
Sergeant Kitty.
1904 - The first Gymnasium for African American schools was built by
John H. Michael.
1904 - The Asheville Auditorium is rebuilt.
1909 - The city assumes
ownership of the Asheville Auditorium and the venue welcomes major
entertainers over the next twenty year, including Sarah Bernhardt,
Lionel and John Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Harry Houdini, Al Jolson and
Will Rogers.
1931 - June, the
Asheville City Council issues a report calling the Asheville
Auditorium a "serious menace" and a "dangerous trap" because of fire
hazards. The Council votes to condemn the building.
1940 - January 1940, the
new Municipal Auditorium opens. The structure is funded in part by
the Depression-era Works Progress Administration and gives a boost
to the city during poor economic times. The new design is poor, at
best, as the acoustics pick up the noise of wooden chairs on wooden
floors and the loud steam radiators and the large flat floor makes
viewing the performers difficult.
1974 - The auditorium is
redesigned and named the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Historical Dates of
Interest from
http://www.ashevillenative.com/history.html
Some Post Card Images
from http://www.cardcow.com
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