I was one of those screaming teens at the Beatle Concert in '64! Couldn't hear a thing but seeing our guys was enough! Saw Led Zeppelin too from front row seats (it was good to have connections at the time). So much fun!!
I was there too, with a friend. I didn’t really even know who the Beatles were, but friend Kay wanted a companion. I was so surprised to discover that I was screaming with the rest of the crowd!! Couldn’t hear them, but Paul’s moves and the general vibe definitely made an impression! What a show!! Saw lots of the incredible Motown groups there in subsequent years. Great memories!
The Blast lasted here into the mid 2010s through several reconfigurations of the MISL and brought 6 more championships to this building. I sat 3rd row midfield at the Championship Series winner in 2003 against the Milwaukee Wave. Tarik Walker was the goalie, Denison Cabral was one of the leading goal scorers, and Tim Wittman was the head coach. I have seen the Blast play many games during my childhood, the most common visitor being the Philly Kixx. 2 great teams and one of the greatest most underrated rivalries in sports up until the Kixx folded in 2010.
When I was a kid in the 60's my Dad took me to watch Wrestling and I got to see Bruno Sammartino beat Gorilla Monsoon for the Heavyweight Championship. Later I saw a couple Ice Shows with my Grandparents and there have been several Custiom Car Shows held there later over the years.
It would be the 60th Anniversary not the 50th. I remember seeing Earl "the Pearl" Monroe of the Bullets and the Ice Capades at the Arena. Thank you for such entertaining and historical videos.
I saw my first concert at the Baltimore Arena back when it was the First Mariner Arena. I used to pass by the arena on the then number 8 bus when I would go up to Towson
Years ago I bought my high school-aged son (a budding musician) a ticket to see Rush; we rode the Light Rail and disembarked at the Howard St. entrance. Because I didn't have a ticket, I asked at the entrance for directions to the "Quiet" or "Parent Room". I was sent all the way around to the other side entrance (Baltimore St?) and the ushers there gave me a look as if to say: "You're kidding, right? We gotta open up the Parent Room now?" I was directed to a large empty room filled with conference tables/chairs which, based on the sound volume, was adjacent to the stage! I had taken a great book along with me, and, needless to say, had the room to myself. I enjoyed the music very much from the "Quiet" Room. The light rail journey that evening is altogether another story; this was during the time of the unfortunate events leading up to the capture of the DC Snipers. I'll never forget it. Thanks for these great videos. Best Wishes in the New Year!
what a great years worth of history, all from the comfort of my couch! That being said, I am really looking forward to in person tours and functions again. We moved to the city right before the pandemic, and are looking to experience "normal times" in this great city!
In 1987, Baltimore City College High School had its Senior Prom at the then called “Omni Hotel” on Fayette Street, which has since been a Wyndham Hotel, Baltimore Harbor Hotel, Hilton, and more hotel names in answering your end of video question of “knowing other buildings in Baltimore that has had three], four, or more different names over time.
In the 1960's as part of the Charles Center Re-Development it started life as the Hilton. My first visit to the Civic Center was in 1965 where I saw my first Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily Circus. I remember walking past the live elephants watching them eat hay. WOW! Next time I went to the Civic Center was to see Parliament: The Motor Booty Affair. We had band level seating and they had artificial fog and huge multi colored fish. Oh it was so over the top. I loved it. I was in high school. My first gay gentleman friend knew I wanted to see the show so he brought us both tickets. I saw it with him. LOL! We had a blast.
The Baltimore Blast played at the Civic Center/Arena until 2017, and won 9 championships while there, before moving to SECU Arena on Towson's campus. Also, the Civic Center is the reason Baltimore never had an NHL team. In the first expansion in the 60s, the NGL board of Governors were debating between St. Louis and Baltimore for a team. The Governors came here and decided against Baltimore, namely for the sightlines in the building not being good to watch any games. That team ended up becoming the St. Louis Blues.
Abe Pollin's group Centre Mangement ran the Baltimore Arena as part of the deal, the Skipjacks became the Caps AHL affiliate for years and the Bullets played 4 games a year there.
I remember seeing the "Walking with Dinosaurs" show and the "electrified" Barnum & Bailey Circus there. Thanks to Johns & Molly for a year of interesting & informative videos! :-)
Attended the Ringly Brothers Circus @ the Civic Ctr, my 1963 Historic Frederick Douglas High School graduation was here bc our class was so large approx 750, my 1976 Morgan State University graduation & my son's 1993 University of Md Medical School graduation etc
I saw the circus there sometime in the late 70s. I recall thinking it was huge. I just took my kid to see Disney on ice and was surprised at how not huge it actually is. I was also really surprised with the general cleanliness and updated facilities. I half expected to walk into the 1970s.
Hi ! Great Channel. I was looking for a profile on The Arena Players Theater... the oldest longest running Black Theater (live theater) in the city. xox. Hope you do .
Baltimore Civic Center obsolete by time it opened. Lack of space for NHL/IIHF-sized rink. Seats in right-angle corners facing away from rink/court. Needless permanent stage & parking structure occupying space better served with additional seating. Can't see closest hockey/soccer goal net from grandstand opposite stage. Only good things about facility is its unique roof & downtown location.
This was a great brief history on the civic center. I would love to hear/see/watch an unabbreviated version with a non-white male narrator solely for the purpose of delving into some of the inequities that lies in Baltimore today and since its inception. This doesn't discredit the summary provided by Johns Hopkins but merely present the reality of the disparity present in the city.
I was one of those screaming teens at the Beatle Concert in '64! Couldn't hear a thing but seeing our guys was enough! Saw Led Zeppelin too from front row seats (it was good to have connections at the time). So much fun!!
Oh, and tickets were around $5.00 (I have the stub somewhere still...)
I was there too, with a friend. I didn’t really even know who the Beatles were, but friend Kay wanted a companion. I was so surprised to discover that I was screaming with the rest of the crowd!! Couldn’t hear them, but Paul’s moves and the general vibe definitely made an impression! What a show!! Saw lots of the incredible Motown groups there in subsequent years. Great memories!
The Blast lasted here into the mid 2010s through several reconfigurations of the MISL and brought 6 more championships to this building. I sat 3rd row midfield at the Championship Series winner in 2003 against the Milwaukee Wave. Tarik Walker was the goalie, Denison Cabral was one of the leading goal scorers, and Tim Wittman was the head coach. I have seen the Blast play many games during my childhood, the most common visitor being the Philly Kixx. 2 great teams and one of the greatest most underrated rivalries in sports up until the Kixx folded in 2010.
When I was a kid in the 60's my Dad took me to watch Wrestling and I got to see Bruno Sammartino beat Gorilla Monsoon for the Heavyweight Championship. Later I saw a couple Ice Shows with my Grandparents and there have been several Custiom Car Shows held there later over the years.
It would be the 60th Anniversary not the 50th. I remember seeing Earl "the Pearl" Monroe of the Bullets and the Ice Capades at the Arena. Thank you for such entertaining and historical videos.
I saw my first concert at the Baltimore Arena back when it was the First Mariner Arena. I used to pass by the arena on the then number 8 bus when I would go up to Towson
Years ago I bought my high school-aged son (a budding musician) a ticket to see Rush; we rode the Light Rail and disembarked at the Howard St. entrance. Because I didn't have a ticket, I asked at the entrance for directions to the "Quiet" or "Parent Room". I was sent all the way around to the other side entrance (Baltimore St?) and the ushers there gave me a look as if to say: "You're kidding, right? We gotta open up the Parent Room now?" I was directed to a large empty room filled with conference tables/chairs which, based on the sound volume, was adjacent to the stage! I had taken a great book along with me, and, needless to say, had the room to myself. I enjoyed the music very much from the "Quiet" Room. The light rail journey that evening is altogether another story; this was during the time of the unfortunate events leading up to the capture of the DC Snipers. I'll never forget it.
Thanks for these great videos. Best Wishes in the New Year!
What is a parent room? I did not know of this.
what a great years worth of history, all from the comfort of my couch! That being said, I am really looking forward to in person tours and functions again. We moved to the city right before the pandemic, and are looking to experience "normal times" in this great city!
In 1987, Baltimore City College High School had its Senior Prom at the then called “Omni Hotel” on Fayette Street, which has since been a Wyndham Hotel, Baltimore Harbor Hotel, Hilton, and more hotel names in answering your end of video question of “knowing other buildings in Baltimore that has had three], four, or more different names over time.
In the 1960's as part of the Charles Center Re-Development it started life as the Hilton. My first visit to the Civic Center was in 1965 where I saw my first Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily Circus. I remember walking past the live elephants watching them eat hay. WOW! Next time I went to the Civic Center was to see Parliament: The Motor Booty Affair. We had band level seating and they had artificial fog and huge multi colored fish. Oh it was so over the top. I loved it. I was in high school. My first gay gentleman friend knew I wanted to see the show so he brought us both tickets. I saw it with him. LOL! We had a blast.
60 yrs old!
The Baltimore Blast played at the Civic Center/Arena until 2017, and won 9 championships while there, before moving to SECU Arena on Towson's campus.
Also, the Civic Center is the reason Baltimore never had an NHL team. In the first expansion in the 60s, the NGL board of Governors were debating between St. Louis and Baltimore for a team. The Governors came here and decided against Baltimore, namely for the sightlines in the building not being good to watch any games. That team ended up becoming the St. Louis Blues.
Abe Pollin's group Centre Mangement ran the Baltimore Arena as part of the deal, the Skipjacks became the Caps AHL affiliate for years and the Bullets played 4 games a year there.
I remember seeing the "Walking with Dinosaurs" show and the "electrified" Barnum & Bailey Circus there. Thanks to Johns & Molly for a year of interesting & informative videos! :-)
Attended the Ringly Brothers Circus @ the Civic Ctr, my 1963 Historic Frederick Douglas High School graduation was here bc our class was so large approx 750, my 1976 Morgan State University graduation & my son's 1993 University of Md Medical School graduation etc
A lot of us had our high school graduation ceremony at the Civic Center. In my case it was Northwestern High School , 1973.
I new renovations to the Arena. It was needed
I saw the circus there sometime in the late 70s. I recall thinking it was huge. I just took my kid to see Disney on ice and was surprised at how not huge it actually is. I was also really surprised with the general cleanliness and updated facilities. I half expected to walk into the 1970s.
wonderful story
I used to go there all the time to watch the Skipjacks play
Thank you very much for all of your marvelous videos ~ Here's wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Would love to see an updated video since it's now become the cfg arena ❤
Good idea!
Hi ! Great Channel. I was looking for a profile on The Arena Players Theater... the oldest longest running Black Theater (live theater) in the city. xox. Hope you do .
What was on the site after the Great Baltimore fire until 1960?
Pro rasslin there in the 80s was awesome
merry CHRISTmas to one and all...
And a Happy Kwanza to you, madame.
Not I said the little red hen.
This arena has a huge pro wrestling history .
Baltimore Civic Center obsolete by time it opened. Lack of space for NHL/IIHF-sized rink. Seats in right-angle corners facing away from rink/court. Needless permanent stage & parking structure occupying space better served with additional seating. Can't see closest hockey/soccer goal net from grandstand opposite stage. Only good things about facility is its unique roof & downtown location.
They need to tear it down and build a new bigger one by the stadiums
This was a great brief history on the civic center. I would love to hear/see/watch an unabbreviated version with a non-white male narrator solely for the purpose of delving into some of the inequities that lies in Baltimore today and since its inception. This doesn't discredit the summary provided by Johns Hopkins but merely present the reality of the disparity present in the city.
Why don’t you make it happen instead of sitting and waiting and asking. Smh
Yes make it happen
No love for the Baltimore Skipjacks?
Oh no! Maybe we'll have to do another video.
The shitty Arena is why St. Louis has an NHL team and Baltimore does not !
Dam, you mentioned all white groups and not a single black artists other than Dr. Kings. Wow I find that disheartening, not good at all.
Do not demolish it. It is a good size. Not to big, pefect foe.shows, no.stupid sky box.
I would not demolish it but would love to see a brand new Arena some where in the city.