Saturday, November 23, 2013 www.aberdeennews.com 11F

Former Aberdeen Civic Arena janitors (from left) Ron Sahli, Flip Nikolas and Rich Sahli along with building supervisor David Eckert take a recent tour of the

historic complex. The Arena is celebrating its 75th anniversary. American News Photo by John Davis

A B E R D E E N C I V I C A R E N A

Arena opens its doors to community, region, variety of possibilities

ABERDEEN Central honored long-time bus driver Louie Koch at halftime of a 1997 basketball game,presenting Koch with an embroidered Golden Eagle jacket.

Usefulness of landmark underscored

BY SHAWN WERRE

swerre@aberdeennews.com

David Eckert oversees theAberdeen Civic Arena in his jobwith the Parks, Recreation andForestry Department.

The supervisor of theAberdeen Recreation and Cul-tural Center took some time toanswer questions about one ofAberdeen’s most famous struc-tures.

Q: What does it mean for the cityand area to have a venue such asthe Civic Arena to host events?A: It allows Aberdeen to hostevents that probably would notbe possible at other venues. Theother gyms in Aberdeen are pri-marily educational facilities,while the Civic Arena is a com-munity facility. We can offermuch more scheduling flexibilitythan school facilities. The CivicArena does not have school activ-ities scheduled every day as inthe school gyms. We generallygive community activities prior-ity over school sports practices.

Q: What feedback do you getfrom alumni who come back andsee the arena still being used andfunctional?A: Every summer, we give classreunion tours. It is fun to talk tothe CHS alumni and hear theirstories. When we tell them howand what the arena is used for,they are always impressed. Theyare very glad to see that the facil-ity that was so important to theirschool lives is still an importantcommunity event center.

Q: Of all venues in Aberdeen,what sets the Civic Arena apartas being a special place to host anevent?A: I think there are two thingsthat stand out. One is certainlythe memories people have ofexciting times in the arena. Peo-ple tell me they always sit in“their seats” when they come togames and they see others theyknow also sitting in specific seats.

Another thing that people loveabout the Civic Arena is howclose the audience sits to thecourt. The view of the action and

the energy are exciting. It’s beena couple of years since AberdeenCentral played a basketball gamehere, but every time they have,for weeks afterward people stopme and say, “Central should playall their games at the Civic Are-na!”

Q: In the years you have beenassociated with arena, what aresome of your best memories?A: I have many memories, butthere are two that are very per-sonal for me. One is the annualLiving Christmas Tree perfor-mances. Long before the cityowned the building and I becamethe supervisor of the facility, Idirected the performances of theLiving Christmas Tree. I havemany wonderful memories ofconducting it 23 times in the are-na. One very poignant memorywas being at Vern Jark’s funeralheld in the Civic Arena.

I love the fact that theAberdeen Civic Arena is a multi-purpose facility. In fact, the firstevent that we hosted in the facil-ity was a Junior High Music Fes-tival. We hold the annual FOPConcerts, Winterfest, LivingChristmas Tree, banquets andother non-athletic events.

I also particularly enjoy thedistrict and regional basketballtournaments. These tournamentsbring in large crowds, and thewhole atmosphere is electric. Itwas also very gratifying to hosttwo nights of Northern Statemen’s and women’s basketballthis past February. It broughtback lots of memories for me ofwhen I was a student at Northernattending basketball games in thearena.

A signature event for the arenais the annual Shrine Circus. Thisevent is the one that is the mostdemanding on the staff that wedo each year, but it is also gratify-ing to see the large crowds enjoy-ing the performances.

The most intense events wehave done have been political ral-lies. We have rented the arena tothe John Thune and the BarackObama campaigns. These are dif-ferent from anything else we havedone. Obama’s presidential cam-paign was especially intense.

Adding the Secret Service takesthings to a whole new level.

Q: What is the highest compli-ment a visitor has ever paid youabout the Civic Arena?A: “This is the best place in theUpper Midwest to watch basket-ball!”

Q: When you took the job assupervisor, what were your goalsas far as increasing the vitalityand presence of an already his-toric and useful structure?A: When the city first took overthe Civic Arena, our initial goalswere to improve the condition,appearance and function of thefacility to meet the needs of thecommunity. Within the limita-tions of available funding, wehave accomplished much towardthat goal, including installing newbleachers, lighting, public addresssystem and scoreboards.

Q: What has allowed the CivicArena to stand the test of timeand still remain a popular venuefor events of all varieties?A: I think part of the reason it is apopular venue is that there is somuch personal history for manypeople. Fans still rememberattending Aberdeen Central andNorthern State basketball gamesin the Civic Arena. I also hear sto-ries of the other special eventsand concerts that people haveattended over the years.

A whole new fan base hasentered the facility. AberdeenChristian School has made theCivic Arena its home court, andwe have begun hosting Class Btournaments and non-tournamentbasketball games from out-of-town teams in the past two years.

The arena is structurally soundand a viable facility for the next75 years. The upgrades made tothe facility have been noticed byfans. The configuration of thebuilding lends itself to a variety ofuses and events. History will con-tinue to be made in the AberdeenCivic Arena.

Q: Can you give us a list of someof the events and performancesheld in the Aberdeen Civic The-atre portion of the building?

Jan. 8, 2005: Junior Snow Queen.Jan. 15, 2005: Senior Snow Queen.Jan. 22, 2005: YAPA Talent Show.Feb. 28, 2005: Public All School Vocal

Concert.March 7, 2005: Aberdeen Chamber of

Commerce Event.April 18, 2005: Snow White.May 6, 2005: YAPA Film Festival.Sept. 21, 2005: Northern Electric Annual

Meeting.Sept. 23, 2005: Tribute to the Beatles.Dec. 18, 2005: Wizard’s Night Before

Christmas.Jan. 7, 2006: Junior Snow Queen.Jan. 14, 2006: Senior Snow Queen.April 19-23 2006: Strength Team Cru-

sade.Sept. 20, 2006: Northern Electric Annual

Meeting.Oct. 3, 2006: Avera St Lukes Training

Event.Dec. 22, 2006: Funny Stuff Holiday Circus.Jan. 6, 2007: Junior Snow Queen.Jan. 13, 2007: Senior Snow Queen.Dec. 15, 2007: West Lakes Events: Christ-

mas Magic Show.April 8, 2008: Aberdeen Area Arts Coun-

cil: Inca Sun.April 12, 2008: Life Light Christian Con-

cert.Sept. 17, 2008: Northern Electric Annual

Meeting.Sept. 29, 2008: Tribute to Johnny Cash.Dec. 18, 2008: Mystical Minds Christmas

Magic Show.March 21, 2009: Brule’ Concert.Sept. 23, 2009: Northern Electric Annual

Meeting.Dec. 20, 2009: The Holiday Spirit.April 16, 2010: The United State Army

Field Band Jazz Ambassadors.Sept. 12, 2010: S.D. Film Festival.Feb. 13, 2011: NSU Symphonic Band

Concert.Sept. 21, 2011: Northern Electric Annual

Meeting.Nov. 4-6, 2011: S.D. Emergency Medical

Technicians State Conference.Sept. 17, 2012: Northern Electric Annual

Meeting.Sept. 28-30, 2012: S.D. Dance Network

Convention.Dec. 5, 2012: The Reason Family Christ-

mas Experience.Jan. 5, 2013: Junior Snow Queen.Jan. 12, 2013: Senior Snow Queen.Jan. 19, 2013: Children’s Care Society

Winter Tour: Phil Baker.April 18-20, 2013: Aberdeen Roncalli:

School Play.Dec. 11, 2013: Aberdeen Christian

School: The Christmas Stories Tour withJason Gray.

Dec. 19, 2013: The Reason Family Christ-mas Experience. Aberdeen Area Arts Council Events

April 16, 2005: Pilobolus, Too.Oct. 1, 2006: von Trapp Children.March 20, 2007: Rhythm in Shoes.Oct. 23, 2007: Michael Cooper: the

Masked Marvel.Nov. 30, 2007: S.D. Acoustic Christmas.April 8, 2008: Inca Son: music and dance

of the Andes.Oct. 30, 2008: Golden Dragon Acrobats.Jan. 24, 2009: Repertory Dance Theatre

(RDT).Nov. 15, 2009: Daniel Rodriguez: The

Singing Policeman.Feb. 10, 2010: Chapter 6: a cappella

ensemble.Jan. 19, 2011: Rhythmic Circus.

March 27, 2011: Jim Witter: “The PianoMen” music of Elton John and Billy Joel .

Jan. 25, 2012: Golden Dragon Acrobats.Feb. 24, 2012: River North Dance Chica-

go.Sept. 28, 2012: TAP Kids.Nov. 13, 2012: Jim Witter: “Feelin’

Groovy” music of Simon and Garfunkel.April 10, 2013: Kevin Spencer: Theatre of

Illusion. Aberdeen Community Concert Assocation Events 1953-1954

Ana Maria’s Spanish BalletSaint Louis SinfoniettaThomas L. ThomasGina BachauerAdele Addison & Lawrence Winters

1954-1955 Alexandra Danilova EnsembleMadame Butterfly (in English)American Piano TrioGriller String QuartetJean Madeira, mezzo soprano

1955-1956 Leonard WarrenWing Victory ChorusIva Kitchell (dancer) substituted for Ber-

liner KammerJean Graham, pianoJulian Olvesky, violin

1956-1957 Leontyne PriveJacob LatenierRoger Wagner CoraleEger Players

1957-1958 Indianapolis SymphonyVienna Boys ChoirStecker and Horowitz (duo pianists)

1958-1959 Bambi Lynn and Rod AlexanderTodd DuncanMr. DemusThe Festival of Song

1959-1960 New Orleans Philharmonic, 80 piece

orchestraHilda GuedenThe Chanticleers, male quartetLeon Fleisher, pianist

1960-1961 Chicago Opera BalletTemianka Little SymphonyEntremontWilliam WarfieldNew York Concert Trio

1961-1962 Belafonte SingersSt. Louis Symphony Whittemore and LoweAlbert DaCosta, tenorEric Friedman, violinist

1962-1963 Minneapolis SymphonyRoyal Winnepeg BalletGloria DaveyTheodore Lettvin

1963-1964 Goldovsky Opera performing ToscaBandstand USALeonard Rose, cellistRalph Votapek, pianist

1964-1965 Robert Decormier Folk SingersIndianapolis SymphonySandor KonyaNew York Brass QuintetDavid Bar-Illan, pianist

1965-1966 LeGrande Ballet Classique de FranceGoldovsky OperaDon Shirley Trio

See ECKERT, Page 12F

“The arena is structurally sound and a viable facility for the next 75 years ...History will continue to be made in the Aberdeen Civic Arena.”

David Eckert Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department supervisor who oversees the Arena

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12F www.aberdeennews.com Saturday, November 23, 2013

An annual tradition during the 1950s in the Aberdeen Civic Arena was the new car show. Photo courtesy of Julie Johnson

A B E R D E E N C I V I C A R E N A

TWO of the most well-known officials in Civic Arenahistory were Pat Morrison and Leon Tobin.

Another 1950s tradition in the Aberdeen Civic Arena was the annual statewide South Dakota Hereford Association Cream of the Crop sale. But when a huge

snowstorm hit Aberdeen in February 1952, the prized herefords stay at the Arena was extended. The cattle ended up staining the floor. American News Photo

ECKERT:Continued from Page 11F

Rabinof’s, violin and piano duo 1966-1967

Norman Luboff ChoirIndianapolis SymphonyMinneapolis Symphony Brass EnsembleLili Chookasian, contraltoGrant Johannesen, pianist

1967-1968 Richard Tucker, tenorManhattan Pops OrchestraLili Kraus, pianistCharles Trager, violinistMen of Song

1968-1969 Roger Wagner ChoraleChamber Symphony of PhiladelphiaJohannesen and NelsovaRomaros QuartetJames Dick, pianist

1969-1970 Indianpolis SymphonyWhit-lo SingersWilliam WalkerHoward and Patricia Barr

1970-1971 Olaeta Basque FestivalThomas SchumacherCanadian Opera CompanyEastman QuartetRonald Holgate

1971-1972 Orchestra Michelangelo di FirenzeRoyal Winnepeg BalletDeCormier SingersKaran ArmstrongJoerg Demus

1972-1973 Goldovsky Opera performing RigolettoDorian Woodwind QuintetPrague Chamber OrchestraLee Evans TrioDonald Gramm

1973-1974

Lawrence FosterLongstreth & EscosaEglevsky BalletThe Young AmericansVirgil Fox

1974-1975 Six Stars of BalletStecher & Horowitz, duo pianistsFestival Orchestra of Buenos AiresSimon EstesTexas Boys Choir

1975-1976 1776!, the Broadway MusicalBroadway Hit ParadeJames SchejaJorge MorelNew York Brass Quintet

1976-1977 New Christy MinstrelsCanadian Opera performing La

BohemeDanzas VenezuelasBeaux Arts TrioMichael Ponti

1977-1978 New deCormier SingersJohn AlexanderRansom Wilson’s Virtuosi Wind QuintetDubrovnik Festival OrchestraThe Ronnie Brown TrioKathleen Battle

1978-1979 “Die Fledermaus”Grant & WinnJanacek Chamber OrchestraBallet Folclorico NacionalKathleen BattleEnrico DiGuiseppe, tenor

1979-1980 Max Morath, ragtime pianistRichard Thomas Theatre BalletGlinka ChorusSerenade

1980-1981 William Carter Dance EnsembleTexas Boys Choir of Fort WorthFranz Liszt Chamber Orchestra of

BudapestBrio TrioEnrico Di Guiseppe, tenor

1985-1986

Harvey Pittel Sax QuartetDeFalla Guitar TrioWilliam Hall ChoraleDukes of Dixieland

1986-1987 Orlando String QuartetJeffrey Siegel, pianistLeland Chen, violinistPacific Ballet TheatreNew York Vocal Arts Ensemble

1989-1990 Atlantic Brass Quintet

2007-2008 The Celtic Tenors

2008-2009 Repertory Dance Theatre, in partner-

ship with the Aberdeen Area Arts CouncilThe Swingle Singers Daniel Rodriguez, in partnership with

the Aberdeen Area Arts CouncilTrio Con Brio CopenhagenRiver North Dance Chicago, in partner-

ship with the Aberdeen Area Arts Council 1981-1982

Eastern Opera Theater performingMerry Widow

Toccatas and Flourishes, Richard Mor-ris, organ; Martin Berinbaum, trumpet

Gail Robinson & William WalkerGil Morgenstern, violinistThomas Lorango, pianistC.C. Ryder, balladeer

1982-1983 Norman Luboff ChoirStecher & Horowitz, duo pianistsAspen Soloists“Words & Music” with Robert CarpenterBrenda Boozer, mezzo soprano

1983-1984 Nashville Music ExpressEvelyn Elsing, cellistGary Lakes, tenorNevada Dance TheatreEmily Mitchell, harpist

1984-1985 Empire Brass QuintetScandiafestivalChanticleerCzech Chamber SoloistVinia Tsopelas, pianist