(That terrifying clown is Lon Chaney!)

What do the Harlem Globetrotters, Johnny Cash, Rachmaninoff, Dolly Parton, Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Michelle Obama, numerous antique dealers, wrestlers, boxers, derby dames, cats, dogs and a whole lot of Jehovah’s witnesses have in common? That’s right, they’ve all graced the stage and floors of the the historic City Auditorium, one of the greatest architectural and cultural treasures in Colorado Springs.

Aside from its architecture and illustrious guest list , the auditorium is also home to the Lon Chaney Theater (named after the great silent film actor and native son of Colorado Springs) and the 1927 Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, which, according to the excellent Friends of the Historic City Auditorium website was installed in in 1976 after having been saved from the Burns Theatre before it was leveled. The lunettes in its foyer also house two exquisite WPA-era murals by local Broadmoor Academy artists Tabor Utley (who painted the famous image of Martha Graham dancing onstage at the Fine Art Center’s opening in 1936) and Archie Musick.

Sadly, after years of fending off developers and scraping by on ancient infrastructure, another potentially devastating blow has been dealt to our grand dame of classical revival. As a result of the City’s budget crisis, the auditorium is on its own now to make a go of it … or go dark. As such, management is open to ideas and events from the public that stay true to the motto emblazoned above the stage: “USUI CIVIUM DECORI URBUS“, or “For the use of the people and the glory of the city.”

In that spirit, KRCC is proud to sponsor Saturday evening’s fundraiser for the City Aud featuring a lineup with four local bands: Jeremy Facknitz & Charlie Milo Trio, Molten Audio Experience and Sound Shop. Here’s a track by Jeremy Facknitz that we recorded at KRCC in October to whet ye olde whistle (right click to download, or just click the play button to stream)

“Bijou Bridge” by Jeremy Facknitz

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It’s only $10 and all proceeds will benefit the City Auditorium. The show begins at 8 p.m. at 221 E. Kiowa.

Check back with The Big Something for more on the City Auditorium and future concerts that will help preserve it, restore it and keep it in public hands.

(All historic photos courtesy of the Pikes Peak Library District. The top photo is Part of Gordon Sweet collection and a gift of the Gordon Sweet estate, ca. 1920s. The bottom photo is a “Jaycee Convention” by Stewarts Commercial Photography, part of the Stewarts Collection, June 1949)