Fillmore West
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
The Fillmore West was a historic music venue in San Francisco, California made famous by concert promoter Bill Graham. Named after Graham's original "Fillmore" location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it stood at Market Street and South Van Ness Avenue and was also known as 'The Carousel Ballroom' and 'El Patio'.
History
After two years at the Fillmore Auditorium, because of a deteriorating neighborhood and the modest capacity of the hall, Bill Graham moved the venue in July 1968 from the original building at 1805 Geary Boulevard to the Carousel Ballroom at 10 South Van Ness Avenue, at the corner of Market Street and South Van Ness Avenue (now the location of an automobile dealership), which was renamed Fillmore West (in contrast with Graham's Fillmore East auditorium in the East Village in New York City). Many rock and roll acts made successful appearances in the new, larger venue.
Celestial Synapse
The Celestial Synapse was a musical event held at the Fillmore West on the evening of 19 February 1969. At least 3,000 people attended the event, hosted by the Frontiers of Science Fellowship. The performance began with a Tibetan Buddhist monk playing Tibetan gongs, and Grateful Dead played a set.
Closing
Graham closed the Fillmore West on July 4, 1971, with a bill featuring bands Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service, and a poetry reading from Allen Ginsberg. A documentary film of the last several concerts, called Fillmore, and a three-disc album, called Fillmore: The Last Days, were released in 1972.
