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An
overview from the forthcoming Starlite Records' CD
Rom publication..
'The Roots of Australian Rock-n-Roll'
Profiles
Of The Month: Johnny Cash
Steve Rackman Sydney
Stunts Jacobsen Entertainment
2006
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From
Fights to Music
It was built in the early 1900's on Rushcutters Bay
Rd., just down the hill from Kings Cross, as Sydney's
main boxing and wrestling venue, yet years later it
was to earn itself the title of the premier venue
for the early Rock 'n' Roll scene.
Many
World Boxing and Wrestling title fights were held
there and it operated many nights of the week. It
was in fact one of the most popular venues in Sydney
during the 20's, 30's and 40's.
It
was built as a circular structure and was unlike any
other, except a much smaller version in Newcastle.
Every major entertainment act from Lou and Costello,
Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra to all the Rockers except
Elvis and Bing Crosby performed there to the 11,000
screaming fans sitting either on chairs or benches.
Way up the back the benches were long and hard and
that back area was called 'The Bleaches'.
The
whole place was made out of corrugated iron sheets
without any linings and the natural echo was amazing.
When the music turned up, the sound enveloped back
on itself and was very hard to decipher although it
suited the slap echo type of R'n'R ! Once the audience
started screaming it was impossible to hear anything,
even on stage.
The
stage itself was circular and slowly rotated so the
star could be seen by everyone as it turned, however
it didn't make a full rotation. Once it reached a
certain point it went into reverse and started going
back the other way. Many an act nearly fell at this
point as the motion was anything but smooth. Bob Dillon
had to ask one of his band to catch him.. The man
responsible for all turning the boxing mecca into
an international entertainment mecca was Amnericam
expatriate Lee Gordon. He imported the major stars
here and this was the only large venue available to
him.
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It
was Sydney's Premier Showcase before The Opera House
and Entertainment Centre were built.
Music artists such as... Frank Sinatra, Johnnie Ray,
Frankie Lane, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Bill Haley and
the Comets, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Conway
Twitty, Gene Vincent, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Everly
Bros., Jerry Lee Lewis, Fabian, The Diamonds, The
Checkmates, The Platters, The Drifters, Cliff Richards
& The Shadows, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Rydell, Marv
Johnson, Connie Frances, Brenda Lee, The Checkmates,
The Platters, Paul Anka, Tommy Sands, Tab Hunter,
Johnny Mathis, The Beatles, Bob Dillon, The Hollies,
The Searchers, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Crash Craddock,
Jack Scott, and many others.
Many
Aussies such as Johnny O'keefe and The Dee Jays, Col
Joye and The Joy Boys, Lonnie Lee and The Leemen,
Johnny Devlin and The Devils, The Delltones, Johnny
Rebb and The Rebels, Dig Richards and The Squares,
Warren Willimans and Barry Stanton perfromed there
as well.
It
also saw movie stars such as The Mouseketeers, Bud
Abbott and Lou Costello, Bob Hope and many ethnic
dance shows.
Unfortunately
in the early 70's it was demolished to enable a new
Bondi train line and roadway to be built and it was
right in the middle of the direct route. A very important
piece of social history was lost when that happened..
but, the memory lingers on.... about both Lee Gorden
and The 'Old Tin Shed'...Sydney Stadium.
Festival
& Centennary Halls
The other capital cities also had their fight venues
as pre Rock patrons not only had Bing Crosby and others
as their idols, they also were boxing and wrestling
crazy. The same story applied to these venues as to
the Stadium. As soon as Rock'n'Roll reached it's crescendo,
promoters went looking for the largest venues. In
Melbourne and Brisbane they found the Festival Halls,
in Adelaide it was The Centennary Hall and in Hobart
is was the City Hall.
Rock 'n' Roll had found a home right across Australia!
Links:
Articles
The
Great Aussie Promoters, by Greg Tingle
The
Great Yankee Promoters, by Greg Tingle
Surf
Rock, Surf Music - What's this wave of music all about?,
by Greg Tingle
Profiles
Brisbane
Festival Hall
Melbourne
Festival Hall
Sydney
Australia
Music
Interviews
Kevin
Jacobsen O.A.M.
Phil
Tripp
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