The scaffolding in front of the entrance gate was used to install a sign identifying the new Mesker Amphitheatre in 1952.
In the early 1930s, Evansville Mayor Frank Griese had proposed the construction of an outdoor theater so that audiences could be serenaded by “music under the stars.†That goal began to materialize when the city received a bequest from the estate of George L. Mesker, president of the steel manufacturing company that bore his name.
His will provided $500,000 for improvements to Mesker Park, as well as an additional $250,000 to fund music programs for the public. World War II delayed the project, but when it was completed, the amphitheatre was regarded as one of the nation’s finest. It has been closed since 2012.Â
Thank goodness for the Weinzapfel Money Pit Center. It’s been a boon to our city. We got a green space where Roberts once was and now maybe we can get rid of the amphitheatre and build a zip line. What would be nice where the Coliseum sits? A trendy bistro would be nice, eh?
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