Friday, September 29, 2017

Big Moose Showcase Ad – Sept. 22, 1967

Back when the former Lorain Arena was for sale in 2010, I did several posts about it – including a four-part series (that began here).

During the following years, additional Arena posts featured an 1955 aerial photo, a 1956 Auto Show, a 1959 appearance by the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, a 1960 wrestling match, and a 1961 concert by B. B. King.

The Arena was converted from a skating rink/concert venue to industrial use in 1968, which was reported in this post. But before that happened, the Arena had briefly changed its name in an attempt to try something new.

And that something new was the Big Moose Showcase of Lorain.

The change in name and management seemed to have occurred around in 1966, with the change reflected in the November 1966 Lorain Telephone Directory.

Here’s an ad for Big Moose that ran in the Lorain Journal in September 22, 1967.
At that same time, a new business strategy was being put in place, which was explained in the article below which ran in the Sept. 21, 1967 Journal.
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New Manager Plans Big Changes at The Big Moose
By PHYLLIS PATCH
Entertainment Writer
THERE ARE BIG CHANGES ahead at The Big Moose Showcase on W. Erie Avenue.
Harold Crosby, 19, of Mansfield had joined the Big Moose staff as general manager and has brought with him some innovations.
CROSBY PLANS TO “bring the Showcase down to earth. We want to have at Big Moose what the kids want.”
First step toward this goal is lowering admission prices.
“We hope to appeal to a larger group instead of a selected few. This, we feel, will better serve the area by giving a bigger crowd of teenagers a place to go and something to do.”
WILLIAM ERB, one of the owners of Big Moose, said teen entertainment during the week is in the planning stages.
Crosby said instead of trying to have a big name band in every weekend, the Showcase will feature Ohio area bands and big name groups occasionally. “This will help us keep the lower admission prices,” he said.
This Friday night, however, the Showcase will feature Jay and The Techniques of New York City.
CROSBY SAID LOCAL bands wanting to perform at Big Moose may contact him at 673 Armstrong Ave., Mansfield, during the week or at the Showcase on weekends for auditions.
Crosby has been in the teen dance promotion business for two years. He is a student at the Ohio State University branch in Mansfield with a major in sociology.
A graduate of Mansfield High School, Crosby has worked in this area at the Elyria Roll Arena and with the Elyria YMCA on teen dances.
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I’m not sure where the name “Big Moose” came from, but it’s interesting that the Arena’s roller rink predecessor – the Coliseum – was built by the Lorain Moose Lodge and was often referred to as the Moose Coliseum.

1 comment:

George Amolsch said...

Where can I find a list of the bands that played the Big Moose? I went there many times but most people don't believe the place existed and that such big name bands played there.