60th Anniversary of the Assembly Hall (Sat. March 4)

#76      

SuperintendentChalmers

SuperintendentChalmers
SuperintendentChalmers
Shane Walsh said:
It really is amazing just how little that building changed before the major renovation.
Been to a few shows there, but my favorite memories of The Hall involve the WCIA Home and Garden Shows that were an annual tradition there. The whole place was open and a youngster like myself could climb the stairs in the arena all the way to the top, walk around on the floor, and circle the outer concourses.
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I remember Lou Henson sitting in for a few minutes on a BTN broadcast where Jimmy Jackson was the analyst. Jimmy asked, "Coach, the dark background and tight rims always made it a pain to shoot here. Was that intentional."
Lou chuckled and said, "Aw, we had to do anything we could to stop a great scorer like Jimmy Jackson."
Another thing that messed with opponents occasionally was our odd reluctance to put a shot clock over the basket, instead having it on a scoreboard off to the side.
 
#77      

Illinirog70

Illinirog70
Illinirog70
DReq said:
I was a local while the building went up and attended the first musical presentations at the dedication that included Les Paul and Mary Ford. Likely only the old guys on here will even recall them.
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I believe that les Paul was from Waukesha wis and was the inventor of the electric guitar?
 
#78      

MustangWally

MustangWally
Mayfield
MustangWally
First visit to the Hall - junior in high school for the state tournament quarterfinals. Back in days of one class basketball. Evanston was the champ that year.

Most memorable concert - Sly and the Family Stone. They finally showed up about an hour and a half late.

Daughter's first visit - As a participant in the Illinois State Science Fair competition in middle school.

Most memorable AH date - Russian Olympic gymnastics team. Didn't care much about the gymnastics, but my date was unbelievably gorgeous.
 
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#79      

Captain 14

C
The Last Best Place
Captain 14
IHSA state tournaments back in the day were far bigger than the NCAA tournament. The original March Madness and home to Cinderella stories. The Hall was, and is, bigger than life.