Saturday, November 23, 2013 www.aberdeennews.com 11F A B E R D E E N C I V I C A R E N A “The arena is structurally sound and a viable facility for the next 75 years ... History will continue to be made in the Aberdeen Civic Arena.” David Eckert Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department supervisor who oversees the Arena Former Aberdeen Civic Arena janitors (from left) Ron Sahli, Flip Nikolas and Rich Sahli along with building supervisor David Eckert take a recent tour of the historic complex. The Arena is celebrating its 75th anniversary. American News Photo by John Davis Usefulness of landmark underscored Arena opens its doors to community, region, variety of possibilities BY SHAWN WERRE the energy are exciting. It’s been Adding the Secret Service takes Jan. 8, 2005: Junior Snow Queen. March 27, 2011: Jim Witter: “The Piano Men” music of Elton John and Billy Joel . [email protected] a couple of years since Aberdeen things to a whole new level. Jan. 15, 2005: Senior Snow Queen. Jan. 22, 2005: YAPA Talent Show. Jan. 25, 2012: Golden Dragon Acrobats. Central played a basketball game Feb. 28, 2005: Public All School Vocal Feb. 24, 2012: River North Dance Chica- David Eckert oversees the here, but every time they have, Q: What is the highest compli- Concert. go. Sept. 28, 2012: TAP Kids. Aberdeen Civic Arena in his job for weeks afterward people stop ment a visitor has ever paid you March 7, 2005: Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce Event. Nov. 13, 2012: Jim Witter: “Feelin’ with the Parks, Recreation and me and say, “Central should play about the Civic Arena? April 18, 2005: Snow White. Groovy” music of Simon and Garfunkel. Forestry Department. all their games at the Civic Are- A: “This is the best place in the May 6, 2005: YAPA Film Festival. April 10, 2013: Kevin Spencer: Theatre of Illusion. The supervisor of the na!” Upper Midwest to watch basket- Sept. 21, 2005: Northern Electric Annual Meeting. Aberdeen Community Concert Aberdeen Recreation and Cul- ball!” Sept. 23, 2005: Tribute to the Beatles. Assocation Events tural Center took some time to Q: Dec. 18, 2005: Wizard’s Night Before 1953-1954 In the years you have been Ana Maria’s Spanish Ballet answer questions about one of associated with arena, what are Q: When you took the job as Christmas. Jan. 7, 2006: Junior Snow Queen. Saint Louis Sinfonietta Aberdeen’s most famous struc- some of your best memories? supervisor, what were your goals Jan. 14, 2006: Senior Snow Queen. Thomas L. Thomas A: April 19-23 2006: Strength Team Cru- Gina Bachauer tures. I have many memories, but as far as increasing the vitality Adele Addison & Lawrence Winters there are two that are very per- and presence of an already his- sade. Sept. 20, 2006: Northern Electric Annual 1954-1955 Q: What does it mean for the city sonal for me. One is the annual toric and useful structure? Meeting. Alexandra Danilova Ensemble and area to have a venue such as Living Christmas Tree perfor- A: When the city first took over Oct. 3, 2006: Avera St Lukes Training Madame Butterfly (in English) Event. American Piano Trio the Civic Arena to host events? mances. Long before the city the Civic Arena, our initial goals Griller String Quartet Dec. 22, 2006: Funny Stuff Holiday Circus. Jean Madeira, mezzo soprano A: It allows Aberdeen to host owned the building and I became were to improve the condition, Jan. 6, 2007: Junior Snow Queen. 1955-1956 Jan. 13, 2007: Senior Snow Queen. events that probably would not the supervisor of the facility, I appearance and function of the Leonard Warren Dec. 15, 2007: West Lakes Events: Christ- be possible at other venues. The directed the performances of the facility to meet the needs of the Wing Victory Chorus mas Magic Show. Iva Kitchell (dancer) substituted for Ber- other gyms in Aberdeen are pri- Living Christmas Tree. I have community. Within the limita- April 8, 2008: Aberdeen Area Arts Coun- liner Kammer cil: Inca Sun. marily educational facilities, many wonderful memories of tions of available funding, we Jean Graham, piano April 12, 2008: Life Light Christian Con- while the Civic Arena is a com- conducting it 23 times in the are- have accomplished much toward Julian Olvesky, violin cert. 1956-1957 munity facility. We can offer na. One very poignant memory that goal, including installing new Sept. 17, 2008: Northern Electric Annual Leontyne Prive Meeting. much more scheduling flexibility was being at Vern Jark’s funeral bleachers, lighting, public address Jacob Latenier Sept. 29, 2008: Tribute to Johnny Cash. than school facilities. The Civic held in the Civic Arena. system and scoreboards. Roger Wagner Corale Dec. 18, 2008: Mystical Minds Christmas Eger Players Arena does not have school activ- I love the fact that the Magic Show. 1957-1958 March 21, 2009: Brule’ Concert. ities scheduled every day as in Aberdeen Civic Arena is a multi- Q: What has allowed the Civic Indianapolis Symphony Sept. 23, 2009: Northern Electric Annual the school gyms. We generally purpose facility. In fact, the first Arena to stand the test of time Vienna Boys Choir Meeting. Stecker and Horowitz (duo pianists) give community activities prior- event that we hosted in the facil- and still remain a popular venue Dec. 20, 2009: The Holiday Spirit. 1958-1959 April 16, 2010: The United State Army ity over school sports practices. ity was a Junior High Music Fes- for events of all varieties? Bambi Lynn and Rod Alexander Field Band Jazz Ambassadors. tival. We hold the annual FOP A: I think part of the reason it is a Todd Duncan Sept. 12, 2010: S.D. Film Festival. Mr. Demus Q: What feedback do you get Concerts, Winterfest, Living popular venue is that there is so NSU Symphonic Band Feb. 13, 2011: The Festival of Song Concert. from alumni who come back and Christmas Tree, banquets and much personal history for many 1959-1960 see the arena still being used and other non-athletic events. people. Fans still remember Sept. 21, 2011: Northern Electric Annual New Orleans Philharmonic, 80 piece functional? I also particularly enjoy the attending Aberdeen Central and Meeting. orchestra Nov. 4-6, 2011: S.D. Emergency Medical Hilda Gueden A: Every summer, we give class district and regional basketball Northern State basketball games Technicians State Conference. The Chanticleers, male quartet reunion tours. It is fun to talk to tournaments. These tournaments in the Civic Arena. I also hear sto- Sept. 17, 2012: Northern Electric Annual Leon Fleisher, pianist Meeting. the CHS alumni and hear their bring in large crowds, and the ries of the other special events 1960-1961 Sept. 28-30, 2012: S.D. Dance Network Chicago Opera Ballet stories. When we tell them how whole atmosphere is electric. It and concerts that people have Convention. Temianka Little Symphony and what the arena is used for, was also very gratifying to host attended over the years. Dec. 5, 2012: The Reason Family Christ- Entremont mas Experience. they are always impressed. They two nights of Northern State A whole new fan base has William Warfield Jan. 5, 2013: Junior Snow Queen. New York Concert Trio are very glad to see that the facil- men’s and women’s basketball entered the facility. Aberdeen Jan. 12, 2013: Senior Snow Queen. 1961-1962 ity that was so important to their this past February. It brought Christian School has made the Jan. 19, 2013: Children’s Care Society Belafonte Singers Winter Tour: Phil Baker. school lives is still an important back lots of memories for me of Civic Arena its home court, and St. Louis Symphony April 18-20, 2013: Aberdeen Roncalli: Whittemore and Lowe community event center. when I was a student at Northern we have begun hosting Class B School Play. Albert DaCosta, tenor attending basketball games in the tournaments and non-tournament Dec. 11, 2013: Aberdeen Christian Eric Friedman, violinist School: The Christmas Stories Tour with Q: Of all venues in Aberdeen, arena. basketball games from out-of- 1962-1963 Jason Gray. Minneapolis Symphony what sets the Civic Arena apart A signature event for the arena town teams in the past two years. Dec. 19, 2013: The Reason Family Christ- Royal Winnepeg Ballet as being a special place to host an is the annual Shrine Circus. This The arena is structurally sound mas Experience. Gloria Davey Aberdeen Area event? event is the one that is the most and a viable facility for the next Theodore Lettvin Arts Council Events 1963-1964 A: I think there are two things demanding on the staff that we 75 years. The upgrades made to April 16, 2005: Pilobolus, Too. Goldovsky Opera performing Tosca that stand out. One is certainly do each year, but it is also gratify- the facility have been noticed by Oct. 1, 2006: von Trapp Children. Bandstand USA March 20, 2007: Rhythm in Shoes. the memories people have of ing to see the large crowds enjoy- fans. The configuration of the Leonard Rose, cellist Oct. 23, 2007: Michael Cooper: the Ralph Votapek, pianist exciting times in the arena. Peo- ing the performances. building lends itself to a variety of Masked Marvel. 1964-1965 ple tell me they always sit in uses and events. History will con- Nov. 30, 2007: S.D. Acoustic Christmas. Robert Decormier Folk Singers The most intense events we April 8, 2008: Inca Son: music and dance “their seats” when they come to have done have been political ral- tinue to be made in the Aberdeen Indianapolis Symphony of the Andes.