In the beginning...

Thirty years ago, Friends of Chevalier Auditorium and Gene Mack Gymnasium formed to try to help 
change the fortunes of the neglected auditorium and gymnasium on Forest Street.  The initial
meeting took place at the South Medford Fire Station on November 4, 1993.

Within a year of that meeting, The Friends, the Chevalier Auditorium Commission, the Mystic Players,
city staff joined forces and made some significant improvements such as new windows and doors, 
painting the interior of the auditorium, new curtains and painting the dressing rooms.  The Friends 
contributed volunteer labor –  scraping, sanding, painting, cleaning – held numerous fundraising
events, from flea markets to a Royall House Garden Party, created a Memorial Day parade float and
were constantly in the public eye.   

In just one year, the building was able to reopen, and the Friends again took the lead, presenting 
shows such as the U. S. Air Force Band of Liberty, the Northeast Youth Ballet “Nutcracker” and a
collaboration of community theatre groups entitled “That’s Entertainment.”

Those early efforts set the tone for three decades of continuous work by the Friends to foster
financial and community support for the Chevalier Auditorium and Gene Mack Gymnasium, 
promoting arts and culture, civic events, youth and recreation programs to improve the quality
of life in Medford.

Today, the Chevalier Theatre is thriving under the professional management of Bill 
Blumenreich Presents, and the Gene Mack Gymnasium is bustling with Medford Recreation   
Department programs and Medford Youth Center activities.  Still, work of the Friends goes on
as ever.