Georgia State University - Rampway Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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A Symbol 0f The Past Becomes Newest Addition by Barbara Ferrill ' ew Alumni Hall, the most recent addition to Georgia State's skyline, is a symbol of both past history and modern progress in Atlanta's community. Today, this historic building serves as a communication bridge within the Georgia State University community. Previously, as the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, it was the communication bridge linking Atlanta and the whole of Georgia with the performing arts and entertainment attractions of the nation and the world as well as sports and political activities. Since the early l900's, it was the site of Atlanta's most prestigious events ranging from the Metropolitan Opera to Georgia Championship Wrestling. Events as diverse as Confederate Memorial Day Celebrations, appearances by Presi- dent William Howard Taft and Governor Eugene Talmadge, performances by Enrico Caruso and Lily Pons, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, political conventions, industrial shows, the gospel pageant, Heaven Bound, and the return fight of Mohammed Ali to the ring were staged in the large facility. School children were sent by bus to the auditorium four times a year to hear Henry Sopkin and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. As late as the early seventies, the Municipal Auditorium was still the setting for graduation ceremo' nies for the Atlanta Public Schools. Entertainment presented at the auditorium ranged from formal to informal. The Shrine Circus and Barnum and Bailey Circus performed yearly as did the skaters of Holiday on lce. There was something for everybody. ln those days, Gorgeous George and Man Mountain Dean ruled the ring to the sound of cheers and boos from the crowd. Today, new carpet muffles the sound of feet, new wall coverings muffle the sound of voices and the new occupants' unawareness of the building's past perplexes the minds of those who remember the excitement of the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium events, the memory of sights, sounds and smells from grease paint and high tones to sweat and grunts. Although the sights and sounds in new Alumni Hall are different, they appeal to the senses in their own way. Today, one hears the happy squeals of laughter from children in the Child Development Center instead of the eloquent modulations of President Taft or the dulcet tones of Enrico Caruso. ln the place where gospel singers banked the stage with their voices reverberating to the rafters, one may hear the rumble of car mufflers ljThe old Municipal Auditorium is GSl.l'S new Alumni Hall. 2fGovernor Eugene Talmadge giving stirring political speech from auditorium stage. 3flnterior photograph of auditorium in l9l9. fGeorgia Archives reprintsj 'nu I 3