Anaheim Stadium

Anaheim Stadium 43,000 - 55,000 capacity

2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim CA

Opened April 9, 1966

Anaheim Stadium (the Big A) is home to Gene Autry's Los Angeles Angels a major league baseball team. 

It opened in April 1966 to much fanfare. However, by 1970 the City of Anaheim was in dire straits due to the stadium's mounting debt.  The stadium was $800,000 in the red -  the City was desperate to bring in more revenue. Many referred to it as Autry's big white elephant.

Tom Liegler, director of the stadium, rock concerts at the stadium could be a big source of revenue for the cashed strapped City. The City would keep 10% of the gross paid admission and 30% of that spent at concession stands and all revenue from parking.  

All expenses for the concert were picked up by the promoter (often this was Wolf and Rissmiller). Expenses included added security and hiring off duty police officers to handled outside crowd control. It looked like a win win situation.

So .... in the summer of 1970, the City of Anaheim approved a series of concerts to be held at Anaheim Stadium. 

The stage was placed at home plate. Attendees were encouraged to bring a blanket and sit on the grass, festival style. 

Thus ... Anaheim Stadium became the first major stadium in the country to be used

for rock festivals. 

1970

The Who, Leon Russell, Steve Miller and John Sebastian  JUNE 14th (30,000 people attended). Promoters were Concerts Associates.  

At first all the stadium director, concert promoters and fans all thought the concert was a smashing success - there were no difficulties or incidents. 

However - the conservative Anaheim City Council thought differently after they got wind of there being some drug and alcohol related arrest during the concert. Consequently, the City Council barred any future rock concerts at Anaheim Stadium. 

This ban was not lifted until 1975 - except for a a couple of family oriented Osmond Brothers concerts.

Sampling of rock/pop concerts at the Anaheim Stadium 1972 - 1983

1972

The Osmond Brothers SEPTEMBER 8

1975

The Osmonds JANUARY 11

In 1975, Anaheim Stadium was given the green light to host rock concerts. 

Chicago and Beach Boys MAY 23

Elton John AUGUST 23 & 24 (Wolf and Rissmiller presents)

Rod Stewart and Faces. Loggins and Messina,  Fleetwood Mac AUGUST 30

Eagles, Linda Rondstadt, Jackson Browne  SEPTEMBER 28 

1976

The Who return! w/ Rufus and Little Feat MARCH 21 (55,000 seats)

Beach Boys JULY 3

Yes, Peter Frampton JULY 17 (57,500 seats)

ZZ Top, Blue Oyster Cult, Johnny & Edgar Winter August 7

Kiss, Ted Nugent, Uriah Heep, Bob Segar August 20

Aerosmith, Jeff Beck, Lynyrd Skynyrd SEPTEMBER 11 & 12

Black Sabbath NOVEMBER 6

1977

Pink Floyd MAY 6 & 7 

Peter Frampton JULY 6

Alice Cooper JUNE 19

Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd AUGUST 27  (57,000)

1978

Rolling Stones, the Outlaws JULY 23 & 24

Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Kingfish AUGUST 26

BOSTON, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Sammy Hagar SEPTEMBER 23

1979

The Who JUNE 29 & 30

Black Sabbath JULY 22

The Bee Gees SEPTEMBER 1 & 2

Pink Floyd SEPTEMBER 15 & 16

1980

Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard  OCTOBER 26

1983

David Bowie AUGUST 8 & 9

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Long Beach Arena 1969 - 1979

www.panoramio.com

The Long Beach Arena opened in 1962. It was built on site of the former Long Beach Municipal Auditorium - at the foot of Long Beach Boulevard near the Rainbow Pier.   

It is part of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center which includes - exhibition halls, the Terrace and Center theaters, ballrooms and meeting rooms. The Arena was the first building of the complex to be completed.

Long Beach Arena

1962 photo: LAPL digital library

For concerts the Long Beach Arena can seat up to 13,500. 

The outside of the Arena is covered by the world's largest mural -  Planet Ocean - painted by the environmental artist -Robert Wyland.  It was dedicated on July 9, 1992. 

Sampling of concerts held at the Long Beach Arena 1969 - 1979.

1969

Bill Cosby  MARCH 22

Creedance Clearwater Revival, Grass Roots  MAY 10

Simon and Garfunkel  NOVEMBER 15

Three Dog Night  DECEMBER 31

1970

The Doors  FEBRUARY 7

Moody Blues, Steve Miller Band, Poco  APRIL 4

Jethro Tull APRIL 19

Burt Bacharach NOVEMBER 20

Glen Campbell. Jackie De Shannon MARCH 20

1971

The Guess Who, Youngbloods FEBRUARY 11

Alice Cooper  JULY 11

Rod Stewart/Faces, Deep Purple  JULY 30

Black Sabbath  SEPTEMBER 25

The Who  DECEMBER 10 

Mountain, J. Geils Band  DECEMBER 18

1972

Allman Brothers Band MARCH 5

Black Oak Arkansas JUNE 4

Rolling Stones JUNE 10 & 11

Led Zeppelin JUNE 27

Emerson, Lake & Palmer  JULY 28

Yes, Edgar Winter, Eagles  AUGUST 4

Three Dog Night  AUGUST 27

Leon Russell  AUGUST 28 

Santana  OCTOBER 8

Moody Blues NOVEMBER 4

Elvis Presley  NOVEMBER 14

The James Gang, Black Oak Arkansas, Spencer Davis NOVEMBER 26

Grateful Dead DECEMBER 15

1973

Traffic  JANUARY 23

Chicago, Fanny  FEBRUARY 27

David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars  MARCH 10

Seals and Crofts MARCH 16

Mac Davis, Helen Reddy  APRIL 8

George Carlin and Kenny Rankin APRIL 20

Ike and Tine Turner  JUNE

Billy Preston  JULY 21

Stephen Stills and Manassas OCTOBER 6

Rod Stewart and Faces  OCTOBER 14

1974

 Emerson, Lake & Palmer  FEBRUARY 3

Deep Purple, Savoy Brown  FEBRARY 11

Fleetwood Mac  FEBRUARY 17

Doobie Brothers  MARCH 14

 Yes MARCH 19

 Neil Young  MARCH 24

Johnny Winters  MARCH 29

Eric Clapton  JULY 19 &  20

 ZZ Top, Elvin Bishop  AUGUST 24

 Traffic SEPTEMBER 29

 Backman, Turner Overdrive  NOVEMBER 2

George Harrison  NOVEMBER 10

Deep Purple  NOVEMBER 20

Dave Mason  DECEMBER 15

Beach Boys  DECEMBER 29

Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention  DECEMBER 31

1975

Johnny Winter JANUARY 26

J. Geils Band  FEBRUARY 26

Led Zeppelin  MARCH 11, 12

Doobie Brothers  MAY 4 & 5

Rush  MAY 31

Yes, Ace  JUNE 23

Aeorsmith, Mahogany Rush  JULY 20

Ten Years After AUGUST 1

Edgar Winter Group, Climax Blues Band  OCTOBER 14

Kiss  NOVEMBER

1976

Deep Purple  FEBRUARY 27 

Bachman-Turner Drive, Wishbone Ash   APRIL 9 

Average White Band, Sons of Champlin  JULY 21

Black Sabbath  NOVEMBER 6

Willie Nelson, Rusty Weir   NOVEMBER 25

1977

Lynyrd Skynyrd  JANUARY 2

Jethro Tull  FEBRUARY 27

Boston, Outlaws  MARCH 19 

Jethro Tull  APRIL 9

Yes  SEPTEMBER 26

J. Geils Band, Sammy Hagar  NOVEMBER 11

Robin Trower Wishbone Ash, Eddie Money  NOVEMBER 25

Blue Oyster Cult, Black Oak  DECEMBER 2

Queen, Thin Lizzy  DECEMBER 20 & 21

Kansas  DECEMBER 31

1978

Styx. Sanford & Townsend  JANUARY 27, 29

Outlaws, .38 Special  APRIL 10

Angel, Head East  MAY 6

Journey, Montrose  MAY 20

Andy Gibbs  JUNE 6

Van Halen  JULY 9

Aerosmith  JULY 12

Ted Nugent  SEPTEMBER 5

Merle Haggard & Marty Robbins  NOVEMBER 5

Rush  NOVEMBER 14

Jethro Tull, Uriah Heep  NOVEMBER 16 

Black Sabbath, The Ramones  DECEMBER 4

Sammy Hagar, Golden Earring, Cindy Bullens  DECEMBER 22

 Cheap Trick DECEMBER 31

1979

The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet  JANUARY 25

Elvis Costello and the Attractions  - FEBRUARY 13

Yes  MAY 25

Mahogany Rush, Earth Quake  JULY 13

Marshall Tucker Band  AUGUST 7

AC/DC, Prism  SEPTEMBER 10

REO Speedwagon, Blackfoot  SEPTEMBER 19

Jethro Tull, U.K. NOVEMBER 13, 14 & 15

Cheap Trick  DECEMBER 20

Blue Oysters Cult  DECEMBER 28

Marvin Gaye DECEMBER 29

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Anaheim Convention Center 1968- '79

Anaheim.net 

The Anaheim Convention Center opened in 1967 to much fanfare.  The Doors and Jefferson Airplane played in the new 9,100 seat arena with it's distinctive googie-style of architecture. 

 Date: 1967 Contributing Institution:

Anaheim Public Library

The arena is part of the greater Anaheim Convention Center complex - the largest exhibition facility in the western United States. It has hosted numerous exhibits and conventions, RV, auto, garden and boat shows, sporting events, Ringling Brothers Circus, ice skating events, rodeos and rock concerts. Most recently it has hosted the popular NAMM Show and Anime Expo. 

Anaheim.net

The Anaheim Convention Center is located directly across from Disneyland at 800 W. Katella Ave., in the city of Anaheim. -  approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. 

Over the years the Anaheim Convention Center has had several major alterations, renovatons and expansions. However the Arena has maintain it's original googie-style architecture - although the original brick veneer and walls has been replaced with vision glass and metallic facade features to complement the convention center design. 

 Date: 1967 Contributing Institution:

Anaheim Public Library

A sampling of rock shows at the Anaheim Convention Center 1967 - 1979

1967

The Doors, Jefferson Airplane JULY 15

The Righteous Brothers DECEMBER 9

1968

The Bee Gees, Vanilla Fudge & Spanky and Our Gang JANUARY 27

Tonly Bennett, Duke Ellington APRIL 19

Cream MAY 17

Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night DECEMBER 13

1969

 Steve Miller Band, Three Dog Night, Buffalo Springfield  JANUARY 17 

The Rascals, Bonnie & Delaney  FEBRUARY 7

Diana Ross & the Supremes  FEBRUARY 22

Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, June Carter  MARCH 1

 The Cream  MARCH 22

 Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grass Roots, Jeff Beck  APRIL 19

Fats Domino  JUNE 14

 Joan Baez JUNE 28

 Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull  AUGUST 9

Donovan  NOVEMBER 7

Blood, Sweat and Tears  NOVEMBER 22

Joe Cocker, Grand Funk Railroad  DECEMBER 12

Ray Charles  DECEMBER 28

1970

Three Dog Night, Hoyt Axton, The Byrds  JANUARY 18

Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna  FEBRUARY 7

Lee Michaels, Ike and Tina Turner  APRIL 24

Guess Who  MAY 9

Bill Cosby  AUGUST 29

Neil Diamond, Linda Rondstadt  SEPTEMBER 26

Blood Sweat & Tears, John Denver  OCTOBER 8

Bill Cosby  OCTOBER 10

Grand Funk Railroad  OCTOBER 31

Charley Pride, Sonny James NOVEMBER 8

Burt Bacharach NOVEMBER 20

Delaney & Bonnie NOVEMBER 28

Leon Russell, Elton John  DECEMBER 4

1971

Englebert Humperdinck  JANUARY 17

Merle Haggard  MARCH 20

James Taylor MARCH 21

Three Dog Night APRIL 10

Judy Collins APRIL 23

Elton John MAY 14

Sammy Davis Jr., Friends of Distinction MAY 30

Three Dog Night MAY 22

Deep Purple  JUNE 6

Jethro Tull JUNE 19

Traffic  OCTOBER 30

Donovan  DECEMBER 11

Blood Sweat & Tears, Charlie Starr  DECEMBER 31

1972

Carpenters  JANUARY 22

Rare Earth, Badfinger, War  FEBRUARY 26

Deep Purple  APRIL 15

Guess Who MAY 26

Deep Purple, Malo   JUNE 6

Leon Russell  AUGUST 26

Rare Earth  JULY 21

Jerry Lee Lewis  OCTOBER 7

Elton John  OCTOBER 22

1973

Johnny Cash  FEBRUARY 9

The Carpenters  FEBRUARY 11

Neil Young  MARCH 27

Englebert Humperdinck  APRIL 6

Bread, Steely Dan  APRIL 21

Three Dog Night MAY 22

Rare Earth  JULY 22

The Guess Who AUGUST 11

Dr. Hook  SEPTEMBER 14

Rod Stewart OCTOBER 16 & 17

Crosby & Nash  DECEMBER 8

Beach Boys  NOVEMBER 16 

1974

Emerson, Lake & Palmer  FEBRUARY 1, 2

Joni Mitchell  MARCH 5

Neil Young MARCH 26 

Bert Bacharach  MAY 17

George Jones, Tammy Wynette  JUNE 9

America  AUGUST 17

Johnny Cash, June Carter, Carl Perkins SEPTEMBER 21

David Bowie SEPTEMBER 16

Charley Pride  NOVEMBER 10

Mac Davis, Anne Murray  NOVEMBER 15

Van Morrison  NOVEMBER 16

Guess Who, Areosmith  DECEMBER 13

1975

The Osmond Brothers  JANUARY 11

Chicago, Beach Boys  MAY 24

Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence  JUNE 14

Seals & Crofts JUNE 21

Three Dog Night, Neil Sedaka  OCTOBER 5

Tammy Wynette  OCTOBER 9

Rick Wakeman  NOVEMBER 11

David Crosby and Graham Nash NOVEMBER 26

Tony Orlando, Captain & Tennille, Cher, Mac Davis Freddie Fender, Donny and       Marie Osmond, Freddie Prinze, Henlen Reddy  DECEMBER 20

1976

Merle Haggard JANUARY 31

Righteous Brothers  FEBRUARY 6

Electric Light Orchestra  FEBRUARY 16, 17

Olivia Newton John  MARCH 23

Peter Frampton  APRIL 21 

Chicago  MAY 24 

Helen Reddy JUNE 19

Helen Reddy, David Steinberg   SEPTEMBER 3

Vikki Carr  OCTOBER 2

Elvis Presley NOVEMBER 30

Jackson Browne  NOVEMBER 24

Gordon Lightfoot  NOVEMBER 27

Barry Manilow  DECEMBER 5

1977 

Mac Davis, Dolly Parton FEBRUARY 27

Bread  MARCH 30

Jethro Tull APRIL 6, 7

Englebert Humperdinck  APRIL 21

Tammy Wynette, Ronnie Milsap, Statler Brothers  APRIL 22

Bay City Roller  JUNE 3

1978

Red Skelton  JANUARY 26

Johnny Cash, June Carter, Carter Family  MARCH 11

America, Michael Murphey  APRIL 8

Statler Brothers, Barbara Mandrel  MAY 26

Rosemary Cloony, Rose Marie, Helen O'Connell, Margaret Whiting  JUNE 16

Boston summer  SEPTEMBER 24

Waylon Jennings  NOVEMBER 24

Kenny Loggins/Firefall  DECEMBER 16

1979

Santana, Sad Cafe  FEBRUARY 7

Willie Nelson and Family, Jerry Jeff Walker  FEBRUARY 12

Tower of Power FEBRUARY 24

Jimmy Buffet  MARCH 10

Styx  MARCH 30

Kenny Rogers, Oak Ridge Boys  APRIL 6

ABBA  SEPTEMBER 21

Little river Band  NOVEMBER 5

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