The historic Coliseum Ballroom, located on the 1926-34 alignment of Route 66 in Benld, Ill., is for sale, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The asking price: $210,000.
And maybe, just maybe, the Coliseum will be returned to its original incarnation — a live-music venue.
And both of two prospective buyers would like to see the 82-year-old landmark returned to its original use, said Esther Kacer of Landmark Realty in Edwardsville, which lists the property.
In its heyday, the Coliseum had the biggest dance floor (10,000 square feet) between Chicago and St. Louis and featured the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Kay Kyser, Count Basie and most of the other big-name big bands – the megastars of popular music from the 1920s into the 1940s.
Situated along old Route 66 (now Illinois Route 4), the Coliseum is said to have attracted crowds that sometimes topped 2,000, from all over central Illinois and metropolitan St. Louis.
The popularity of the big bands faded, but the Coliseum continued to draw crowds for nationally known acts such as the Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Johnny Rivers and Ray Charles. In its later years, the ballroom mostly featured local rock bands before closing about a decade ago.
Current owners Dave and Cheryl Hammond operated an antiques mall in the building before they bought the old high school in nearby Livingston and moved their business there several months ago. The old ballroom continued to lure visitors, Cheryl Hammond said.
"People came because it was the Coliseum," she said. "It never stopped until the day we closed."
The article also includes stories about Benld's more lawless days, including a connection to Chicago crime kingpin Al Capone.
It's recommended reading.
Hey, Ron, perhaps in Illinois we can have our own Cain Ballroom again.
Now, THAT would be cool. I really do hope it happens. Given the Coliseum’s closeness to I-55, I think a smart music operator could make a go of it.
The folks at Cain’s in Tulsa have proven that a historic but well-run facility can be very popular (it’s in the top 10 nationwide for ticket sales in its division). Cain’s also provides an additional enticement for musicians to perform there. Last year, Elvis Costello played at Cain’s, mostly because he *wanted* to.
Then again, it’s hard to find many music venues that have hosted both Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys *and* the Sex Pistols.
PHOTO REQUEST
If anyone has historic images of the Coliseum (building photos, old concert posters, either historic or more recent performances, etc.) please contact Eiliesh Tuffy at Landmarks Illinois, tuffye@lpci.org. We are attempting to gather more information on this property and have already spoken to the IL Route 66 group. Thank you!
What great memories on Saturday nights in the late 50’s/60’s! Hope someone restores it to Route 66 fame.
Trying to find out the Rock and Roll Band that came from St. Louis and played at Tarro’s for years in the 70’s? Can anyone help me?
Thank you,
Carol
The Guild?
Yes, The Guild. Also Hoss and The Lords
and Elias with Valicoff, Hacke and Kemper.
Elias was the house band at The Store in Collinsville and The Grainery in Edwardsville.
Any memories there?!
Maybe Griffin?
how to add your blog to rss reader, I have some troubles…
You can go here to select the feed you want:
https://www.route66news.com/feed/
i am trying to find out if there is any information on al capone when he was in the benld gillespie area years ago
The Guild was the stock Saturday night band of the 70’s at Tarro’s, the Coliseum. The Coliseum Ballroom reopened as an antique mall, Coliseum Ballroom Antique Mall in Jan ’08. Dennis Adams, from the 70’s Guild, visited the Coliseum in Aug ’08.
Thank you Amy for the information on the band “The Guild” that played so many Saturday nights at Tarro’s. I just got on line to see if anyone answer my question tonight as we had our class reunion meeting and you do know someone there remembered and we had a blast talking about them. In fact one of the guy’s I went to school with and who went there also, knows more information about these guys and where they are and that they are still playing. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have them at our Reunion of 1969 🙂 Thank you so much Amy Picarella. I cannot believe I am reading your remarks just right after our meeting! Gotta love the internet!
Found this site by Googling “The Guild.” Does anyone know if any of their music is available today? My college radio staion regularly played a couple of their songs, including “What Am I Gonna Do,” circa 1972. Any information is appreciated. Thanks
Hi, my name is Rich Lang, and yes, check out my web site… richlangmusic.com I was the lead guitar player in the Guild. I have quite a few songs including the Beach Boys Medley and Oldies Medley, etc. that you can download. Nice to hear all of the positive comments about the Guild, thank you all.
Is the Guild still around? If so, can you get me some info?
The Guild isn’t around anymore, but Rich Lang (guitar) and Gary McLain (keyboard) are still playing together in the St. Louis area. These guys have been together for years.
I remember going to see Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes back in 1971. They were expecting a big crowd. That night winter weather kicked in and the roads were bad and were getting worse. A couple of hundred of us gutted it out and it was almost like a private party with Ted playing. I did not find out until after that night the significance of the ballroom. I would love to see it brought back to what it was like in it’s heyday.
Oh My Gosh, I can’t believe this site is on the web. I was just telling this 22 yr. old GA at my office about the big bands and big named entertainers who I saw play at Tarros. I told him about how I worked at Kendon’s in Livingston til 11 pm, changed into dress clothes and took my1956 Yellow Chevy to Tarros in Benld and got to dance for over an hour. At 1 am we all met at Staunton bowling alley and partied until the middle of the night. Those were the days. I typed Tarros Ballroom in Google and there it was. He was quite interested in the stories about Tarros owners and their mob connections, as well as the entertainers who were there. Thanks,
used to hang out at the same places back in the 70’s, none of those places are around any more. Funny that the antique dealer that had the antique business at the coliseum has re-located it to what used to be the livingston high school
I could swear it was later than 71 . Was thinking Nugent was there in 73 when I was 15. My friend Jeanine and I were there.
I have good memories of the Coliseum too. I played sax there with the Bossmen in 1968-69 until the band broke up. We had 11 musicians, featuring singers, Jim Claypool and Frank Nave, Doug Philips on guitar, Steve Trip on bass, with four horns and a Hammond B-3 organ with two Leslies. . Hot, sweaty and get down and dance music by the likes of the Temptations, Sam and Dave, Sly and the Family Stone, and many more.
I’ve been playing play part-time with various bands and venues such as RX Blues band, Tom Docter, Souled Out and ect .I hope to see you at the Fifth Quarter in Collinsville June 12 and later in the summer (TBA) for the annual Collinsville Blues Fest, where, once again my band, the Real Deal will play classic R and B, blues and rock.
–Steve Kimball (Playing “safe sax”)
Steve, I am working on a website database of St. Louis Metro bands of the 60’s thru 80’s. Can you tell me the rest of the line-up for The Bossmen, and do you have any photos you could send me that I could include on your page?
Thanks,
Greg
Greg,
The rest of the lineup consisted of Mike Lutz, trombone (later drums), Bob shaffer, trumpet, Silas Bender and
and John Anderson, alto saxes, Dale on organ (can’t remember his last name–sorry!), and Dick Gundlach, drums.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any pics of the Bossmen, but you might try searching “Sky King Enterprises,” where a photo was on line, dated from 1966.
Good luck with your web page!
Steve
A little more info–
Prior to 1968, Bill Ulkus had the band for about five years, and played keyboards and trombone, before he left for the Guild. Also, they had different personnel on sax and trumpet before 1968.
Steve, thanks so much for the replies. I DID find the Bossmen photo! Contact me at greg@dejawho.com and I’ll send you the link when the site goes up!
Steve…and everyone else. My St. Louis Bands website is up and running. Please visit it and enjoy it and PLEASE email me with additions and ommissions.
http://www.stlmusicyesterdays.com
too bad it is now burned to the ground