Sunday, February 14, 2016

Biggest In Person Show of 1956


This package was booked as a 40-date tour and although Bill Haley was once again the headliner, Frankie Lymon was the hot group at the time of the tour.  Although not as tense as the spring tour, Haley is banned from several shows by local ordinances or orders.  The Vic Lewis Orchestra is a British set of musicians who join the tour for part of its run backing most of the acts. The Buddy Johnson Orchestra later joins when the British musicians return home.

 
Talent: Bill Haley & Comets, The Platters, Clyde McPhatter, Frankie Lymon & Teenagers, The Clovers, Ella Johnson, Chuck Berry, Shirley & Lee, Shirley Gunter, The Flairs, Buddy Johnson Orchestra, Vic Lewis Orchestra
 

I have only a partial itinerary for this tour, so any additions would be welcomed.




October 14, 1956 The Mosque, Richmond, VA
 
October 17, 1956 City Auditorium, Winston-Salem, NC
 
October 18, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, WVA
 
October 20, 1956 Olympia Theater, Detroit, MI
 
October 21, 1956 Sports Arena, Toledo, OH

A single show booked at 8:30 p.m.
 
October 22, 1956 Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA
 
Two sell-out shows tonight with plenty of police presence to keep the crowd under control.  Bill Haley and the Comets were banished from the show by police order.
 
October 23, 1956 Arena, Cleveland, OH
 
One performance scheduled tonight.
 
October 24, 1956 Gardens, Cincinnati, OH
 
A total of 8,000 fans fill the Gardens for tonight's show.   The local Enquirer newspaper sent their theatre critic to review the show.  His review was kindly but he left long before the headline acts performed due to deadlines.
 
October 25, 1956 Stambaugh Auditorium, Youngstown, OH

Two shows booked at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
 
October 26, 1956  War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, NY

Two shows booked at 7 and 10 p.m.
 
October 27, 1956 Onondaga County War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, NY
 
Two shows scheduled tonight.
 
October 29, 1956 Auditorium, Ottawa, Canada

October 30, 1956 Auditorium, Kitchener, Canada

November 2, 1956 Indiana Theater, Indianapolis, IN
 
November 3, 1956 Missouri Theatre, St. Louis, MO
 
November 4, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO
 
November 8, 1956 Ice Arena, Albuquerque, NM

Two shows are scheduled at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
 
November 9, 1956 Liberty Hall, El Paso, TX
 
November 13, 1956 City Auditorium, Galveston, TX
 
November 14, 1956 Heart of Texas Coliseum, Waco, TX
 
November 15, 1956 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX
 
November 16, 1956 Sportatorium, Dallas, TX
 
November 24, 1956 Opera House, Chicago, IL
 
Two shows scheduled tonight at 7 and 10 p.m.
 
November 25, 1956 War Memorial Auditorium, Ft. Wayne, IN
 

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