The Circle Star Theater was a performing arts venue in San Carlos, California (near the county seat of San Mateo County, Redwood City). San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA on the San Francisco Peninsula, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose San Mateo County ( "san muh-TAY-o") ( Spanish for: St Redwood City is a suburb located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California Its name is based on it being a theater in the round, featuring a revolving circular stage with no seat further than fifty feet from the stage[1]. Theatre-in-the-round or arena theatre is any Theatre space in which the audience surrounds the stage area
Frank Sinatra, Buck Owens, George Benson, Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Gordon Lightfoot, Kenny Rogers, Richard Marx, B.B. King, The Beach Boys, Frank Zappa, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, The Ohio Players, Judy Collins, Jack Benny, Liberace, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jan & Dean, James Brown, Tony Orlando, Ike Turner, Marvin Gaye, Grover Washington, Jr., Sonny and Cher, Bill Cosby and The Carpenters all played the 3,743 seat Circle Star before its destruction. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens Jr, (August 12 1929 – March 25 2006 was an American Singer and Guitarist, with 20 number-one hits on the George Benson (b March 22 1943, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American musician whose recording career began at the age of twenty-one Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940) is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award -winning singer actress activist Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943) is an American Singer-songwriter, Musician, arranger, producer and conductor Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr, (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer and songwriter who achieved international success in folk country and Kenneth Ray "Kenny" Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston Texas) is an American Country music Singer-songwriter Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963 in Chicago Illinois) is an Adult contemporary and Pop/rock Singer, Songwriter B B King (born Riley B King, September 16 1925 is an American Blues Guitarist and Singer-songwriter. The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12 1937 – June 22 2008 was an American stand-up comedian, often considered one of the best of all time Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III ( December 1, 1940 &ndash December 10, 2005) was an American Comedian, Actor The Ohio Players are a funk /soul band best known for their 1970's hits " Fire " and " Love Rollercoaster. Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939 in Seattle, Washington) is an American folk and standards Singer Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974) was an American Comedian, vaudevillian Wladziu Valentino Liberace He had a twin who died at birth and he was born with a Caul, which in his family as in many societies was taken as a sign of genius and an exceptional Samuel George “Sammy” Davis Jr (8 December 1925 &ndash 16 May 1990 was an American Entertainer. Jan and Dean were a Rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s consisting of William Jan Berry ( April 3, James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The Tony Orlando (born April 3, 1944) is an American singer best known for his work with the group Dawn in the early 1970s Ike Wister Turner ( November 5 1931 &ndash December 12 2007) was an American Musician, Bandleader, Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter Grover Washington Jr (December 12 1943 &ndash December 17 1999 was an American Jazz-funk / Soul-jazz Saxophonist. Sonny & Cher were an American Pop music duo made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 1960s and 1970s William Henry Cosby Jr (born July 12 1937 is an American Comedian, Actor, Author, Television producer and Activist. The Carpenters were a vocal and instrumental duo consisting of Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. Singer Engelbert Humperdinck complained that the rotating stage gave him motion sickness. Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey, May 2 1936, Madras India) is a well-known British - American
Multiple compilations from Richard Pryor contain tracks recorded at the Circle Star. George Carlin's Occupation: Foole was also recorded at the venue. Occupation Foole is the fourth album released by United States comedian George Carlin.
When Frank Sinatra played there in 1990, the revolving stage gave a whole new impact to "Set 'Em Up Joe", in which Sinatra, smoking a cigarette, stood next to a barstool which had a tumbler on it as he sang the song. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor Because the perimeter of the theatre was lined with spotlights, there were moments during this song when Sinatra had his back to the audience and was backlit by spotlights, with a plume of smoke surrounding his stark silhouettue and that of the barstool with drink; a striking image that could only have happened at the Circle Star.
After several tough financial runs, the Circle Star ultimately failed and was closed in December 1993. [2] The derelict building caught fire on April 18, 1997, damaging much of the backstage area, though by this time plans had already been made for its demolition. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar [3] The theater was ultimately demolished to make way for the Circle Star Center, a complex containing two four-story office buildings and a small hotel.
Notes
- ^ Matters Historical: A brief time in the spotlight. San Mateo Daily News (2006-09-30). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation
- ^ John Wildermouth. "Bank Buys Circle Star Theater", San Francisco Chronicle, 1995-01-06. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation
- ^ Wilson, Marshall. "Fire Damages Closed Theater: Cause unknown in smoky blaze at Circle Star Center", San Francisco Chronicle, 1997-04-19. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation