Worcester Auditorium gala showcases one of city's 'most endangered' treasures

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Lucy McKenzie
7 years ago
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1 Sunday, June 9, 2013 Worcester Auditorium gala showcases one of city's 'most endangered' treasures ENDANGERED WORCESTER during last night's Aud Ball. (T&G Staff/NOAH R. BOMBARD) Getting a peek inside the Worcester Memorial Auditorium It's been 15 years since the general public has strolled through the classic revival style Worcester Memorial Auditorium -- often known simply as The Aud. After closing in 1998, the greatest gathering the main hall hosted was in the form of row after row of Massachusetts State Trial Court records. Last night the old Worcester landmark -- for just a few hours -- awoke from its slumber.

2 About 500 people packed the ball, held by Preservation Worcester in an attempt to showcase the Worcester treasure and in the hopes of sparking interest in reviving the building. The Aud is in some ways the odd duckling in Worcester's downtown theater landscape, which includes the Hanover Theater, Mechanic's Hall, Tuckerman Hall and the DCU Center. It's more than just a venue, it's a memorial, built to honor the 9,000 service men and women who served in World War I. It's also home to what was -- when originally painted -- the largest mural in the United States. The sentiment from partygoers at last night's ball was clear: the building is a treasure and the fact that it sits empty and unused is somewhat tragic. "I'm confident you agree this building should be seen and used," Deborah Packard, executive director of Preservation Worcester told the crowd. Although the front entrance of the Aud -- that impressive staircase that climbs up from Lincoln Square -- was closed last night, visitors got to see the state seal inlaid in the front entryway. The bronze, iron, granite and limestone materials of the building exude the 1930s era it was built in. One of the things that stands out about the Aud is the artwork -- three giant murals painted by artist Leon Krull in the 1930s took three years to complete. As you walk up the stairs from the entryway, into the Memorial Hall, this is what you're greeted by as you ascend the staircase:

3 It is difficult for any photos to really represent the size and scale of the artwork and the halls. For an unused building, the Aud looked surprisingly alive last night -- thanks largely to staging in the form of lighting and plants. In the Memorial Hall, where a VIP reception for sponsors was held prior to the ball last night, the fact that the place has been empty for more than a decade was not obvious.

4 The main hall also still has its charm, with little aging obvious to the naked eye. Although guests weren't allowed into the balcony, it was one of the architectural highlights of the main hall.

5 The 700-pipe organ proved it was still in good working order last night as guests got a short concert. You can see one of the two sets of pipes with their ornate structure visible here behind singer Dale LePage, who hosted the entertainment last night. But the entire building isn't in pristine shape. A walk outside the main areas and you got a sense of a building long neglected. This old coat check room was more representative of how much of the hallways of the building now look.

6 But those areas paled in comparison to the detail and seeming durability of the structure's more eye-catching work. Guests Barbara and Andy Salitsky sat outside this iron and bronze door -- one of three -- that showcase the Auditorium's craftsmanship. What does the future hold for the Aud? That's an open slate at the moment. Plans over the past decade ranged from moving the Higgins Armory there (that structure has since announced it's closing and moving its collection to Worcester Art Museum), plans for a Faneuil Hall style marketplace, office space and a research center. In 2010, the city council voted to give the city permission to sell the property.

7 Currently, it's on Preservation Worcester's most endangered properties list.

We look forward to working with you during this exciting weekend of art, education and cultural entertainment.

We look forward to working with you during this exciting weekend of art, education and cultural entertainment. Confirming Los Angeles rising status as a destination and marketplace for curators, collectors and art enthusiasts are the city s many new and established galleries, world-class museums and outstanding