Two youth sing together. Decoration on Balboa Park’s outdoor Spreckels Organ Pavilion. The faces are composed of plaster of Paris mixed with coir fiber.
Like many of the buildings created for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion is decorated lavishly with unique plaster ornamentation. The impressive structure with its sweeping, semi-circular colonnade, designed by Harrison Albright in the Italian-Renaissance style, contains many sculptural figures and motifs, including human faces.
The other day I took a close look at the organ pavilion building and its colonnade. I noticed a number of different faces singing or playing pipes. Here they are!
The organ isn’t playing and the benches are empty, but many still wander into the historic pavilion to marvel at its unique beauty.An exotic face made of plaster for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park appears to be singing.A youthful musician plays the pipes. Many beautiful figures made of plaster decorate the pavilion which is home to the majestic Spreckels pipe organ in Balboa Park.A cherub sings inside the pavilion’s colonnade.Perhaps this is the Greek god Pan playing his pipes–or just an ordinary person who loves making music.
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Lea Salonga and George Takei perform at the Old Globe in the world premiere of Allegiance – A New American Musical, 2012.
I was walking through the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center in Balboa Park the other day when I noticed a collection of interesting photographs. I saw them in the windows near the entrance to the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. They show the history of the Old Globe Theatre, and some fantastic theatrical productions over the years. I was surprised at the number of Old Globe plays that have featured famous movie and television actors!
I got some pics, doing my best to avoid reflections in the glass windows.
My first pic, above, includes one very familiar face!
Who doesn’t know George Takei? He’s an American cultural icon and activist, best known for playing Sulu on television and in blockbuster movies in the much-loved Star Trek franchise.
Lea Salonga is perhaps best known for providing the singing voices in two popular Disney animated movies. She was Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan.
Theatre lovers in San Diego are very fortunate. The Old Globe Theatre is one of our nation’s top regional theatres, along with the La Jolla Playhouse. Their original productions frequently head to Broadway and win Tony Awards.
John Goodman performs at the Old Globe in Henry IV, Parts I and II, 1995.
John Goodman went from playing Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne to starring in countless popular movies. His television appearances and filmography are so extensive, he can be regarded as one of America’s best known actors.
Richard Thomas, Kristen Connolly, Blair Underwood and Noah Bean at the Old Globe with the cast of Othello, 2014.
Richard Thomas is probably best remembered for playing John-Boy in the very popular old television series The Waltons. More recently he starred in the drama series The Americans.
Kristen Connolly plays key roles in television’s House of Cards and Zoo.
Blair Underwood has won many awards during his acting career. He has played roles on television’s L.A. Law, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The New Adventures of Old Christine, and other recent shows.
Noah Bean played important roles on the thriller series Nikita and the legal drama Damages.
Robert Christopher Riley performs at the Old Globe in The Royale, 2014.
Robert Christopher Riley is known for his acting role in Hit the Floor, and has appeared in movies including The Bourne Legacy.
Jim Parsons, graduate of The Old Globe/USD Professional Theatre Training Program, with Associate Artist James Winker in Da, 2001.
The insanely popular Big Bang Theory wouldn’t be the same without the hilarious character Sheldon Cooper, who is played by Jim Parsons. Parsons has won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Laurence Fishburne and Ella Joyce perform at the Old Globe in Two Trains Running, 1991.
Laurence Fishburne might be best known for his role in The Matrix where he played the iconic character Morpheus. He has played many important film and television characters during his prolific career.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!
Beautiful Balboa Park! 