Dave Was Here

On July 20, 2016 the Cincinnati Gardens was sold.  It was my signature on the closing documents that sealed the fate of this Cincinnati icon. With the deal done, the building born in 1949 sat dark, silently awaiting execution as the new owners proclaimed their intention to repurpose the property. More plainly put, the 67 year old building would soon face the wrecking ball.

I didn't give much thought to signing what amounted to a death sentence for the Cincinnati landmark.  As an officer of a community bank, it's not unusual for me to attend a real estate closing and sign closing documents.  Often these are highly charged emotional events where buyers and sellers meet and navigate the formalities of a sale. But this wasn't a typical closing. It was just me and a singular attorney in a small room signing a series of documents. It was a seemingly non event;  no pomp, no emotion and in less than five minutes it was over and I was back to my regular routine.

Although I am the president of the entity that owned the Cincinnati Gardens, the truth be known, I had little to do with the Gardens.  I maintained an office in the building having worked for Jerry Robinson since his purchase of the building some 36 years ago, but my business was always elsewhere. I took the place for granted. For me, the Gardens was nothing more than a physical location from which to do my work and on occasion snag some free event tickets. Having no emotional attachment to the facility, it may not have been an accident that those involved in managing the Gardens weren't available to attend the closing. Surely it would have been a difficult endeavor for them.

That evening, I reflected on the day's events and the magnitude of the transaction. The destruction of the Gardens is a big deal, I thought to myself.  The Cincinnati landmark touched the life's of millions of people and holds a special place in Cincinnati History. I bet one day the Gardens will be sorely missed and folks will talk about it nostalgically, like they do the Albee Theatre and Crosley Field.  "It's a shame they tore it down," people will say.  Sadly, that's how I felt.

Originally named singularly as The Cincinnati Garden, it was envisioned with hockey in mind. It was modeled after the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto and the resemblance is obvious.  That hockey palace was home to the NLH Toronto Maple Leafs for 68 years and because of its prominent downtown location was redeveloped in 2009.  It stands today as a Canadian national historical site.  

When the Garden opened on  February 22, 1949, it was a major event for the City of Cincinnati. The opening of the seventh largest arena in the United States was witnessed by dignitaries from around the country who came to town for its debut; an NHL exhibition game between the Montreal Canadians and the soon to be Cincinnati Mohawks.  Later that week Garden events included UC Baskeball, Xavier Basketball and a heavyweight boxing match that saw Cincinnatian Ezzard Charles beat Joey Maxim of Cleveland.  The Garden was a big hit and ushered in a new age for entertainment for the Cincinnati metro area.  Never had the traffic been so congested on Seymour Avenue reported the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Over its first 25 years, The Gardens was the place to see an indoor event in Cincinnati.  The building hosted hockey, basketball and most every popular concert and show of the time. Thousands of events played the Gardens to millions of patrons.  As a child I remember strolling through the travel and boat show with my parents and attending a hockey game with my uncle from Canada.  As a teen, I saw the band Creedence Clearwater Revival.  It was the summer of 1971 and my first rock concert.  I think it would be tough to find a person in the greater Cincinnati area under the age of 50 who doesn't have personal memories of  the Gardens. Books will be written.

Everything changed in 1975. Riverfront Coliseum opened and seemingly marked the end times for the Gardens.  The Coliseum booked all the big shows and popular opinion had it that there was no place in town for a so called "second rate" arena.  By 1979 the Gardens was viewed as a white elephant. It was shuttered and for sale.  As they say in today's vernacular, it was ready to be repurposed.

Along came Cincinnati real estate developer Jerry Robinson, who had a vision for the facility.  He saw a large parcel of land in a central metropolitan location with a humongous structure having high ceilings and clear free span.  With commercial-industrial development in mind, he moved forth to negotiate a real estate deal with the anxious out of town owners.  Jerry bought the building and surrounding land for $825,000.

As Jerry patiently waited for his real estate strategy to evolve, something else happened; he received calls for booking the facility. Why not book an event, he thought?  First he booked a local wrestling show and shortly thereafter an opportunity presented itself to host a national closed circuit boxing match featuring Sugar Ray Leonard vrs Roberto Duran.  The promoter included a live match showcasing a local boxer, a rising star named Aaron Pryor. 

I remember that night.  It was Friday, June 20, 1980 and the Gardens was jammed pack with a highly energized crowd exceeding 10,000.  It was the first major event at the reopened Gardens and with the Who tragedy (December, 1979) fresh in their minds, city officials were closely monitoring activities. The lobby was still packed and only a couple hundred tickets remained when Mayor Blackwell gave Garden's management the order to halt ticket sales.  

I recall a very congested main concourse. Looking into the arena I saw a scene out of  an old black and white movie with a few splashes of color.  Center court prominently displayed the boxing ring shrouded by dimmed lighting and a heavy smoky haze. When the bell rang, the action was short and sweet. Aaron Pryor took just 2 minutes 15 seconds to KO his opponent in the first round. Unfortunately, that left way too much idle time awaiting the start of the closed circuit feed and the main event.  People milled around, packing the hallways and concession areas.  There was a buzz in the air and I sensed edginess.  Folks paid $20 bucks for a seat and wanted more action.  To me it was like a pressure cooker, simmering.  I had no ticket and no seat, so I didn't linger.  Thankfully, the evening concluded with no major problems and the Cincinnati Gardens reaffirmed itself as a viable venue. Its revival would continue.
    

Around that time, Jerry relocated the offices of his real estate management company, Kenko Corporation, to the Gardens.  Kenko moved into the office suite on the second floor, in the front of the building, directly above the lobby. I was relatively new to the organization and was delighted to have an office with a window overlooking Seymour Avenue.

Jerry Robinson in 1983

More events were to come to the Gardens and in 1983 Jerry Robinson landed an anchor tenant, Xavier University basketball. The Musketeers called the Gardens home court for 17 years, accumulating an impressive 215 wins and only 25 losses. When Xavier left the Gardens in 2000 for their new arena, The Cintas Center, they were a nationally recognized basketball program. Without question, the Gardens played a role in Xavier's rise to national acclaim.  Along the way the Gardens also hosted University of Cincinnati basketball from 1987-89 and Cincinnati Cyclones hockey from 1990 to 1997. When the Cyclones relocated to Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum Jerry Robinson brought the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to town. The Ducks skated the Garden's ice from 1997 until 2005. 

In 1997 Jerry opened Spring Valley Bank, a community bank in Wyoming, Ohio. He left his office at the Gardens and relocated to the bank on Springfield Pike.  Jerry continued his regular attendance at Gardens events, but over time he distanced himself from the Gardens operation. I can still picture Jerry walking through the arena prior to a Mighty Ducks game accompanied by Lily, his white bichon.  After the Mighty Ducks disbanded the Gardens continued a slow decline. Times had changed again. The Gardens faced competition from newer arenas like Shoemaker, Cintas and Bank of Kentucky Center. And due to the high costs of touring, a mid-sized indoor concert became a rarity. Moreover, the Garden's had no anchor tenant to provide a steady stream of revenue and lacking air conditioning, it was shuttered during the summer months.  Jerry enabled the Gardens to continue for another decade, albeit operating on "life support".

In 2013 the Gardens was put up for sale.  There was some interest, but few serious buyers. Ultimately, a quasy government agency known as the Port Of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority appeared and in the summer of 2016 purchased the Cincinnati Gardens and the 19 acres of adjacent land for 1.2 million dollars.  Their objective; to promote economic development in the region.

On a hot July afternoon, in a matter of hours, I took what I wanted from my office of 36 years. I said my goodbyes and left my mark on the black plastic covering the drafty old casement windows and my view of Seymour Avenue. In retrospect, I have come to appreciate the Cincinnati Gardens for what it was; a unique and special place with an unpretentious charm and a rich history. It was the house of the common man with a lingering aroma of popcorn and beer in the air.  There was nothing fancy about the Gardens, no boxes or club seats, but it was a fine entertainment venue for an ice show, a circus, a rodeo or a concert.  Over time, I think the Gardens will be best remembered as a great place to watch a hockey or basketball game. Every seat was a good seat. You sat up close to the action and were drawn into the excitement of the game. And there were many exciting games played at the Gardens.

Jerry Robinson through his entrepreneurial spirit provided a tremendous community service to the citizens of greater Cincinnati.  He gave a second life to the Cincinnati Gardens;  a revival of 36 years that provided many lifetimes of memories.  "I think there's a lot of love for the Gardens in this community, " Jerry told the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1984. And right he was. 

 

The Cincinnati Gardens 2016  Not at all looking ready for demolition

Sound Memories

The Gardens was never intended to be a music venue, but it was. Over six plus decades millions of fans watched and listened to their favorite performers play "Cincinnati."  The results were scores of fantastic and memorable concerts and shows.

Until 1982 concerts at the Garden's were plagued by the buildings acoustics. To ardent fans, it often didn't matter, but according to Gardens owner, Jerry Robinson, the building's mass of masonry and metal created a sound disaster.  It was a problem he had to resolve to further develop the Garden's concert business. Jerry took a scientific approach and engaged a sound expert from Yale University. The problem was determined to be something the professionals call "the picket fence effect." After analysis and testing the remedy was to drape 10,000 yards of duvetyne, a felt-like fabric, from the arena ceiling to kill the echoes. Joe Jagoditz, Gardens GM for 36 years said that after the fix, the Gardens, once referred to as "The Tin Barn", was transformed into one of the best musical venues in the City.  Joe booked Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra to debut the Garden's new sound. 

Concerts Remembered:

1954 - January 24.  Gene Autry was my favorite when I was very young.  I saw him and his horse 'Champ' at the Cincinnati Garden with my Dad when I was 5 years old. Gene sang songs, including, 'Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer'.  He led Champ through tricks. I still remember Champ going to one knee and lowering his head. Then, Gene, led Champ around the Gardens, close to the wall, so kids, including me could reach down and touch him. It's still one of my great memories among many great family memories growing up!! - Anonymous at first-thoughts.org

1964 - August 27.  Last Thursday night The Beatles were in town and packed the (Gardens), our show, out there..... the majority being girls..... The question is, can you take 14,000 youngsters and pack them into one stadium when they know they are coming there to get hysterical? And the whole show was based on producing hysteria.... and then these girls went into a coma, they ranted , they fainted, eyes were glassy, some pulled their hair out, some tore their dresses, they threw notes of an undesirable nature on the stage....... It was as some people say, unbelievable - Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Benjamin Schwartz

1965 - May 29.  Judy Garland sang six songs during her 20 minute opening set at the Garden's including the tune "When your Smiling". However, no one was smiling after a ten minute intermission extended to an hour.  Miss Garland returned to the stage accompanied by two physicians who advised the audience that she had a virus and a temperature and was not able to continue her performance.  Ticket prices for the concert ranged from $3.75 to $7.50.  According to Billboard Magazine, when it was learned that there would be no refunds, "patrons were hotter than a cowboy's six shooter."  Miss Garland was paid her $20,000 guaranteed fee an hour before show time.

1965 - November 27. The Rolling Stones played at Cincinnati Gardens. I know because I was there. Half empty Gardens that night. Opening act was from Boston called the Rocketing Ramrods. Turned the sound off & the house lights on twice during the show. The crowd all rushed the floor to be close to the stage. After playing Satisfaction, the Stones walked off the stage. Some chick Jumped out of the stands and onto Jagger's back and went with them backstage. Bill Coyne

1968 - November 15. I remember Cincinnati Gardens as the site of the first big rock concert I ever attended. Our small group of friends left Lucasville, Ohio, relishing the road trip to Cincy nearly as much as the opportunity to see the Jimi Hendrix Experience in concert. We were young high school students and we were all about Jimi. We had all purchased the 8-track tape of the album Are You Experienced, and we had already driven countless miles around our hometown in Southern Ohio accompanied by the unearthly sounds of "Purple Haze" and "Foxy Lady" and "Hey Joe." We had already been exposed to the footage of Monterey Pop and Jimi's famous guitar-burning ritual. And, naturally, we all had marveled at Jimi's guitar theatrics and amazing showmanship. But, this, our first true road trip together was special because it represented a rite of passage in the sense that we were 17 years-old, carefree, and entrusted to the wild spirit of rock and roll. Like giddy children at an amusement park, we inhaled the sights and sounds of a major rock concert venue. We were too busy living the moment to buy souvenirs or to realize that we should savor (and preserve) the Hendrix Experience. The show was outstanding -- loud, heavy, and full of memorable Hendrix moments. Not one of us took drugs or acted crazy or charged the stage. We were there to see Jimi and to hear the Experience -- period. To us, Jimi was everything "groovy" and the legitimate sound of our times. Our attendance at the concert validated our "cool." We became experienced. Frank Thompson, All Things Wildly Considered (blog)

1970 - March 26. The Cincinnati Pop Festival was a huge success despite a no show by the headliner, Joe Cocker. Tickets were five bucks for the 12-hour, rock marathon that featured national bands MC5, Amboy Dukes, Savoy Brown and local rockers Balderdash, Whale Feathers and Bitter Blood Street Theatre. The festival's success at the Gardens led to an outdoor festival in June at Crosley Field.

1971 - November 12. It was rip 'em up, tear em up, give em hell Elvis night at Cincinnati Gardens.... Elvis appeared and hysteria erupted. From the moment he entered the hall to the moment he left, the air was supercharged - with enough flashbulbs exploding to give the effect of a dozen strobes....... Such a glorious frenzy we have never seen the likes before. Jim Knippenberg, The Cincinnati Enquirer,

1973 - February 14. You couldn't possible have squeezed one more person into Cincinnati Gardens Wednesday night.  Not after slightly more than 12,500 had already traffic jammed their way down Seymour Avenue to pack the hall.  All that for Neil Young, one of rock's superstars and Linda Ronstadt, who isn't quite a superstar, but ought to be.  Ronstadt opened the show with what had to be one of the most thrilling performances in Gardens' history.  Such a fantastic, beautiful performer.  People may have been their primarily for Neil Young, but Ronstadt gave all the 12,500 their money's worth. And then Neil Yound gave them more than their money's worth.  Appearing behind a bank of amplifiers and a row of lights (it took three semis and a 22 foot van to get it all there. The van was equipped with a 32 track recording studio and a closed circuit TV system on which the concert was taped).  Young began with some of his acoustical stuff, just him and his guitar.  It was received madly. Wildly. Lovingly. Young kept his voice quiet, almost folksie and painted a very peaceful picture. With a slight twang, maybe even a slightly nasal quality, he came off quite relaxed.  And then came the rock and roll.  Neil Young's rock and roll is a carefully blended mixture of country sounds, folk sounds and soft rock sounds. His work comes off very controlled and sophisticated. It's hard to say just how beautiful he was, so thoroughly professional, so completely competent.  It's easy to say that in over five years of concert going (that's a lot of concerts), his show was one of the best. Very easy to say it.  Jim Knippenberg, Cincinnati Enquirer.
  
1973 - December 4.  I drove from Athens, Ohio to see The Grateful Dead. It took forever to set up the infamous Wall of Sound. Phil (Lesh) came out, alone, with a glass of wine and proceeded to yell about the promoters, the Belkin brothers. He told the crowd not to be pissed at the Dead...to take it up with the Belkin brothers...Yikes - Campburt.    Note: The aforementioned concert, unusually short for the Dead, was recorded and released on CD. The show begins with a band member making note of some technical difficulties. "This whole scene here has gotten quite out of hand and... (pause).... I'm suppose to keep talking, so...(pause)...you can turn down the houselights now...(pause) I said you can turn down the house lights now.... Now man, Now!" Suddenly, the song Johnny B. Goode begins. At the songs conclusion one of the band members asks, " Where the F* did you say we were?"

1975 - June 21. I can remember the Eric Clapton and Santana concert well. I was with a friends Frank B. and Tony W. We were eating mushrooms and we were on the floor close to the stage at the Gardens. It was probably the most exciting show I ever saw. Santana opened for Clapton and they were great, then E.C. played an unbelievably smoking show. At the time he still had at least two cats from Derick and The Dominoes playing with him. THEY TORE IT UP. At the end Carlos came out and played with Clapton. I know for sure they played "After Midnight" together. I think the tickets were 15 bucks. Can you imagine? Seems like they played all night too . Wonderful Memories. - Melinda, myconcertarchive.com

1983 - April 8. I was at the Kinks concert in '83.  Dave Davies held his guitar down to the crazys in the front row. My friend and I strummed his guitar during their encore. As he pulls it away my finger caught his last string and it broke.  He was pissed.  A rodie came on stage and handed him another guitar.  Michael Patrick May

1984 - March 9. When Van Halen performed at the Gardens, I wanted to impress a friend so I took him up to the old press box. Not much to see there, but it led us to a catwalk high up in the steel rafters of Gardens. Through the darkness, we walked along the metal pathway to the middle of the arena. I'll never forget peering down at the stage watching Van Halen's high energy performance of their signature song "Jump" to the enthusiastic sold out crowd. Dave

1986 - May 23. George Thorogood and the Destroyers played the Gardens and subsequently released their album "LIVE" recorded at the Gardens that night.

1987 - March 19.  I was at this concert. Cinderella opened up for Bon Jovi and they were amazing as well.  The Energy was unbelievable and they played each song with so much power. They were in such a fucking great mood. They got the crowd involved. One of the best Rock N Roll Shows EVER!!! - Anonymous

1992 - August 20. It was a very hot August night! Ozzy Osbourne had just played at Deer Creek, Indiana the night before. This was my first real rock concert! I remember the arena dark during the intro music, then Ozzy's image could be seen behind the giant curtain, all big and illuminated. I can still see Mike Inez during that moment with his bass waiting for the curtain to drop. Hey! It was quite a moment! Many moments during that show! Kevin Vergamini, myconcertarchive.com

1993 - January 11.  The bands Damn Yankees and Jackyl made a memorable appearance at the Gardens. First, Jesse James Dupree, lead singer of the group Jackyl, was arrest for indecent exposure. Dupree dropped his pants on stage while holding his guitar in front of his body and then turned around and "mooned" the crowd. "They love to get crazy and they're kind of suppressed by their city government," said Dupree about Cincinnati rock fans. Later, Ted Nugent, of Damn Yankees was arrested for shooting flaming arrows from the stage. The pyrotechnic display was a regular part of the group's show. Nugent was released after paying $1,000 bail. He was not pleased with Hamilton County Judge Timothy Hogan, but stated that the Cincinnati police loved him and he signed over 100 autographs for them.

GARDEN'S TRIVIA:  NAME THE ENTERTAINER WHO PLAYED THE MOST SHOWS AT THE GARDENS?  answer below  

                                                    Conway Twitty appeared 9 times at the Gardens.

Share your memories of concerts at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com