Carpenters Biggest Concert
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Randy Schmidt
According to Internet stats: Carnegie Hall seats just over 2,800; Royal Albert Hall seats 5,200; Tokyo Budokan is 13,449 (2,490 in arena) -- so a sold-out Budokan would equal a sold out Hollywood Bowl... Can anyone come up with other venues they may have sold out above 16,000?
Actually, my count of 16,000 was coming from a 1971 review. He said "sold out crowd" but the Hollywood Bowl site says it is "one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a current seating capacity of just under 18,000." Maybe they added 2,000 seats sine '71?
Randy
Actually, my count of 16,000 was coming from a 1971 review. He said "sold out crowd" but the Hollywood Bowl site says it is "one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a current seating capacity of just under 18,000." Maybe they added 2,000 seats sine '71?
Randy
Jeff
Well-Known Member
On my Lake tahoe Labor Day week-end getaway I made a special point of stopping at Harrah's. It had been 24 years since my last visit. That visit is a high-lighted memory as this is where I met Karen and Richard in Feb '78. For the sake of nostalgia I winded my way thru the smoke and booze laden casino to the doors of the South Shore Room where the concert had taken place. Through the haze I could make out the spot where David Alley greeted me and cemented plans for back stage. As the fog lifted the entry doors to the show room stood in my face. The memories hit me like a ton of bricks. It was a time warp. Vividly I recounted the overwhelming event. At this point I stepped toward the large doors and opened them wide to reveal the roots of my happiest occasion. I was filled with the familiar anticipation of the 15 y/o kid who had hit the jack pot years and years before. Naturally I've retained these thoughts yet in some uncanny way they were freshened and technicolored.
I decided that this was my lucky casino. The slots would magically transform my quarters into dollars. Well, it was after I dropped 5 bucks that I realized I had already won the biggest purse this place could offer.
The event remains the most adrenaline packed experience of my life. Countless times I've come here to remind myself that life is good. For whatever reason this is my manifest dream.
Downstairs I peaked into Karen's then opened doored dressing room as David Alley retrieved her. Karen emerged with a bouncy and wide eyed clip saying "who am I meeting". Uh uh uh Karen, me. I was intimidated and dazed. Then with my youthful manners I asked uh uh uh Karen may I shake your hand? She smiled and we met. I have journeled the details of my close encounter with K&R. It's funny, cute really to read my stuttering presentation. Someday I will share the complete notes.
Gossip: Richard was smoking when I entered his dressing room. I think they were MORES because the cig was brown, long and slender. I was surprised. I have more dirt available for future dish.
The luckiest boy I know,
Jeff
I decided that this was my lucky casino. The slots would magically transform my quarters into dollars. Well, it was after I dropped 5 bucks that I realized I had already won the biggest purse this place could offer.
The event remains the most adrenaline packed experience of my life. Countless times I've come here to remind myself that life is good. For whatever reason this is my manifest dream.
Downstairs I peaked into Karen's then opened doored dressing room as David Alley retrieved her. Karen emerged with a bouncy and wide eyed clip saying "who am I meeting". Uh uh uh Karen, me. I was intimidated and dazed. Then with my youthful manners I asked uh uh uh Karen may I shake your hand? She smiled and we met. I have journeled the details of my close encounter with K&R. It's funny, cute really to read my stuttering presentation. Someday I will share the complete notes.
Gossip: Richard was smoking when I entered his dressing room. I think they were MORES because the cig was brown, long and slender. I was surprised. I have more dirt available for future dish.
The luckiest boy I know,
Jeff
GOODY4SHOES
New Member
djn said:
Wait a minute, you were 15 years old and playing slot machines? --LOL By the way, how much was the jackpot?
You are very lucky to have met Karen. How did you "cement plans" to meet Karen and Richard? Knowing how David Alley is, I'd imagine he would've said "Karen and Richard are tired/busy kid, go home".
Please, share the complete notes Jeff.
Thanks.
Just a side note. With all this talk about slot machines - could I share this recent story? I just returned on thursday from my first trip the las Vegas and we stayed at the Flamingo. I put a $5 bill in the 25 cent machine (big spender!) and believe it or not my first time ever in Vegas or ever in a casino I hit the jackpot!! I was playing draw poker and had an ace of diamonds and threw the other 4 cards away - up came a king, queen, jack, and then a ten of diamonds giving me a royal flush. The machine said - "Please call an attendant." I had never played one these machines before and my first thought was that I had broken the machine! Then my wife said - "the lights are going nuts you hit the jackpot!" I won $1,234.40! More than paying for my trip. I'll probably never go back to Vegas (business trip) and probably never go into another casino but it was fun to win!! Tim
newvillefan
I Know My First Name Is Stephen
Am I the only one to realise the answer to this question on largest concert has already been answered by Richard on the official site:
Richard Answers …..
“Ohio State Fair, summer of 1971, approximately 50,000.”
Unless a fair is also a festival, which case this wouldn't count! I'd have thought a concert is a concert is a concert lol
Stephen
Richard Answers …..
“Ohio State Fair, summer of 1971, approximately 50,000.”
Unless a fair is also a festival, which case this wouldn't count! I'd have thought a concert is a concert is a concert lol
Stephen
Jeff
Well-Known Member
No you misunderstood me,
Last Labor Day wk-end I played the slots. I couldn't walk anywhere inside the casino w/o practically holding my Grandma's hand when I was 15.
In a nutshell, Grandma said that for my 15th b-day she would fly with me anywhere in the country to see K&R perform. My b-day is 01-05 and the next concert that I would be able to attend was the Tahoe gig on 02-17. At the time I had long been associated with the Downey Fan Club. Routinely I would send self-addressed stamped envelopes to Ev and Rosina asking this-n-that. Sometimes weekly I pestered these women. They were kind and responsive tho. The moment I learned of my present I wrote the F/C asking for a backstage pass and/or any assistance that they could
provide. W/O skipping a beat my return letter indicated that the F/C itself could not arrange the mtg. However they did say that they would fwd my request to a gentleman David Alley. On my behalf the F/C included a note reading something like please help out this obsessed youth if possible. Within a week the Postman delivered a letter in a creme colored envelope made out of linen or something I was unfamiliar with. Anyway inside, below the D.A. letter head was a confirmation granting my request. D.A. indicated that prior to showtime ask for him at the box-office where he would meet w/Grandma and I and explain procedure. I have these letters framed and matted. When it came time to meet this Angelic man I listened intently to his instructions. Here is where the plans were cemented. As I've mentioned before, we were to be seated front and center. Table at the steps from stage to floor. This is another story. I was told to remain seated at concerts end and D.A. would retrieve us and escort downstairs to Karen and Richard's dressing rooms. The dressing rooms were about 30' apart on opposite sides of the hall. First up Karen's introduction. Next up Richard's and then a bout of togetherness. Between stutters I conveyed my appreciation and enjoyed small talk with the artists. By mtgs end I had autographs on the nicest CarpenterS music book I was able to acquire pre-engagement. I was pleased to receive an 8" by 10" B&W glossy that only fueled my shaking and twitching as the autographs were again provided before me.
It's difficult to say what the concert attendance was. There were alot of people yet I was oblivious due to anticipation, anxiety and the fact that everyone was behind my head.
This stuff has all been noted before and please forgive my repetition. Here I'm responding to the above post.
Jeff
Last Labor Day wk-end I played the slots. I couldn't walk anywhere inside the casino w/o practically holding my Grandma's hand when I was 15.
In a nutshell, Grandma said that for my 15th b-day she would fly with me anywhere in the country to see K&R perform. My b-day is 01-05 and the next concert that I would be able to attend was the Tahoe gig on 02-17. At the time I had long been associated with the Downey Fan Club. Routinely I would send self-addressed stamped envelopes to Ev and Rosina asking this-n-that. Sometimes weekly I pestered these women. They were kind and responsive tho. The moment I learned of my present I wrote the F/C asking for a backstage pass and/or any assistance that they could
provide. W/O skipping a beat my return letter indicated that the F/C itself could not arrange the mtg. However they did say that they would fwd my request to a gentleman David Alley. On my behalf the F/C included a note reading something like please help out this obsessed youth if possible. Within a week the Postman delivered a letter in a creme colored envelope made out of linen or something I was unfamiliar with. Anyway inside, below the D.A. letter head was a confirmation granting my request. D.A. indicated that prior to showtime ask for him at the box-office where he would meet w/Grandma and I and explain procedure. I have these letters framed and matted. When it came time to meet this Angelic man I listened intently to his instructions. Here is where the plans were cemented. As I've mentioned before, we were to be seated front and center. Table at the steps from stage to floor. This is another story. I was told to remain seated at concerts end and D.A. would retrieve us and escort downstairs to Karen and Richard's dressing rooms. The dressing rooms were about 30' apart on opposite sides of the hall. First up Karen's introduction. Next up Richard's and then a bout of togetherness. Between stutters I conveyed my appreciation and enjoyed small talk with the artists. By mtgs end I had autographs on the nicest CarpenterS music book I was able to acquire pre-engagement. I was pleased to receive an 8" by 10" B&W glossy that only fueled my shaking and twitching as the autographs were again provided before me.
It's difficult to say what the concert attendance was. There were alot of people yet I was oblivious due to anticipation, anxiety and the fact that everyone was behind my head.
This stuff has all been noted before and please forgive my repetition. Here I'm responding to the above post.
Jeff
Stephen -believe USA Fair performances are classed as concerts ....50,000 is a huge total outside of stadium / music festival attendances 
Carpenters performed multiple concerts at NYC Westbury Fair ....those must have drawn large audiences as well ....
Outside USA ...Bukodan & Osaka concerts would have been large attendances and probably Albert Hall was largest UK venue played at during UK tours ...
Peter
Carpenters performed multiple concerts at NYC Westbury Fair ....those must have drawn large audiences as well ....
Outside USA ...Bukodan & Osaka concerts would have been large attendances and probably Albert Hall was largest UK venue played at during UK tours ...
Peter
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