L. A. Coliseum

1936 photo: Dick Whittington Studio, USC Libraries

Opened 1923

3911 S. Figueroa St, Exposition Park

Capacity 93,607

Jointly owned by the State of California, City and County of Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Coliseum was commissioned in 1921 and dedicated as a memorial to veterans of World War 1. It is home to the USC football team. From 1949 - 1979 it was home to the Los Angeles Rams NFL and from 1958 - 1961, was where the Los Angeles Dodgers played.

It is located next to USC and is home to the USC Trojan football team. It has hosted the Olympic Games in 1932 and again in 1984. It has also hosted Super Bowls and World Series games. 

The Coliseum is a National Historic Landmark.

1970's Concerts 

The biggest problem with the Los Angeles Coliseum  is that it is  located in Los Angeles. 

Bands and promoters avoided Los Angeles ever since the brou-ha-ha at the L. A. Sports Arena during the 1975 Pink Floyd concerts there. Police Chief Ed Davis had a reputation for being overly aggressive in policing rock concert. Over 500 fans were arrested during the Pink Floyd shows. 

Consequently, in the 1970's, major rock concert were held outside Los Angeles, such as in Santa Monic, Long Beach, and Anaheim.  

This policy deprived the financially troubled L.A. Sports Arena and Coliseum of badly needed revenues.

1960  photo: Herald-Examiner Collection 

1972

Iasac Hays, Carla Thomas, The Staple Stingers, Luther Ingram  AUGUST 20

KROQ produced Ultimate Rock Concert NOVEMBER 25

Ultimate Rock Concert (proceeds went to L.A.'s Free Medical Clinics) 32,000 +-  attended - w/ Sly and Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, the Eagles, Love, The Bee Gees, The Four Seasons, Raspberries, Sha-Na-Na, Mott the Hoople, Keith Moon,  Flash Cadillac  

 

- -- 323 were arrested during the event. 

1975 

Ed Davis was Chief of Police of Los Angeles 1969 - 1978.  During a five day Pink Floyd concert at the Sports Arena - more than 500 attendees were arrested. Many accused Davis of being overly aggressive towards the youth. 

1976

Jethro Tull (52,700 people attended) AUGUST 15 

--- 120 arrest were made during the event.

1978 

Daryl Gates took over as Chief of Police in March 1978.  Gates was aggressive and arrogant. However -  he was willing to work with concert promoters wanting to rent the Coliseum - which was financially strapped and looking for more sources of revenue. 

1979

California World Music Festival April 7 & 8

Wolf and Rissmiller first Coliseum presents 

2-day event drew 95,000 attendees - however the event was a financial failure.

17 acts performed including: Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, The Outlaws and Van Halen. 

The police enforced the law, but they did so with the same guidelines they used for other Coliseum sporting events. It was a spirit of cooperation between the crowd, the Police Department and the promoters. The police would only arrest heavy drug offenders.

1980

Summer Blowout w/ Cheap Trick, Journey, Black Sabbath, the Babys  JULY 26   (Wolf & Rissmiller/Avalon)

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