I checked available online 1950s concert listings, which include several shows in Ohio. But even when Bill Haley and the Comets were performing nearby (such as an appearance in Cleveland on May 8, 1956) I never could find any indication on newspaper microfilm of a stopover in Lorain, either before or after. There weren’t even Journal ads for the concert in the neighboring cities.
Anyway, while scrolling around on the microfilm from the timeframe of one concert, I did find an advertisement and Journal movie review of Rock Around the Clock, which was playing at the Tivoli Theatre in May 1956. Above you see the ad and review, as well as the whole page of movie ads from May 12, 1956.
The Journal’s review is laced with hip language, Daddy-O.
Here’s the full movie.
If anyone has any knowledge of seeing Bill Haley at the Lorain Arena (or any Lorain venue), be sure to leave a comment!
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Anyway, judging from the full page of movie ads, there was something for everyone playing on Lorain movie screens back in May 1956. Here’s a sampling...Jungle hi-jinks was the theme at the Lorain Theater, with Simba, Terror of Mau Mau, Tarzan’s Peril and Skabenga (1955).
Ohio Theater kept it wholesome with an all-Disney lineup of Music Land, Johnny Appleseed and The Littlest Outlaw.
Over at the drive-ins, Carlisle Drive-in had Hell on Frisco Bay, Treasure of Pancho Villa and Crossed Swords, while Tower Drive-in had Mighty Joe Young providing cinematic monkey business. Lorain Drive-in was playing the hits, with a triple feature that included James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause” and John Wayne in “Rio Grande.”
John Wayne was also flying high at the Grove Theater in The High and the Mighty.
4 comments:
All of these movies are classics....Nowadays the garbage they are pushing is all filled with CIG digital whatever they call it.Back then they actually tried to make a movie....Not let some person make images on their computer to simulate a burning building or a toronado....Just like everything else today,it's all fake now...James Dean was the ultimate 1950's icon....I can't think I of any teen idol today that will be remembered like he has been for over 60 years....Todays kids have the short end of the stick in terms of people to idolize.
I seem to remember seeing Bill Haley and the comets at the Vermilion clubhouse in the spring of 1955.
I actually have one of my dad's tickets from that Bill Haley and the Comets performance at the Lorain Arena. It took place April 11, 1958. Bill Haley was brought to the arena by my dad's social club at Lorain High School,the Dukes. The ticket says "Dukes 14th Annual Queen Dance, featuring Bill Haley and the Comets." Dan, is there a way I can send you a photo of the ticket? It features gold lettering printed on a dark blue ticket - the Dukes' colors.
Hi Ann-Marie! That would be terrific if you could send it, I would add it to this post as an update. Hopefully I can scrounge some newspaper ad or article to go with it from microfilm or the online archives. My email address is:
danielebrady@hotmail.com
Thanks, Ann-Marie!
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