Auditorium - Entrance on Texas
02 Nov [1918]: Other than at outdoor or tented spaces, public crowds in early Houston assembled mostly at church auditoriums, but as the population grew these began to have capacity issues. In 1890 the Sweeney Coomb’s Opera house opened opposite the Court House at 3006-3016 Fannin, but it was primarily a private performance space. In 1895 on the southern outskirts of town developers constructed Houston’s first public auditorium at the northeast corner of Main and McGowen. Later christened The Winnie Davis Auditorium for the daughter of Jefferson Davis, it doubled as a skating rink. As Houston began to draw big-name entertainers to town, the need for a larger municipal space for multiple cultural events was keenly felt by those in the arts community. Jesse Holman Jones, Houston’s greatest developer in the decades between 1900 and 1940, was named the building chairman for the construction of a new downtown auditorium at the corner of Louisiana and Texas. It opened November 1st 1910 with a seating capacity of 7,000. For many years it served as the civic center of Houston, host to the annual No-Tsu-Oh festival headquarters until that celebration was abandoned at the onset of World War I. The Municipal Band held free Sunday concerts drawing thousands, and Friday night wrestling became a weekly ritual for many. Enrico Caruso filled the auditorium to capacity and windows were opened to expand the audience to those on the street. When the Houston Symphony formed, this was its first home, and ballet troupes, opera companies, and Vaudeville shows performed there with large audiences. Babe Ruth spoke there, Judy Garland sang there, and Elvis Presley gyrated in front of thousands in the last years there.
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14 May 2019: The view south from the corner of Texas and Louisiana is the heart of the Arts District, and skyscrapers tower over performance venues at Jones Hall, the Wortham Center, and Alley Theatre, all within a block or two. 1. 600 Travis: JP Morgan Tower (Texas Commerce), 75 floors, 1982; 2. 808 Capitol: Bank of America Tower (Capitol Tower), 35 floors, 2015/2019; 3. 615 Louisiana: Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 1966; 4. 711 Louisiana: Pennzoil Place II, 36 floors, 1975; 700 Milam: Pennzoil Tower, 36 Floors, 1975; 5. 717 Texas: Reflection of the Calpine Center, 34 floors, 2003. [See also: Auditorium from Capitol Ave.]
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Postmark: Nov 2 ####; Houston, Tex. best guess 1918 ± 5
Stamp: 1¢ Green George Washington #462 [Perf 10; 27 Sept 1916] To: Miss Helen Ritchie c/o Eli Lily & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana Message: Dear Helen - I know you think I had forgotten you - but ¨honey¨ I havent.- Am in love with Houston, my position, and all the people I have met, so when you get tired of Indpls - come to Houston 703 Webster Ave. Mittie. Mittie is primarily a vintage, endearing nickname for Matilda, Mildred, or Margaret,
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