With a thunderous roar, the western wall of Memorial Auditorium was pulled to the

ground this morning, moving the demolition project -- and the hoped-for rejuvenation of the

waterfront -- one giant step closer to reality.

As several dozen spectators snapped photos and videos, the first attempt to collapse the

wall proved to be a false start, as a cable connected to the structure came loose from one of

four enormous excavators.

The wall swayed back and forth -- like in an earthquake -- but remained intact.

After the cables were reconnected about 15 minutes later, the excavators tugged away in

unison and the wall came tumbling down. About 150 tons of twisted steel and stone looked like

bomb damage.

After today's work, three sides of the Auditorium have now been removed, leaving only the

southern, or rear section, remaining.

Work is on target to be completed in late June at the site that is slated to be the future

home of a new Bass Pro shop.

Even though today's demolition was not widely publicized, a line of spectators gathered

outside a chain link fence in front of the Aud to take photos and say goodbye to a building

that houses millions of memories.

Tom Zolnowski of East Aurora reminisced about watching the Buffalo Sabres compete in the

Stanley Cup finals in the mid-1970s.

"That's got to be the best," said Zolnowski, a retired line worker for New York State

Electric & Gas. "Nothing's like the first time you see the Stanley Cup. I'd just like to get

as much of a look at [the Aud] as I can while I can."

Marty Bartnik of West Seneca remembered Easter of 1971, when he saw Gerry Meehan score the

winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with four seconds left in the game.

Larry Doctor Jr., an equipment operator for the Buffalo Sewer Authority, told about the

good times he had as a member of the Aud's setup crew from 1982-88.

"I used to work here," he said. "I saw a lot of concerts and a lot of hockey games. I met a

lot of great people."

Pat and Carol Healy of Elma watched the demolition work this morning not because of Aud

memories, but because their son, Mike, is a project manager.

"The main part is: God, I hope this goes OK," Carol Healy said. "It's the mother's concern.

I don't want anyone getting hurt."

And for the record, the demolition project has logged 10,000 man hours with no serious

injuries, said Matt Davison, a spokesman for the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.

Watch the wall come down