Who else used to head to Ince Blvd to go to Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert tapings?
Some lucky locals realized that the Concerts they were watching on television, were being performed “live” right down the street!
Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert was a new direction for music on television as compared to rehearsed, often lip-synced performances that were the staple of earlier shows like Shindig! or American Bandstand. Kirshner’s show was recorded “live” in stereo utilizing simulcast to broadcast on FM Stereo radio stations. The shows were recorded live at The Culver City Studios from 1977 to 1981.
I spoke with four fans of the show about their experiences.
Local resident Colleen McGrane recounts “The program featured many of the popular performers of the day during its run. We’d walk over, get in line, and do our homework while waiting.
Some of the acts my friends and I saw were Chuck Berry, Cheap Trick, The Ramones (as pictured), The Bay City Rollers, The Village People, Chuck Mangioni, The Spinners, Tony Orlando and Dawn and KC and the Sunshine Band.
We also got to see Comedians: Jay Leno, Gallagher, David Letterman, Sandra Bernhard, Elayne Boosler, Jimmy Walker, Gary Shandling, and Arsenio Hall.”
Joel Butch Sube remembers “ I lived on Poinsettia Court, a small one-way street, with Jerry’s corner market just 3 houses away. I was sitting on my porch and these cool guys, rock and roll types walked past on their way to the market. I said” What’s up? You guys playing tonight?” They stopped and asked me if I was going. I said, “I’ll see you there!” I had no clue they were The Ramones until I saw them on stage that night.
Gail Keithley describes “Our house backed up to the Studio and there was a covered walkway with a chain link fence. A Security Guard said I could come in and see Tony Orlando and Dawn. I climbed a ladder to get on the roof of our pigeon coop, jumped across to the roof over the walkway and down the ladder attached to the wall of the Studio. He was quite impressed! Little did he know I’d done it a dozen times. The entrance was on Carson Street and Ince.”
Mario Luna explains “I got my tickets at Records West and saw The Little River Band and Pablo Cruise”.
“Rock Concert” provided a television venue where bands could be seen and often introduced viewers to bands which were never heard on top 40 radio. The last show aired in 1981, the year that MTV was launched.