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 Official Souvenir 
 
 CLEVELAND 
 PUBLIC AUDITORIUM 
 
 CLEVELAND • OHIO 
 MCMXXII
 
 
 v't--^».v<*->*.*'::<.*,.;S/,.'^ 
 
 
 
 Cleveland Public Auditorium 
 — as it will appear from the 
 Mall when proposed addi- 
 tions have been made to main 
 building.
 
 -"W^ 
 
 »IL Jm 
 
 tXitt mEMIEK PftUl 
 
 A MONUMENT CONCEIVED AS A TRIBUTE TO THE IDEALS 
 OF CLEVELAND, BUILDED BY HER CITIZENS AND 
 DEDICATED TO SOCIAL PROGRESS, IN- 
 DUSTRIAL ACHIEVEMENTS 
 AND CIVIC INTEREST
 
 Fred Kohler 
 Mayor
 
 HERE is a just pride in turn- 
 ing over to the people of 
 Cleveland and to their guests 
 and visitors, this Public Audi- 
 torium, the finest structure of its kind in 
 the land. Built by the people of this 
 City, it should prove a permanent in- 
 spiration and benefit to them and to those 
 who are to follow. 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 151
 
 JFMALINE JANES WKOLCOMB J J SHEA BALPH ! 
 
 DIRECTOE 'f PUBLIC SERVICE sTwccMMissiorep secketaey tohatoe DlGECTOe=f PUBLIC WELFARE 
 
 Mayor Kohler and his 
 official family. 
 
 161
 
 RECTED by the people of Cleveland for 
 their education and entertainment, the 
 Auditorium is dedicated to tlie service of 
 the community. 
 
 The bond issue that meant its erection was carried 
 by the largest majority in the history of the munici- 
 pality in a campaign characterized by Cleveland's 
 unequalled spirit of co-operation and public progress. 
 
 The great central section of the building, completed 
 under the auspices of the present administration, 
 indicates that the edifice will surpass in magnitude, 
 efficiency and attractiveness, any structure of its class 
 in this or foreign countries. The public hall will provide 
 our people with a great variety of entertainment, 
 expositions, musical attractions and educational fea- 
 tures; will give Cleveland a vast amount of advertising 
 of a practical and profitable kind throughout the 
 world; will promote the city's commercial welfare by 
 drawing to Cleveland many thousands of visitors who 
 will patronize our business interests; in short, will 
 mean a happier, bigger and more progressive city. 
 
 ^Vith the spirit of one for all and all for Cleveland, 
 let us, through our enthusiasm and patronage, contri- 
 bute to the success of the Auditorium and thus advance 
 the interests of the city we are proud to call home. 
 
 Cf^<^ 
 
 Chairman, 
 Committee of One Hundred Organizations. 
 
 [7J
 
 #*»i^: 
 
 The Main Foyer 
 
 18)
 
 ^'-r'" 
 
 
 IJDavid LitliL'ow 
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium 
 
 pIE need of an adequate public auditorium was first realized 
 in 1874 when Cleveland, after securing the national Saengerfest, 
 had no building large enough to house the gathering and was 
 forced to erect a temporary structure. 
 
 The civic minded citizens of the day bespoke the need anfl advantages 
 of a great public hall, but with the great gathering over, interest died 
 away, business called and the idea dropped. 
 
 The project was not revived again until twenty years later when 
 Cleveland again secured the national Saengerfest. Again it was found 
 necessary to build a temporary Auditorium, and again a public agitation 
 for a permanent hall was launched but was soon allowed to subside. 
 
 Not until 1909, when Cleveland held a great industrial exposition, was 
 the need of an Auditorium brought forcibly to the public's attention. For 
 the exposition the city was again forced to erect a great temporary struc- 
 ture on what is now the site of the city hall. When the exposition closed 
 and it was necessary to tear down the $60,000 building that had housed 
 it a new agitation for a permanent edifice arose. As a result an Auditorium 
 Committee was appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, and for several 
 years this committee kept the proposed project before the public. 
 
 This led in 1916 to a meeting in the office of Mayor Harry L. Davis, 
 at which representatives of civic organizations agreed to combine in 
 an effort to carry a bond issue for the purpose of financing a public hall. 
 
 A committee was formed to direct the project. It was composed of 
 the following representative citizens: William Ganson Rose, Chairman; 
 Stanley L. McMichael, Secretary; Hon. INIyron T. Herrick, Treasurer; E. 
 H. Baker, Scott Cannell, F. H. Caley, Judge John H. Clarke, William G. 
 Davies, Mayor Harry L. Davis, Samuel Halle, J. W. Hart, Arch. C. 
 Klumph, WiUiam P. Leach, Bascom Little, William G. Mather, Victor 
 Morgan, F. F. Prentiss, L. G. Rawson, John J. Wood. 
 
 Under the guidance of this committee a general organization was 
 built, which numbered 116 associations and more than 200,000 members. 
 The culmination of a spirited and inspiring campaign came with the 
 passage of the bond issue. 
 
 Thus, after the years of public agitation, years of planning and building, 
 Cleveland has been given the finest, the most beautiful public Auditorium 
 in the country. As is fittingly inscribed upon its walls it is a "monument 
 conceived as a tribute to the ideals of Cleveland, builded by her citizens 
 and dedicated to social progress, industrial achievements and civic 
 interest."
 
 Interior, Main Aiidiloriinn. 
 
 1101
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium — Continued 
 
 The Auditorium, which cost ai)proxiuialeiy $0,500,000, occupies an 
 entire city block. The huihling forms the fourth unit in CU'vchuid's 
 famous orouj) p\;\n for j)uhhc huildiui^s u|)on tlu> MalL The Federal 
 l}uii(hng. county court house and cily iiail iuivc been occupied for some 
 time. Other buihhugs will follow and. when the last unit of the f^roup 
 has been comi)leted. a tract of 104 acres will be occuj)ied exclusively by 
 j)ublic buildings, beautiful lawns and spacious walks and boulevards. 
 
 Designed in the Italian Kenaissance style, the building is of modern 
 tirej^roof construction. The exterior is faced w'ith variated Indiana lime- 
 stone from the quarries at Bedford. Indiana, and sujiplied and set by the 
 Ohio Cut Stone Company of Cleveland. The ])ink granite base course is 
 from the cjuarries of the Maine New Hampshire Oranite Co., Redstone, 
 N. H. The entire interior marble treatment was supplied and set by R. 
 M. Allen Comi)any, Cleveland, and the material selected from the quar- 
 ries of the Vermont Marble Co., Proctor, \[. Nearly all of the plaster, 
 sand, lime, cement and brick used in the structure were supplied by the 
 Cleveland Builders Supply & Brick Co., and also the Builders Supply 
 & Fuel Co., all of Cleveland. The metal lath and furring was furnished 
 by the Harris-Murray Co., Cleveland. This .Vuditorium is rejjorted to 
 be the largest plastered structure in the world. The j^lastering of the entire 
 edifice was done under the supervision of the Smallwood Plastering Co., 
 Cleveland. 
 
 The main entrance to the auditorium is from Lakeside Avenue. Other 
 entrances and exits are from the ^Nlall and from East Sixth Street. The 
 main nuirbled lobl)y is enriched with ornamental bronze grilles and railings 
 supplied by the ^Michaels Art Bronze Co., and the rich quarry tile floors 
 of the non-slip type were laid by the ^'enetian Art Mosaic Co. One 
 proceeds through this lobby to the entrance of the Auditorium proper, or 
 by a grand marble staircase, ten feet wide, down to the great FLxhibition 
 Hall below. 
 
 Visitors entering the Auditorium projjer are awed by the magnitude 
 and dignity of the arena which stretches before them. Here is a hall over 
 300 feet long and 'ilo feet wide and over 80 feet from main floor to glass 
 ceiling. The span is made of steel trusses, this and the other steel work 
 of the building furnished and erected by the King Bridge Co., Cleveland. 
 The wooden scaffolding for the steel work l)eing furnished by the Cray 
 Lumber Co., Cleveland. 
 
 Not a single column is used in the main arena. The view is, therefore, 
 unobstructed and any one of the 1 '-2,000 people who can be seated in this 
 great room can see the other 11,099 visitoi's. 
 
 The Arena of the Auditorium is practically at street level. The seating 
 arrangement consists of removable seats for the Areiui or main floor, 
 and permanent upholstered seats in amphitheater arrangement ui)on 
 east, west and north upjjer and lower balconies. The entrances to both 
 upper and lower balconies are on the third floor, from spacious corridors, 
 encircling entire balcony. 
 
 nil
 
 Interior, Main Auditurium, 
 with seats removed for exposi- 
 tion purposes. 
 
 [121
 
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium — Continued 
 
 The regular seating equipment of the Auditoriiun, furnished by the 
 American Seating Co., Chicago, inchides 11,635 seats, of which 4478 
 are upon the Arena floor, '-^444 in the lower balconies and 371, S in the upper 
 balconies and 1100 upon the stage. With supplementary facilities 13,000 
 people can be easily seated in the Auditorium. When not in use seats and 
 other portable material are hauled to storage rooms in the building on 
 industrial power trucks furnished by the Cowen Truck Co., Holyoke, 
 Mass. 
 
 A feature of the great hall is the stage overlooking the Arena floor. 
 This also may be used for exhibits or meetings. It is (50 by 104 feet and 
 has an opening 7'-2 feet wide and surmounted by an arch i'i feet inches 
 high. The opening is fitted with a steel and asbestos curtain, the largest 
 curtain ever made, weighing over 40 tons with its counterweights, and was 
 furnished by the Argus Enterprises, Inc. This curtain is operated by 
 hydraulic power from special equipment installed by the makers of the 
 curtain. 
 
 Four permanent stage settings of great beauty were painted and 
 installed by the New York Studios, while from the stage ceiling, 100 feet 
 high, is suspended the most wonderful and complete counterweighted, 
 steel cable, stage rigging system ever designed, this being supplied and 
 installed by Peter Clark of New York City. 
 
 The stage, which is one of the largest in the country, contains facilities 
 for staging from the smallest act to the largest grand opera production. 
 Dressing and wardrobe I'ooms are provided on each side of the stage proper, 
 sufficient in number to accommodate 200 of a chorus and over 30 private 
 rooms for stars, all equipped with individual make up tables and lavatories, 
 special toilet facilities and lounging quarters. A large rehearsal room is 
 also provided at one side of the stage. Electric elevators furnished by the 
 Warner Elevator Co., Cleveland, provide access to dressing rooms located 
 on six floors. li> ^ colors of lights with their combinations are provided 
 for effects, and all scenery is hung from the spacious gridiron, excess boxes 
 and equipment are taken to a large store room under stage by means of an 
 electric platform elevator which rises from the basement to stage level. 
 
 A feature of the Auditorium proper which calls forth special attention 
 is a pipe organ, costing $100,000, having 10,010 pipes and 150 direct 
 speaking stops, which was installed by the Skinner Organ Co., of Boston. 
 This musical instrument, one of the largest, is said to be the finest in the 
 world, and is operated by two 30 H. P. and one 10 H. P. motors. 
 
 A distinctive feature of the organ is the console, which contains five 
 manuals and is mounted on an electric elevator in front of the stage, 
 which will permit of its being lowered out of sight when occasion requires. 
 The pipes and chambers are located on the right stage wings and are 
 invisible from the arena. The echo organ is at the extreme north end of 
 the arena. In addition to the organ a Mason and Hamlin concert grand 
 piano is provided, which may be operated from the organ console by special 
 attachment or independently. 
 
 113]
 
 rroscenium Arch and Stage. 
 
 1141
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium — Continued 
 
 The acoustic properties of the Auchloriu.n are consi.lere.l anu.MK ex- 
 pert as ranking amoHK the best in the counl.y. These 7>-l>'>---- 
 obtained as the result of the design and treatnient l.y the architect t 
 the buihliu"-. J. H. ]^IacDowell. who is cons.dere.l an authority on acou- 
 sti^.s The special absorbent acoustic plaster specihed and used by the 
 architect in the ceiling and wall panels of the Arena is the P'-l^'^; ;' 
 The Mechanically Applied Products Co.. of Cleveland am is call 1 
 "Macoustic" plaster. This company also supplied and laid the mastic 
 Hoor in all of the Committee Rooms and offices. 
 
 Illumination of the Auditorium proper is obtained by the indirect 
 method. ^Vho among those gazing at the great sweep of the ceiling would 
 ouess that it conceals intricate equipment for lighting purposes.^ Approxi- 
 mately 1075 lamps of ^200 watts each of white light, consuming normally 
 "oo kilowatts of electricity, and located behind a held ot glass panel 
 i'n the ceiling eighty feet above the floor of the Arena, diffuse a flood ot 
 soft li-ht to the Auditorium below; there are also amber, red and blue 
 lights of equal capacity behind this glass screen, al on dimmer c-on ro . 
 -Vdditional illumination is supplied by a urther sys em of injhrect light- 
 ing upon the side walls just below the ceiling and behind he balus rades. 
 >1 t^ spaced approximately U feet apart under the lower balconies 
 lluminate the Arena below. The metal ceding light frames, as well as 
 the steel windows throughout the building, were furnished by the Intei- 
 national Casement Company, while the light and P«^^'^;; ^"""ffl"'!.^;^"- 
 duits were supplied and installed by the ISlartien Electric Co., of Cleveland. 
 A special feature of the Auditorium illumination is the ability to dim 
 <.radually from full intensity to darkness on all coloi-s and to hold the hghts 
 dimmed from one to two hours. The main switch board is located in the 
 basement and all lighting is under what is known as »^f "^^ic controL 
 These switches and dimmers are all operated from the stage tiom a low 
 voltage control board and are all instantaneous and autouiatic and is 
 termed a "Remote control system," supplied by the Hub Electric Co., 
 of Chicago. The magnetic dimmers and operating plates wei-e manutac- 
 ired by the Ward Leonard Electric Co., of Mt. Vernon, N. Y. The large 
 reflectors above the glass ceiling which direct the I'f % do^^mw^^^^^^^^^ 
 suDDlied bv the I. P. Frink Co., and the reflectors back of the balustiade, 
 1 e^-oot hgl^ s on the stage are the product of the X-Ray Lighting Com- 
 pany of Chicago; a feature of the colored eflFects is obtained by directing 
 whife light through stained glass known as "Pyrex Heat Resisting. 
 This eliminates gelatine slides which are inflammable and commonly used. 
 In the motion picture projection room, located upon the fourth floor 
 at the center of the north end of the auditorium, are specially built motion 
 picture projecting machines, the largest ever installed inanutactured 
 by the Motiograph Company, Chicago, and installed by the Oliver Mov- 
 ing Picture Silpply Co., of Cleveland. They flash a picture a dis ance o 
 330 feet to the screen upon the stage, the picture being 2-Heet by 30 
 feet This firm also supplied and installed all flood and spot ight projec- 
 tors most of which are located in a large beam projecting below arena
 
 Console of the Wonderful 
 $100,000 Pipe Organ and 
 one of the elaborate stage 
 settings. 
 
 [16]
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium — Continued 
 
 ceiliiifi'. Ill this beam is a fireproof room 40 feet long, S feel wide and S 
 feet higli, arranged to direct light onto stage and orchestra pit and organ 
 console. 
 
 The Auditorium itself is heated I)y the air used for ventilation. This 
 system is reversible for furnishing upward ventilation in summer. The 
 ventilating system in the Auditorium can also be arranged for re-circula- 
 tion, thus effecting considerable economy at times when the building is 
 not fully occupied nor rec|uired to be kept at normal temjjerature. The 
 volume of air delivered to and from the hall is im])ressive. In the Audit- 
 orium alone it is possible to deliver 1H,00(),()0() cubic feet of fresh air each 
 hour. Twenty-seven million cubic feet of air can be taken out each hour 
 by mechanical means. 
 
 This ventilating system, the largest in the state of Ohio, jierhaps the 
 largest of its kind in the country, is housed in a great chamber between 
 the ceiling of the Auditorium and the roof some 30 feet above. In this 
 .space are air washers, lieaters, blowers, motors, pumps, automatic dam- 
 pers, steam mains, valves and all other auxiliaries required for a complete 
 ventilating and heating system. Special steel, concrete and wood floors, 
 made to suit the curve of the ceiling, have been built between the trusses 
 to support this equipment, which was furnished by the Chappel Warren 
 Co., The J. C. Boehm Co., and the Buffalo Forge Co. 
 
 The Exhibition Hall in the basement is also ventilated on the same scale. 
 It is possible to supply and withdraw no less than 4,500,000 cubic feet of 
 air each hour from this portion of the building. All air is taken from 
 top of building, washed with water and cooled in the summer and heated 
 in the winter. 
 
 In order to convey the great volume of air to the proper points in the 
 great structure, air ducts varying in size from six feet square to 10 feet 
 square are required. The air ducts are built of galvanized sheet iron. 
 No less than three hundred tons of sheets and many tons of other materials 
 were required to build the ducts, this metal and material being furnished 
 and placed by the J. C. Boehm Co., of Cleveland. 
 
 Air shafts and underground airways forming part of the actual struc- 
 ture of the building, are built of brick and reinforced concrete. It is 
 possible to drive an automobile through many of these hidden air passages. 
 
 The outer corridors, offices and entrances are heated by a vacuum 
 steam heating system with direct radiators. Practically all of the radiators 
 are under automatic temperature regulation to prevent overheating 
 and waste. The steam heating service is furnished by the Cleveland Illum- 
 inating Co. The demand for steam for the heating system and for heating 
 the air for ventilation is so great, however, that when the outside temper- 
 ature drops to 20 degrees and lower, the steam mains in the street are not 
 large enough to provide all the steam that is required in the building. 
 A private steam plant of 1000 boiler horse power capacity has therefore 
 been installed by the City under contract with the Chappel and \Yarren 
 Co., to furnish all steam required by the building that cannot be obtained 
 
 1171
 
 The Lounge. 
 
 1181
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium — Continued 
 
 from the street mains. Tliese hollers are oil huniers. Tiie entire liealinj;'. 
 pUnnhing and ventilating installation was designed by Clark-MacMiillen 
 and Kiley of New York. 
 
 In order that the patrons of the building will not have to drink l(>i)id 
 water to queneh their thirst. ;i drinking system has been installed by the 
 ^V. G. Cornell Co., to furnish pure filtered eold water free, at all seasons 
 of the year. The refrigeration equipment for this serviee was snpj)lied 
 and installed by The Hibbard Co., Cleveland. 
 
 To protect life and the valual)le exhibits which will be shown in the 
 exhibition hall in the basement, an automatic (irinnell .Sprinkler System 
 has been installed in that jjortion of the building. Sprinklers are also 
 installed in all other hazardous places in the l)uilding. 
 
 In addition to this sprinkler system, the building is eciuijijied with 
 two Underwriters' Fire Pumps with automatic control. These i)umps 
 begin to operate automatically as soon as a hose valve is opened at any 
 part of the building, thus furnishing high pressure water for fire protec- 
 tion at all fire hose stations in the building. It is also possible for the 
 City Fire Department to connect into the fire mains and the sprinkler 
 system of the building from two sides, thus practically eliminating the 
 fire hazard. S])ecial ])rovision has been made for cutting ott" the stage 
 from the Auditorium. This is done instantly by means of a water screen 
 or curtain which is operated by a quick opening automatic valve on the 
 stage, furnishing a continuous sheet of water across the entire proscenium 
 opening, as well as the automatic lowering of the asbestos steel curtain. 
 
 A central vacuum cleaning system has been provided for removing 
 dust and dirt from all parts of the building. The importance and need 
 of such equipment will be appreciated by all busy housekeepers and others 
 when it is noted that the actual floors of the main building have an area 
 of over 150,000 square feet. 
 
 The building as a whole is equipped with three kinds of electric current. 
 Double thrown automatic switches at the main switchboard will insure 
 continuity of operation throughout the building. If one source of supply 
 fails the other is imm^ diately available. The switchboard itself is a marvel 
 of its kind and was built by the Cleveland Switch Board Co. 
 
 One floor below the Auditorium is the great Exhibition Hall, which is 
 intended primarily for expositions. This hall, 121 feet (> inches by '■2,S5 
 feet, contains 28,()G.S square feet .^i exhibit space. Adjoining exhibition 
 hall at the south enri are two conference rooms fifty by twenty-three feel 
 which may also be used for displays. 
 
 In Exhibition Hall a service station is located 5 feet above the floor 
 upon the north side of each f)f the forty columns which support the arena 
 floor. The services provided at these stations include hot and cold water, 
 compressed air, gas, high and low pressure steam, vacuum, vacuum 
 cleaner, electricity, both direct and alternating current, special service 
 pipes for acids and drainage pipes for water, telephones, etc. 
 
 fl91
 
 Typical East and West Cor- 
 ridor. Balcony entrances. 
 
 [201
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Audkonum— Continued 
 
 Tl.P Fxhibition Hall is illuminated by .li.ec-l liKhlinK- 1" ll'<^ '^''^"^^^l 
 
 ventilating grilles. - e . 
 
 T1,P flnnr of llie FAliibition Hnll ami basement has a covering of grano- 
 litS^^^as bait! a'ncUn general V^-^-^y'^''^^^ 'i^Sll^rtb'Sto? C " 
 
 Sve,r,!frT!Caf :,rre'^iu;gT;^:t:;;tb 
 
 pmmmm 
 
 of exhibitors. . . 
 
 " ttenlation between the first, seeond and 'W'''' A™- ^-^^ ^^J^SS 
 :111 '^^ullXr^^^r ::t^rSniMt"anS-at^re'3^^^ 
 rU'raS S sta^^rwa,s two eaeh al™^ the e^st_^and^west eorrtdors^ 
 conveniently spaced, aie 9 teet wme iium t remainins 
 
 construction with terrazzo, tile or marble tacmg. 
 
 Rv means of additional wide ramps the largest automobile or truck 
 can be driven t to Arena floor and on down to Exhibition Room. 
 
 riroulation upon the basement floor is afforded by spacious corridors 
 
 parallel and along the side of the grand staircase. 
 
 For the convenience of conventions and organization gatherings 
 eigS\-o\t/trrooms, completely equipped and ^-^^^^^^^ 
 nnon the second floor. In addition there is a great lounge loom, lux r 
 rsb'Stted Mural paintings, which.form part ot ^1- de-ra ion m In 
 room'and also the two large mui^lsm ^^;^^\^Z^c^^ 
 David Lithgow, Artist, Albany, ^'^•. V k H T ^nnnld Co Cleveland, 
 throughout the building were supplied by H. Leopold Co., i^leveiana.
 
 Interior. Exhibition Hall. 
 In.set .■iliow.t arrangement of 
 Service Station in pillars 
 to meet all needs of exhibi- 
 tors. 
 
 [ii]
 
 The Story of the Cleveland Public Auditorium — Concluded 
 
 For the safety and convenience of the pubHc ample emergency features 
 are installed. Electric lamps which receive current and are controlled 
 separately from the ordinary lighting circuits are provided for all main 
 corridors, passageways and exits. 
 
 Approximately 124 electric signs of the Polarite type direct the ])ul)lic 
 through the building and aid in identifying Committee Rooms, Booths, 
 Check Rooms. Offices, Toilets and Rest Rooms and other stations. 
 This equipment was installed by the Martien Electric Co., Cleveland. 
 
 Four booths facing the corridors at the north end of the building, two 
 on each side of the entrance to the main floor, may be used for cigars, 
 news, theater tickets, flower or refreshment stands, taxicabs, etc. 
 
 Twenty-eight telephone l)ooths on the main floor at the north end of 
 the building are connected with two telephone exchanges. Adjacent to 
 the telejihone exchanges are two telegraph offices. The wood flooring, 
 where used for arena and stage, was laid by the J. J. Cassidy Co., Cleve- 
 land. In the basement is located a barber shop with shower baths and 
 dressing rooms adjoining. Throughout the building are ample lavatory 
 conveniences with sanitary eciuipment installed by the Standard Sani- 
 tary ]Manufacturing Co., and the West Disinfecting Co. 
 
 Exit facilities are so arranged that, according to a test by the Fire 
 Department, the entire building can be cleared of UJ.OOO people in four 
 and one half minutes. 
 
 All interior doors and frames are of metal with baked enamel finish; 
 these were manufactured and set by Riester and Thesmacher Co.. Cleve- 
 land. The large exterior doors to all entrances and exits are the product 
 of Wm. Moore and Co., Cleveland. For the convenience of Conventions and 
 Exhibitions, booths of various sizes and forms are at the command of 
 the Exhibitor: these are collapsible and were furnished by the Forschner 
 Company. Hardware fittings throughout the building were furnished 
 by The W. Bingham Co., Cleveland. Steel coat racks and counters 
 were furnished by The Van Dorn Iron Works Co., Cleveland. ]\Iirrors 
 throughout the building by the Cleveland Window (ilass and Door Co. 
 The paint used on both interior and exterior was furnished by the Sherwin- 
 Williams Co., Cleveland and was applied with brushes furnished by the 
 J. S. ^'erhunce Co. The Smith and Oby Co.. Cleveland, handled the huge 
 amount of plumbing work requu-ed throughout the building. 
 
 The excavation for the foundation was the work of the P'red ]\. Jones 
 Co., Cleveland. The mammoth roof was laid by The Carey Co. The iron 
 marques, banner poles and lamps which ornament the exterior came from 
 the Moss Iron Works Co., iron grill work for ventilating and heating 
 purposes was furnished by the Republic Structural Iron \\'orks. The 
 outside drainage sewer work was done by J. J. Donnelly, Cleveland. 
 Window glass throughout the building was furnished by the Pittsburgh 
 Plate Glass Co. 
 
 [23]
 
 The Group Plan of the Pro- 
 posed Public Buildings of 
 the City of Cleveland. 
 
 [24]
 
 An Architectural Achievement 
 
 'By J. Harold MacDowell, Architect 
 
 w 
 
 J. Harold MacDowell 
 Architect 
 
 HEX the responsibility of designing and plan- 
 ing a building of any magnitude is laid upon 
 one's shoulders (although he may be well versed in 
 architecture and a trained architect with ample 
 experience) it is natural that his dreams and fancies 
 will tend to carry him beyond the line of utility. 
 Many of these preliminary thoughts are but floating 
 air bubbles in the sunlight, beautiful to look upon 
 but not of any practical use. The desire of every 
 architect is to create architectural monuments that 
 might be called masterpieces by his fellow artisans. 
 
 Through these preliminary thoughts, with which the architect has 
 to cope, it is true that one receives the thoughts and impressions that 
 aid him in conceiving, designing, constructing and completing the thing 
 that he set out to do. 
 
 All this is more particularly true with a project such as the Cleveland 
 Auditorium, which is filled with problems from the most intricate archi- 
 tectural and mechanical features to the largest and most complex engi- 
 neering and constructional details. To conceive, design and construct 
 an Auditorium supposed to meet the demands of Educational, Civic 
 and Industrial functions, and the process of interweaving masses of 
 materials into a building so that all parts will respond in a functionary 
 manner to the various uses demanded of it, so that its audiences and 
 visitors are given to approve not only of its beauty but its practicability, 
 is no mean task, and the power that made all this possible was the untir- 
 ing, perpetual efforts and concentration of mind and energy of those 
 detailed to the task. 
 
 In looking at a structure such as the Cleveland Auditorium all that one 
 can see is the surface of the interior or exterior and seldom stops to 
 realize what is behind the surface; the miles and miles of electric wires 
 
 [2«I
 
 EDWIN BAXTER FBBKKMELL AAM^CASLIN G.DMCOWINF 
 
 Public Auditorium, Ways 
 and Means and Building 
 Committee. Other members 
 are G. A. Gesell, Lincoln G. 
 Dickey, 
 
 [261
 
 An Architectural Achievement — Concluded 
 
 and pipe, hundreds of tons of steel, hundreds of carloads of all sorts of 
 materials all bound and laid together for their specific purpose, products 
 of mines, quarries, forest and industries from almost every part of this 
 country and many foreign countries; it is only then that one begins to 
 realize the task of those responsible for the selecting and placing of those 
 materials which serve best in their respective places. 
 
 While the Cleveland Auditorium may be considered a Monument to 
 the Ideals of Cleveland, it may also be properly classed as its Temj)le of 
 Art, for where can over 13,000 people gather under one roof, seated in 
 upholstered opera chairs with one clear vision of the stage and entire 
 sm-roundings, listen with perfect comfort to the largest Grand Opera 
 production, a symphony or choral recital or to the melodious tones of 
 one of the largest organs ever built; and after visiting some of the Indus- 
 trial Exhibitions that have been held within its walls, who could say that 
 it is not also a "Hall of Industry?" 
 
 The real glory comes only at the completion of a building and this 
 was especially true with this Auditorium, when the Owner — The Public 
 of Cleveland — who had entrusted the work into the care and judgment 
 and into the hands of those who had made it a reality — declared their 
 satisfaction and approval of the thing they had dreamed for so many 
 years, and it was then that the old adage stood distinctly before me 
 "Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well." 
 
 Therefore, may the Cleveland Auditorium stand long and function 
 well in the purposes and uses for which it was designed. 
 
 (S)uaud Lill 
 
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 The Place of the Auditorium in Civic and 
 Community Life 
 
 'By Fred Kohler, iSMayor 
 
 TT took the city of Cleveland a little longer than it 
 '■ did Aladdin. That's true. Aladdin had merely 
 to rub a magic lamp and a palace appeared. But 
 those palaces of Aladdin would not compare for an 
 instant with the practical palace the citizens of 
 Cleveland have built for themselves. 
 
 It was several years ago that Cleveland got its 
 happy idea of building, in the very midst of its 
 Managerof Auditorium busiucss scction, a bcautiful and practical building 
 for public gatherings, concerts, expositions, and con- 
 ventions of every sort, to belong to the city itself. For this task, 
 Cleveland rubbed its magic lamp of civic spirit. 
 
 The building itself is another story, but its usefulness to the com- 
 munity is so vital that it must be considered separately. No one can with 
 certainty forecast what the Auditorium will mean to the city. Already 
 acclaimed by visitors from every part of the country as unquestionably 
 the most perfect building of its kind, the fulfillment of its usefulness must 
 depend upon the policy of its operation. 
 
 The very vastness of the hall makes the cost of operation a tremen- 
 dous item. 
 
 Two general policies faced the government of our city. First: To 
 operate the building without thought of monetary return and at a great 
 deficit. Second: To operate it as though it were a privately owned build- 
 ing and put the yardstick of commercialism on every event, on all con- 
 ventions, and gatherings of every kind. 
 
 Neither of these policies commended themselves to the administration. 
 The first policy was manifestly impossible as the city had no funds for 
 such a purpose. The second policy would defeat the ideals of its builders, 
 
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 The Place of the Auditorium in Civic and Community Life — Concluded 
 
 the citizens of Cleveland; conventions would he driven away and all that 
 would remain would be a place of amusement erected at a tremendous 
 cost. 
 
 It was necessary to find another solution. Again Cleveland's magic 
 lamp of civic spirit was rubbed and there appeared a group of public 
 spirited citizens who organized under the leadership of a Ways and 
 Means Committee, and without any possibility of receiving anything in 
 return, put an immediate solution before the administration. Taking 
 the Auditorium entirely out of politics, this committee raised a fund of 
 $100,000 to pay any deficit of operation during the present administra- 
 tion. 
 
 Hand in hand with the best business talent of the city and the Manager, 
 Lincoln G. Dickey, the new policy was worked out. It seems certain that 
 the Auditorium in the period of its usefulness will net some return to 
 Cleveland, if properly operated, aside from prestige and favorable pub- 
 licity. With this at stake building managers worked out the best program 
 of physical management; budgets were prepared and a schedule of prices 
 formulated. 
 
 The policy adopted is a happy medium. Conventions and events of 
 like nature that bring people and money to Cleveland are operated 
 at an actual loss. Commercial ventures must return a small profit to 
 offset these losses, for the schedule says plainly that Cleveland citizens 
 did not build this building so that private individuals should reap a golden 
 harvest. In other words, if money is to be made the operating fund must 
 have its just share. 
 
 The original committee which conferred with the administration in the 
 formation of the Ways and Means Committee consisted of F. H. Goff, 
 Chas. a. Otis, and Alva L. Bradley. 
 
 311
 
 
 
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 Premier Press Senicc 
 Cleveland
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES 
 
 Architecture & Urban Planning Library, 825-2747. 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
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 MAR 27 1987 
 
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