Hoch Auditorium
Encyclopedia
Hoch Auditorium was a 3,500-seat multi-purpose arena
in Lawrence, Kansas
. It opened in 1927. It was home to the University of Kansas
Jayhawks basketball
teams until Allen Fieldhouse
opened in 1955.
Many of Hoch's nicknames during the basketball years were "Horrible Hoch" and "The House of Horrors." Such nicknames were in reference to the difficulty opposing teams had in dealing with the tight area surrounding the court and the curved walls and decorative lattice work directly behind the backboards. The curvature of the walls made the backboards appear to be moving causing opponents to miss free throws.
In addition to being home to the KU Jayhawks, Hoch Auditorium played host to many events such as The University of Kansas' annual Rock Chalk Revue (a variety show now performed at the Lied Center that benefits the local United Way), comedian George Carlin
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
, Lou Reed
, R.E.M.
, the touring company of A Chorus Line
, and the United States Marine Band
. Another of Hoch's famous visitors was John F. Kennedy
.
On December 6, 1979 Hoch Auditorium hosted Bob Marley & The Wailers
as part of their Survival Tour
. KU students and a packed house danced and swayed to the reggae
beats, with the smell of marijuana swirling throughout the hall after Bob was introduced in a deep, thickly Jamaican-accented admonition, "Put out your cigarettes and light up your spliffs... Its gonna be a Rasta
night in Kansas, man". Bob Marley
died about a year and a half later.
The architecture of the building is traditional Gothic
and was designed to act as a balance to KU's Watson Library situated at the opposite end of Jayhawk Boulevard.
On the side of Hoch that faced Wescoe Hall, there was a fire escape that came all the way down to ground level from the balcony level of the auditorium. At the top of this fairly long fire escape, there was a landing and someone had chiseled "TS #9". This somewhat hidden spot was known by many KU students as "Toking Station #9". Until the night that Hoch burned down, if you saw some classmates on that fire escape, you could be pretty sure that they weren't studying for their next exams.
On June 15, 1991, Hoch Auditorium was struck by lightning. The auditorium and stage area were completely destroyed. Only the limestone facade and lobby area were spared. When reconstruction of the building was complete, the rear half of the building was named Budig Hall, for then KU Chancellor Gene Budig
. The name on the facade was altered to reflect the presence of three large auditorium-style lecture halls within the building: Hoch Auditoria.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
. It opened in 1927. It was home to the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Jayhawks basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams until Allen Fieldhouse
Allen Fieldhouse
Allen Fieldhouse is an indoor arena at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The arena, named in honor of Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, who coached the university's men's basketball team for 39 years, is one of college basketball's most historically significant and prestigious buildings...
opened in 1955.
In addition to being home to the KU Jayhawks, Hoch Auditorium played host to many events such as The University of Kansas' annual Rock Chalk Revue (a variety show now performed at the Lied Center that benefits the local United Way), comedian George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, the touring company of A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
, and the United States Marine Band
United States Marine Band
The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States...
. Another of Hoch's famous visitors was John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
On December 6, 1979 Hoch Auditorium hosted Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Cherry Smith and Aston and Carlton Barrett...
as part of their Survival Tour
Survival Tour
The Survival Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Survival by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It was Marley's second-last tour.The tour started in Boston in late October 1979, and ended in Libreville, Gabon, on January 6, 1980...
. KU students and a packed house danced and swayed to the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
beats, with the smell of marijuana swirling throughout the hall after Bob was introduced in a deep, thickly Jamaican-accented admonition, "Put out your cigarettes and light up your spliffs... Its gonna be a Rasta
Rasta
Rasta may refer to:* The Rastafari movement or, particularly, a follower of that movement* Rasta, a Persian/Farsi name and word meaning "truth"...
night in Kansas, man". Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
died about a year and a half later.
The architecture of the building is traditional Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
and was designed to act as a balance to KU's Watson Library situated at the opposite end of Jayhawk Boulevard.
On the side of Hoch that faced Wescoe Hall, there was a fire escape that came all the way down to ground level from the balcony level of the auditorium. At the top of this fairly long fire escape, there was a landing and someone had chiseled "TS #9". This somewhat hidden spot was known by many KU students as "Toking Station #9". Until the night that Hoch burned down, if you saw some classmates on that fire escape, you could be pretty sure that they weren't studying for their next exams.
On June 15, 1991, Hoch Auditorium was struck by lightning. The auditorium and stage area were completely destroyed. Only the limestone facade and lobby area were spared. When reconstruction of the building was complete, the rear half of the building was named Budig Hall, for then KU Chancellor Gene Budig
Gene Budig
Gene Budig was the president of Major League Baseball's American League from to , when the presidencies of the American League and the National League were abolished.Budig graduated from the University of Nebraska...
. The name on the facade was altered to reflect the presence of three large auditorium-style lecture halls within the building: Hoch Auditoria.