Opened: 1932. The Herbst Theatre was initially known as the Veterans Auditorium. It was renamed the Herbst Theatre in 1977 to honor brothers Maurice and Herman Herbst whose foundation funded the restoration effort. It's in the Veterans Building, part of the War Memorial Center for the Performing Arts complex. Also in this building is the Wilsey Center for Opera.
To the south is the other half of the complex containing the War Memorial Opera House. Between the two buildings is the Memorial Court. In this his 1935 view looking southwest the Veterans Building is on the right with the Opera House beyond. It's a photo that appeared, uncredited, in a post of 42 views on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Website: www.sfwmpac.org/herbst-theatre
Architect: Arthur Brown, Jr.
Seating: 916
The floor was originally able to tilt up to a flat position to be level with the stage. The auditorium's eight murals were painted by Frank Brangwyn for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition.
The Veterans Building was the location for many of the meetings leading up to the 1945 signing of the United Nations Charter. The Opera House was used for large plenary sessions and the charter signing ceremony.
The Building Lobby:
A view looking south with the Herbst's auditorium off to the right. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
The Green Room:
This space is on the second floor of the building on the south side. The windows look over toward the Opera House. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another view of the Green Room that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
The arcade outside the Green Room. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
The auditorium of the Herbst:
Thanks to Bob Ristelhueber for this 2018 photo and the others appearing here. His set of eight photos appeared as a post on the BAHT Facebook page. It's the San Francisco Civic Symphony onstage.
A proscenium and ceiling view that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Looking across the front of the main floor toward the peculiar boxes. Photo: Bob Ristelhueber - 2018
A view of two of the sidewall murals. Photo: Bob Ristelhueber - 2018
The ceiling as seen from the main floor. Photo: Bob Ristelhueber - 2018
The rear of the main floor. Photo: Bob Ristelhueber - 2018
A view to the rear of the house posted by Graeme McBain on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture.
A wider view of house right. Nobody likes house left? The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A look out from onstage. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A wider view of house right. Nobody likes house left? The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A look out from onstage. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A balcony view of the stage from the site Bay Improviser.
A view to house right from Graeme McBain on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture.
Across the balcony. Photo: Bob Ristelhueber - 2018. Thanks, Bob!
It's a photo that appeared in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another view of the space from the California Heritage Facebook page.
A view looking southwest with the Herbst on the right. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
In the Memorial Court looking east toward City Hall. The Veterans Building with the Herbst is on the left, the Opera House is on the right. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A City Hall vista from a bit higher. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another view toward City Hall. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
The Veterans Building at night. It's a photo that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A view to house right from Graeme McBain on the Facebook page Theatre Architecture.
Across the balcony. Photo: Bob Ristelhueber - 2018. Thanks, Bob!
The Wilsey Center for Opera:
It's a photo that appeared in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another view of the space from the California Heritage Facebook page.
More exterior views:
A c.1932 card from the Jack Tillmany collection with the the Veterans Building, home of
the Herbst Theatre, in the foreground. The Opera House is
down the street.
A c.1935 view from the Jack Tillmany collection.
An undated entrance view by an unknown photographer. On the right note the lettering for the San Francisco Museum of Art, also in the building at the time. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing the photo from his collection.
The buildings in 1945. That's the building containing the Herbst nearest us and the Opera House beyond. It's an Associated Press photo that appeared in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page. It originally went out with this copy:
"San Francisco, April 21 -- Twin Buildings To House Conference -- This was the scene today as final preparations were being made in San Francisco's War Memorial, the Veterans Building (foreground) and the Opera House (background), for the opening of the United Nations Security conference next Wednesday. Trucks in front of Veterans Building are unloading furniture for use of delegates and press."
"San Francisco, April 21 -- Twin Buildings To House Conference -- This was the scene today as final preparations were being made in San Francisco's War Memorial, the Veterans Building (foreground) and the Opera House (background), for the opening of the United Nations Security conference next Wednesday. Trucks in front of Veterans Building are unloading furniture for use of delegates and press."
An undated view that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A 1945 view to the west. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
An undated view taken from City Hall that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another shot from City Hall. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
On the left it's the Memorial Court. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
An undated view taken from City Hall that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another shot from City Hall. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A facade photo that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
On the left it's the Memorial Court. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A view looking southwest with the Herbst on the right. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
The Opera House is on the left, the Veterans Building on the right. The
photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
In the Memorial Court looking east toward City Hall. The Veterans Building with the Herbst is on the left, the Opera House is on the right. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
A City Hall vista from a bit higher. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
Another view toward City Hall. The photo appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
The Veterans Building at night. It's a photo that appeared, uncredited, in a post on the California Heritage Facebook page.
More information: Jack Tillmany's Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres of San Francisco" can be previewed on Google Books. It's available from Amazon or your local bookseller.
See the Wikipedia article on the Herbst Theatre.
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