Creative Arts Building
Highlights
1956: Pittsburg
voters approve a $5 million bond measure, the largest in the
history of the state, which builds the Creative Arts Building,
Hillview Jr. High School and adds classrooms at two elementary
schools. (Bond originally passed in 1955, but lawsuit about
absentee ballots negated the election.)
1959: Creative
Arts Building opens.
The
Stars: The
Creative Arts Building was the home of the Contra Costa Concert
Guild during the 1960’s. The San Francisco Symphony made yearly
appearances here, along with the San Francisco Ballet. A wide
variety of international acts also played here. The highlight of
the Contra Costa Concert Guild was Louis Armstrong’s appearance
here. Other luminaries to appear in the Creative Arts Building
are Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Dave Brubeck, James Brown, Stan
Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Tito Puente, Pete Escovedo, Mitch
Miller, whose first comment to the audience after leading his
singers in their opening number was: “My, God, we’re in a real
theatre,” Joe Tex, the Jefferson Starship, which held its
exclusive Bay Area appearance of its 40th year
anniversary show at the CAB, and Lowrider Band, featured
performers at the CAB’s 50th anniversary May 28,
2009. The CAB is also the home of the award-winning Pittsburg
Community Theatre.
The
future: The
nonprofit Pittsburg Creative Arts Building Corporation in
cooperation with the Pittsburg Unified School District and City
of Pittsburg is working to restore the building. It has raised
$500,000 from individual and corporate donations as well as
grants and totally restored all 242 seats in the Little Theatre
and 1,510 seats in the Big Theatre. When all the seats are
restored, it will continue with additional improvements and
maintenance of restored seats. PCABC volunteers have dedicated
more than 5,000 hours to the restoration cause. The Creative
Arts Building is currently closed while undergoing a $9 million
modernization of its sound and lighting systems and backstage
technical operations with money coming from bond issues passed
by the Pittsburg voters and the State of California. When the
building re-opens, it will also be the home of the Pittsburg
Entertainment & Arts Hall of Fame.
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