Old Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Memorial Auditorium / Performers at Memorial

Memorial Auditorium Marker side image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

1. Memorial Auditorium Marker side

Inscription. Memorial Auditorium Construction began in 1927 as a tribute to Louisvillians who died in First World War. Architect of the Greek Revival building was Thomas Hastings, assisted by E. T. Hutchings. On Decoration Day, May 30, 1929, the War Memorial Auditorium was dedicated. Within its walls Louisville's cultural life flourished, despite the dismal years of the Great Depression.

Performers at Memorial Sergei Rachmaninoff - Nov. 1931 • Ignace Paderewski - Mar. 1933 • George Gershwin - Feb. 1934 • George M. Cohan - Feb. 1935 • Helen Hayes - Mar. 1935 • Ethel Barrymore - Oct. 1935 • Marian Anderson - Dec. 1939 • Artur Rubinstein - Feb. 1948 • Mikhail Baryshnikov - Nov. 1978 • The Peking Opera - Oct. 1980
Presented by Bellarmine College Students.

Erected 1981 by Kentucky Historical Society • Kentucky Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 1692.)

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 30, 1929.

Location. 38° 14.34′ N, 85° 45.585′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky

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, in Jefferson County. It is in Old Louisville. Marker is at the intersection of South 4th Street and West Kentucky Street, on the right when traveling south on South 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 970 S 4th St, Louisville KY 40203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bayly-Schroering House (within shouting distance of this marker); Noted School Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thierman Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); Presentation Academy (approx. ¼ mile away); Immanuel Baptist Church / First Christian-Lampton Baptist (approx. ¼ mile away); Simmons University (approx. ¼ mile away); Columbia Gym (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Derek Smith Gymnasium at Spalding University (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Also see . . .
1. Louisville War Memorial Auditorium (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the venue, which was listed in 1977. (National Archives) (Submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Artists & Productions. Timeline of those who have performed at the historic venue. Among the notables: Mae West, Captain Kangaroo, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Haley and His Comets, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, R.E.M., and Kiss. (Louisville Memorial Auditorium) (Submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Performers at Memorial Marker side image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

2. Performers at Memorial Marker side

Memorial Auditorium / Performers at Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 24, 2022

3. Memorial Auditorium / Performers at Memorial Marker

Louisville Memorial Auditorium image. Click for full size.

Nyttend via Wikimedia Commons (public domain), September 22, 2012

4. Louisville Memorial Auditorium

It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Placxes.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.