Grande Ballroom
| Grande Ballroom | |
|---|---|
 Grande Ballroom from Grand River Avenue in April 2008. |
|
| Nickname(s) | The Grande |
| Location | 8952 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48226  United States |
| Coordinates | Lat - 42 21 879' Lon - 83 07 703' |
| Type | |
| Genre(s) | Big Band; Rock |
| Opened | 1909, 1928 (dance hall); 1966 (rock venue) |
| Renovated | 1921, 1966 |
| Closed | 1972 |
| Capacity | 1837 |
| Website | http://www.thegrandeballroom.com/ |
The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large dance hall upstairs.[1] During this period the Grande was renowned for its outstanding hardwood dance floor which took up most of the second floor.
In 1966 the Grande was acquired by Dearborn, Michigan, high school teacher and local radio DJ Russ Gibb. Gibb was inspired by visiting San Francisco's Fillmore Theater, and envisioned a similar venue in Detroit for the new psychedelic music and a resource for local teenagers. Gibb worked closely with Detroit counterculture figure John Sinclair in bringing in bands, both from San Francisco and harder-edged psychedelic rock bands gathering around Detroit's Plum Street community like MC5. National and international acts of this period included Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Cream and The Who.[2] The MC5, The Thyme, and The Stooges served as house bands, assuring weekly performances. The Grande also featured the avant garde jazz of John Coltrane and Sun Ra.[3]
Performances of this period were frequently advertised by the distinctive psychedelic handbills of Gary Grimshaw.[4] The Grande's rock and roll countercultural experience was extensively documented by Detroit photographer Leni Sinclair.[5]
Since Gibb closed the Grande as a rock venue in 1972, the building has rarely been used and has fallen into a state of disrepair.[6] As of 2008 it remained vacant and open to redevelopment.[1]
References
- ^ a b Buildings of Detroit - Grande Ballroom
- ^ McCollum, Brian (2006-10-01). "Strobe Lights, Longhairs and the Smell of Pot: 40 years later, rockers remember Detroit's Grande Ballroom", Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on 21 November 2007. Archived from [ the original] on 2006.
- ^ Grandee Ballroom Showlist from Motor City Music Archives
- ^ Gary Grimshaw's Homepage.
- ^ Detroit Metro Times article on Leni Sinclair's photography
- ^ Venue information and background
External links
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