Barnum Hall History |
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Barnum Hall Theater, originally called simply "the Auditorium," was built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to be the Civic Auditorium of Santa Monica. It was designed to be a cultural magnet for the community hosting concerts, plays, musicals, opera and ballet.  The theater was designed by the architecture firm of Marsh, Smith & Powell. Norman Marsh is perhaps best known for designing several prominent buildings in Venice, California, including the Parkhurst Building, and working on plans for the city's arcaded streets and canals. One of Barnum Hall's designers, Henry Alfred Buxton, also worked on the design of the Grauman's Chinese Theater. Santa Monica embraced the building by funding two separate bond issues to complete the theater. However, they still ran out of funds and, as a consequence, the seats in the upper balcony were donated Victorian seats from the 1890s. Originally, the theater was painted in shades of green, in the period's deco style, with green quarry tile in the lobby and contrasting darker green carpeting and seat upholstery. At its completion, the theater was one of the finest Art Deco theaters of its time. It is a textbook example of the style, Streamline Moderne. The foyer of Barnum Hall displays a handsome tile mosaic fifteen by seventeen feet in size, called "The Vikings." The mosaic and the mural on the asbestos stage curtain are the work of a Federal Art Project during the WPA days. The work was directed by an eminent Santa Monica artist, Stanton MacDonald-Wright, who used the Viking theme to emulate the name chosen many years before by the student body of Santa Monica High School as the name of its athletic teams.The auditorium was renamed Barnum Hall in 1944, when it was dedicated to the memory of Samohi's distinguished former principal, William F. Barnum. In 1953, Barnum Hall was supplanted by the newly constructed Santa Monica Civic Auditorium as the main site for cultural events. Barnum Hall underwent an extensive renovation from 1999-2004, with funding from local and state bond measures and nearly $1 million dollars in donations from the community and Samohi alumni. The work returned Barnum Hall to being one of the best school auditoriums in the state. Among the outstanding features of the interior are its 1,250 seats, rich carpeting, concealed lighting, and a full complement of stage equipment. The size of the stage and the extensive equipment permit the production of all types of dramatic or musical performances. The last stage in the renovation was completed when a restored 1921 Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ was installed in Barnum Hall. The first organ did not survive the Northridge Earthquake. In addition to the plays, musicals and other events presented by the high school, many other professional theatrical and musical organizations make use of the auditorium for civic events. |
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| Material for this history taken from “A History of the Santa Monica Schools” by Donald M. Cleland and “Queen of the Setting Sun – A History of Santa Monica High School” by Bob Holliday. |
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Stanton MacDonald-Wright Mural at the Santa Monica Library
View Photographs of Barnum Hall’s Signature Art Deco Features
Hollywood High School: Another Art Deco Gem Designed by Barnum Hall Architects Marsh, Smith + Powell
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