In 2000 The Von Braun Center celebrated it's 25th anniversary. As the Von Braun Center begins a new century we look forward many more anniversaries serving Huntsville and the surrounding area.

This page is a History of our first 25 years.

Huntsville has long been blessed with citizens of great talent and industry. Time and time again these citizens have stepped forward to share their expertise in leadership roles of great responsibility. They served for no personal gain but were motivated by a sense of community service and the desire to enhance the quality of life in our community. Many of Huntsville’s finest amenities are the direct result of the prodigious effort of these selfless individuals. The airport, public library, Huntsville Hospital and the botanical gardens are results of this kind of leadership. The Von Braun Center is no exception.

In the early 1960’s certain members of the community felt that Huntsville could do better than the meager arts facilities then available. Martha Rambo affiliated with the Symphony, Elvira Glover of the Art League, Martha Hamm with Community Chorus, Dexter Nielsen of Little Theatre and others began to voice the need for housing and performance space for the arts. City Attorney Charles Younger and Councilman Joe Peters embraced the cause. Charles Younger got the idea to fund the arts by way of a liquor tax. Contact was made with the Hanes family of Winston-Salem where a successful Arts Council had been created. Huntsvillians traveled to Winston-Salem to observe, and Art Hanes was invited to Huntsville to advise. As a result the Arts Council was born. The Public Building Authority made the old West Huntsville School available for an Arts Center. Arts Council members were careful to refer to it as the “temporary” Arts Center lest opposition to the project consider that building permanent.

Imagine the City of Huntsville without the VBC. Local theatre productions were presented in the auditorium of the old West Clinton School at the corner of Church and Clinton Street. Broadway Theatre League and the Huntsville Symphony played at the Huntsville High School Auditorium. For rock and country music, one could enjoy the ambiance of the Madison County Coliseum which could seat approximately 2,000 people. For elegant banquets the Russell Erskine Hotel and the Dunnavant’s Mall (now Medical Mall) were the premier choices.

The collective desire for a cultural center gathered momentum. In 1965 the first step from dream to concrete took place. The Public Building Authority under the direction of Nathan Porter contracted with Booz-Allen-Hamilton to make plans for a civic arts center. The original concept was for a large and small theatre, exhibition space and an art museum. Three prominent recommendations of this study were that a civic advisory board be established, the site should be downtown and most importantly that a large arena style auditorium would be essential for the long term success of the facility.

In 1969 the Civic Center Advisory Board (CCAB) was chartered by the Huntsville City Council. Their mission was to advise the council on all aspects concerning the design, financing, construction and operation of a new facility to be called the Huntsville Civic Center. They were further charged with developing a master plan that included an auditorium that would seat 10,000. The council confirmed the belief that a large arena would be necessary to support the other facilities. The CCAB was chaired by David Newby. Other members were Dwight Daniell, Ted Hedden, Jim Keat, Martha Rambo, Ernst Stuhlinger and Tom Thrasher. One of the final recommendations of the CCAB was that a permanent Civic Center Board be established to oversee all aspects of the new facility.

The first meeting of the Von Braun Civic Center Board of Control was October 1, 1970 at the Russell Erskine Hotel. The original board members were Bob Stagg, Gordon Dykes, Dwight Daniell, Jim Keat, Mario Bottesini, Martha Rambo and Tom Thrasher. The Board of control appointed Howard E. Radford as Director on Sept. 8, 1971.

Original plans allowed for the building to be built in five increments. The Board insisted on all or none, as they deemed any negotiation for incremental development would jeopardize the overall project. Board Chairman Gordon Dykes of the U.S. Corps of Engineers proved invaluable as an expert on the various problems that arise during the construction of any large project. As the building neared completion, famous Huntsville artist Ed Monroe offered to donate a portrait of Wernher Von Braun to the center. Dr. and Mrs. Von Braun were visibly moved at his stunning work.

Tickets for opening weekend attractions went on sale February 24, 1975. Opening day was highlighted by the Beaux Arts Ball sponsored by the Arts Council on March 14. March 15 saw the premier performance of “Galileo Galilei” which had been commissioned by the Huntsville Symphony Assn for the grand opening of the Concert Hall. Dr. Marx Pales conducted. Notable Huntsvillians performing that night were Ken Turvey, Albert Lane, Lady Shivers Tucker and Mike Sheehy.

Rounding out the first month of operation were Holiday on Ice, Huntsville Little Theatre’s “Barefoot in the Park” and Johnny Cash. Also appearing the first year of operation were Truman Capote, Linda Ronstad, Merle Haggard and Van Cliburn. Elvis Presley appeared May 30 through June 1 for an unprecedented five performances. It was the first time Elvis had played that many consecutive performances in a venue outside of Las Vegas.

The Arena’s first rock show featured the Electric Light Orchestra with Sugarloaf and Jo Jo Gunne. Other rock groups appearing that year were the Doobie Brothers, the Jackson Five, Jimmy Buffett, the Allman Brothers and Jethro Tull. In its first six months of operation, the Civic Center drew over a half million attendees.

Country fans also enjoyed such acts as Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride and Chet Atkins.

Other events at the center were the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo, the Harlem Globetrotters and Lawrence Welk. Huntsville hosted the Alabama League of Municipalities Convention as well as other symposiums and conferences such as the Jaycee Convention and the International Hydrogeology Conference. Huntsville was chosen for the first American meeting of the IHC because of the advanced research in the hydrogeology of limestone areas here.

Fantasy Playhouse began its 1975-76 season with a production of “Puss ‘N Boots” in the new VBCC Playhouse. Community Chorus opened with “Brigadoon.” Broadway Theatre League’s first performance was “Gene Kelly’s Salute to Broadway ,” starring Ken Berry and Mimi Hines.

The founders’ vision of a facility for the enhancement of civic life was proven correct. The demand for space in the Civic Center quickly overwhelmed supply. To meet the demand in late 1980 additional exhibition and meeting room space was added with the addition of the West Exhibit Hall. Under the direction of Chef Tommy Armstrong, the Civic Center became “the” place to hold banquets. A much larger and more modern kitchen was added shortly thereafter. During the Tupperware Convention the Civic Center catering staff fed one thousand people a splendid prime rib dinner.

Once again the community influenced its Civic Center. The ever increasing popularity of the Center for banquets, conferences and receptions necessitated yet another expansion. The new North Hall was to be a stylish, well-appointed place of public assembly. Highlighted by oak trim and 18 chandeliers, the North Hall opened with fanfare in 1987. Due to budgetary constraints, the landscaping of the North Hall was done by the Civic Center staff. The final touches were completed only moments before guests arrived. All hands were laying sod including Operations Manager, Mike Finnegan and Board grounds chairman, Loretta Spencer.

The demand for space escalated, and larger exhibitions and tradeshows gradually outgrew the available space. For instance to accommodate the Intergraph Graphic Users Group, meals were first served in a large tent which quickly became inadequate. Food service then moved to a makeshift dining hall created in the Monroe Street parking garage. During the typical five-day conference, over twelve thousand lunches alone were served. The logistics of food service in the City parking garage brought home the need for larger convention space. The National Children’s Advocacy Symposium was also bursting at the seams for more space. With the opening the South Hall, the Center could now accommodate these conventions as well as draw others of national significance. The new South Hall opened in January 1997. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. To establish the center as a regional site for convention trade, the name was changed from Von Braun Civic Center to Von Braun Center.

The South Hall was to have been inaugurated by the American Bowling Congress, a six-month event drawing bowlers from all across America. However, the early completion date enabled the Boat show to open first.

Another example of the Von Braun Center’s new national status was the Gold Wing Convention. Wing Ding XX brought 13,000 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle riders from the United States, Canada and Mexico to Huntsville for a weeklong stay.

The arts in Huntsville has come a long way from the lone voice in the wilderness of Alvin Dreger and the Music Study Club. The arts in Huntsville has never faced easy times. Its success in Huntsville is due primarily to the efforts of individuals who have inspired, challenged and motivated all of us to contribute our time and devotion to this great endeavor. The arts have not flourished because of the Von Braun Center; rather the VBC has succeeded because of all those who firmly believed in the importance of the arts. For that, we at the Von Braun Center say “thank you.”