Spreckels Theatre Building
historic place
The Spreckels Theatre Building, a historic place in San Diego, California, was erected in 1912, opening on August 23rd. Sugar magnate John D. Spreckels commissioned its construction. His intention was to commemorate the Panama Canal's opening and the 1915 Pan American Exposition in San Diego. Designed by architect Harrison Albright, the building was touted as the first modern commercial playhouse west of the Mississippi. It featured a Baroque interior and an auditorium that originally seated 1,915 people, a number chosen to honor the 1915 Exposition year. Its notably large stage famously hosted productions like "Ben Hur," complete with live horses. Initially a live performance venue, the theatre later operated as a movie house starting in 1931. In 1962, Jacquelyn Metzger Littlefield purchased the building and restored it for stage productions. The Spreckels Theatre Building was designated a National Historic Site on August 4, 1972, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This building remains a significant landmark in San Diego's cultural history.