Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

~
Come back with us now to those hot summer nights when half of Fresno's teens were driving up and down Belmont. Or remember what it was like on Fulton St. before Belmont took the title of "Fresno's Main Drag" Remember the Rainbow Ballroom? Post you night life memories here.
~
RoughRider1961

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post by RoughRider1961 » Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:41 pm

1967 or 1968 - I had a part-time job as a uniformed guard working for Valley Patrol & Detective Agency. The job was mostly crowd control at public events. I regularly worked concerts at Rainbow Ballroom. I recall one concert that starred Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, and the Steve Miller Band. I would pay good money to go to that concert today.
Attachments
rainbow ballroom sign.jpg
Click to Enlarge

RoughRider1961

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post by RoughRider1961 » Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:31 am

Did you know?

The Rainbow Ballroom building was constructed in 1918 as the "Fresno Natatorium", an indoor swimming pool. In 1930, the pool was closed and boarded over. Directly underneath the current dance floor is the pool (or what is left of it).
Attachments
The_Fresno_Bee_The_Republican_Sat__Jan_11__1964_.jpg
Fresno Bee - Jan. 11, 1964 / Click to Enlarge

Lost Fresno
Site Admin
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:08 am
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

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

Fleetwood Mac at the Rainbow on January 31, 1969
Attachments
fleetwood_mac_rainbow.jpg
Click to Open

Lost Fresno
Site Admin
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:08 am
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post 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!
Attachments
rainbow compare.jpg
Click to Enlarge

GYM
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2018 4:04 pm
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post 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.

galactustrilogy
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:47 pm
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post 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.
Attachments
1975-01-11 Midday Heat at the Rainbow Ballroom.jpg
Click to Enlarge
1975 Midday Heat at the Rainbow Poster.jpg
Click to Enlarge

Lost Fresno
Site Admin
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:08 am
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

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

Freno Natatorium postcard (old Rainbow building)
Attachments
nat.jpg
Click to Enlarge

Lost Fresno
Site Admin
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:08 am
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

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

Iron Butterfly at the Rainbow on Friday, March 28, 1969.
Attachments
iron butterfly.jpg
Click to Enlarge

Lost Fresno
Site Admin
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:08 am
Contact:

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post 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!
Attachments
sir douglas Raindow 1969.jpg
Click to Enlarge

Karen Elmasian

Re: Rainbow Ballroom, it was scary back then

Post 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.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests