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Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium

History

The Orlando Municipal Auditorium was designed in 1925 by Cruz and Parrish, Architects. The classic revival design had an interior arrangement adapted from the Roman Coliseum. It was a very functional design constructed of brick, steel and concrete by James Peterson Construction Company at a cost of $175,000. The original building boasted a seating capacity of 2,842.


View program.

The February 1927 grand opening of the Orlando Municipal Auditorium featured the 1st Grand Opera Week from February 21st to 26th. The opera Aida performed by the La Scala Grand Opera Company began the week.

February 21 – Aida
February 22 – Lucia di Lammermoor
February 23 – Il Trovatore
February 25 – Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci
February 26 – Faust

A list of coming events includes the Anti Saloon League, University of Florida Glee Club, Edgar Guest, Galli Gurci, Dennishawn Dancers, Elks Minstrels, Highland Lassie Kiltie Band, Arthur Pryors’ Band, and Raold Amundsen.

The 1930’s

The expression, “The show must go on,” is well known theatrical credo from the 1800s and it also applied during the Great Depression at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium. According to the Orlando Sentinel, theatrical performances were “sponsored by the music committee of the Orlando chamber of commerce with the assistance of the recreation department as part of the tourist entertainment program.”

A photo from the Orlando Public Library’s collection of historic Orlando buildings, groups, and events, captures the cast of one such performance – Gilbert and Sullivan opera H.M.S. Pinafore featured at the auditorium February 3-4, 1930.

H. M. S. Pinafore cast, 1930 performance.

An Orlando Sunday Sentinel article published February 3, 1930, provided a history of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera and noted that, for the Orlando production, the “costumes and scenery have been imported from New York and the performances will be staged on plane equal to that of the professional companies.”

The Pinafore cast – composed entirely of local artists, the Festival Chorus formed in 1928, along with the 18-piece orchestra comprised of members of Winter Park Symphony orchestra, were under the direction of Dr. Clarence C. Nice.

Renovations

There were several renovations in the 1950s and 1960s in an effort to make the space more user friendly but there were limitations that needed to be addressed.

On August 17,1975, the grand plans for a “face lift” for the old Municipal Auditorium were published in the Orlando Sentinel by staff writer Dean Johnson, including a new seating plan and architectural rendering of the garden lobby with promenade and an elevator.

Section perspective of new main seating plan and garden lobby.

Section perspective, above, shows the new main seating plan and the garden lobby on the left.      

Designed by Tom Price and architect Don Duer, this was the first effort to provide Orlando with a functional theatre / concert hall.   (From Grand Opening brochure 1978.)

Orlando Municipal Auditorium Gala Celebration

The updated and expanded Municipal Auditorium was opened to the public during a Gala Celebration that took place May 5-14, 1978. A booklet created to memorialize the Gala Celebration was presented to every person attending one of the Gala Events. It features a bio of Robert Spencer Carr, better known to Orlandoans as Bob Carr, a photograph of the buildings before the remodel and an artist’s depiction of the newly remodeled structure and information on all the updates and upgrades completed. Quoting from the letter of Mayor Carl T. Langford in the front of the booklet:

“Whether you are attending the opening night or any evening of this Gala Opening, the City of Orlando extends a heartfelt welcome to you. The purpose of this Gala Celebration is to expose the Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium to the maximum number of people whether your tastes are Symphony or Country, Ballet or Rock. In other words, “Up Beat, Downtown, Something for Everyone.” We hope you’ll be provided with entertainment to your liking! This is your auditorium — for the privilege of all Central Floridians to enjoy.”

The booklet is in the Orlando Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium file at the Orlando Public Library, or you can peruse it here.

The Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium was later renamed the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, hosting performances of the most popular musical productions of all time and contemporary performance like Stomp. Peruse the Playbills from well-known Broadway plays below, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Death Trap, Man of La Mancha, Stomp, State Fair, Miss Saigon, Tap Dogs and West Side Story.

Peruse the images and documents below under ATTACHMENTS.

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ATTACHMENTS

February 1930, Cast of H.M.S. Pinafore

February 1930, Cast of H.M.S. Pinafore on the stage at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium.

American Ballet Theatre - Orlando Municipal Auditorium

This is the program for the American Ballet Theatre performance on Wednesday, March 29, 1967 at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (later the...

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Program - Orlando Municipal Auditorium

Program for the Thursday, February 13, 1969, performance of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (later the Bob Carr...

Orlando Sentinel Architect's Rendition

August 17, 1975, Orlando Sentinel Architect's Rendition.

Dedication Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium

The updated and expanded Municipal Auditorium was opened to the public during a Gala Celebration that took place May 5-14, 1978. A...

Bob Carr Dedication

Photo of Bob Carr in the Dedication program.

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium - Model.

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium - Main Seating Plan.

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium - side view.

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium

1978 Brochure on the New Bob Carr Auditorium - Site plan.

May 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Bob Carr.

Program cover for the May 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Bob Carr. See selected pages from the program below...

From the program for the May 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

From the program for the May 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Bob Carr. Mentions OCLS for our Discover Broadway...

Discover Broadway at the Library May 1996.

Advertisement for the Discover Broadway at the Library event for Jesus Christ Superstar in May 1996.

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February 23, 1927 - La Scala

February 23, 1927 - La Scala Grand Opera Company


February 21, 1927 - Aida

February 21, 1927 - Aida


February 22, 1927 - Lucia di Lammermoor

February 22, 1927 - Lucia di Lammermoor


February 23, 1927 - Il Trovatore

February 23, 1927 - Il Trovatore


February 25, 1927 - Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci 

February 25, 1927 - Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci 


February 26, 1927 - Faust

February 26, 1927 - Faust


February 25, 1927 - Coming Events

February 25, 1927 - Coming Events


February 23, 1930 - Pinafore Cast

February 23, 1930 - Pinafore Cast


March 14, 1954 - Orlando Sentinel

Article in the Orlando Sentinel on March 14, 1954: "Poor old auditorium, finally someone cares."


Orlando Brief - Page 20 - Orlando Municipal Auditorium

Page 20 of the Orlando Brief includes photos of the Albertson Public Library and the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (Bob Carr Auditorium). The auditorium is hardly recognizable if you see it today as a facade was added to the front of the building that altered the entrance area many years ago.


Central Florida Civic Music Association - American Ballet Theatre 1968

This is the program for the American Ballet Theatre performance on Monday, January 15, 1968 at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (later the Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium).

Also included are the names of the staff for American Ballet Theatre, Central Florida Civic Music Committee executive committee, steering committee, board of directors, committees for 1967-1968 and the women's committee. Surnames of individuals listed include: Cooper, Duda, Martin, Lavin, Kingdon, Angel, Becton, Black, Carter, Eaddy, Maybarduk, Stanford, Taylor, West, Wittenstein, Barton, Gibson, Headley, Kirk, Miller, Savage, Saville, Stowers, Streep, Wood, Cisco-Smith, Dunham, Fague, Fatula, Kitchin, Lackey, Moore, Overstreet, Schweizer, Torrance, Alleman, Barker, Duncan, Eiselstein, Gallagher, Gilbert, Hogue, Orr, Yergey, Banks, Cooksley, Greene, Johnson, Mallory, Shinholzer, Voorhis, Pattishall, Martin, Ricker, Crampton, Hays, Yergey, Torrance, Drake, Villwock, Wittenstein, Gilbert, Antink.

The attached program is avaialable at the Orlando Public Library in the Florida Associations - Central Florida Civic Music Association file or you may peruse it here.


Central Florida Civic Music Association - Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Program for the Thursday, February 13, 1969, performance of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (later the Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium) with Sixten Ehrling conducting.

The program includes the Central Florida Civic Music Association Executive Committee members, Vice Presidents, Steering Committee members, Board of Directors, Board of Honorary Directors and Women's Committee Executive Board.

Surnames of those listed include: Schweizer, Lavin, Stowers, Angel, Maybarduk, Black, Carter, Kitchin, Stanford, Taylor, West, Wittenstein, Fague, Yergy, Duda, Eaddy, Cooper, Cisco-Smith,, Dunham, Martin, Fatula, Streep, Lackey, Moore, Overstreet, Cooper, Torrance, Alleman, Barker, Duncan, Eiselstein, Gallagher, Gilbert, Hogue, Orr, Headley, Kirk, Savage, Saville, Wood, Girardet, Fleming, Feather, Slutz, Simmons, Banks, Johnson, Mallory, Shinholzer, Phillips, Voorhis, Antink, Vickers, Martin, Crampton, Hays.

The program is part of the Florida Associations vertical file at the Orlando Public Library.


Proposed renovation information

Orlando Sentinel article, August 17, 1975, on the need to remodel the Municipal Auditorium.


Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium Dedication Gala Program

Mayor Bob Carr Municipal Auditorium Dedication Gala Program, May 5-14, 1978.


Grand Opening Brochure

Facts and figures on the history of the Municipal Auditorium and the remodel in 1978.


May 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Bob Carr.

Selected pages from the program for the May 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Bob Carr.


November 1996 - Deathtrap

Selected pages from the program for the November 1996 production of Ira Levin's Deathtrap at the Bob Carr.


January 1997 - West Side Story

January 1997 - West Side Story


February 1997 - Man of La Mancha

February 1997 - Man of La Mancha


April 1997 - Miss Saigon

April 1997 - Miss Saigon


July 1997 - Stomp

July 1997 - Stomp


September 1997 - Tap Dogs

September 1997 - Tap Dogs


November 1997 - Maria Callas Master Class

November 1997 - Maria Callas Master Class


December 1997 - State Fair

December 1997 - State Fair


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