Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Powell Hall

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Owner
  
St. Louis Symphony

Opened
  
1925

Architect
  
Rapp & Rapp

Phone
  
+1 314-534-1700

Type
  
Concert hall

Renovated
  
1968

Capacity
  
2,683

Powell Hall

Architectural style
  
Late Gothic Revival, Gothic, Late Victorian

Address
  
718 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA

Similar
  
Fox Theatre, The Sheldon, Peabody Opera House, The Muny, Jefferson National Expansio

Stl symphony powell hall


Powell Hall, formerly known as the St. Louis Theater, and Powell Symphony Hall, is the home of the St. Louis Symphony. It was named after Walter S. Powell, a local St. Louis businessman, whose widow donated $1 million towards the purchase and use of this hall by the symphony. The hall seats 2,683.

Contents

The building is a contributing property of the Midtown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Powell hall st louis


History

The building was originally called The St. Louis Theater. It was built in 1925 with 4,100 seats, designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp. The theater spent the first 40 years of its existence as a stage for live vaudeville performances as well as motion pictures. The last movie shown in the old theater was The Sound of Music in 1966. At that time, the building was acquired by the Symphony Society for $500,000, through a gift from Oscar Johnson, Jr.. After spending an additional $2 million to update and renovate the theater, the hall re-opened in January 1968 as the new home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

The building is said to be haunted by the ghost of a man named George. He is supposedly seen in a white suit and white hat and is thought to be that of a former vaudevillian. He is said to play with the lights and the elevators.

Carl Stalling, famous for providing the music to Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes animated series, began his musical career as an organist at the St Louis Theater.

Location

Powell Hall

718 North Grand Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63103

References

Powell Hall Wikipedia