Appleton Auditorium Dedication Plaque/Painting (1984)

Item Information

Title:
Appleton Auditorium Dedication Plaque/Painting (1984)
Description:
Three photographs of the Appleton Auditorium Dedication Plaque and painting of Allen Appleton placed in the Appleton Auditorium in the Fuller Arts Center on the campus of Springfield College. The first photograph is of the case with the plaque and painting within, the second photograph is of the painting of Allen Appleton, the son of Julius Appleton, and the third photograph is of the plaque. The case itself measured 24 1/2" wide by 42 1/2" high and 3 1/2" deep. It was glassed fronted and the case was made of wood. The plaque reads, "Appleton Auditorium / The gift of Julius H. and Louise B. Appleton / In Memory of their Son Allen E. Appleton / In the history of Springfield College, the Appleton Family has played a major role. Dr. Julius Appleton's services as Trustee spans half a century, and he holds the record for length of active Trusteeship. His distinguished legal counsel, his services as President of the College Corporation, and his leadership carried on a family tradition which began in the early years of the college. He was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1966. Mrs. Appleton, a leader in community service prior to their retirement to Florida, shares his devotion to Springfield College.". The auditorium is named after Julius and Louise Appleton's youngest son, who died in a car accident. At this time, the auditorium has 12 rows of seat with a total of 300 seats. "There is not a bad seat in the house" is a classic statement because all rows are arranged in concentric curves focusing on center stage. The auditorium could accommodate a diversity of activities, such as plays, films, concerts, and public lectures. The control room is the place used to control the effects on the stage, such as the lights and the sounds. In 1973, undergraduate Dennis St. Jean and his friends came up with the idea of building a theater on campus. They produced and directed the College’s first “Best of Broadway” in Moses Hall and, along with the handful of money they collected from the show, gave the money as a “down payment” on the new theater to President Wilbert E. Locklin. By the late '70s the fund grew to $10,000, and the future theater was incorporated into the Capital Campaign. By 1978 Art Linkletter, the famed entertainer and one of the main contributors to the Art Linkletter Natatorium, had contributed $50,000 himself. Other leading contributors were Julius and Louise Appleton, the George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, and the George I. Alden Trust. Construction began on the corner of Hickory Street and Wilbraham Avenue on March 3, 1983. The total cost of the building was $850,000. On May 4, 1984, Art Linkletter hosted the dedication performance. The original stage was 4’4” high, 47 feet wide and 23 feet deep. The stage had a remote controlled movie screen measuring 18 feet wide and 13.5 feet high. The building was renovated and rededicated in the spring of 2009. Renovations included a new entrance, a new façade of glass, brick, and limestone, new flooring, and a track-lighted ceiling. Other improvements were new stage flooring, curtains, sound system, carpeting, and acoustical wall panels. The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the renovation was held on Thursday, March 5, 2009. The Appleton Auditorium Dedication painting/plaque has been taken apart due to the size and the condition of the case and the case disposed of in 2021. At the time of the disposal the plaque has fallen off of its holder. The painting and the plaque have remained in the collection.
Creator:
Springfield College
Date:
1984
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Subjects:
Fuller Arts Center
Springfield College
Springfield College--Buildings
Appleton, Allen E.
Appleton, Julius H.
Springfield (Mass.)
Theaters
Auditoriums
Plague
Portrait paintings
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Extent:
3 Images
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/25599
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
rg122-01-23-003