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The Birmingham Auditorium (currently Boutwell Auditorium).
| Inside the Birmingham Armory |
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| Where some of the shows were held..Thanks Cheryl |
December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young
Elvis Presley appeared. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos.
January 8, 1955-Hank Thompson and his Brazo Valley Boys.
July 2, 1955-Marty Robbins and his band.
Oct 1, 1955-Starring Cowboy Copas, Charline Arthur, and all the McCormic Brothers.
Nov 1955-Starring Ferlin Huskey, Simon Crumb and the Hush Puppies, Martha Carson, and The Carlisles.
January 25, 1956-Starring Roy/Ray Price, Charline Authur, Porter Wagoner, Carl Smith, Sonny James, Goldie Hill, and Tommy
Collins.
April 27, 1956-Starring Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins, The Wilburn Brothers, Autry Inman, Jerry Reed, Floyd Cramer, and
Tommy Smith. Also, The Texas Troubadours and The Teardrops Band.
June 2, 1956-Starring Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Johnnie & Jack and their Tennessee Mountain Boys.
August 11, 1956-Starring Faron Young, Johnny Cash, Sonny James, Charline Arthur, and Johnny Horton.
October 12, 1956-Starring Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys and Onie Wheeler.
January 11, 1957-Starring Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, Justin Tubb, Cowboy
Copas, Hank Locklin, Glenn Reeves, and Mitchell Torok.
March 23, 1957-Starring Sonny James and The Jordanaires.
May 18, 1957-Starring Marty Robbins and Lee Emerson.
August 3, 1957-Starring The Browns plus Justin Tubb.
April 5, 1958-Starring Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, and Carl Perkins. Also, the Coronation of WVOK Teen-Age Queen.
July 12, 1958-Starring Jerry Lee Lewis, Martha Carson, The Crescendos, The Cardigans, Jimmy Helms, The Sprouts, The Imperials,
and The Southlanders.
September 27, 1958-Starring Hank Thompson plus Billy Gray and The Brazos Valley Boys.
December 24, 1958-Jerry Lee Lewis and other stars.
March 14, 1959-Johnny Cash Show plus Warren Storm, Travis and Bob, and Jimmie Ford.
May 9, 1959-Starring Marty Robbins, Johnny Horton, Thomas Wayne and Tony Bellus. However, that changed to include
Jerry Lee Lewis and the Johnny Horton Show was rescheduled for May 23, 1959. The price was for both shows.
December 12, 1959-Featuring Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson, and Bobby Lee Trammell.
January 30, 1960-Starring Mark Dinning, Brenda Lee, and George Morgan.
April 9, 1960-Starring Jerry Lee Lewis.
July 9, 1960-Starring Hank Locklin, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Harold Dorman, and Bobby Sykes.
October 23, 1960-Gigantic WVOK 13th Anniversary Celebration. Starring Fabian, Brenda Lee, Duane Eddy, Jimmy
Clanton, Bill Black's Combo, Freddy Cannon, The Casuals, The Merrymen, Gary Miles, Bob Beckman. Bobby Vinton and His Show
of Stars Orchestra. Herky Styles M.C.
January 21, 1961-Marty Robbins and Band, Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, and Don Winters.
April 8, 1961-Jerry Lee Lewis and His Band.
May 20, 1961-The Bill Black Combo
June 30, 1961-Starring Bobby Vee, Jack Scott, Faron Young, Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Patsy
Cline, Mark Dinning, Bobby Edwards, Claude Grey, and the Bobby Vinton Orchestra. Due to Patsy being involved in a car
accident on June 14, 1961, she was replaced with Wanda Jackson and George Jones and The Mar-Keys were added. It
appears to me the show was held over a two night period, June 30 and July 1. Notice the bottom of the 2nd ad, that
the dance for the 10PM performance begins at 8PM at The Armory. Another short piece in the newspaper indicated
the show was held at the City Auditorium on Friday night and the dance at the Armory on Saturday night. Some
of the stars may have performed Friday night and others on Saturday night.
December 2, 1961-Starring Jimmy Dean, Johnny Burnette, Dick and Dee Dee, Ral Donner,
Johnny Tillotson, Curtis Lee, Johnny & The Hurricanes, Ray Peterson, and Charlie Rich..plus Jerry Byrd.
March 29, 1962-Starring Del Shannon, Roy Acuff, Larry Finnegan, Charlies Rich, Geroge Morgan, Chuck Reed, Claude Gray,
The Louvin Brothers, and Billy Walker. This was WVOK's Jones Vally High School Benefit Show. A crowd of about
4000 attended this event.
June 22, 1962-There was no mention of this show being in Birmingham, Alabama. Sister station WBAM in Montgomery,
Alabama, held this one. Starring Connie Francis, Bobby Vee, Ace Cannon, Skeeter Davis, Johnny Tillotson, Roy Orbison,
Leroy Van Dyke, Ernie & Petie, Gene Kennedy, Jack Eubanks, and The Gene Roy Orchestra.
November 23, 1962-No mention of this show being in Birmingham, Alabama. Sister station WBAM held this show in Montgomery,
Alabama. Starring Bobby Darin, Sue Thompson, Marty Robbins, and 30 other top recording artists (would like to know who
they were).
March 2, 1963- The lineup included Jerry Lee Lewis, Patsy Cline (just a few days before Patsy was killed in an
airplane crash), Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Charlie Rich and Tex Ritter. (**Note: The advertisement indicates the show
was held at the Birmingham Armory. However, my research has concluded it may have been held at the Birmingham Auditorium.)
On July 18, 1964 the lineup included Peter and Gordon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Simmons (Haunted House), Roger Miller, Diane
Renay (name misspelled), Marty Robbins, Terry Stafford, Pete Drake, and Bill Black Combo. **Jerry Lee Lewis' performance
was recorded live and released on SMASH records.**
September 19, 1964. Starring The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Ronnie & The Daytonas, Jerry Wallace, Norma Jean, Don Gibson,
Bobby Wood, The Chartbusters, Travis Wommack, and Ace Cannon.
September 27, 1964. Bonus show to the WVOK Shower of Stars Fall Spectacular starring The Animals, J. Frank Wilson, and The
Webs. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. Otherwise,
tickets are $1.50.
November 26, 1964-Starring The Four Seasons, Hawaiian Eye actress Gale Garnett, Peter and Gordon, Jay and The Americans,
Charlie Rich, Travis Wammack and others. (*Note-There was an all night Gospel singing on the same date per the newspaper.
No advertisement for this show other than a small description with this photo. So I don't know if or which show was
rescheduled or cancelled.)
Rock 'n Roll Show Set at Legion Field (Thanks to Nancy)
A show so big that Dan Brennan of WVOK says they have to move it outdoors to Legion Field comes to town Friday (May 7,
1965). England's Rolling Stones, America's The Righteous Brothers, the Beach Boys, and country-western star Marty
Robbins and his band, will be here, along with the Mexican Lads with the hit "Land of A Thousand Dances," Cannabal and the
Headhunters, Skeeter Davis and her band, the boy novelty hit "Rindercella" Archie Campbell. That's not all. Del
Reeves, singing star of "The Girl On The Billboard," and Alabama's own Sonny James and his group. They'll all be together
in one show out at Legion Field at 7 p.m. Friday.
Legion Field-May 7, 1965-Was billed as America vs England. Lineup included The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys,
Cannibal & The Headhunters, Marty Robbins, Sonny James, Skeeter Davis, Del Reeves, Archie Campbell, and The Righteous
Brothers. I remember the DJs apologizing to Skeeter Davis. She was singing her last song when the Rolling Stones
entered the stage to perform and you couldn't hear Skeeter from the screams.
November 26, 1965-The lineup included The Dave Clark 5, Ian Whitcomb, Ronnie Dove, Billy Joe Royal, Donna Loren, The Barbarians,
The Bill Black Combo, and a new southern group called The James Gang (Southern Group not the same James Gang featuring Joe
Walsh).
March 26, 1966-No advertisement but the lineup included:
The K-Otics, LIverpool Five, The Marketts, Dallas Frazier, Lou Christie, Lesley Gore, Roy Clark, Loving Spoonful, Paul
Revere and the Raiders, and Jan and Dean. (Thanks to Carol)
July 23, 1966-(No advertisement but this ad mentions the show). Featuring Herman's Hermits, The Animals, Lou Christie,
Sam The Sham & The Pharohs, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeanie Seely, Tommy James and The Shondells, The Shangri-Las, and The McCoys.
It appears local band The Hard Times ( later changed to Rites of Spring) won the contest and were first on the bill.
October 1, 1966-The lineup included The Beach Boys, Peter and Gordon, Lou Christie, The Hollies, Ian Whitcomb, The
Happenings, and The Count Five.
Dec 10, 1966. One of the few shows held outside the Birmingham Municipal Auditorium. This one was held at
the Temple Theatre. The line up included The Byrds, Roy Orbison, Sham The Sham & The Pharoahs, Sandy Posey, David
Houston, The McCoys, ? & The Mysterians, Billy Joe Royal, The Rubber Band, The Newbeats, and The Webs.
March 4, 1967-Featuring Paul Revere and The Raiders, Lou Christie, The Blues Magoos, Keith, and The Buckinghams.
On Saturday, July 29th, 1967 the lineup included Herman's Hermits, Jim "Harpo" Valley (Thanks Rob. Harpo was an
ex-member of Paul Revere and the Raiders), The Who, Every Mother's Son, Billy Joe Royal, Lou Christie (name misspelled), The
Rocking Rebellions, and Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs.
| Thanks to Nancy for providing this ticket. |
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Dec 2, 1967-The lineup included Paul Revere & The Raiders (with Tommy Roe & Keith Allison), Jon & Robin,
The Music Explosion, The Buckinghams, Lou Christie, Neil Diamond, and Tommy James & The Shondells.
March 16, 1968-The lineup included The Young Rascals, The Lemon Pipers, The Union Gap, Roy Head, Billy Joe Royal, The
Rocking Rebellions, The Brotherhood, and Gene and Debbie.
On July 27 and August 3, 1968, WVOK sponsored a Summer Spectacular at the Birmingham Auditorium. Part 1 included
Herman's Hermits, The Buckinghams, The Troggs, Boyce and Hart, The Ohio Express, Four Jacks and A Jill, and Roy Head.
Part 2 of the WVOK Summer Spectacular included Paul Revere and the Raiders, Lou Christie, Mitch Ryder and his Revue,
The People, Billy Joe Royal, Georgie Fame and The Magistrates.
November 30, 1968-The lineup included Davy Jones (of the Monkees) hosting and MC. With Gary Puckett & The Union
Gap, The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Billy Joe Royal, Andy Kim, and Four Jacks and A Jill.
(I remember attending this show.) There were two ads for this show.
July 26, 1969-Lineup included Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Cowsills, Lou Christie, The Buckinghams, Tommy James
& The Shondells, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, The 1910 Fruitgum Company and Pat Paulsen. I remember attending this
show.
Click here for Promo of this show.
November 29, 1969-The lineup included Canned Heat, Bobby Sherman, Grass Roots, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition,
Evie Sands, Billy Joe Royal, and The Buckinghams. (I remember being backstage at this show. Thanks for the
correct date Audrey.)
April 18, 1970-The lineup included The Raiders, Mark Lindsay, Freddy Weller, Keith Allison, The Grass Roots, Michael
Parks, Tony Joe White, Frijid Pink and Guess Who.
August 1, 1970-The lineup included Neil Diamond, The Grass Roots, Rare Earth, Classics IV, Tony Joe White, Glass Bottle,
Turley Richards, and Vanity Fare. (I remember attending this show.)
November 28, 1970-The lineup included Iron Butterfly, Grass Roots, The Carpenters, Dawn*, Tony Joe White, Kenny Rogers
& The First Edition, and Mike Nesmith. (Thanks for the correct date Audrey. I remember attending this show
also.)(*Interesting to note is that the group Dawn apparently was put together when Candida and Knock Three Times became huge
hits. Tony Orlando provided vocals, however, he was under contract to a publishing company at the time. He formed Tony Orlando
and Dawn after Knock Three Times.)
| SPEC Magazine August 1971 |
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May 8, 1971-WVOK and National Shows presents Blood, Sweat, and Tears at the Birmingham Municipal Auditorium.
July 31, 1971-Starring Mark Lindsay, The Grass Roots, Tommy James, Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds, Lobo, and The Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band.
July 1, 1972-Starring B.J. Thomas, The Grass Roots, John Kay (from Steppenwolf), Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, Climax, and
Gallery. This was probably the last of the Shower of Stars Shows. This show came exactly one year after
the last show.
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| August 15, 1973. |
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