Photo of the Old Globe Theater burning. Built in 1935 as part of the California Pacific International Exposition, it was destroyed by arson in 1978, rebuilt and reopened in 1981. The theatre is based on a copy of one built for the Chicago Century of Progress, which in turn was a copy of the Globe Theatre in London, England, where many of William Shakespeare's plays were performed during his lifetime Presented by the Old Globe Theatre to thank Mayor Wilson for his contributions to the building fund.