An unexpected reunion

In his eyes, the once magnificent stage had been transformed. It was now a gloomy debacle strewn with trash and wires hanging precariously from the ceiling.

Emilio Pardo, '81, was eager to come back to old Blair during the 75th anniversary festivities, but the former high school actor was shocked as he entered the auditorium in which he had once performed. His jaw drops open in astonishment. "It has got to be saved," he says. "We must save this place."

On the morning of Oct. 17, as one of various events to honor Blair's 75th anniversary, the doors to the old Blair, now Silver Spring International Middle School, were kept open so alumni could walk the halls of their high school once again. Hundreds of Blazers came and strolled the hallways of a building that holds within its walls the myriad memories of their high school years. To Pardo and many others, one of the biggest surprises was the damage that has befallen the Old Blair Auditorium, which had been a thriving part of Blair and the surrounding community. Abandoned after Blair moved to its new location, the auditorium now sits in disrepair but remains alive in the hearts and minds of former Blazers.

When built in 1968, the auditorium was seen as an exceptional, modern addition to old Blair. Greg James, '87, remembers that it had a fly gallery and a very high ceiling that allowed actors to be suspended in the air. "[It] surpasses what you would find at other schools," he says. According to Amy Phifer, '79, who worked in the stage crew, the size of the stage itself resembled a professional facility. It also had an orchestra pit, which was not a common feature in other auditoriums at the time. Baseball coach and former physical education teacher John Macdonald, '80, says that the "state of the art" auditorium had excellent acoustics, which improved the quality of Blair performances.

But Blair's auditorium was just a setting for the exceptional plays and musicals performed inside. Carolyn Webber, '85, says that watching the Blair musicals were among the most memorable moments throughout her high school experience. "The shows were fabulous Broadway caliber shows," she says. The students were not the only ones in awe. Pardo remembers that the full house performances that attracted members of the community who had no connection with the school made Blair's plays look like those of professionals. "If you performed there, you were ready for the big deal," he says.

For Blair students themselves, the attachment to the auditorium extended beyond coming to enjoy the plays and musicals. After coming to Blair from a private school of about 30 students, Phifer met many of her close friends while working as a stage crew member. She says she had a deep connection with the auditorium because stage crew allowed her to make an easier transition to the school. "Coming [to Blair] was like rebirth. A lot of my best times were in that theater," she says.

Some of the auditorium's own best times include memorable performances such as one by Stevie Wonder. Pardo describes Wonder's concert as particularly inspiring for Blair actors. "It was amazing seeing him play on the same stage I performed on," Pardo says. "That performance, just for a moment, put this theater on the national stage."

The auditorium today is a far cry from a venue for celebrities. Despite the considerable damage, alumni and other members of the community have not given up hope for the auditorium. Standing just inside the entrance of the building, Stuart Moore, president of The Old Blair Auditorium Project, Inc., collects signatures for a petition to restore the facility so that it can be used for community purposes such as performances and meetings. According to Moore, the organization has received a great deal of support from the local community and alumni, but the main problem lies in how the renovation will be funded. The current renovation estimates lie between $6 and $8 million. Regardless of the large sum, Blair alumni continue to remain optimistic. "This has been and can be a wonderful facility," James says.