Did you know...

The citrus industry began in San Bernardino County in 1857 when Anson Van Leuven planted six orange trees on his farm and people drove miles to get them.Captain Nathaniel Pishon planted the first large grove in the area, and Lewis Cram planted 1,500 trees in 1874.

The first National Orange Show in 1911 was held in a tent on the corner of 4th and “E” Street to promote the citrus industry. It was the brainchild of Harry Parkins who brought the idea to W.W. Brison who was the president of the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce.

The popularity of the National Orange Show grew so the second show in 1912 moved to its new location on 2nd and “E” Street.

The directors of the Orange Show needed a permanent home so they bought 42 acres at Mill and “E” Street.

In July 1949, the Exhibition Building constructed in 1925 was destroyed by a fire. It was almost 100,000 square feet and was the largest structure of its type in California.

The stadium was developed by the National Orange Show and the federal government in 1935 as an “unemployment relief project”. Its construction provided employment for hundreds over a two-year period.

Bob Hope and Tex Ritter were among the silver screen celebrities appearing on the entertainment stage in 1951. Hope performed for 13 consecutive years. Did you know...

The Swing Auditorium was built in 1949 and named after California state senator, Ralph Swing. Swing was one of the founders of the first National Orange Show in 1911 and served as manager and later board president.

In 1958, Sammy Davis Jr. hosted a concert at the Swing Auditorium with performances by Judy Garland, Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis, Danny Thomas and Shirley McClain. The event was held to show his appreciation to San Bernardino Community Hospital for treating him following an automobile accident in 1954. Davis lost his left eye as a result of that accident.

The Rolling Stones played their first concert in the United States in 1964 at the Swing Auditorium. They were paid $1,500. The concert was a big hit, but not a sellout at $3.50 per ticket.

Some of the artists that performed at the iconic Swing Auditorium were:

Cream, Def Leppard, Elvis Presley, George Burns, Grateful Dead, Ike & Tina Turner, Jack Benny, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, John Mellencamp, Journey, Judas Priest, Kenny Rogers, Led Zepplin, Louis Armstrong, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Sammy Hagar, Steppenwolf, Steve Miller Band, Ted Nugent, The Doors, UFO, Willie Nelson and many more. The National Orange Show has been rich in history for 110 years.