Hoover Auditorium: Behind the Curtain

Hoover Auditorium has served as Lakeside’s cultural arts and community hub for more than 90 years. This summer, take a tour backstage and on stage to learn about the unique history behind this venue and how we hope to preserve it for the next 90 years.

For those who wish to participate in our Behind the Curtain Tours, meet in the lobby of Hoover Auditorium on select days throughout the season. Tours are approximately 30 minutes plus a Q&A session. Pre-registration is not required.

Built in 1929 during the Great Depression, Hoover Auditorium was constructed to showcase speakers and choirs. Because of the difficult times, A.L. Hoover and Lakeside’s leadership pushed forward to finish the project and did so with a temporary stagehouse, which still exists today.

Thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of our staff over the years, Lakeside has welcomed performers and artists despite the challenges of the deteriorating historic structure and much needed electrical system upgrades.

However, today’s performers are demanding more sophistication from their venues, and these challenges will affect the kinds of artists, performers, speakers, and live entertainers Lakeside’s next generation will welcome to the stage of Hoover.

As we think about the preservation of our historic venues and the future of our community, stay informed by joining us for a Behind the Curtain Tour of Hoover Auditorium this summer.

Dates:

• Friday, June 30: 9 -9:45 a.m.
• Thursday, July 6: 12-12:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 11: 12-12:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 18: 12-12:45 p.m.
• Saturday, July 29: 9-9:45 a.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 5; 1-1:45 p.m.