Showing posts with label Gerry and the Pacemakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gerry and the Pacemakers. Show all posts

Saturday, February 11, 2017

SHINDIG Tour 1965

In 1965 the success of the Shindig television show on ABC television network prompted Selmur Productions to book a national package tour to include many of the show's regulars including host Jimmy O'Neill.  The tour would also book national rock acts to supplant the show regulars.  The first non-show regular announced was Linda Gail Lewis, the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis performing as Linda Gale.  Shortly after that announcement, NEMS Enterprises revealed that Gerry and the Pacemakers would also join a portion of the summer tour.  Los Angeles Rams lineman Rosie Greier, trying to start a signing career was also signed to join the tour.  The Australian band the Newbeats headlined two portions of the tour bracketing Gerry and the Pacemakers.

The Shindig name was rather popular and many additional promoters tried to cash in on the name.  Promoter Irving Weinhause put a another package tour on the road early in the year.  Shindig '65 played two shows in California headlined by Gary Lewis & Playboys and then headed out nationally with Paul Peterson as the headliner.  Their debut show in Phoenix came to the attention of Selmur Productions, who took out newspaper ads and bought time on local radio stations to inform fans that the Shindig '65 show was not affiliated with the Shindig TV show.  Consequently the show bombed and Weinhause filed a lawsuit and Selmur Productions counter-sued.  In terms of financial success, Selmur was definitely the winners as their tour drew the crowds.


Ad taken out by Selmur in Billboard magazine.


Below is a nearly complete listing - it has a few holes so please comment if you saw a show that's not on the list.


First leg headlined by The Newbeats with support acts Rosie Grier, Dixie Cups, The Hondells, Linda Gail along with show regulars John Andrea, Sue Thompson, Jim Doval & Gauchos

March 26, 1965  Fieldhouse, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

April 1, 1965  Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR














April 6, 1965  Civic Auditorium, Idaho Falls, ID



April 7, 1965  The Terrace Ballroom, Salt Lake City, UT

                                                      




April 8, 1965  Auditorium Arena, Denver, CO

April 9, 1965  Memorial Hall, Salida, KS



April 11, 1965  Roberts Memorial Stadium, Evansville, IN



April 13, 1965  Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA

April 15, 1965  Auditorium, Milwaukee, WI

April 17, 1965  McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

April 18, 1965  Fair & Exposition Center, Fairgrounds, Louisville, KY



April 21, 1965  Music Hall, Houston, TX

April 22, 1965  Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX



April 23, 1965  Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, TX



April 24, 1965  Civic Center Arena, Tulsa, OK



April 27, 1965  Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS (two shows)




The second leg is headlined by Gerry and the Pacemakers with support acts Shirley Ellis, Dixie Cups, Rosie Grier, Willy Nelson, Joey Paige, Linda Gale along with show regulars Jim Doval & Gauchos.  Linda Gale's contract was for 4 weeks but the response to her was good enough that she was extended to the entire tour.

April 29, 1965  Coliseum, Ft. Wayne, IN

April 30, 1965  Gardens, Cincinnati, OH

May 1, 1965  Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH

May 2, 1965  Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI



May 3 ,1965  Civic Center, Lansing, MI















May 4, 1965  Stambaugh Auditorium, Youngstown, OH

May 5, 1965  Sports Arena, Toledo, OH




May 6, 1965  Grand Rapids, MI

May 7, 1965  Civic Center, Charleston, WVA (two shows)



May 8, 1965  Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA

May 10, 1965  Bushnell Auditorium, New Haven, CT

May 12, 1965  Four Seasons Arena, Walpole, MA



May 13, 1965  Coliseum, Washington DC
















May 14-16, 1965  Academy of Music, New York City, NY  (five shows total)



May 18, 1965  War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, NY



May 20, 1965  Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, RI






















May 21, 1965  Hotel Philadelphia Ballroom, Philadelphia, PA




May 23, 1965  Civic Center, Baltimore, MD

May 23, 1965  The Dome, Virginia Beach, VA

May 26, 1965  Raleigh County Armory, Beckley, WVA




Third leg of the SHINDIG tour has a variety of talent.  The Newbeats fill in as headliners for the last three shows originally planned for Gerry and the Pacemakers then Bobby Sherman takes over as the headliner for the western swing of the tour with support acts Dixie Cups, Linda Gale, Willy Nelson, Rosie Grier and show regulars Ronnie Dove, the Shindogs, Jim Doval & Gauchos

May 27, 1965  Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, SC















May 28, 1965  Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN



May 29, 1965  War Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro, NC



May 30, 1965  Civic Auditorium, Kingsport, TN (two shows)





















June 3, 1965  Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX





June 5, 1965  Municipal Auditorium, Lubbock, TX



June 6, 1965  Liberty Hall, El Paso, TX (two shows)

                                 


June 8, 1965  Stadium, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ























June 9, 1965  Fairgrounds, Phoenix, AZ



June 11, 1965  Auditorium, Long Beach, CA (two shows)



June 12, 1965  Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, CA



June 13, 1965  Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, CA



Wednesday, March 9, 2016

George Martin - R.I.P.

Today's news of the passing of producer Sir George Martin is very sad, but very uplifting in the sense that even the most cursory look at his career is the story of a life well-lived.  As I am in the midst of research and writing a new book on the British Beat Boom and British Invasion and it's impossible not to come across the footprints of this amazing man.  Martin, who had already signed and produced the Beatles, subsequently signed both Gerry and the Pacemakers and Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas to contracts and became their producers.  Gerry had three #1's with his first three singles in England and Billy J. hit the top spot twice in his first year.  Such was the golden touch that George Martin seemed to have in those early years.

Of course, anyone my age has the Beatles' catalogue imprinted on their DNA and so much of the Beatles' sound was due in large part to George Martin.   The partnership they developed remains unique.  Thankfully, the contributions of Sir George have been well documented and the music will live forever.  Rest well, Sir George.

Monday, March 30, 2015

1984 British Invasion Tour


Back again with another British Invasion reunion tour of America.  This tour took place a decade after Richard Nader’s watershed tour in 1973.  Billed as the “20th Anniversary of British Rock,” this tour featured Gerry Marsden, Billy J. Kramer, Herman’s Hermits, the Troggs, and Badfinger featuring Joey Molland.  Organized by Talent Consultants International, Executive Producers: Empire Communications, Inc., NYC, NY -- Ray Reneri and Marvin Mann.  This version of Herman’s Hermits contained only Lek Leckenby and Barry Witwam of the original band along with Garth Elliott and Paul Farnell.   This tour booked the package into more modest venues and definitely did not hit all the major markets.
 

Billy J. Kramer, Gerry Marsden and Joey Molland in Washington DC
July 4, 1984
Boston, MA
 
August 1, 1984
Baltimore, MD
 
This show was cancelled
 
August 2, 1984
Hilton Hotel Ballroom, Washington, DC
 
August 4, 1984
Rio Theatre, Valley Stream, NY
 
August 5, 1984
Lupos Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
August 7, 1984
Club Casino, Hampton Beach, NH
 
August 8, 1984
Birch Hill Swim Club, Old Bridge, NJ
 


 
TV crews from all three major networks plus MTV are at the show to film and interview the bands.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
August 10, 1984
Lanierland Music Park, Cummings, GA
 

August 11, 1984
Aqua Theater, Greensboro, NC
 
August 14, 1984
Auditorium, West Palm Beach, FL
 
August xx, 1984
Fort Lauderdale, FL
 
August 16, 1984
London Victory Club, Tampa, FL
 
August 18, 1984
Celebrity’s, Lafayette, LA
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
August 21, 1984
Civic Center, Peoria, IL
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
August 23, 1984
Park West, Chicago, IL
 
August 25, 1984
Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Columbus, OH
 
 
August 26, 1984
Downtown Festival Tent, Rochester, NY
 
 
 
August 29, 1984
Memorial Gardens, Sault Ste. Marie, Canada

 
 
August 30, 1984
Fort William Gardens, Thunder Bay, Canada
 
A sparse crowd of 829 attend this show.
 
 
September 3, 1984
Music Tower, Playland, Rye, NY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 4, 1984
Bottom Line, New York City, NY