Cullen Performance Hall
{{Short description|Concert hall in Houston, Texas, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Cullen Performance Hall
| image = 250px
| image_caption = Front entrance to Cullen Performance Hall
| nickname =
| location = 4800 Calhoun Road
Houston, Texas
United States
| coordinates =
| type = Proscenium theatre
| genre =
| built =
| opened = October 31, 1950
| renovated = 1988
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = University of Houston
| construction_cost=$5.5 million USD
| former_names =
| seating_type = Reserved
| seating_capacity = 1,544
| website = [http://www.uh.edu/cph/index.html Cullen Performance Hall]
}}
Cullen Performance Hall is a concert hall located on the campus of the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. The hall, comprising the eastern half of the E. Cullen Building, was named in honor of Ezekiel W. Cullen, a former congressman for the Republic of Texas. The facility seats 1,544, and hosts music, opera, dance, theatrical events, and public lectures. Opening in 1950, the facility was designed by Alfred C. Finn.
History
On March 21, 1945, the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building along with Cullen Performance Hall was announced.{{cite book |title=In Time: An Anecdotal History of the First Fifty Years of the University of Houston |last=Nicholson |first=Patrick |year=1977 |publisher=Pacesetter Press |location=Houston, Texas |isbn=0-88415-371-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/intimeanecdotalh0000nich/page/270 270–271] |url=https://archive.org/details/intimeanecdotalh0000nich/page/270 }} Construction of Cullen Performance Hall was part of a large expansion to the University of Houston's permanent buildings on campus that took place starting on May 10, 1948. The hall originally sat 1,680, and was intended to host similar events as the Houston Music Hall which was the main music venue for the city at the time.{{cite book |title=Public Television: America's First Station |last=Hawes |first=William |year=1996 |publisher=Sunstone Press |location=Santa Fe, New Mexico |isbn=0-86534-245-8 |pages=21–22}} The hall was named in honor of Ezekiel W. Cullen, a congressman for the Republic of Texas, and the grandfather of then University of Houston Regent Hugh Roy Cullen who was the principal donor to the project.
The university hired native Houston architect Alfred C. Finn to design the building.{{cite web |url=http://www.houstondeco.org/1950s/ecullen.html |title=Ezekiel W. Cullen Building |publisher=Greater Houston Preservation Alliance |work=Houston Deco: Modernistic of the Texas Coast |accessdate=2008-12-30}} In order to give the building a classical look, Finn designed the building with long wings and regularly spaced pilasters.
The dedication of the Cullen Performance Hall was held in conjunction with the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building on Halloween of 1950.{{cite book |title=In Time: An Anecdotal History of the First Fifty Years of the University of Houston |last=Nicholson |first=Patrick |year=1977 |publisher=Pacesetter Press |location=Houston, Texas |isbn=0-88415-371-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/intimeanecdotalh0000nich/page/289 289–290] |url=https://archive.org/details/intimeanecdotalh0000nich/page/289 }} For the dedication, conductor Efrem Kurtz directed the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and H.R. Cullen gave a speech.
In 1988, the facility received complete renovations.{{cite web |url=http://local.yahoo.com/info-45861296-cullen-performance-hall-houston |title=Cullen Performance Hall |publisher=Yahoo! |work=Yahoo! Local |accessdate=2008-12-30}}
Past events
=Music=
Artists who have appeared at Cullen Performance Hall include Depeche Mode,{{Cite web|url=http://www.depechemode.com/past_tours/some_great_reward_tour/index.html|title=Depeche Mode|access-date=2011-02-22|archive-date=2011-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110114236/http://www.depechemode.com/past_tours/some_great_reward_tour/index.html|url-status=dead}} The Smiths,{{cite web |url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-smiths/1986/cullen-performance-hall-houston-tx-23d7d42f.html |title=1986 The Smiths Setlist |publisher=setlist.fm |accessdate=2016-04-13}}
Los Lobos,{{cite web |url=http://loslobos.setlist.com/1988.html |title=1988 Los Lobos Tour Dates |publisher=loslobos.setlist.com |accessdate=2008-12-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112083414/http://loslobos.setlist.com/1988.html |archivedate=2009-01-12 }} Tori Amos,{{cite web |url=http://www.toriamos.org/sightings/tours/tour94.shtml |title=1994 Under The Pink Tour |publisher=toriamos.org |accessdate=2008-12-30}} Dead Can Dance,{{cite web |url=http://www.deadcandance.info/datesonly.html |title=Dead Can Dance - Tour Archive |publisher=deadcandance.info |date=2008-12-30}} Tracy Chapman,{{cite web |url=http://www.about-tracy-chapman.net/1995-1996-new-beginning-tour/ |title=1995 / 1996 - New Beginning Tour |date=7 December 1996 |publisher=about-tracy-chapman.net |accessdate=2008-12-30}} Kronos Quartet,{{cite web |url=http://www.concertattack.com/the-kronos-quartet/cullen-performance-hall/04112008/concert/22512/ |title=The Kronos Quartet - Cullen Performance Hall // 4.11.2008 |publisher=Concert Attack |accessdate=2008-12-30 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Djavan,{{cite web |url=http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/709183/ |title=Brazilian Superstar "DJAVAN" in Houston Concert |publisher=Yahoo! |work=Upcoming Events & Things To Do |access-date=2008-12-30 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715112235/http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/709183/ |archive-date=2012-07-15 |url-status=dead }} Rick Braun,{{cite web |url=http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-4100.html |title=The City of Houston Was Hit By A Direct Jazz Attack |author=Nunn, Sheldon |date=2005-04-23 |accessdate=2008-12-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120135224/http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-4100.html |archivedate=2008-11-20 }} Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot, Peter White, Cyndi Lauper,{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonvoice.com/2006/9-18/arts/music/lauper.cfm |title=Mother of Reinvention |author=Guerra, Joey |date=2006-09-18 |publisher=Houston Voice |accessdate=2008-12-30}} The Clash,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockinhouston.com/performers/the-clash/550?page=1&groupBy=Years|title=The Clash - Rockin Houston}} and the Ramones.{{Cite web|url=http://rockinhouston.com/performers/ramones/506/|title=Ramones - Rockin Houston}}
=Lectures=
Rapper and political activist Chuck D spoke at a public lecture at Cullen Performance Hall in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/archive/nr/2006/04april/041206chuckd_perf.html |title=Bring the Noise: Hip Hop Pioneer, Activist Chuck D To Speak on Rap, Race at UH |publisher=University of Houston |date=2006-04-12 |accessdate=2008-12-30}} Filmmaker Charles Burnett discussed his 1978 film Killer of Sheep there in 2008,{{cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/uhtoday/2008/01jan/013108blackhistorymonth.html |title=Award-Winning Filmmaker Charles Burnett Kicks Off Black History Month |publisher=University of Houston |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-12-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121080115/http://www.uh.edu/uhtoday/2008/01jan/013108blackhistorymonth.html |archivedate=November 21, 2008 }} while Spike Lee spoke there in 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/archive/nr/2004/02feb/021004spikel.html |title=Spike Lee To Address Black History Through Film During Campus Lecture at UH |publisher=University of Houston |date=2004-02-10 |accessdate=2008-12-30}} Nobel laureates James D. Watson and Eric Kandel lectured at the hall in 2007, and were moderated by Ferid Murad.{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/archive/nr/2007/09sept/090407nobellaureates_speak.html |title=Three Nobel Laureates Speak at UH To Launch Holocaust Museum Program |publisher=University of Houston |date=2007-09-04 |accessdate=2008-12-30}} Also in 2007, inventor and futurist Raymond Kurzweil presented UH's 2007 Farfel Distinguished Lecture at the location.{{cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/uhtoday/2007/03march/032907kurzweil_farfelspeaker.html |title=www.uh.edu/uhtoday/2007/03march/032907kurzweil_farfelspeaker.html |publisher=University of Houston |date=2007-03-29 |accessdate=2008-12-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109005610/http://uh.edu/uhtoday/2007/03march/032907kurzweil_farfelspeaker.html |archivedate=January 9, 2009 }} Academic scholar Cornel West lectured on race relations as a guest of the university's Graduate College of Social Work in 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/archive/nr/2005/03march/032905cwest_ndrwood.html |title=Provocative Princeton Race Relations Scholar To Speak At UH |publisher=University of Houston |date=2005-03-29 |accessdate=2008-12-30}}
=Other=
ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from outside of the Cullen Performance Hall when they came to the University of Houston campus to cover the #8 Houston team compete against SMU from November 18–19, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111411aac.html |title=ESPN GameDay Info |publisher=Houston Cougars athletics |accessdate=2011-11-16 |archive-date=2012-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531120251/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111411aac.html |url-status=dead }}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=35em}}
External links
- [http://www.uh.edu/cph/index.html Cullen Performance Hall]
- [http://www.uh.edu University of Houston]
{{coord|29.7203|-95.3431|type:landmark_region:US-TX|display=title}}
{{University of Houston}}
Category:University of Houston campus
Category:Music venues in Houston
Category:Concert halls in Texas
Category:Music venues completed in 1950