Buck Owens Crystal Palace
Encyclopedia
Buck Owens Crystal Palace (also known as the Crystal Palace and The Palace) is a music hall
located in Bakersfield
, California
. It was constructed by Buck Owens
, and was opened in 1996. Primarily it is a performance venue for country western music
, although other music genres have been heard there. It is also the home of Buck Owens museum, which contains items related to his career (some of the items are also available for viewing online). Although it is classified in this article as a music hall, it is also a: nightclub, bar, restaurant, and museum.
The Crystal Palace is designed in the Western Revival style, a style that resembles buildings from the 19th century American Old West. The interior resembles an American western town from that same period. The museum is located in display cases around the first floor, which resemble the windows to the building.
Construction started in the mid 1990s. Buck was closely involved with the project. He approved 135 change orders, several costing over $100,000. He also did not visualize from plans as well as seeing the actual construction. According to Jim Shaw (Buck Owens right hand man), on some occasions, he would see something constructed, and have it reconstructed larger and moved to a different location.
The cost of the project would eventually reach $7.4 million. Also, the large number of change orders would delay the opening over a year. The Crystal Palace was opened in 1996, and shortly became a Bakersfield landmark.
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
located in Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was constructed by Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
, and was opened in 1996. Primarily it is a performance venue for country western music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, although other music genres have been heard there. It is also the home of Buck Owens museum, which contains items related to his career (some of the items are also available for viewing online). Although it is classified in this article as a music hall, it is also a: nightclub, bar, restaurant, and museum.
The Crystal Palace is designed in the Western Revival style, a style that resembles buildings from the 19th century American Old West. The interior resembles an American western town from that same period. The museum is located in display cases around the first floor, which resemble the windows to the building.
History
The idea for the Crystal Palace originated in the mid 1980’s. Buck spent most of his early career performing in small, smoke filled bars and “honky-tonks” around the country. He wanted a high class place for country western music to be performed. Buck also wanted a place where he could be himself.Construction started in the mid 1990s. Buck was closely involved with the project. He approved 135 change orders, several costing over $100,000. He also did not visualize from plans as well as seeing the actual construction. According to Jim Shaw (Buck Owens right hand man), on some occasions, he would see something constructed, and have it reconstructed larger and moved to a different location.
The cost of the project would eventually reach $7.4 million. Also, the large number of change orders would delay the opening over a year. The Crystal Palace was opened in 1996, and shortly became a Bakersfield landmark.