Early Drawing of the Main Auditorium

Here is an early look at the UNT Main Auditorium, as seen in the 1924 issue of the Yucca, the school's yearbook. There are quite a few differences between this pre-construction drawing and the building as it was built. Notice the front entry, which is flush with the facade. The front entry here is flanked by four small windows. This may have been the original design for the building. There are few documents that exist regarding the design and construction of the Auditorium.

Compare the main entrance of the drawing to the photo below. This photograph was taken in the summer of 2012. The tree to the right of the photo was cut down a few months after the photo was taken.

A Request for Student/ Faculty/ Staff Stories on the Main Auditorium

I am putting together not only this site, but a book as well on the history on the UNT Main Auditorium. I would like to hear from anyone who may have a story, anecdote, or interesting information on this most lovely of buildings. Photographs, too, would be appreciated. I want to build the largest database of information that I can.

Thank you for what ever you may be able to provide.

Three Photographs of the Main Auditorium and the M. P. Möller Organ

Three Photographs. Top: Exterior of the Main Auditorium. Middle: Console of the M. P. Möller Organ, Opus 7676. Bottom: Some of the pipes belonging to the Möller. These pipes are located on the right of the stage.

The M. P. Möller Organ, Opus 3993, was installed in the Main Auditorium sometime late 1924. The first recorded recital on the M. P. Möller Organ took place in January of 1925 by a Dr. Charles Heinroth. M. P. Möller Organ Company returned in 1948 and 1949 to rebuild this instrument under the direction of Helen Hewitt, the organ professor at the time. The console is from this rebuild.

Side Entrance to the Main Auditorium

Here is one of the side entrances to the Main Auditorium. This one is on the southwest corner. It would have originally lead to the first row of seats. The 1935 renovation of the stage area pulled the wall forward, making this door an access door to the stage area.

Note the window above this door. The windows were removed, its area bricked up, sometime around 1993, along with all the windows which allowed light into the auditorium itself. This window removal was done in conjunction with the addition of two new stairwells on either side of the building. This construction changed the appearance of the Main Auditorium (arguably not for the better).

(Not pictured here is a short set of stairs descending to a landing. This door is recessed by about three feet.)