The original concert ever before held in the Coliseum, months following venue's February 1964 opening, appeared brand new Four Freshmen and also the Five Preps. (That was, obviously, the new Greek Few days let you know.) The fresh new Four 12 months performed the initial Homecoming show there when you look at the October '64 (my pal Mindy Moore Bacon recalls heading, even if she was only for the junior highest), and Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong introduced their All stars here to own a totally free inform you when you look at the March 1965, implemented three weeks later by the Johnny Mathis together with Young People in america.
Due to issues concerning the sound from the prior to reveals, the brand new college earned Atlanta-created Baker Audio (which had over The Beatles' 1965 let you know on Atlanta Stadium) to attempt to increase the voice to have Armstrong, however,, contrary to popular belief, around wasn't much they might manage concerning the cavernous arena.
I inquired men I went along to school having - while some who was born in Athens or visited UGA - to fairly share a common show memory on show. Listed below are some ones recollections:
My personal classmate Tom Hodgson told you brand new Coliseum performance he featured pass with the really is actually Jerry Butler singing their moves out of “The newest Ice Man Cometh,” in addition to “Only the Solid Survive.” Tom told you he remembers “Jerry, using a white fit with a beneficial quartet away from gorgeous feminine vocal balance about. I do not contemplate which my time is, but she need I was since the cool as the Jerry Butler, and that i however wanted she are due to the fact scorching while the men and women vocalists.”
At the same time, Sam Heys asserted that “the best and more than long-term recollections are the Jerry Butler Homecoming show towards October. 24, 1969, as the my blind big date, Tap Finley, is still with me more than a half-century afterwards.”
Betz Tillitski have vivid memories of that 1973 tell you by the Allman Brothers, claiming https://worldbrides.org/norske-brude/ the within of your own stadium resembled a giant bong. “We got sitting plus the bulbs dimmed and you can, boy, was We surprised to see this type of strange flickers regarding white every across the set. Like tobacco however the fire lived better lengthened. I didn't learn I found myself watching joints becoming illuminated. Never been near a combined ahead of. Everyone was passing them all as much as. I thought I became on Woodstock. I recall hoping my personal mothers didn't smelling it back at my dresses as i had house.”
But, she said, “more enjoyable performance We attended there clearly was regarding the spring from 1974, and i also watched the brand new Coasters, This new Platters additionally the Tams. Endured on the ground ahead of the phase moving the newest entire date. Wound-up for the a man's arms viewing the amazing show.”
Not too the shows in the Coliseum were an effective success. Dan Pelletier recalls the night Karen and you may Richard Carpenter “had been stinking within the joint and also the audience booed, very Richard went from the phase inside an excellent huff. I recall thinking, ‘Ok, so can be you probably reimburse the cash you're paid down to possess a rate you aren't providing?' No reimburse gotten.”
My personal later pal Rusty Gunn, just who grabbed a few of the pictures associated which bit, told me a couple of years back one to his first inform you from the the newest Coliseum is actually when he is actually an effective junior when you look at the twelfth grade, in which he and many family unit members grabbed times observe Little Stevie Question therefore the Temptations. (Helen Castronis recalls Ask yourself still try energized due to the fact “Little Stevie” during the time, and that it appeared like “he starred every appliance into the phase.”)
