Freedom Captures the Soul

A ragged old building; an old monument to Petaluma; a place where all of the teenagers tend to hang out; there is only one place that fits this description: the Phoenix Theater. On the corner of Washington Street, it is viewed by thousands of people everyday, but only the youth of the town are truly inclined to drop in. The Phoenix has a sort of gravitational pull that sucks in anyone with a free and open mind that is willing to experience something new. Graffiti can be seen on the rooftop where some of the more adventurous teens go to express themselves. At first glance, the Phoenix does not seem like anything special, but it is such an important architectural tribute to the old town of Petaluma seeing as it has been around for over a hundred years, and that it is somewhere that teenagers love to be.

Walking into the Phoenix is something on a whole different plane; graffiti lines the inner walls like the fence into Woodstock: well encompassing but with gaps in between. The smell of fresh spray-paint instantly envelops the nose and the energy left behind from the bands and the crowd can be felt days after a performance. Along the side walls in the main room are skate ramps for people who want to come in and practice their tricks and there is a portable rail in the middle of the ballroom like floor. To the right of the stage, from an onlooker’s perspective, there are stairs leading down to a little studio where amateur bands can rehearse and practice their flowing melodies uninterrupted.

What the Phoenix represents in this town is freedom. The freedom to be in a tight-knit community that understands; the freedom to have fun regardless of what the outside society thinks; the freedom to love music and appreciate it in whatever way that could possibly be expressed. The owner, Tom Gaffey, who is easily one of the coolest people, shows a lot of respect and trust in the kids that attend; he allows them to do whatever they want as long as the building is still standing at the end of the night.

There are many tales told about the Phoenix, some claiming that it is haunted. Some say that there are ghosts of old attendees that still prowl the old building at night, and can be heard walking across the stage. Some teens have first hand experience with this because of how open the Phoenix is; some kids sleep there occasionally because they don’t want to be anywhere else. The worst rumored ghost is said to be in the men’s bathroom, where some janitors won’t even clean it without someone else with them at all times.

The vivid graffiti is the true expression of the Phoenix, showing how diverse the crowd is there and how everything is expressed in different ways. The graffiti ranges all the way up the stairs and encircles the room, creating a sense of security that is sometimes lost along everyone’s life. The bright and creative graffiti is actually welcoming in a sense, telling the crowd that they are accepted and among friends.

The first room seen after walking into the Phoenix Theater is the studio where bands do some last minute rehearsing before they take the stage and rock out. In a sense, this just signifies how different and unique the Phoenix is; the upcoming bands usually practice backstage, not in the first room in the theater. This backwardness of the Phoenix is something that draws many people in because it is something more on the eccentric and distinctive side, not the bland and boring lifestyle that inhibits most of the world today.

Everything in the Phoenix is contrasted a little bit; the outside is tattered and worn down while the graffiti inside is bright and flamboyant; the place is claimed to be haunted but is still packed for every show; the basement which is usually a dark place is a studio for teens. The Phoenix is one of the most unique structures, starting out as an opera house, and ending up as a Rock N’ Roll venue, but one thing that has always had continuity about it was that it supported the fine arts and the youth living in Petaluma.

The most important contributing factor to the Phoenix staying open and ready to take on the teenagers of Petaluma is the willingness of the teens to actually go there and help support it, seeing as it is a non-profit. The open-minded attitude held by all of the employees truly brings in the kids and gives them a place to just be themselves, where they won’t be judged, nor will they be scorned by anyone, they will only be given a place to stay, even for the night, and a place to feel free and secure.

-Joey