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McAllister Auditorium
Located on the Campus of San Antonio College, McAllister Auditorium is a 1,000+ seat venue that serves the Alamo Community Colleges (ACCD) and the community. This proscenium stage theater is divided into a lower mezzanine and upper balcony.
McAllister Auditorium is shared by the Theatre & Communication and Music & Humanities Departments. Built in 1957, McAllister Auditorium has served as a center for several district events, concerts, and lectures for many years. The auditorium is also available for rentals and hosts many community organizations for everything from recitals to weekly meetings.
The Theatre & Communication Department holds it’s "Children's Show" during the fall which helps introduce theatre to local elementary schools, as well as to the community. McAllister also houses a full-size Reuter organ built into the architecture of the theatre which is the pride of the Music & Humanities Department.
McAllister Auditorium was named in honor of Walter Williams McAllister Sr. (1889-1984), and opened in April 1956. McAllister Auditorium is also named in honor of his son, who carried on with much of the work Walter Sr. began in his life.
Mr. McAllister Sr. attended the German-English School on South Alamo Street (which later became the original location of San Antonio College), and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. He married Lenore Elizabeth Alexander in 1913. They had two sons; Walter Jr. and Gerald.
Walter Sr. founded the San Antonio Savings & Loan Association, which later became San Antonio Savings. From 1953-56, he was appointed by President Eisenhower to Chair the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank, and was Mayor of San Antonio from 1961-71. During his tenure as Mayor, he oversaw the completion of Hwy. 281 North, which is named in his honor. He co-founded the San Antonio Union Junior College District with James Otis Loftin in 1945. He was also instrumental in the purchase of the first tract of land on San Pedro Avenue for San Antonio College.
Walter Jr. attended the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. In 1940, he married Edith Scott. They had four children.
Walter Jr. was the President & CEO of San Antonio Savings Association from 1953-76, and served as their Chair from 1976-86. He also sat as Chair for American Founders Life Insurance Company from 1966-80, and Vice-Chair of the National Savings & Loan Foundation from 1976-80.
Interested in booking McAllister Auditorium for your next special event? Please review San Antonio College's AUDITORIUM POLICIES & RENTAL INFORMATION along with our FIRE REGULATIONS and contact our Auditorium Staff.
Auditiorium Manager- Jennifer Anderson
McAllister Fine Arts Building, Room 215
Office (210)-486-0497, Fax (210)-486-1743