Page 28 - July 2018 inLeague with Conference Program

flood damage in 1921. After a long, slow decline, the vaudeville house, turned B-run movie theatre, closed its
doors in 1978.
Redeveloped as part of the neighboring Majestic Theatre project, fundraising efforts by Las Casas Foundation, a
local non-profit organization, restored the forgotten luster of the interior of the theatre, and the venue reopened
as the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in 1998 after $5 million in renovations. The 856 seat Empire is equipped
with a flexible seating system on the main floor, providing the capability for theatre style seating, as well as
adjustable platforms that provide both banquet and cabaret table seating options. The Empire is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places, is operated by ATG North America as a self-sustaining performing arts
facility and is home to a wide variety of programming including: intimate musical concerts, comedy attractions,
children’s theatre; and private uses including banquets, seminars, product launches and weddings.

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
San Antonio, TX

Excerpted from the Tobin Center website...

The mission of The Tobin Center is to provide a world-
class venue that promotes a diverse range of cultural,
educational, and artistic experiences that improve the
quality of life in San Antonio.

An Incredibly Powerful Vision: We have needed this
for a long time. A versatile, world-class performing
arts facility for the nation’s seventh-largest city.
A center where our school children receive
specialized education opportunities and exposure
Photo courtesy of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts to extraordinary performances. A new magnet for
downtown revitalization, located on the River Walk leading up to the new Museum Reach. And finally, a much-
needed home where our resident performing arts groups can grow and thrive.
Situated along the banks of the River in the city’s heart, the historic Municipal Auditorium, with its original facade
preserved, has been transformed into a world-class venue. This theatrical icon is once again the pride of the
River and a shining beacon of creativity, fine art and downtown development. There is no better place —
anywhere — to see and hear a live performance.
The Tobin Center features a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose 1,746 seat (2,039 seat with flat-floor configuration)
Performance Hall (both including balcony boxes in the count), a 232 seat (or 249, 266, 293 or 300 – depending
on the number of additional rows added in front of the stage) Studio Theater, and an outdoor performance
plaza connected to the River Walk with a permanent 32 FT video wall and water taxi portal.
The remarkable flexibility of the 1,746 seat H-E-B Performance Hall, with its distinctive “flat-floor” capability, opens
the door for performances and events of almost any sort. The acoustics in the Hall can be “tuned” to fit the
performance and the physical set-up of the hall, and the sound insulation throughout The Tobin Center also
enables simultaneous use of the Performance Hall, the Studio Theater and the 600-seat River Walk Plaza.
Bexar County voters agreed overwhelmingly, approving $100 million in construction bonds in May, 2008. The City
of San Antonio followed by contributing the Municipal Auditorium and adjacent Fire Department Headquarters
building – valued altogether at $41 million.

The Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation – formed to own and operate the new facility –
committed to raise $54 million from the private sector. The Tobin Endowment made a $15 million challenge
grant, and that challenge has been met, with well over $39 million in private funds already committed.

Now audiences can see and hear performers and performances of every description at The Tobin Center for
the Performing Arts.

PAGE 26 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres