Spreckels Theater Building, San Diego, California

Infobox_nrhp | name =Spreckels Theatre Building
nrhp_type =

---

caption = The Spreckels Theatre Building in July 2006
location= San Diego, California
lat_degrees =
long_degrees =
area =
built =1912
architect= Harrison Albright
architecture= Chicago-style
added = 1975
governing_body = Private
refnum=75000467cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2006-03-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] The Spreckels Theater Building was built in San Diego, California in 1912. It was touted as "the first modern commercial playhouse west of the Mississippi" [http://www.sciarc.edu/v5/about/freightyard.php] .

=Architecture=

Architect Harrison Albright designed the Spreckels Theater for the city's premier philanthropist, sugar heir John D. Spreckels. The building, which opened on August 23, 1912, was constructed to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal. It is constructed of reinforced concrete, concrete panels and terra cotta. The six-story building has a marquee over the main entrance. The theater is a 1,915-seat auditorium with an ornate Baroque interior. The number of seats was chosen to correspond with the Panama-California Exposition year (1915). The stage is 82 feet x 58 feet, and was one of the largest stages ever constructed.

=Today=

San Diego's Spreckels Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/] . It continues to operate as a theater, as well as offer office space in the central downtown area of the city. It is located at 121 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101.

References