Memorial Auditorium (Louisville, Kentucky) Explained

Memorial Auditorium
Address:970 S. 4th St.
City:Louisville, Kentucky
Country:United States
Owner:Louisville Memorial Commission
Operator:Louisville Memorial Commission
Capacity:1,742
Website:
Embed:yes
Louisville War Memorial Auditorium
Coordinates:38.2392°N -85.76°W
Architect:Carrere & Hasting
Architecture:Beaux Arts
Added:December 27, 1977
Refnum:77000625

Louisville Memorial Auditorium, located at 970 South Fourth Street, is a concert venue of Greek Revival design. It was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1929, as a memorial to the people of Louisville who served in World War I. In 1954, the ceiling was lowered and the side balconies were closed off reducing the seating capacity from 2,349 to 1,742 to improve the acoustics.

Memorial Auditorium is home of the world's largest Pilcher organ and the largest operating pipe organ in the region.[1] The instrument is sometimes referred as an orchestral pipe organ, as it includes sounds such as a French Horn, Tuba, a Cor Anglais which you often see in a symphonic orchestra. The organ contains a Tibia, which would be recognized as a large flute, which are usually found in Theater Organs. This historic four-manual instrument with 5,288 pipes has been in operation since opening. The acoustic renovation all but completely closed off the pipe chambers from the renovated hall. It has been designated a landmark by the Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Although it is now used mainly by organizations for recitals, graduations, etc., it hosted many rock concerts in the 1960s and 1970s, including The Rolling Stones, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen, and Kiss.[2]

References

https://new.pipeorgandatabase.org/instruments/5265#stoplists Official Pipe Organ Database record of the Pilcher pipe organ at Louisville Memorial Auditorium

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Louisville Organs - Louisville Memorial Auditorium. The American Guild of Organists - Louisville Chapter. Louisville AGO. October 8, 2015.
  2. Web site: Fans return to "Stone Age" at 1964 concerts .