tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post6568725382366171646..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: April 14-16, 1967: Ambassador Hotel, Los AngelesLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-86173820989506282632020-07-04T00:10:54.336-07:002020-07-04T00:10:54.336-07:00A little more background on Kaleidoscope's tro...A little more background on Kaleidoscope's troubles, from the April 15, 1967 Los Angeles Times: <br /><br />"POP CLUB OPENING BLOCKED <br />The Kaleidoscope, a new pop music club, was prevented from opening as scheduled Friday night by a temporary restraining order issued at the request of National General Corp...which owns the property at 1228 Vine St... The Superior Court order was sought because the tenants, Van Praag Productions, Inc., sublet the property in violation of their lease. <br />The order, issued Thursday, prevents the owners of the nightclub from entering the property, remodelling it, allowing music, dancing, or theatrical productions, or permitting noisy or boisterous behavior on the premises. <br />John Hartmann, one of the owners of International Kaleidoscope, said his company already had spent more than $75,000 remodelling the stage, installing a sound and light system and promoting the opening. <br />Additionally, he said, they had scheduled acts costing them $6,500 for the weekend debut of the club. Booked were Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and the Canned Heat Band."<br /><br />On April 21, there was a notice that "Kaleidoscope will move: International Kaleidoscope...is transferring operations to Ciro's for the next three weekends... The fate of Ciro's, which had been featuring jazz and pop music acts, is uncertain." <br /><br />And a year later, on March 18, 1968, the Times reported: <br />"In April of last year, the principals of an outfit called Kaleidoscope tried to mount a concert in a club on Vine St. A misunderstanding with the owner of the building forced them to move, and for a couple of weeks they migrated through such varied locations as the Cocoanut Grove and Ciro's, then retreated when the problems became overwhelming. Now they have set up shop in what was once the Moulin Rouge (more lately the Hullabaloo). John Hartmann, Skip Taylor, and Gary Essert, the principals, have cleaned and redecorated the building for what they call 'total environment' entertainment, including an excellent sound system and a large-scale light show. They will open this weekend, nearly one year after their first try, with the Jefferson Airplane, the Buffalo Springfield, and Canned Heat, an impressive bill which is nearly identical to their first line-up... The Airplane plan to record three songs during their appearance there for an album scheduled for April 15 release." <br /><br />A July 22, 1968 piece in the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat stated, "One of the popular spots down there is the Kaleidoscope, located - believe it or not - directly across the street from Lawrence Welk's polka palace. (When the two audiences mingle in the parking lots, it must be a gas.) The Kaleidoscope features films and upcoming groups on weekday nights, major groups on weekends. It has a light show that runs almost 360 degrees..." <br />They managed to stay open through August '68 -- more details in the Rock Prosopography post.Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-87000264528879898732017-12-28T18:25:57.484-08:002017-12-28T18:25:57.484-08:00It was a Deadbase entry - Deadbase had April 14-16...It was a Deadbase entry - Deadbase had April 14-16 at the Kaleidoscope (with the Airplane), and Monday April 17 at the Banana Grove in the Ambassador Hotel.<br /><br />But Deadbase's info was incomplete - Kaleidoscope's Vine St. location was closed, so the weekend shows were relocated at the hotel. <br />Where the April 17 date comes from is unknown. Was a Monday show added? Was it a Deadbase error? Corry speculates it was a Dead record release party; but for now I'll just say there's no evidence for any Dead show on that date, until more info turns up.Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-38166859274109895092017-12-28T10:34:56.566-08:002017-12-28T10:34:56.566-08:00I have a show on the 17th as well, not sure how I ...I have a show on the 17th as well, not sure how I arrived at it.Fate Musichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05648291938690043423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-258262243827049132015-09-22T13:51:35.152-07:002015-09-22T13:51:35.152-07:00Deadlists says: "The Dead were supposed to pl...Deadlists says: "The Dead were supposed to play with Jefferson Airplane and Canned Heat on April 14-16 at The Kaleidoscope on Vine Street. Those shows did not take place, but were moved to the Embassy Ballroom in the Ambassador Hotel." <br /><br />The reviewer doesn't say what day he went, just that it was on the weekend. Supposedly the Dead played there on Monday the 17th as well - I am not sure if that was an added show, a Deadbase error, or a makeup for a possibly cancelled Friday the 14th show while the Kaleidoscope looked for a new location.<br /><br />The reviewer is most struck by the light show, and the contrast between the "teeny-hippies" and the elegant hotel environment. By the "strippies' victory in social integration," he's referring to the hippies of Sunset Strip. (The Sunset Strip "riots" between police & young clubgoers in November '66 were a major event at the time, inspiring songs, films, and news stories galore - possibly the closing of Kaleidoscope's intended Vine St. address was another repressive step by frightened authorities.)<br /><br />He doesn't say much of the bands - Marty Balin sang 'And I Like It,' Pigpen sang "screamin' blues," and they were "happily received." Pigpen "looks like Jerry Colonna in drag!" (All the bands must have looked pretty weird to this probably much older reporter.) <br /><br />The Kaleidoscope didn't stay at the hotel - the following weekend it moved to Ciro's for shows by the Doors. You can follow the club's later history here: <br />http://foxmusic.hubpages.com/hub/Vintage-Kaleidoscope-Club-Concert-Posters <br />http://rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2010/04/6230-sunset-boulevard-hollywood-ca.html Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com