| River Campus | Summer Theater |
|
| Box
Office and Theater in 1968 |
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| 1951 Aerial Photo of Asphalt Plant |
Student theater productions often used Strong Auditorium, but it was closed for remodeling during the summer of 1968. The University had earlier bought an old asphalt plant at 612 River Boulevard (between the Erie and Lehigh Valley Railroads) which included an empty warehouse building. The site had earlier been the location of the City's Hope Hospital from 1868 to 1903.
Student groups petitioned the administration to use this building for theater productions, which was given with the proviso that the University had no funding available to support the project. The first production was held in July 4, 1968 and continued through the 1977 season, The Summer Theater, also referred to sometimes as the Asphalt Theater, was not air-conditioned, and the sound of fans blowing during performances made the voices of actors difficult to hear.
The building was reportedly condemned.in 1977 and shows were moved to remodeled space in Todd Union.
The Facilities Building was built on the site in 1983, and Public Safety moved into the building from the Towne House in 2008.
References
(also see Public Safety)
1949 "Koppers
Buys Plant Producing Road Materials," Democrat and Chronicle,
February 17, 1949, Page 21.
1967 Deed from George E. Gamble to the University of Rochester, 1967, book 3804 page 314.
1967 "Exec
Council Meets," Campus Times, October 24, 1967, Page 1. | Part
2 |
A nearby asphalt plant has been purchased by the University. The
building has a floor area greater than that of Todd, and hopefully, it
will be turned over to the student body. However, President Wallis
is as yet withholding judgement.
1968 "How
to Succeed in (show) business by trying and trying and trying," Rochester
Review 30(4):23-25 (Summer 1968)
The troupe opened in a converted campus warehouse the weekend of July
4th. Throughout their early struggles – raising funds, convincing
University officials to let them use a former asphalt plant for a theater,
painting and renovating the premises, and building a stage – the students
firmly believed that somehow, in spite of all the obstacles, the
show would actually go on.
1977 "Summer Theater Debate Continues," Campus Times, April 18, 1977, Page 1.
1978 "Michael
Sweeney, building contractor," Democrat and Chronicle, September 8,
1978, Page 2B.
Michael E. Sweeney, a building contractor in the Rochester area for more
than 55 years, died Wednesday in his home, 1 LaCroix Court, Irondequoit.
He was 93. Sweeney built homes on Newcastle Road and on Southern Parkway
in Brighton. He built or resurfaced many city and town streets and helped
build Obituaries the Barge Canal. He started a crushed stone business at
612 River Blvd., now Wilson Boulevard, in 1915 and converted it into an
asphalt plant in 1940. After selling the business to a Pittsburgh company
in the late 1940s, Sweeney continued as a consultant to the company until
he was 80.
© 2021 Morris A. Pierce