L. R. Hall Auditorium

L. R. Hall Auditorium in August 2008

The L. R. Hall Auditorium is a 500-seat auditorium located in the A. G. Gaston Building at 424 16th Street North. The Gaston Building is an office building constructed in 1959 by black businessman A. G. Gaston in the Historic 4th Avenue District. The building, named for Louis Richard Hall, was designed in the international style by a firm from St Louis, Missouri. It is currently owned by Dr Richard Walker.

The auditorium was in use during the Civil Rights Movement, but Gaston became reluctant for it to be used for movement events. Martin Luther King, Jr spoke there, but a scheduled performance by Al Hibbler, a blind singer who traveled from New Jersey to support the movement for Civil Rights, was canceled hours before it was to have begun. (Huntley & Montgomery - 2004 and Eskew - 1997)

A 2003 renovation commissioned by SouthPace Properties preserved the building's original style while updating its commercial spaces. The renovation was designed by Bob Moody and carried out by Charles & Vinzant.

In Spring 2007 the Auditorium became the home of the Ebenezer Victory Empowerment Church. In addition to weddings and youth rallies, the L. R. Hall Auditorium hosts frequent late-night events organized by Fresh Affairs Entertainment and others. It is currently the home of The Rock Church.

Controversy over youth parties

In December 2001 the issue of "teenage parties" occurring at the auditorium came before the City Council when a license to serve alcohol for special events was approved. During a hearing the Council heard testimony from Arthur Shores Lee and from representatives of the auditorium, who said that they had placed a moratorium on youth parties until complaints could be addressed. (Reynolds - 2001)

At the July 15 and August 19, 2008 meetings of the Birmingham City Council, Mayor Larry Langford complained about out-of-control youth at the location, requiring heavy police response. In the August meeting he called the hall a public nuisance and asked the city to have it shut down, predicting that "this is another Banana Joe's in the making." (Bryant - 2008)

In response, Walker said that he would no longer allow teen parties at the auditorium. Langford welcomed the offer, but said his license should still be revoked for past behavior. After a public hearing, the Birmingham City Council agreed and asked Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Mike Graffeo to issue a restraining order to prevent the hall from being used.

Graffeo's temporary ruling allowed the auditorium to continue operating under the condition that parties for teenagers and high-schoolers were prohibited, a weekly schedule of events must be given to city officials, and off-duty police officers must be hired for security during events. Another hearing on September 18 will lead to a permanent ruling.

References

• Eskew, Glenn T. (1997) But for Birmingham: The Local and National Movements in the Civil Rights Struggle. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: UNC Press. ISBN 0807846678, p. 231
• Reynolds, Ed (December 11, 2001) "Teen parties create mayhem." Black & White
• Birmingham Historical Society (May 2003) "Birmingham Historical Society 2003 Preservation Awards." Birmingham Historical Society Newsletter. p. 2
• Huntley, H. and D. Montgomery, eds. (2004) Black Workers' Struggle for Equality in Birmingham. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, p.198
• Bryant, Joseph D. (August 19, 2008) "Birmingham mayor calls L.R. Hall Auditorum a public nuisance." Birmingham News
• Norris, Toraine and Joseph Bryant (August 19, 2008) "L R Hall owner says teen parties will be stopped." Birmingham News
• Bryant, Joseph and Eric Velasco (August 25, 2008) "L R Hall owner says teen parties will be stopped." Birmingham News
• Bryant, Joseph D. (August 28, 2008) "Judge says L.R. Hall can open again." Birmingham News