Poster for Bruce Springsteen and the "E" Street Band

Courtesy of Brucebase.wikispaces.com

Overview

Located in the heart of downtown Burlington, Vermont stands the city-owned and operated Memorial Auditorium. Completed in 1928 and designed by Vermont-famous architect Frank L. Austin, the large brick building was intended to be a shared central auditorium for all of Burlington’s residents while honoring those who had died in the “Revolution, The War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War”.[1] After its completion, the space would go on to be a widely used auditorium for community members throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Events like concerts, plays, car shows and sporting events occurred throughout the decades attracting people from all over the state. During the 1960s and 1970s Memorial Auditorium became a place for not only locally known artists to play, but also famous musicians like Bruce Springsteen, B.B. King, and Bob Marley. [2]

The 1980s

By the 1980s Memorial Auditorium was a well-worn community venue.  The space would eventually become of great importance to the newly elected socialist mayor, Bernie Sanders who had groups like the Mayor’s Art Council and the Mayor’s Youth Council frequently using the space. [3] Throughout Sander’s eight years as mayor, Memorial Auditorium was frequently mentioned in the Burlington Free Press. Although the majority of the postings were event advertisements, there were instances when the building was the center of  political debate.  The building, which was recognized as one auditorium space would eventually divide into two: Memorial Auditorium upstairs and 242 Main downstairs. These two spaces were used for very different events during the 1980s and attracted very different people. Despite the divide between the people who used Memorial Auditorium's upstairs and downstairs, it was still a public space that members of the Burlington community used. Overall, the 1980s in Burlington were a definitive time for Memorial Auditorium that helped symbolize and define the city during a time of redefining what Burlington meant to its residents.