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Column: "Sauntering": Check out the 'new' AUD It seemed fitting that one singer with two guitars and two bouquets of flowers presented the first concert in the "new" Eureka Springs City Auditorium. Janis Ian did some fancy guitar playing, with the help of some electronics, but her show, in the main, was her singing her own songs, simply and with heartfelt emotion. The Backstage Boys, as many of us now call them, made their first presentation to the Auditorium Committee of the City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) four years ago in about September. They had some good ideas, and some not so good, for how to fix up the auditorium which was in a sad state at the time. They were in the theater Wednesday evening, helping with the lights, the sound, the entire presentation. They were anxious that all their hard work, and that of their employees and subcontractors, had come to a point where the citizens of the town would be pleased. I have been in the auditorium several times in the past few weeks, anxiously waiting for the work to be finished. To see how the colors, the fabrics, the lights and everything else would come together. I will admit that as I looked around Thursday afternoon, about five hours prior to the show, I was tremendously pleased and proud of how it has all turned out. I will also admit to tears in my eyes and a catch in my throat when I thought about how much this single building has meant to this community since it opened in 1929 and how much it will mean in the future. The theater and lobby are probably the most beautiful they have ever been. They have a finished look now, with nice carpeting, polished wood, wonderful light fixtures and almost comfortable seats. Yes, Virginia, there is some padding and some upholstery work, but the seats are still small and still hard after about 30 minutes. But it doesn't really matter when the magic of whatever is on the stage captures your interest and carries you away. I have talked with old-timers of our town about the auditorium and they all remember it as very plain, utilitarian. Some of them also remember that the auditorium construction project ran out of money as the building was completed, so perhaps the interior decorating that was planned never got accomplished. Well, it is accomplished now - quietly, elegantly, in good taste and something we can all be very proud of. Janis Ian talked and sang about dreams and how important it is to have them to keep us going. The auditorium project began as a dream for some and is now a reality. Unfortunately, as always, there has been some fussing and feuding along the way, but the result is spectacular. We have a show place where the world-caliber entertainers can work in comfort and safety, with good sound systems and good lighting. I hope the auditorium staff will e-mail some photographs to the people who have performed in there in the past year or so, starting with Bill Cosby. They saw it at its worst. I would like for them to see it at its best, even Ray Charles. Someone can describe it to him. I hope everyone attends the grand re-opening of the Aud Friday evening. Festivities start at 7 p.m. Come and see what some paint, curtains and carpeting can do for a room! An amendment to the Eureka Springs Municipal Code expanding the definition of "gift shops" in the ordinance regulating the collection of the city's 2 percent gross receipt tax will be discussed by the city council during its meeting Wednesday evening. City, Lane House get AHPP grants Three grants totaling $23,850 have been made to the City of Eureka Springs, Lane House and the Carrollton Post #300 VFW for historic preservation work. HI Planning Commission deals with drainage With the recent heavy rains on everyone's minds, it was not surprising Friday when the Holiday Island Planning Commission (HIPC) was flooded with questions and requests about drainage. Column: "Sauntering": Check out the 'new' AUD It seemed fitting that one singer with two guitars and two bouquets of flowers presented the first concert in the "new" Eureka Springs City Auditorium. |