So, who is turning 50 this year? In terms of celebrities, look no further than singer Alanis Morissette; New York Yankees great Derek Jeter; and Oscar winners Penelope Cruz and Hilary Swank. In terms of movies, 1974 was Mel Brooks’ year with the release of both “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein.” And the big news story of 50 years ago was U.S. President Richard Nixon resigning on Aug. 8 and Vice President Gerald Ford being sworn in as the 38th president of the United States.

With regards to ticketing and live entertainment, turning 50 in 2024 is the Eisenhower Auditorium. Penn State University’s largest performing arts venue opened its doors as University Auditorium and quickly became one of the premier places on the East Coast to see a concert, play, musical or attend a lecture. Today, it hosts more than 200 such events annually and features the largest permanent stage between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. 

Indeed, the size (2,585 seats) and the close proximity to New York City had made it an attractive venue for name touring artists. Laura Sullivan, Marketing and Communications Director, says, “Eisenhower Auditorium is special not because of the building itself, but because of the memories that are made here and the joy that is shared at events. The building and the stage have been so many things to so many people. From families experiencing the joy of a graduation ceremony to successful School of Theater graduates returning with national Broadway touring productions to community youth dance programs showing off their talents in annual productions of ‘The Nutcracker,’ Eisenhower Auditorium has been and will continue to be a campus and community treasure.”

For some who work the venue, its biggest charms are smaller than the famous artists who have graced its stage over the decades. Tracy Rae Noll, Business Services Director, says, “I actually love the patio in front of the building and the windows in the conference room. [chuckling] Can you tell I work in a big brick building that offers very little chance of seeing daylight? I also really enjoyed it when we had a temporary art installation by Adam Frelin called ‘Extended Sunset’ in our conference room windows. It was beautiful during the day, but absolutely gorgeous at night.”

In addition to touring Broadway and theatrical events, the Eisenhower Auditorium stage has played host to professional jazz and classical musicians, as well as contemporary circus and comedy programs. During the school year, there has been a successful series of events for students in pre-K through grade 12.

Additionally, the Eisenhower Auditorium has welcomed numerous politicians and public figures to its stage. Noll says, “Every summer, we would host the annual Pennsylvania FFA [formerly Future Farmers of America] Convention. You always knew it was that time of year by the sea of navy-blue corduroy jackets the FFA high school students were wearing all over campus in 90-degree weather.”

The summer of 2005, the convention had a very special guest speaker, President George W. Bush. He became the fifth sitting U.S. President to visit Penn State's University Park campus, following Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Eisenhower, in particular, made several trips to University Park during his White House tenure to visit his brother, Milton, who was Penn State's president and for whom the building is named after.

Noll recalls, “After Air Force One touched down at the University Park Airport, President Bush stepped through the door and was greeted by Penn State Head Football Coach Joe Paterno, as well as many state senators and representatives. A crowd of two dozen journalists, photographers and videographers captured the scene from a flatbed trailer about 400 feet from Air Force One before the president was whisked away to address more than 1,000 at the FFA convention in Eisenhower Auditorium.”

Noll continues, “Leading up to the conference, there was so much preparation that needed to be done. All the staff had background checks done and the Secret Service was everywhere checking on the security of the building as well as the rest of campus. It was such a departure from what we were used to. This was long before venues had metal detectors and bag policies. It was exciting to be a part of such a unique experience.”

Bush’s visit was just one of the many highlights over the Auditorium’s 50 years. Looking ahead, both Noll and Sullivan are excited about the numerous ways Penn State plans to commemorate the five-decade milestone. The latter says, “The year-long theme ‘50 Forward’ features artists and programs from the past, as well as first-time events, artists on the rise and programs that provide unique perspectives. We are all looking forward to celebrating all that Eisenhower Auditorium was, is and will be moving forward. The activity in the building throughout the next year will be electric! We will cap off the season with a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which was played by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the building’s grand opening.”

So, for those who have never been to the Eisenhower Auditorium, how would someone who has been in the venue countless times describe its feel? Grand? Intimate? Perhaps a mix of both?

Sullivan concludes, “The space, while open and primed for acoustic excellence, can still offer an intimate feel with its continental-seating arrangement and full view of the stage from all levels — orchestra, grand tier and balcony. You meet a lot of people while trying not to step on their feet while navigating the long aisles to your seat. The lobby space is very intimate. In fact, we often wish we had a larger lobby to accommodate our patrons more comfortably. At a sold-out performance, the main lobby is often crowded and bustling with conversation, activity and energy. When the auditorium is completely empty and quiet it seems vast, but when full and the audience rises for a standing ovation? It can be overwhelming … in a very good way!”