Stories
The Henry J. Kaiser building is an integral part of Oakland’s rich history. Since it first opened as the Oakland Auditorium in 1915, the building has housed countless performances and cultural events, from Winter pageants, to Grateful Dead concerts, to speeches by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The significance of these events is carried by the visitors who look back and tell their stories to future generations of Oakland creatives.
As The Henry J. Kaiser building reopens again as The Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, we know that this space is more than a venue – it’s a platform that connects people through space and time. Connect yourself to Oakland’s history through reading the Stories below.
Discover the Calvin Simmons Theater
Inside the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts are 5 historic venues, none more glamorous than the Calvin Simmons Theater. The proscenium theater was originally designed in the Beaux Arts style of 1915 by architect Henry Hornbostel - a former student of École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Like other Beaux-Arts buildings – Oakland + San Francisco’s City Hall for example – the room features classical details and sculptural reliefs.
A History of Live Music
Before it closed in 2005, the Henry J. Kaiser Center played host to an impressive array of legendary bands and artists, leaving an indelible mark on the world of music…
Skating at the Kaiser Auditorium
“Back in 1995 the opportunity was presented to me by David Miles in Golden Park to perform at The Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center…”
Calvin Simmons Story
Calvin Simmons story coming soon…
Have a story to tell?
Do you have any memories of visiting the Henry J. Kaiser building?
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