Wharf Theater

Infobox Venue
name = Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater


image_caption = The New Wharf Theater
nickname = Wharf Theater
location = Monterey California
coordinates =
type =
genre = Musical Theatre
broke_ground =
built =
opened = Dec 3, 1976
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = Angelo Di Girolamo
former_names =
seating_type =
seating_capacity =160
website = [http://www.mctaweb.org/theatres/wharf.html Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater] The Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater as it is officially known today began its history after World War II when Ariss, an artist and friend of John Steinbeck, returned to the city of Monterey after working with his father's construction company.

The original Wharf Theater

Friend Yanko Varda introduced Bruce Ariss to Angelo Di Girolamo whose brother had originally proposed the idea of a theatre on Fisherman's Wharf. Along with Dan Totheroh and Kenn Smith the group located financial backing from two sisters, Virginia and Barbara Blair, who also found the location for the new theatre on the wharf.

Opening night was May 18th, 1950, with a production of "Happy Birthday". Ariss designed and built the set. In 1951 Kenn Smith leased the theater to "The Wharf Players, Inc". One of their presentations that year was Bruce Ariss' "Point of Departure". The production was successful enough that MGM brought Ariss to Hollywood, where he worked for the following 5 years.

The theatre expanded and changed hands through the mid to late 1950's. On December 31st, 1959, the Wharf Theater was destroyed by a fire, which broke out at 1:31 am.

The Old Monterey Opera House

In 1960 the theater re-opened in a newly refurbished location a few blocks from the wharf. Formerly "The Monterey Theater", home of the city's legitimate theatre from 1905 to 1930 and later a movie theater, its first production was "West Side Story". The theatre continued producing shows that featured local talent as well as established theatrical names such as John Kerr, Joe E. Brown, Ethel Waters, Gypsy Rose Lee, Zasu Pitts and Dame Judith Anderson. In 1963 it was renamed "The Old Monterey Opera House", and continued until the mid 1960's when redevelopment and urban renewal leveled the location.

The new Wharf Theater

After several years the idea of a new Wharf Theater gained momentum again with both Angelo Di Girolamo and Bruce Ariss. The new theatre proposed by Di Girolamo would be on Fisherman's Wharf again, located on a site he owned across from his restaurant. Although originally too small for a theater, the location was enlarged with the purchase of three barracks buildings by Ariss and their use as building material.

The new theatre complex would have an art gallery and an office off the main lobby while on the first floor there would be room for shops. On December 3rd, 1976, The new Wharf Theater opened its doors with a production of "Guys and Dolls".

See also

Bruce Ariss

Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California

References

http://www.mctaweb.org/spotlight/00/May00_Wharf/wharf.html