Today's post starts another series of documenting early rock n' roll package tours. The
Biggest Rock and Roll Show of 1956 was a 45-date tour headlined by Billy Haley
and the Comets. This package is quite a
show with all the acts except the headliner African-American. As racial tensions are peaking throughout the
country, the potential for trouble exists at every tour stop. Several shows are cancelled because of racial troubles including bomb threats, protests, pickets, and violence. The success of the tour winds up with two dates being added during the tour, making it a 47-date tour. Information on this tour regarding attendance comes from Bill Haley's personal diary.
Talent:
Bill Haley & Comets, Platters, Bo Diddley, Drifters, LaVern Baker, Clyde
McPhatter, Big Joe Turner, Red Prysock, Shirley & Lee, Roy Hamilton, Five
Keys, The Turbans, Frankie Lymon & Teenagers
April
20, 1956 Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, PA
8,000
attend tonight's opening show. As the
headliner, Haley earns $1,430 for tonight's show and every show during the
tour. LOOK magazine sends a reporter to cover the tour's first couple of dates.
 |
| LOOK magazine photo of Bill Haley and the Comets at Hershey, PA |
April
21, 1956 Warner Theatre, Atlantic City, NJ
6,000
people attend tonight's show. LOOK reporters interview Haley and others in the package.
April
22, 1956 Mosque, Richmond, VA
Two
sell-out shows tonight with 9,600 attending and thousands turned away.
April
23, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, Norfolk, VA
Another
two sell-out shows tonight as 7,000 people attend and 5,000 are turned away.
April
24, 1956 Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, PA
The
crowd is rowdy tonight as 3,000 are crammed into this small venue. Bill Haley is punched in the eye as he leaves
the stage.
April
25, 1956 Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Another
two sell-outs as 11,000 fans jam the arena for two shows.
April
26, 1956 Westchester County Center,
White Plains, NY
An
unruly crowd tonight as another 5,000 are turned away and those that make it in
will not stay in their seats. An
estimated 6,000 are in attendance. Haley
is again assaulted as he leaves the stage.
April
27, 1956 Mosque Theater, Newark, NJ
The
tour has its smallest crowd tonight as only 3,000 show up.
April
28, 1956 Onondaga County War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, NY
Another
big crowd as 10,500 attend the sell-out show.
Another large group of people were turned away.
April
29, 1956 The Forum, Montreal, Canada
Two
sell-out shows bring 16,000 fans out.
April
30, 1956 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada
A
record setting crowd of 13,000 for a single show. The press and TV are pressing Haley about
whether rock and roll is dangerous.
May
1, 1956 Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY
Two
sell-outs with 5,500 in attendance. An
attempt to pull Haley off the stage during his set fails.
May
2, 1956 Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY
A
crowd of 9,000 attend the concert with another 3,000 attending the premiere of Rock Around the Clock.
May
3, 1956 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA
A
big crowd of 9,000 fill the Mosque. The
crowd was energetic but well behaved.
May
4, 1956 Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH
Two
shows tonight and during the second show, the crowd dance din the aisles but no
violence.
May
5, 1956 Memorial Auditorium, Canton, OH
Two
shows tonight with 7,000 in attendance.
After the shows, the package stops for food along the turnpike and a
fight takes place between some of the acts.
They hit the road and Haley hopes the situation isn't picked up by the
press.
May
6, 1956 Olympia Arena, Detroit, MI
A
new record crowd tonight as 22,500 fans for two shows.
May
7, 1956 Dayton University Fieldhouse, Dayton, OH
5,500
fans show up tonight.
May
8, 1956 Arena, Cleveland, OH
Tonight's
show is attended by 4,000 fans. The
Associated Press reports on the fight a few days prior and Haley is upset that
the press named him as involved.
May
9, 1956 Gardens, Cincinnati, OH
May
10, 1956 Indiana Theater, Indianapolis, IN
Two
sell-out shows tonight and after the show, the package drive to Chicago
arriving at 6:30 a.m.
May
11, 1956 International Amphitheatre,
Chicago, IL
The
crowd was well behaved although only 6,000 fans show up. Haley had expected a bigger turnout and
blamed the lack of promotion and the wrong venue.
May
12, 1956 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO
Two
sell-out shows bring 8,000 fans out.
May
13, 1956 Music Hall, Kansas City, MO
A
disappointing 3,500 fans show up for tonight's show. Haley blames poor promotion.
May
14, 1956 Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE
A
disappointing 5,400 fans attend tonight, 400 less than Haley had a few months
ago by himself. After the show, the
package drove 540 miles to Denver, arriving at 9 a.m.
May
15, 1956 Coliseum, Denver, CO
A
huge sell-out crowd of 9,000 fans attend as the tour enters the West. The package head out at midnight for a
laborious 850 mile drove to Dallas.
Haley's bass player Al Rex came down ill and was left behind.
May
16, 1956 Sportatorium, Dallas, TX
The
package arrives in Dallas at 3 p.m. tired and beat. Tonight's show draws 11,500 unruly and wild
fans.
May
17, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX
The
package arrives in San Antonio at 8:30 p.m. right at show time. Tonight's show
draws 7,000 fans.
May
18, 1956 Civic Auditorium, Houston, TX
Another
solid draw tonight as 9,000 fans attend tonight's show. At 1 a.m. the package leaves for the 400 mile
drive to New Orleans.
May
19, 1956 Loyola Fieldhouse, Loyola University, Baton Rouge, LA
The
package arrives in New Orleans at 9:30 a.m.
There's enough time for sleep before tonight's show. A crowd of 11,000 attended the show. Prior to the show, Bill Haley and Fats Domino
meet for the first time. The package
heads out at 1 a.m. for Birmingham.
May
20, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, Birmingham, AL
On
the drive, the Comet's equipment truck turns over in Mississippi. The truck is damaged and the drivers are
injured, but not badly. The package
arrives to find pickets outside the auditorium as the White Citizen's Council had urged whites to stay away from the show.
A modest 5,000 ignore the pickets and attend the show, roughly half the crowd Haley drew last
time he was in town.
May
21, 1956 Chatanooga, TN
A
poor turnout as only 1,200 show up as racial tensions continue to mount.
May
22, 1956 Greensville, SC
Although
two shows are scheduled, only the first show takes place with 4,000 showing
up. The second show is cancelled when a
bomb is found in the hall.
May
23, 1956 Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh,
NC
A
strong 5,000 crowd that enjoys the show and is calm.
May
24, 1956 Ponce De Leon Stadium, Atlanta,
GA
A
record outdoor crowd of 10,000 fans at this show coincides with Haley's latest
single release. After the show, the
package heads out for Jacksonville, 330 miles away.
May
25, 1956 Baseball Park, Jacksonville, FL
The
package arrives at 8:30 a.m. A crowd of
7,500 attend and they are calm and appreciative. They
then drive over to Tampa.
May
26, 1956 Ft. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL
The
package arrives in Tampa at 8:30 p.m. just in time to make the show. A total of 7,600 attend and no trouble is
reported.
May
27, 1956 Dinner Key Auditorium, Miami Beach, FL
The
troupe leaves Tampa at 1 p.m. and take the scenic drive through the Everglades
to Miami Beach. They don't
arrive until 9:30 p.m. A record 14,000
attend this show.
May
28, 1956 Sports Arena, Savannah, GA
The
troupe boards the railroad for Georgia.
Two shows are scheduled and 2,500 attend the first show. However, blacks refuse to attend the second
show and it is cancelled. They leave
Savannah at noon.
May
29, 1956 Charlotte, NC
A
record 14,000 attend a single show tonight.
An estimated 5,000 people sent away.
The package stayed the next day in Charlotte since the next show is only 70 miles away.
May
30, 1956 Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC
Another
record crowd as 11,000 fans fill the Coliseum.
May
31, 1956 Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC
A
modest 5,000 turnout tonight as the tour begins to wind down. The package leaves town after the second show
and drives to Richmond.
June
1, 1956 The Mosque, Richmond, VA
Another
great turnout as 8,500 fans show up.
June
2, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, Norfolk, VA
Two
sell-out shows for a total turnout of 7,000.
After the show, the troupe drives to the nation's capital.
June
3, 1956 National Guard Armory, Washington DC
Two
shows with a total attendance of 11,000.
The afternoon show was calm but the evening show was unruly and
wild.
June
4, 1956 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA
Two
sell-out shows and 9,000 fans see a great show.
June
5, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, WVA
Bad
roads between Pittsburgh and Charleston means the package doesn't arrive until
7 p.m. A good crowd of 6,000 to wind up
the tour.
Very helpful, Jerry. Thanks! I'm writing my memories including being at the show in B'ham. I was 14 and filled with joy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jerry I saw the show at Dinner Key Auditorium, Miami Beach with my girlfriend and my best buddy. A great show. I read somewhere that it was the first integrated show in Miami.
ReplyDeleteThere were another 8 shows which took place between 28th January and 5th February with a slightly different line up: Bill Haley – Roy Hamilton
ReplyDeleteThe Platters
LaVern Baker – Bo Diddley
The Drifters – Joe Turner
The Five Keys – Shirley and Lee – The Turbans
Red Prysock and His Rock ‘n’ Roll Orchestra
I was at the afternoon show at DC's Armory, June 3 that year, my very first "rock concert" I was 15 then.
ReplyDelete