Today is the 80th anniversary of Asheville’s Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. HBD, Thomas Wolfe (the space – the author’s birthday is Oct. 3). 🎂 It’s also the second week into the City’s naming rights agreement with Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville (formerly the U.S. Cellular Center and the Asheville Civic Center).

Harrah’s Cherokee made a $5.75 million bid for the naming rights and was selected by City Council last May for a 10-year contract. The name change will be rolling out over the next couple of weeks – including on a redesigned website. And, $750,000 in funds is earmarked for renovations at the Wolfe.

While that funding will go to some of the needed improvements at the auditorium, there’s more to do – the auditorium was last renovated in the 1970s and needs major updates to acoustics, seating, facilities + more.

On Jan. 15 at 6 p.m., the City is holding a free public event in the Wolfe to highlight a potential large-scale renovation to the historic theater – which will include a presentation of the conceptual design from architectural firm Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. (ESA), a proposed budget, info on future programming opportunities, and a moderated panel. And, a new community organization, Transform the Wolfe, has formed to help raise awareness, support, and funding for the full, likely multimillion dollar redesign.

To celebrate the auditorium’s birthday, we’re using this #WayBackWednesday to give you all the deets on the history + future of the space –

DYK: The Thomas Wolfe Auditorium has 80+ days of booked events. It’s the home space for the Asheville Symphony, and hosts ballets, concerts, live comedy + other events. It seats 2,431 audience members.

City Auditorium

Built in 1902 by the Asheville Auditorium Company as a “hall of accommodations and large assemblies.”
Burned down in Oct. 1903.

Municipal Auditorium

Built in 1904 using some funds from the City Auditorium insurance settlement.
In 1911, the City of Asheville became the building’s owners.
Condemned in 1931 and was demolished in 1937 because of safety issues.

Asheville Auditorium

Opened in 1940, and funded through the federal Public Works Administration at the end of the Great Depression.
20,000 square feet with a 3,000 person capacity.
Designed for performances, athletic events, conventions + more.
Designed in the Art Deco style by Lindsey M. Gudger, and considered one of the greatest buildings in that style at the time.

Asheville Civic Center

Approved in 1968 by Asheville’s City Council, it incorporated the Asheville Auditorium and added an exhibition hall, an arena for large events, banquet rooms + more.
Groundbreaking took place in June of 1970, and the Civic Center opened in 1974.
The newly-named Thomas Wolfe Auditorium opened on Dec. 13, 1975 with a performance of “Christmas Concerto” and “The Nutcracker” by the Asheville Symphony.
The auditorium was also the home of the Mountain Dance & Folk Festival until 1998.

When the Civic Center became the U.S. Cellular Center in 2010, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium received a few much-needed improvements, including a lobby expansion.

Quiz

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