Image via wikipedia
Former Location –
The Winterland Ballroom was an old ice skating rink in San Francisco, it was located at the corner of Post Street and Steiner Street and was later was taken over by rock promoter Bill Graham, and became legendary for the shows that happened there.
Image Via Professor Poster
Bands such as The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, The Jefferson Airplane, and Elvis Costello played there, the latter in support of his Armed Forces album. A great number of the best-known rock acts from the 1960s and 1970s played Winterland or played two blocks away across Geary Boulevard at the original Fillmore Auditorium. The building had a capacity of 5,400 people.
The Grateful Dead made Winterland their home base, also, the Sex Pistols played their last show there on January 14, 1978. The Band played their famous and incredible last show “The Last Waltz” with numerous guest performers, including Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and many others.
Winterland closed on New Years 1978/79 with a concert by the Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Blues Brothers. It was torn down a few years later, and was replaced by apartment condominiums and a Burger King.
Notable Concerts At The Winterland Ballroom Include:
12/31/1978 – Blues Brothers
12/30/1978 – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
12/28/1978 – Ramones
12/15/1978 – Bruce Springsteen
10/22/1978 – Grateful Dead
6/7/1978 – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/6/1977 – Queen
3/15/1976 – Bad Company
12/13/1975 – The Flying Burrito Brothers
11/2/1975 – Rick Wakeman
2/14/1975 – Gentle Giant
3/29/1974 – The Eagles
11/23/1973 – Electric Light Orchestra
7/6/1973 – The Doobie Brothers
3/20/1973 – Neil Young & The Stray Gators
10/28/1972 – David Bowie
6/8/1972 – The Rolling Stones
11/20/1970- Big Brother & the Holding Company
10/5/1970 – Jefferson Airplane
2/5/1970 – The Doors
12/27/1969 – Sly & the Family Stone
7/1/1969 – Free
10/12/1968 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
6/7/1968 – The Mothers of Invention
4/5/1968 – Eric Burdon & The Animals
2/23/1968 – The Who
12/9/1967 – The Byrds
10/13/1967 – The Charlatans
4/15/1967 – Little Richard
The Winterland Ballroom
Post & Steiner Streets
San Francisco CA 94115
I have a promotional piece on stock cardboard for New Years Eve for the Grateful Dead on it for Dec 31st 1978. It has A picture on it of the Grateful Dead and says Blues Brothers on it as well as NRPS. In the lower left hand corner it says Tribune Showprint, INC, Earl Park IN, does this have any value? It is green at the bottom , yellow in the middle and red on the top.
From the time I was in high school until Winterland closed I went to the venue as often as I could. It was a magical place to be, from people selling Orange micro dot to Hash and almost everything in between. To just walk through the front doors and see the sound system and some band setup was so exciting to me there was no were in the world I’d rather be. There was a small girl that wore a white lace dress that would always dance throughout the show. I used to call her Piter Pater girl and it seemed she was always there. I was so disappointed when the venue was closed. If theirs ever a venue that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it should be Winterland….
MED….
From 1973 to 1978 I travelled from Napa to Winterland in San Francisco 35 times with several buddies. I have been to many hundreds of shows over the years and Winterland was hands downs the best, most exciting place to see a concert. There was something magical about that old cavernous place. The bands seemed to feel it too and put on incredible shows.
A couple of years ago I stood at the corner of Post & Steiner reminiscing and a flood of emotions swept over me. I felt the urge to call my best friend who attended many of the concerts with me and has moved out of state. We talked for a long while about the shows and Winterland itself.
It might sound silly but that old concert hall will always hold a special place in my heart and hopefully my old memory.
I grew up in San Jose (class of ‘72) and was a confirmed deadhead. Saw them more times than I can count. Seems like 5 hour show s were standard.Also saw Hot Tuna, Black Sabbath, Yes, all Micheal’s, Mountain, and so many more. I remember going to a burger joint afterwards for a 25 cent 1/2 lb. burger. So many great memories ?
May 29th, 1971 was the most infamous Saturday night at Winterland. Of all of the Acid Tests this became the most famous after the fact. The Winterland Acid Test was incredible. Depending on where you were depended on how it was available. It is rumored there were garbage cans of acid laced kool-aid. People were walking around with gallon bottle of apple juice. I was there with Frank Andrick, I would later live at the Fillmore West with and produce shows in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz. The Dead were definitely on top that night and it was an evening neither of us ever forgot out of the hundreds of show we worked and attended.