Columbia Township Auditorium

Columbia Township Auditorium, also known as Township Auditorium, is a historic auditorium located in Columbia, South Carolina. It was built in 1930 (90 years ago), and is a three-story, brick building with a Doric order columned portico in the Georgian Revival style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places[2] in 2005, and in 2009 it underwent a complete renovation/modernization that saw the architects/facility win national awards for historic preservation[3]/renovation. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 3,072 for standard concert seating and 3,383 with general admission floor seating.

Columbia Township Auditorium
Location1703 Taylor St.
Columbia, South Carolina
Coordinates34°00′35″N 81°01′40″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1930 (1930)
ArchitectLafaye and Lafaye; John C. Heslep
Architectural styleGeorgian Revival
MPSSegregation in Columbia, South Carolina MPS
NRHP reference No.05001104[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 28, 2005

In the early years of the building the facility was a major tour stop in the Southeast USA with everyone performing there including Duke Ellington, The Ink Spots r&b group in '40, Louis Armstrong in '40 (for $1.20 a ticket) and '44, Count Basie & His Orchestra in '47, Elvis Presley in '56, Bill Haley & His Comets with Bo Diddley in '56, Florida's Ray Charles in '60, Isley Brothers in '60, Johnny Cash in '63, Peter, Paul, & Mary in '63, Augusta's James Brown in '65, Macon's Otis Redding (d.1967) with Atlanta's Gladys Knight in '65, Beach Boys in '65, Greenwood's frat rock Swingin' Medallions in '66, Paul Revere & The Raiders in '67, Joan Baez in '68, and Loretta Lynn, just to name a few. Through the 70s and 80s the building was a major part of the success and growth of professional wrestling in the US. Pink Floyd played there in '72, Bruce Springsteen played there in '78, The Jacksons performed there in '79, Blue Öyster Cult in '79, The Clash in '84, Athens' R.E.M. in '86, the Beastie Boys in '87, Red Hot Chili Peppers in '89, Blues Traveler played there in '92 and '97 (bassist Bobby Sheehan died in '99), The Smashing Pumpkins (3 times: in 1994, 2000, and 2007), Phish in '94[4] (Trey Anastasio has returned twice with his solo band in '01[5] and '05[6]), Toad the Wet Sprocket in '95, Virginia's Dave Matthews in '97 and '99, Live in '99, Godsmack in '04, Alicia Keys in '05, Train in '06, and Switchfoot in '07. In 2010, Tony Bennett performed at the reopening of the Township. Although the building always had popularity, since the renovation the building has had more major shows come through like Jason Isbell, Cake in 2012, Rise Against with Florida's A Day to Remember in 2012, John Legend, Charlotte's K-Ci & JoJo and Anthony Hamilton, Mary J. Blige, Bob Dylan, ZZ Top, Pretty Lights, Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington (d.2017) in '13, Charleston's Band Of Horses in '13, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jack White in 2014, Queens of the Stone Age in 2014, Skrillex in '14, Amos Lee, Alison Krauss, Greensboro's Daughtry, Charlotte's Avett Brothers in 2015, Rob Thomas (raised in Lake City, SC) in '15, John Mellencamp in 2015, Raleigh's Ryan Adams in 2009 and 2017, Modest Mouse in 2018, Upstate SC band Needtobreathe in '19, Chicago in '19, Diana Ross in 2020, a rap concert with Ja Rule, DMX, and Juvenile; the Atlanta rapper Future, Atlanta rap group Migos in '17, and Common in '19; and comedians Dave Chappelle in '04 and '20, Jerry Seinfeld in '05, and Gabriel Iglesias in 2012, just to name a few. Also as a special honor when the legendary jam band Widespread Panic from Athens celebrated their 25th Anniversary Celebration they picked the Township Auditorium as one of their favorite places to play. Widespread Panic played there in 2013, '15, and '16. Also the king of blues music BB King played one of his final shows at the building before he died in 2015. Author Pat Conroy from Beaufort also spoke at the Township two years before he died in 2016. Zedd's October 2015 concert (on the True Colors Tour) was cancelled due to the flooding of Columbia. Breaking Benjamin's 2018 concert was also cancelled. Shinedown's 2020 concert was cancelled due to COVID-19. South Carolina musicians that played at the Township were James Brown, Swingin' Medallions, Rob Thomas, Band of Horses, and Needtobreathe.

https://www.setlist.fm/search?page=5&query=Township+Auditorium&venue=73d626c9

Pink Floyd '72 tour: Dark Side of the Moon Tour Springsteen '78 tour: Darkness Tour The Jacksons '79 tour: Destiny World Tour Rise Against 2012 tour: Endgame Tour

The facility is owned and operated by Richland County, with currently Aundrai Holloman serving as Executive Director and Andrew Horne serving as the Assistant Executive Director.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Official Website--Part of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  3. "Theatre Consultants Collaborative | Performance. Connected". 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  4. "Apr 22, 1994 Setlist - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  5. "Mar 03, 2001 Setlist - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  6. "May 03, 2005 Setlist - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
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