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PITTSBURG —
Some days, there aren’t many people in the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium. But since a major remodel and renovation in 1984, there’s always been seats in the auditorium.
On Wednesday, the lower level seemed abandoned as work proceeded to remove and reinstall more than 400 seats on the lower level.
“It’s weird to see all the chairs out. The staff has repainted and tightened all the seat standards and tightened the arm rests,” said Jeff Wilbert, Memorial Auditorium director. “When it’s done, it’s going to be as new as it can be. It’s going to be as close as it can be as to when it reopened after the remodel in 1984.”
The biggest testament to the need for such a project was the condition of the seats after more than two decades of use.
“It was badly needed,” said Jeff Wilbert, Memorial Auditorium director. “We had seats down in the front with holes in the fabric. We also had the occasional complaint from people who had springs come up and meet them. These were the original materials from the original seats in 1984.”
The seats in the balcony have not been replaced, but the seats on the lower level got major work. Wilbert sent the seats to American Office Services Inc., based out of Westlake, Ohio, for new upholstering.
The redone seats costs about $25,000, but half of the cost for the project came through a grant by the Pritchett Trust.
“That’s the biggest thing, I think,” Wilbert said. “It would have been much more difficult to have been able to be completed without the grant from the Pritchett Trust.”
Each of the seat bottoms got a new wooden piece to support it. Both the seat backs and seat bottoms were re-upholstered. Furthermore, as part of the seat changes, the area can now host 10 handicapped seats.
Wednesday, the only sign of seats was the hundreds of metal standards that go between and hold up the seats. Meanwhile, the seat cushions lined the stage area.
While most won’t change at the auditorium, there will be one significant change, Wilbert said.
“We will no longer allow any gum in the theater. We probably won’t wait to do that, and that’ll be a challenge we’re willing to accept,” he said. “You could not imagine how much gum we’ve removed from the bottom of those seats. It’s no fun to clean up gum off the sides and the bottoms and the floor. It’s usually after visits by the younger generation. So we’re going to make an effort to not allow people to chew in the theater.”
Some days, there aren’t many people in the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium. But since a major remodel and renovation in 1984, there’s always been seats in the auditorium.
On Wednesday, the lower level seemed abandoned as work proceeded to remove and reinstall more than 400 seats on the lower level.
“It’s weird to see all the chairs out. The staff has repainted and tightened all the seat standards and tightened the arm rests,” said Jeff Wilbert, Memorial Auditorium director. “When it’s done, it’s going to be as new as it can be. It’s going to be as close as it can be as to when it reopened after the remodel in 1984.”
The biggest testament to the need for such a project was the condition of the seats after more than two decades of use.
“It was badly needed,” said Jeff Wilbert, Memorial Auditorium director. “We had seats down in the front with holes in the fabric. We also had the occasional complaint from people who had springs come up and meet them. These were the original materials from the original seats in 1984.”
The seats in the balcony have not been replaced, but the seats on the lower level got major work. Wilbert sent the seats to American Office Services Inc., based out of Westlake, Ohio, for new upholstering.
The redone seats costs about $25,000, but half of the cost for the project came through a grant by the Pritchett Trust.
“That’s the biggest thing, I think,” Wilbert said. “It would have been much more difficult to have been able to be completed without the grant from the Pritchett Trust.”
Each of the seat bottoms got a new wooden piece to support it. Both the seat backs and seat bottoms were re-upholstered. Furthermore, as part of the seat changes, the area can now host 10 handicapped seats.
Wednesday, the only sign of seats was the hundreds of metal standards that go between and hold up the seats. Meanwhile, the seat cushions lined the stage area.
While most won’t change at the auditorium, there will be one significant change, Wilbert said.
“We will no longer allow any gum in the theater. We probably won’t wait to do that, and that’ll be a challenge we’re willing to accept,” he said. “You could not imagine how much gum we’ve removed from the bottom of those seats. It’s no fun to clean up gum off the sides and the bottoms and the floor. It’s usually after visits by the younger generation. So we’re going to make an effort to not allow people to chew in the theater.”
The contract for the chair replacement includes a provision that the seats be completed by the end of the work week.
The first performance in the theater with the new seats will be at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 30, with M-Pact. Tickets are still available.
Just because there are new seats doesn’t mean the auditorium will be packed, Wilbert noted.
“I think it is still obviously going to be our responsibility to bring in quality shows for people to enjoy in the new seats,” he said. “I don’t see the seats themselves bringing in anybody. But I do think it can enhance the shows we do bring in. I hope no one refuse to come to the theater because of the condition of the seats.”
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
