Avalon Ballroom facts for kids
The Avalon Ballroom was a famous music hall in San Francisco, California. It was located in the Polk Gulch area. This special place was open from 1966 to 1969, during a time when many young people were exploring new ideas and music. It also opened again for a short time from 2003 to 2005.
| Former names | Avalon Ballroom |
|---|---|
| Address | 1268 Sutter St. |
| Location | San Francisco, California |
| Coordinates | 37°47′16″N 122°25′16″W / 37.78778°N 122.42111°W |
| Type | ballroom |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1911 |
| Opened | 1966 |
| Closed | 1969 |
Contents
History of the Avalon Ballroom
The building where the Avalon Ballroom was located was built in 1911. It was first used as a dance academy.
Who Started the Avalon?
The Avalon Ballroom was started by Robert E. Cohen and Chet Helms. Chet Helms was a music promoter. His company, Family Dog Productions, helped organize many events there. Bands often played at the Avalon on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
Cool Posters and Light Shows
Special posters were made to advertise each show. These posters were created by "psychedelic" artists. Some famous artists included Rick Griffin, Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, and Victor Moscoso. These posters were very colorful and unique. Also, a classic "liquid light show" often lit up the ballroom. This made the music experience even more amazing.
Famous Bands at the Avalon
In the 1960s, two bands usually played two sets each evening. The music would start around nine o'clock. Many local bands played there. These included Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Steve Miller Band. Other famous bands like The Doors, the 13th Floor Elevators, and the Butterfield Blues Band also performed.
Big Brother and the Holding Company also played at the Avalon. This band became very popular with their singer, Janis Joplin. The Grateful Dead played at the Avalon many times. They even recorded parts of their live albums there.
The Mantra-Rock Dance Event
On January 29, 1967, the Avalon hosted a special music event called the Mantra-Rock Dance. This event was organized by the local Hare Krishna temple. It featured the Hare Krishna founder, Bhaktivedanta Swami. Famous poet Allen Ginsberg was also there. The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, and Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin also performed.
What Did the Avalon Look Like?
The Avalon Ballroom was on the top two floors of a building at 1268 Sutter Street. The second floor had a balcony that wrapped around the first floor. The main dance area was in front of the stage. Musicians performed on this raised stage. The entrance doors were downstairs on Sutter Street.
The Avalon was not as big as some other famous music venues in San Francisco. However, it could hold up to 500 people. The dance floor was large enough for hundreds of dancers. A light show was always part of the experience.
Closing and Reopening
The Avalon Ballroom closed in November 1968. Robert E. Cohen and Chet Helms moved on to other projects. The space then became a movie theater called the Regency II Movie Theater.
A New Chapter for the Avalon
In 2002, the Avalon Ballroom was brought back to life. Steve Shirley and his partners restored and reopened the venue. This was 34 years after it had first closed. Many great artists played there during this time. These included George Clinton and P-Funk, Robert Hunter, and Arlo Guthrie. Chet Helms, who helped start the original Avalon, enjoyed visiting the reopened venue before he passed away. The venue hosted over 70 concerts between 2003 and 2005.
After its second closing, the building was used for different businesses. In 2012, it became the headquarters for an internet company. In 2013, it was even used as a filming location for a TV show called The Real World: San Francisco (2014).
Avalon in Pop Culture
The Avalon Ballroom is mentioned in a famous song called "Combination Of The Two." This song is from the album Cheap Thrills by Big Brother and The Holding Company. The lyrics directly mention the Avalon: "Everybody over at the Avalon Ballroom in the San Francisco Bay." The song was written about the two main rock ballrooms in San Francisco during the 1960s: The Fillmore and The Avalon.
