Peabody Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Story published in Hometown News March 13, 2009
By Bethany Chambers,Staff writer

DAYTONA BEACH - The curtains have opened here for James Brown, Maurice Chevalier, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett and Jay Leno.

And the lights have dimmed here four times on Elvis Presley and innumerable times on the London Symphony Orchestra.

Now, the Peabody Auditorium, a beachside staple, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

"It has fantastic acoustics and every seat here is a good seat," said Ormond Beach resident Alice Howell, who comes to about two shows a year the theater.

Mrs. Howell and her husband, Ron, were named "Mr. and Mrs. Peabody" after winning a local search for civic leaders. The duo will emcee anniversary events and speak to community groups to share the Peabody story.

It's a story that begins in 1907.

That year, Simon J. Peabody, a lumber business owner from Indiana who wintered in Daytona Beach, became interested in the local arts community, which held a weekly forum at the Casino Burgoyne on Beach Street with drama and musical acts, speakers and dancers.

In 1920, Mr. Peabody engineered the building of the original Peabody Auditorium at Auditorium Boulevard and N. Wild Olive Avenue.

"It had 2,200 seats at that time. Imagine how small Daytona must have been in 1920 and to have an auditorium that seated 2,200," Ms. Howell said, "it must have been very successful."

The auditorium was destroyed by fire in 1946, but the town would not let it go.

On Oct. 6, 1949, a new Peabody Auditorium opened at the same location. It was built entirely of fireproof tile blocks. To commemorate the opening, the northwest fa?ade was decorated with what is arguably one of the most recognizable images of the center: the terracotta maidens.

Recently restored and repainted for the 60th Anniversary, the statues represent the center's core purposes: drama, music, dance and oratory.

For the past 50 years, the Peabody has been home to the Daytona Beach Symphony Society and, for the past 40 years, it has been home to the Daytona Beach International Festival and its biennial visitors, the London Symphony Orchestra.

Today, the Peabody is owned by the city and operated through an enterprise fund, acting as a separate business. Lately it has been a break-even prospect as the economy has faltered, said Helen Riger, performing arts director/cultural services administrator. Still, the Peabody has 500 season ticket holders and 100 members this year, she said.

In the past five years it has gone through significant changes. The seats and flooring have been updated and stage lighting and sound upgraded, she said.

"We used to be in disrepair, but we've spent millions in renovations in the last three years," she said.

Next there are plans to expand and update the dressing rooms, which are still quite tiny for one of central Florida's largest auditoriums, Ms. Riger said.

A staff of eight full-time employees from the city's cultural services division works on the auditorium in addition to other events such as the holiday parade, and venues such as the Bandshell.

"It takes a lot of heart to make it work," Ms. Riger said.

At the Peabody, they keep the building up and running, facilitate outside rentals and set up educational programming for kids. They like to keep the building busy at least 100 days of the year, Ms. Riger said.

Usually that includes about 30 shows, from comedians and musical groups to the Broadway in Daytona Beach series.

"There's a variety of programming; something for everyone," Mr. Howell said.

The auditorium's most recent sell-out show - by illusionist David Copperfield - brought in an audience of all ages, including the Howells.

Mr. Howell was brought on stage for the final act, a disappearing stunt.

"It was the end of the show and I was standing there feeling very lonely," Mrs. Howell joked. "I was glad to see Ron again."

The spirit of the Peabody as a community gathering place has remained, even for the national performers who visit.

"Dionne Warwick helped us serve dinner before she ate," Ms. Riger said. "You wouldn't expect a diva to be that helpful, but I've met the nicest, warmest people here."

And just as the "Dedicatory Program" released on opening day in 1949 said, the Peabody Auditorium has remained "(standing) in splendor, a magnificent structure forever dedicated to the cultural delight of all who follow in our footsteps down the rocky road of life."

"It's a real jewel," Mrs. Howell said.

For more information visit www.peabodyauditorium.org.