Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

The GoG0s participated in a Battle of the Bands at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Saturday July 28th, 1979.

Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium opened June 15, 1958.  The $2,900,000 multi-purpose auditorium is located at Pico and Main Street in the city of Santa Monica. It was designed by Welton Becket & Associates and built by C.L. Pect and Millie & Severson. 

A distinguishing architectural characteristic are its five 72-foot concrete masts that connect with the entrance canopy. The entire entrance facade is composed of a delicate cast-concrete grill. 

1958 photo: L.A. Examiner - USC photo archives

The Civic featured hydraulic jacks which could tilt the main floor for use as a theater, dance floor or a basketball court. The massive hydraulic lifters could tilt the floor from a flat surface into a sloping theater that dipped 4 feet at its lowest depth.

There is a circular snack bar in the auditorium lobby. 

1958 photo: L.A. Examiner - USC photo archives

The auditorium was designed for the staging of symphonies, dramatic productions, operas, concerts, sporting events, boxing, conventions, trade shows, antique shows, dog and cat shows, auto shows, banquets, fundraisers,  roller derbies, lectures, religious services and dances. 

In it's early years, the Civic was the home to the Academy Awards ceremonies, the Harlem Globetrotters and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 

The Civic could accommodated 2,750 spectators.  In 1958 it was the second largest stage in Southern California. At this time there was no Sports Arena, no Forum, no Music Center and no rock 'n' roll. Over the years its capacity grew to about 3,200. 

2008 photo: tlc

2008 photo: tlc

Sampling of  Civic Shows (1962 - 1979)

1962

John Raitt, Jane Morgan MARCH 10

Odetta MARCH 16

The Weavers APRIL 12

Joan Baez APRIL 14

Clancy Brothers MAY 8Bud & Travis OCTOBER 6 

Dave Brubeck Quartet NOVEMBER 3

Hoyt Axton, Oscar Brand NOVEMBER 30

Limeliters DECEMBER 14 (8 pm  & 10:45 pm shows)

1963

Ella Fitzgerald JANUARY 4

Allan Sherman, Harpo Marx  JANUARY 18

Limeliters JANUARY 19

Bob Newhart  FEBRUARY 10

Peter, Paul and Mary FEBRUARY 8

New Christy Minstrels MARCH 22

Ray Conniff MAY 3

Hootenanny '63 SEPTEMBER 6

Nancy Wilson, Morey Amsterdam SEPTEMBER 21

The Clancy Brothers OCTOBER 5

Hootenanny '63 OCTOBER 19

The Weavers NOVEMBER 9

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Count Basie NOVEMBER 25

Feature-length surfing movies were shown December 26, 27, 28.

Surfing exhibitions sponsored by Surf Guide magazine and KRLA radio

In 1963 The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was rated 10th largest in California and gross revenues were 5th in the state. 

1964

Hootenanny '64 JANUARY 31

Chad Mitchell Trio FEBRUARY 7

Bob Dylan FEBRUARY 29

Smothers Brothers APRIL 2

Hootenanny '64 APRIL 18

Dave Brubeck Quartet MAY 1

Clancy Brothers OCTOBER 24

Bud and Travis NOVEMBER 21

Joan Baez DECEMBER 11

T.A.M.I Show (Teenage Awards Music International) film

Produced by Electronovision w/ Screen Entertainment Co.

Starring: Jan & Dean, chuck Berry, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Lesley Gore, The Beach Boys, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, The Supremes, The Barbarians, James Brown & the Flames, The Rolling Stones.

1965

The Brothers Four JANUARY 23

Dave Bruebeck, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass FEBRUARY 27 (premiere concert)

Chuck Berry FEBRUARY 26

The Chad Mitchell Trio MARCH 6

Bob Dylan MARCH 27

Clancy Brothers MAY 14

Roger Miller, Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass MAY 28

Pete Seeger JUNE 11

Chad & Jeremy, Dick & Deedee JUNE 19 (1st American appearance)

movie: Endless Summer JULY 8  thru 14

Ella Fitzgerald, Nelson Riddle Orchestra SEPTEMBER 11

Bill Cosby OCTOBER 8

Bob Dylan DECEMBER 19

1966

Liberace JANUARY 29 

Peter, Paul & Mary MARCH 26

Pete Seeger JUNE 3

Kingston Trio NOVEMBER 25

Sergio Mendez and Brazil '66 NOVEMBER 12

Joan Baez DECEMBER 16 (two shows 7:30 and 10 pm)

1967

Peter, Paul & Mary MARCH 3 & 4

Judy Collins APRIL 14

Allen Ginsberg the Fugs APRIL 21

Don Ho APRIL 22 (two shows 8 & 10pm)

Sergio Mendez and Brasil '66 MAY 10

The Doors w/ Iron Butterfly JULY 3

Yardbirds w/ Moby Grape, Captain Beefheart JULY 22

The Seekers OCTOBER 7

Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, Steve Allen, Shelly Manne OCTOBER 18

Judy Collins NOVEMBER 17

Buffalo Springfield DECEMBER 9

Phil Ochs DECEMBER 16

Ray Charles DECEMBER 29

1968

Peter, Paul and Mary FEBRUARY 16 & 17

Cream , Electric Prunes, Steppenwolf  FEBRUARY 23

Buffy Sainte-Marie APRIL 26

Tiny Tim JUNE 7

Peter Seeger OCTOBER 14

Johnny Rivers DECEMBER 27

1969

Peter Paul & Mary FEBRUARY 22 & 23

Dave Brubeck Quartet, Gerry Mulligan  MARCH 22

Creedence Clearwater Revival APRIL 18

Judy Collins MAY 2

Gary Puckett & Union Gap, The Sunshine Co.  Steve Martin JUNE 14

Bobby Darin JUNE 27

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

Jethro Tull NOVEMBER 26

Blood, Sweat & Tears NOVEMBER 23

The Santa Monica Civic had a reputation for providing orderly performances.  From 1969 to 1979 it was managed by Jeremy Ferris. Ferris credits the the Auditorium's success as a rock venue due to good business practices. The Civic maintained control (rather than the promoter) over the selling of tickets to performances. Basically, the auditorium would put money into a trust account. This money would be available for refunds or for the writing of checks to the artist on the first business day after a performance. The house also handled its own security detail. The auditorium had a policy of hiring college age guards who related to the audiences and enjoyed the concert themselves.  Also, bands liked the fact that it was located outside Los Angeles Police Department jurisdiction. (source: L.A. Times)

1970

Judy Collins FEBRUARY 14

the Youngbloods JANUARY 31

Santana, Elvin Bishop FEBRUARY 28

Delaney & Bonnie, Dave Mason MARCH 1

The Grateful Dead MARCH 7

Jose Feliciano MARCH 20

Neil Young & Crazy Horse MARCH 28

John Sebastian APRIL 11

Joe Cocker,  Leon Russell APRIL 18

Pink Floyd MAY 1

Captain Beefheart JUNE 26

Ray Charles JULY 2

Traffic JULY 5

Bill Cosby JULY 10

Procol Harum JULY 31

Pink Floyd OCTOBER 23

Rod Stewart and Small Faces OCTOBER 30

Elton John, Odetta NOVEMBER 15

Eric Clapton NOVEMBER 20

The Byrds DECEMBER 27

1971

The Carpenters, Seals & Croft  JANUARY 16

Dave Mason & Cass Elliot JANUARY 10

Poco, Spencer Davis JANUARY 15

Van Morrison JANUARY 29 & 30

The Beach Boys FEBRUARY 20

Bee Gees FEBRUARY 19

Mountain MARCH 6

Richie Havens MARCH 14

Johnny Winter MARCH 28

Badfinger APRIL 2 

Johnny Winter APRIL 5

The Kinks APRIL 7

The Youngbloods APRIL 9

Gordon Lightfoot APRIL 13

Bread MAY 21

Cat Stevens JULY 1

Buddy Miles JULY 18

Procol Harum AUGUST 10 & 11

Taj Mahal

Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker AUGUST 4 

Judy Collins AUGUST 27

Poco OCTOBER 1

Melanie NOVEMBER 8

Pete Seeger DECEMBER 10

The Guess Who NOVEMBER 27

1972

Seals and Croft JANUARY 23

Cheech & Chong FEBRUARY 5

James Gang FEBRUARY 10

Laura Nyro and John Prine MARCH 3 & 4

Emerson, Lake & Palmer MARCH 23

Humble Pie APRIL 22

Van Morrison APRIL 27 & 28

Mark Alman MAY 7 

Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks MAY 27

Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie JUNE 2

Cheech & Chong June 16

Procol Harem, The Eagles JULY 2 & 3

Dave Mason, J.D. SOUTHER  JULY 7

The Kinks, Taj Mahal AUGUST 29

Guess Who

T Rex, The Doobie Brothers OCTOBER 14

David Bowie OCTOBER 20 & 21

The Hollies, Billy Preson NOVEMBER 22

Paul Simon NOVEMBER 24-26

J. Geils Band OCTOBER 8

Procol Harem NOVEMBER 12

Loggins & Messina DECEMBER 16

Starting in 1973, the auditorium scheduled was heavy on rock concerts.  

1973

Traffic, Free JANUARY 27

Edgar Winter FEBRUARY 2

Steve Miller Band, Paul Butterfield  MARCH 13

The Association MARCH 18

Helen Reddy MARCH 18

The Bee Gees MARCH 29

Helen Reddy, Mac Davis APRIL 6

Foghat APRIL 7

Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band APRIL 13

Limelighters March 30

John Mayall Dr.  Hook APRIL 7

Rick Nelson APRIL 13

Kris Dristofferson, Rita Coolidge APRIL 18

Lou Reed APRIL 20

J. Geils Band APRIL 26

Crusaders APRIL 27

Slade MAY 3

Paul Simon MAY 19

the Eagles JUNE 21

Van Morrison JUNE 29

Focus, Joe Walsh JULY 1

Electric Light Orchestra JULY 12

Judy Collins AUGUST 18

Focus, Little Feat AUGUST 31

Steely Dan SEPTEMBER 2

King Crimson OCTOBER 15

Arlo Gultho NOVEMBER 16

Jim Croce NOVEMBER 24

Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop DECEMBER 8

T. Rex

1974

Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt JANUARY 11

Billy Preston JANUARY 12

Dave Mason JANUARY 26 (8pm & 11pm)

John Prine

New York Dolls MARCH 16

Genesis MARCH 22

Mott the Hoople APRIL 12

Grace Slick, Jefferson Starship APRIL 18

Electric Light Orchestra and Elvin Biship MAY 4

Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd MAY 20

Blue Oyster Cult, Queen JUNE 7

The Eagles JUNE 8 (two shows 7:30 & 11 pm)

Steely Dan, KiKi Dee Band JULY 3

Grand Central Station JULY 20

Bruce Springsteen and Dr. John JULY 25

Rory Gallagher JULY 26

Frank Zappa AUGUST 16

Tower of Power AUGUST 23

Souther, Hillman and Furay Band AUGUST 30

Electric Flag, Moby Grape OCTOBER 4

Jackson Brown SEPTEMBER 28 & 29

The Average White Band, Billy Cobham OCTOBER 17

Arlo Guthrie OCTOBER 19

Joe Cocker, Focus OCTOBER 13

Jose Feliciano OCTOBER 18

Hot Tuna and Journey OCTOBER 26

New Riders of Purple Sage NOVEMBER 22

Donovan DECEMBER 13

Comander Cody, Waylon Jennings DECEMBER 14

Lou Reed, Hall & Oats NOVEMBER 24

Kinks DECEMBER 10

J.J. Cale, Dicky Betts DECEMBER 11

Marshall Tucker Band, Little Feat DECEMBER 16

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

At this time rock/pop music seemed to have run its course. Rock had become tired and conventional. It encompassed: supergroups, easy listening,  jazz rock, glitter rock, country rock, heavy metal, singer-songwriter and pop rock segments in music. 

Frustrated young people were starved for a music they could call their own. They wanted new music for a new generation.  

The New York Dolls emerged and represented a promising change in music direction. Other such artist included David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Suzi Quatro were blazing a new direction in music. 

1975

Kiss and Jo Jo Gunne FEBRUARY 1

Roxy Music MARCH 7

Jesse Colin Young MARCH 15

Labelle MARCH 21

Queen, Mahogany Rush MARCH 29

Styx APRIL 3

Average White Band APRIL 15

Lynyrd Skynyrd APRIL 21

Santana APRIL 1

Herbie Hancock APRIL 23

Sparks MAY 3

John Prine MAY 4

Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter May 16

John Mayall JUNE 4

the Tubes AUGUST 2

Sweet SEPTEMBER 13

Donovan SEPTEMBER 27

Marshall Tucker Band, Outlaws OCTOBER 13

Paul Simon NOVEMBER 20 & 21

Jerry Jeff Walker  and Roger McGuinn OCTOBER 4

Bonnie Raitt and Tom Waits OCTOBER 17

Strawbs OCTOBER 31

Harry Chapin NOVEMBER 8

Rory Gallagher NOVEMBER 17

10cc NOVEMBER 26

Leo Sayer NOVEMBER 28

Sparks DECEMBER 3 & 4

Comander Cody DECEMBER 16

1976

In 1976 rock 'n' roll was a big business.  Wolf & Rissmiller and Pacific Presentations were one of Southern California's main rock concert promotion organizations. Typically, they would start acts at a small capacity venue such as the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Then, if the response was good, they would move them up to either the larger Shrine Auditorium or Anaheim Convention Center - and then the Long Beach Arena or the Inglewood Forum. Ultimately, the most popular bands would perform high capacity, stadium seating, outdoor venues such as baseball and football stadiums. 

Consequently, in 1975- on the Santa Monica Civic started to lose acts to bigger houses that made more profits and could offer more money to performers.  

Artist such as David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Eagles, Chicago, the Beach Boys, Moody Blues, Areosmith, ZZ top and Kiss could easily sell out large arenas. 

However, artist would want to return to the Civic Auditorium and play for less money because of its historic reputation and its more intimate surroundings.

1976

Kinks, Pretty Things FEBRUARY 9 & 10

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Janis Ian MARCH 6

Dan Fogelberg MARCH 7

Queen, Cate Brothers MARCH 9, 10 & 11

Supertramp MARCH 31 & APRIL 1

Golden Earring APRIL 9

Ted Nugent, Status Quo APRIL 27

Laura Nyro MAY 9

Elvin Bishop, Tim Weisberg MAY 15

Boz Scaggs, Fools Gold MAY 25

Bob Marley & Wailers MAY 27

Steve Miller Band JUNE 29

Pete Seeger, Odetta, Arlo Guthrie

Bruce Springsteen (first time he headlined locally) SEPTEMBER 29 & 30

Firefall, Spirit AUGUST 28

Starz, the Quick (Kim Fowley affiliated bands appear free, co-sponsored by KWST-FM) SEPTEMBER 8

Crusader SEPTEMBER 25

Poco, Silver SEPTEMBER 26

Richie Furay Band OCTOBER 7

Tower of Power, Al Jaureau OCTOBER 8 & 9

Hall & Oates OCTOBER 15

Bob Seger and Silver Bullet Band  NOVEMBER 4

Chuck Mangione NOVEMBER 9

Tommy Bolin (of Deep Purple) OCTOBER 24 (Bolin Died Dec. 4)

Journey, The Earl Slick Band NOVEMBER 11

Patti Smith NOVEMBER 10

Labelle NOVEMBER 12

Jerry Jeff Walker NOVEMBER 21

Lou Reed NOVEMBER 25

Todd Rundgren's Utopia NOVEMBER 28

Chieftains DECEMBER 6

Boston

The Ramones, Sparks, Flo & Eddie DECEMBER 31

1977

Bay City Rollers JANUARY 7

Al Stewart JANUARY 13

Kansas JANUARY 14

Herbie Hancock, John Klemmer JANUARY 16

Kinks FEBRUARY 17 & 18

Angel FEBRUARY 19

Billy Joel FEBRUARY 20

Journey, Styx MARCH 5

Janis Ian MARCH 11

The Runaways, Queens of Noise APRIL 1

Todd Rundgren APRIL 7

Sammy Hagar APRIL 13

Iggy Pop, Blondie APRIL 15

Jean Luc Ponty APRIL 16

Marshall Tucker Bank APRIL 18 & 19

Dickey Betts MAY 9

Jimmy Buffett MAY 16

Gary Wright MAY 26

Crusaders JUNE 17 

Bryan Ferry JUNE 12

Poco JULY 22

Surf Film JULY 29

Ronnie Laws, Sons of Champlin JULY 30

Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker AUGUST 5 & 6

Styx, Mink DeVille AUGUST 13

Maynard Ferguson AUGUST 14

Roy Orbinson AUGUST 18

Be Bop deluxe, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers SEPTEMBER 14 & 15

Thin Lizzy, Graham Parker SEPTEMBER 29

Rush & UFO OCTOBER 1

Billy Joel OCTOBER 8

The Outlaws

Al Jarreau OCTOBER 30

Dave Brubeck Quartet NOVEMBER 14

Phoebe Snow NOVEMBER 15

Iggy Pop NOVEMBER 18

Firefall NOVEMBER 25

Commaner Cody NOVEMBER 26

The Babys, Piper NOVEMBER 30

Tower of Power DECEMBER 27

Chuck Berry DECEMBER 29

Devo, Mink DeVille DECEMBER 31

1978

Lynyrd Skynyrd JANUARY 15

The Ramones,  The Runaways JANUARY 27

Detective FEBRUARY 16

The Charlie Daniels Band FEBRUARY 19

Nazareth MARCH 7

Aerosmith APRIL 7 & 8

Patti Smith, The Zippers MAY 12

Elvis Costello, Mink DeVille - Nick Lowe MAY 30

Tom Petty JUNE 5

Joan Baez, Harry Chapin, Peter Yarrow JUNE 7

Angel, Quiet Riot JUNE 27

Cheap Trick JULY 21

Village People JULY 7

Tony Bennett JULY 15

Meat Loaf JULY 25

Atlanta Rhythm Section AUGUST 24

Al Stewart OCTOBER 4

Hall & Oats, City Boy NOVEMBER 5

Blondie NOVEMBER 21

Al Jarreau NOVEMBER 15

1979

The Clash, Bo Diddley FEBRUARY 9

Nazareth, Legs Diamond FEBRUARY 27

The Lettermen MARCH 2

Ambrosia MARCH 10

Judy Collins MARCH 17

Disco Dance Marathon FEBRUARY 17 (w/ Eric Estrada)

Pointer Sisters MAY 1

Police MAY 17

Triumph, Missouri JUNE 8

One Truth Band, John McLaughlin JUNE 18

Graham Parker & The Rumor JUNE 20

Devo JULY 1 (two shows)

Graham Parker JUNE 23

Stehanie Mills JULY 7

Ian Hunter Band, John Hiatt JULY 8

The Buzzcocks, Gang of Four SEPTEMBER 12

Nick Gilder SEPTEMBER 18

J. J. Cale OCTOBER 12

Judas Priest OCTOBER 23

Joe Jackson NOVEMBER 9

Bob Dylan NOVEMBER 18

The Babys, The Beat DECEMBER 21

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