Laxson Auditorium

CSU, Chico's venerable Laxson Auditorium turned seventy five in Spring of 2006. Built in approximately thirteen months (original blueprint drawings are dated February 24, 1930 and construction began on May 2, 1930) at a cost of $288,703, the auditorium has been the site of thousands of performances, debates, speeches, graduations, and ceremonies.

Annually Laxson Auditorium hosts more than 100 performances of artists from around the world in music, dance, theater and lectures. Nobel Prize Winners such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Shimon Peres, and notable speakers Jane Goodall and Garrison Keillor have graced its stage, as have performing artists ranging from Count Basie to Lily Tomlin, Bobby McFerrin to Victor Borge, Lou Reed to the Tchaikovsky Orchestra, Ani DiFranco to Joan Baez, and the San Francisco Symphony to the annual local Nutcracker productions.

In addition, hundreds of Chico State theatre, music, and dance students have "trudged the boards" in performances ranging from musical comedies to serious drama to classical music, jazz and salsa.

The first "event" held in laxson Auditorium (according to the Chico State Wildcat newspaper) was an assembly on June 4, 1931 to install the new student body officers, including President Melvin Farley. The assembly included a band concert that featured John Philip Sousa's "Liberty Bell March," "Home Sweet Home," and the Chico State fight song, "Hail to Chico State." Activities continued that week with the first major performance production on June 9 of Bohemian Girl (featuring sixty-four singers and a twenty-two-piece orchestra), directed by Ruth Rowland (later Ruth Rowland-Taylor), and graduation ceremonies on June 10, 1931.

The official dedication of the then Assembly Hall was on January 22, 1932 during the inauguration ceremonies for Chico State President Aymer J. Hamilton. Assembly Hall later became known as College Auditorium and then University Auditorium. It was officially named Laxson Auditorium on Sept. 25, 1974 honoring Dr. C. Robert Laxson who was a music professor at the University from 1946 until his death in 1968.

A two-year (1974-1976) $1 million earthquake proofing renovation resulted in a new seating configuration reducing the capacity of the facility from 1,470 to 1,337. The renovation was accompanied by the addition of plush padded seats (compared to the often splintered wooden seats of before) and carpeting.

The "new" Laxson Auditorium was officially dedicated on December 9, 1979 in ceremonies emceed by Harlen Adams and presided over by University President Robert Fredenburg.

The Janet Turner Print museum is housed on the second floor of Laxson Auditorium.

Laxson Auditorium underwent a complete renovation in the summer of 2006, including newly refurbished seating, new carpet, a refinished stage floor, and an updating of the facilities dressing rooms.