The original show previously held on the Coliseum, a few months following venue’s March 1964 opening, seemed the fresh Five interracial dating central Freshmen in addition to Five Preps. (That has been, of course, the latest Greek Times show.) The fresh new Five Season performed the original Homecoming concert truth be told there in the Oct ’64 (my buddy Mindy Moore Bacon recalls supposed, in the event she was only during the junior higher), and you will Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong delivered their All-stars around to possess a no cost inform you during the March 1965, adopted about three days later on by the Johnny Mathis together with More youthful People in the us.
Because of grievances about the sound during the before shows, brand new college introduced Atlanta-built Baker Music (which had done The latest Beatles’ 1965 tell you from the Atlanta Stadium) to attempt to help the voice to have Armstrong, but, the truth is, around wasn’t far they may carry out regarding the cavernous arena.
I asked men and women We went along to university which have – while others whom was born in Athens otherwise decided to go to UGA – to talk about a common performance memory on reveal. Here are a few ones thoughts:
My classmate Tom Hodgson said new Coliseum show the guy looked send towards really was Jerry Butler singing his hits regarding “The fresh Freeze Guy Cometh,” in addition to “Precisely the Strong Survive.” Tom said the guy recalls “Jerry, putting on a light suit with a beneficial quartet away from gorgeous female vocal balance trailing. I do not remember exactly who my personal time is actually, but she need I was as cool due to the fact Jerry Butler, and that i of course desired she is actually because scorching just like the those vocalists.”
At exactly the same time, Sam Heys mentioned that “my favorite and most long-lasting thoughts try the new Jerry Butler Homecoming concert toward Oct. 24, 1969, given that my blind big date, Tap Finley, remains beside me more an one half-century afterwards.”
Betz Tillitski has actually vibrant recollections of that 1973 let you know by Allman Brothers, stating the interior of your stadium resembled an enormous bong. “I got resting and lighting dimmed and you may, boy, is We surprised to see this type of uncommon flickers out-of light most of the along the lay. Including smokes although flames existed better longer. I did not discover I was seeing joints are lit up. Not ever been close a joint ahead of. People were passageway these up to. After that one to unusual but nice smell are almost everywhere. I was thinking I became at Woodstock. I recall in hopes my parents don’t smelling it on my dresses while i got home.”
But, she said, “the most enjoyable show We went to there was regarding springtime away from 1974, and i also noticed this new Coasters, The Platters additionally the Tams. Stood on to the floor ahead of the stage dancing the fresh new whole time. ”
Not that all shows at Coliseum had been a good profits. Dan Pelletier recalls the evening Karen and you will Richard Carpenter “was indeed stinking in the combined while the group booed, thus Richard strolled from the phase during the a huff. Karen showed up and you may talked to a few of your kept audience and you may explained they’d been on the run and you can have been sick. ‘ No refund gotten.”
My later pal Rusty Gunn, who grabbed a few of the pictures associated this piece, explained a couple of years back one to his first show from the the new Coliseum try as he is a good junior within the high school, and then he and some family relations took times to see Nothing Stevie Ask yourself and the Temptations. (Helen Castronis remembers Ponder nevertheless try energized as “Little Stevie” at that time, and that it appeared like “the guy played every software towards phase.”)
