Santa Monica is a city of innovation, creativity, and world-class attractions, yet it lacks a central cultural destination that reflects its artistic and entertainment legacy. The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, once a thriving hub of music, film, and live performances, holds the potential to become that very icon once again —an entertainment landmark that rivals venues marketed as Los Angeles cultural destinations, such as The Wallis in Beverly Hills.
A Legacy Worth Preserving
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, built in 1958, has hosted legendary performances from the Academy Awards to iconic concerts by artists like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. It has stood as a beacon of culture, uniting diverse audiences through art, music, and live entertainment. However, neglect and bureaucratic inertia have left this once-proud venue underutilized and at risk of being lost forever.
The Need for a Cultural Landmark in Santa Monica
Unlike Beverly Hills, which has successfully revitalized its old Post Office to become The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, now considered a premier cultural destination, Santa Monica lacks a prominent dedicated entertainment landmark that attracts audiences from across the region. While our city is home to vibrant arts and entertainment communities, many performances and events are forced to seek venues in Los Angeles or other nearby cities, diluting Santa Monica’s cultural footprint. A renovated Civic Auditorium could splendidly highlight local talent as well as national talent, concerts, international performances, and community events, promoting a positive and creative vision for the future.
Economic and Cultural Benefits
Restoring the Civic Auditorium as a state-of-the-art entertainment venue would bring substantial economic and cultural benefits to Santa Monica. A thriving arts center could:
Boost Local Economy: Increased foot traffic from visitors, performers, and tourists would generate revenue for nearby businesses, restaurants, and hotels.
Create Jobs: Reopening the venue would create employment opportunities in event management, hospitality, and the arts.
Enhance Santa Monica’s Cultural Identity: A revitalized Civic Auditorium would position Santa Monica as a premier arts and entertainment hub on the Westside, thereby strengthening its brand as a world-class cultural destination.
Support Tourism and Tax Revenue: As a major attraction, the Civic Auditorium would draw more tourists to Santa Monica, supporting local hotels and businesses and increasing the city’s tax revenue.
The Consequence of Demolition
Demolishing the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, as proposed by Councilman Zwick in his February 25, 2025 Daily press Op-Ed statement, would erase an elemental part of the city’s history, be an act of cultural waste, and cause an irreversible loss of our heritage and identity. The delisting and demolition of this Nationally Registered and designated City Landmark would make our City a national cultural pariah. The venue’s architectural and historical significance should be honored, and there is an opportunity to make it a newly created iconic site for generations to come—not simply discarded for cut-and-paste short-term commercial interests and profit. Aren’t we seeing enough of this?
A Vision for the Future
The success of The Wallis proves that a city can transform a historic venue into a modern, financially sustainable cultural attraction. Santa Monica must follow suit, embracing its artistic heritage while modernizing its infrastructure to meet contemporary entertainment needs. A revamped Civic Auditorium could host concerts, artists in residence, theater productions, film festivals, and community events—serving as an accessible, multi-purpose venue for all.
A Call to Action
Now is the time for the City of Santa Monica, private investors, and the community to unite and ensure that the Civic Auditorium is not lost to history. With vision, investment, and commitment, this venue can once again become a thriving cultural destination that preserves its storied past and secures its place in Santa Monica’s future.
Santa Monica deserves a true entertainment icon with historical roots. The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is ready for a rebirth. As a first step to that rebirth, the City Council should sign the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with the Revitalization Partners Group (RPG,) who are ready to invest millions of dollars in the rehabilitation and updating of this incredible City asset and operate it as a premier music venue among other possibilities. Renovating this iconic landmark property is not just about preserving something old; it’s about creatively and efficiently recycling structures while being ecologically and environmentally responsible, all while respectfully nodding to our unique history.
Let’s not wait until it’s too late. The City Council should act now to start the revitalization process.
Michael Jolly for SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Samuel Tolkin, Architect & Planning Commissioner; Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA,
Architect; Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect; Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life
Safety Commission; Michael Jolly, AIRCRE; Jack Hillbrand AIA, Landmarks Commission
Architect; Phil Brock, SM Mayor (ret).
