Kaiser Convention Center
| Kaiser Convention Center | |
|---|---|
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circa 1917
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| Former names | Oakland Civic Auditorium (1914-84) |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Location | Oakland, California |
| Address | 10 10th Street |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John J. Donovan |
Kaiser Convention Center is a historic, publicly owned multi-purpose arena located in Oakland, California. The facility includes a 5,492-seat arena, a large theater, and a large ballroom. The building is #27 on the list of Oakland Historic Landmarks.
The Beaux-Arts style landmark was built in 1914; the architect was John J. Donovan. Originally known as the Oakland Civic Auditorium, it was renamed in honor of Henry J. Kaiser after a 1984 renovation.
The city closed the facility in 2006 and its future is uncertain. In 2006, Oakland voters defeated a ballot proposition advocating a library space in the building.
The facility was owned by the City of Oakland until 2011, when it was sold to the local redevelopment agency for $28 million. However, the redevelopment agency was dissolved by the State of California in 2012, so ownership reverted to the city of Oakland.
The building is located next to the Oakland Museum, near Laney College and Lake Merritt.
Until 1941, Kaiser Arena hosted the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. In 1942, the Circus moved across the bay to the San Francisco Civic Auditorium and then in the mid-1960s to the Cow Palace
In the 1950s and 1960s the Roller Derby played there hundreds of times. The auditorium hosted the Oakland Symphony Orchestra until 1972, and the arena was home to the Oakland Skates roller hockey team in 1996.
For almost 70 years, from 1919 until 1987, the arena was home to the annual Christmas Pageant (later the Oakland Children's Holiday Pageant) involving at least 1,700 youngsters from 70 city schools. The organizer, professional ballerina and dance teacher Louise Jorgensen, went to each school to train the children for their role as elves, toys, poinsettias or fairies.
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