Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by cedogg » Mon Jul 12, 2021 11:32 pm

I lived in Fresno in the early 70s,and what I remember about the Rainbow ballroom was a good time.
All of the cool bands played there. Tower of Power , Bobby Womack. On one show there was the Dramatics, the Dells, the Delfonics and New Birth.
At that time it was more of a nightclub feel.

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Lost Fresno » Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:42 pm

1968 poster of Janis Joplin at the Rainbow Ballroom. It was about this time that my neighbor was telling me that all the girls stood with their hand, palm down and covering their drink cup - to prevent a pill being dropped in. Known back then as a "mickey"
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1968 Janis Joplin.jpeg
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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Karen Elmasian » Sun Aug 02, 2020 2:48 pm

I was a Rainbow regular 65 - 1967 ish. Loved that place. Saw many great groups. Had a group of friends there. Never scarred.

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Lost Fresno » Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:11 am

Yet another handbill from the Rainbow announcing the Sir Douglass Quintet in 1969. And hey, you could but tickets at Lesterburgers!
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sir douglas Raindow 1969.jpg
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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Lost Fresno » Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:27 pm

Iron Butterfly at the Rainbow on Friday, March 28, 1969.
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iron butterfly.jpg
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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Lost Fresno » Fri Nov 23, 2018 8:30 pm

Freno Natatorium postcard (old Rainbow building)
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nat.jpg
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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by galactustrilogy » Mon Jul 23, 2018 7:38 pm

Back in 1975 I went to the Rainbow a few times because a friend's band was playing, Midday Heat. It seemed like a decent enough place and the area around the Rainbow wasn't as dilapidated as it is now. Midday Heat was a McLane High School group of guys, led by a heck of a guitarist, Jim Lum. Lum went on to become a professional session guitarist in Los Angeles. They were a cover band, playing the hits of the day, especially tunes by Cold Blood, Chicago and the other horn bands you could hear on the radio at the time.
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1975-01-11 Midday Heat at the Rainbow Ballroom.jpg
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1975 Midday Heat at the Rainbow Poster.jpg
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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by GYM » Sat Jun 30, 2018 4:29 pm

It was pretty dark. Saw Big Brother And The Holding Company there. Janis had her bottle and was pretty toasted, but they sounded great.

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Lost Fresno » Tue Apr 03, 2018 11:12 am

As previously mentioned, the Rainbow Ballroom was constructed in 1918 as the "Fresno Natatorium". Below is a comparison of what it originally looked like and as it mostly appears today. The real give-away are the arched windows (now filled in) and of course the arched roof line. Also interesting is that they elected to eliminate the top windows and make the front facade solid. I assume the larger windows made the swimming pool more friendly with the additional natural light. Of all the many times that I went to the Friday night Rainbow, I never realized that I was dancing on top of an empty swimming pool!
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rainbow compare.jpg
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Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

by Lost Fresno » Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:24 pm

Fleetwood Mac at the Rainbow on January 31, 1969
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fleetwood_mac_rainbow.jpg
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