Museum added to Plaza Theatre renovation plans in Palm Springs
Plans to renovate the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs just got a little bigger. The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation is adding a museum to display items honoring and celebrating the theater's history and impact on the city.
Construction will begin to restore the theater in March and is anticipated to end in 2025.
The museum will be located in an existing corridor along the southern length of the auditorium and center upon the people behind La Plaza and the Plaza Theatre, notably Julia Carnell, the person who originally commissioned the building of the shopping center and theater project, and its architect Harry Williams. It will also commemorate the many celebrities that graced its stage after opening in 1936.
Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation President and former City Councilmember J.R. Roberts is asking local residents and anyone connected to the theater to donate items from the venue's past.
To donate items or contribute to the theater's restoration, visit savetheplazatheatreps.org.
“We are asking everyone to dig through their closets and let us know if they have something they would be willing to add to our growing Plaza Theatre collection. We are all so excited to see this amazing building on the verge of coming back to be the vibrant center of Palm Springs," Roberts said in a statement.
The city agreed in December to provide $13 million towards restoration
Since 2019, the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation has raised $16 million, but must raise an additional $10 million to cover construction and contingencies. In December, the Palm Springs city council agreed to provide $13 million in funds that had been allocated for other uses in the city’s current budget to be diverted to fund the construction of the theater. Multiple councilmembers said they supported the diversion because the city will be able to replenish the funds before they are needed.
The council had been asked to provide $20 million in city funds to cover more of the cost of renovating the historic movie house. Roberts has been fundraising to retrofit into a modern performing arts venue capable of hosting a variety of live events.
Roberts told the council that the foundation was asking for the city to front the money after construction bids for the project exceeded previous expectations by nearly $10 million.
He said the city money would allow construction to start in the near future, and that if the council voted no, the bids would have to expire. That would delay the project while more funds were raised and eventually require a new bidding process — and what would almost certainly be a higher construction price tag.
The agreement obligates the foundation to repay the city $10 million within three years of the end of construction.
Efforts to restore the theater began in 2019
In early 2020, the Save the Plaza Theatre effort initially raised almost $500,000 in cash and pledge promises toward a goal of $10 million to $12 million for a full restoration. But the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted fundraising efforts, including the "Rock the Plaza" benefit, which was originally scheduled for later that year, but was never held.
As the pandemic waned in 2021, Save the Plaza Theatre had just over $160,000 in its coffers. Efforts were back on track later that year after the organization received a $5 million donation from television and theater producer — and Palm Springs resident — David Lee. The organization also received an anonymous donation of $2 million.
The theater hosted its first event in six years in 2019 when Nancy Sinatra, her daughters A.J. Lambert and Amanda Erlinger, actor and singer James Darren and Wrecking Crew member Don Randi took part in a fundraiser to restore the Plaza. In a surprise twist, Sinatra walked out on stage and performed "Bang Bang" as well as her 1966 hit "Boots" for the show's finale.
Rock the Plaza's 2022 benefit concert featuring Alice Cooper, Bad Company and Free frontman Paul Rodgers, former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum, local musician and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and more raised more than $200,000.
Lee, who produced the '90s sitcom "Frasier," also appeared at a similar event with co-producer Peter Casey and cast members David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin.
This story includes previous reporting by Desert Sun reporter Paul Albani-Burgio.
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation adds museum to renovation plans
