Kiel Opera House (Kansas City, St. Louis, Washington: neighborhood, theatre, schools)

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Does the American theater (or whatever it's called now) only show actual theater now? I know they used to be a concert venue (I saw the Deftones there about 8 years ago)

Kiel/Savvis/Scottrade also used to show concerts (though again it's been years since I saw one there) All I remember of that is it had the worst acoustics of any place I've ever seen a show

Riverport still gets most of the big summer acts

Busch held its first concert this summer (Dave Matthews Band) and it's a solid guess that other big names will follow suit

The Family Arena in St. Charles shows a surprising number of top tier concerts (they're showing Boston and Styx this summer)

Riverport is too small for many big national outdoor acts. The above mentioned Dave Matthews Band and others do 35k seat outdoor venues. Riverport has become a touring stop for Country Music artists and has been classic rock acts.

Scottrade is "the" indoor venue for major National music acts...i.e. Springsteen this summer, U2 in the past, and others...Neil Diamond is snagging $100 plus tix in there this summer.

The Pageant does the best job booking acts. Some tremendous acts and shows for such a small venue. And it books for all types of shows. It is "the" place for non-Arena touring acts in St. Louis.

It'll be interesting to see how SLU chooses to book its acts and how well they do it. Great location vs Family Arena etc....

St. Louis does a poor job with its theater venues....and scene.....many other cities, and I am talking much smaller ones too, let alone bigger cities, have an Arts district with its Rep Theater(St. Louis' is in Webster Groves for reasons unbeknown to me) and other theaters, venues, arts, etc....and it is in the city in those places.

Kiel renovations are long overdue and very welcomed.

[RickMG]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

St. Louis does a poor job with its theater venues....and scene.....many other cities, and I am talking much smaller ones too, let alone bigger cities, have an Arts district with its Rep Theater(St. Louis' is in Webster Groves for reasons unbeknown to me) and other theaters, venues, arts, etc....and it is in the city in those places.

Kiel renovations are long overdue and very welcomed.

Both great statements.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

Riverport is too small for many big national outdoor acts. The above mentioned Dave Matthews Band and others do 35k seat outdoor venues.

That's why Dave always did two nights - as they do in many cities.

[st. louie louie]

The Sheldon is a great venue for sound and sight.

[Ed Golterman]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

HockeyBuzz.com - Andy Strickland - Snow Targeting Bob Hartley and John Tortorella?

Kiel Opera House, closed, is still among the top 4 large indoor-
theater concert halls in the U.S. and among the top 20 in the world.
Why? She was built by the most skilled craftsmen as a theater
concert hall for live presentation - not movies on a gigantic screen.
Guy Golterman and Henry Kiel brought acousicians and theatre
crafts experts from the Metroplitan Opera House in New York, to
assist. They actually made Kiel Opera House bigger and better than
the MET.

Kiel is and was the first real dowtown performing arts centers,
and as such made St. Louis the major destination in the midwest for
conventions, festivals, travel groups..etc. It is what Jones
Lang LaSalle is telling the failed convention hotel - a demand
destination. WE dont have enough demand destinations.

All other cities offer downtown performing arts centers because
they have to -travel markets demand it. Please dont tell me
about the Fox, Grand Center, The Verizon, the little theatre
and opera on college campuses...please... Go to real cities and
see their downtown critcal mass

Kiel was closed in 1991 to be disposed of later in the decade,
to protect the Fox Theater. Others prevented 6 gutting attempts
between 1998 and 2004-all instigated by owners of the Fox Theater.

We got Kiel on the Register of Historic Places in Feb of 2000.

This month is her 75th and the Missouri House and Senate will
issue resolutions before the end of the month honoring Kiel,
and recognizing this Preservation victory.

Dave Checketts eyed Kiel as a major reason he took his risks
in downtown St. Louis and he is going to be massively rewarded.
As he prepares to reopen Kiel..guess what..his hockey team
is heading for the playoffs for the first time in 5 years.

Kiel Man

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by aragx6

That's why Dave always did two nights - as they do in many cities.

Dave Matthews does two nights in cities that can seat 15k more per night than St. Louis as well.

[sjp1]

The Sheldon is a great place. I would consider it upper tier.

[kshe95girl]

I am sooooo glad to see the news about Kiel! I saw, many, many concerts there, the acoustics are wonderful. I really thought they were just gonna let it fall down.

[ShadowCaver]

Ed G. - thanks much for the news/insight there...

Per the following article 04/11/2009 - Tkachuk rewards Blues for sticking with him - STLtoday.com , a brief mention here:

Checketts says he is still determined to rehab and reopen Kiel Opera House, which he believes will generate revenue for the hockey club.

With fingers crossed and much hope, here is to a reopening of this grand structure.

[12GO]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Extraordinary! I am thrilled to see this, and I really hope it goes through! (Though, if we're being perfectly honest do we really need another performance venue?)

Do others think there could be better uses for the space?

Having heard many concerts in all the ST. Louis area venues, Kiel is by far the Best !!! Can't wait to see it reopened!