Grande Ballroom

Infobox Venue
name = Grande Ballroom


image_caption = Grande Ballroom from Grand River Avenue in April 2008.
nickname = The Grande
location = 8952 Grand River Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226
USA
coordinates = Lat - 42 21 879' Lon - 83 07 703'
type =
genre = Big Band; Rock
broke_ground =
built =
opened = 1909, 1928 (dance hall); 1966 (rock venue)
renovated = 1921, 1966
expanded =
closed = 1972
demolished =
owner =
former_names =
seating_type =
seating_capacity = 1837
website = http://www.thegrandeballroom.com/

The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large dance hall upstairs. [http://buildingsofdetroit.com/places/grande Buildings of Detroit - Grande Ballroom] ] During this period the Grande was renowned for its outstanding hardwood dance floor which took up most of the second floor.

In 1966 the Grande was acquired by Dearborn, Michigan, high school teacher and local radio DJ Russ Gibb. Gibb was inspired by visiting San Francisco's Fillmore Theater, and envisioned a similar venue in Detroit for the new psychedelic music and a resource for local teenagers. Gibb worked closely with Detroit counterculture figure John Sinclair in bringing in bands, both from San Francisco and harder-edged psychedelic rock bands gathering around Detroit's Plum Street community like MC5. National and international acts of this period included Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Cream and The Who. [cite news |first= Brian|last= McCollum|url=|title= Strobe Lights, Longhairs and the Smell of Pot: 40 years later, rockers remember Detroit's Grande Ballroom|work= Detroit Free Press|date= 2006-10-01|accessdate=2007-11-21 |archiveurl= http://www.thegrandeballroom.com/Freep_STROBE_LIGHTS_10-1.pdf|archivedate=2006] The MC5, The Thyme, and The Stooges served as house bands, assuring weekly performances. The Grande also featured the avant garde jazz of John Coltrane and Sun Ra. [ [http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/grandecal.html Grandee Ballroom Showlist from Motor City Music Archives] ]

Performances of this period were frequently advertised by the distinctive psychedelic handbills of Gary Grimshaw. [ [http://www.garygrimshaw.com/ Gary Grimshaw's Homepage.] ] The Grande's rock and roll countercultural experience was extensively documented by Detroit photographer Leni Sinclair. [ [http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=5913 Detroit Metro Times article on Leni Sinclair's photography] ]

Since Gibb closed the Grande as a rock venue in 1972, the building has rarely been used and has fallen into a state of disrepair. [ [http://www.ledzeppelin-database.com/geekbaseweb/forumpage.aspx?g=posts&t=18 Venue information and background] ] As of 2008 it remained vacant and open to redevelopment.

References

External links

* [http://www.thegrandeballroom.com/ The Grande Ballroom Homepage]