"The Fillmore East Site" in the East Village, New York is a treasure trove of musical history, a venue once heralded as the "Church of Rock and Roll." Located at 105 Second Avenue, it was originally known as the "Village Theatre" when it opened in 1925. It wasn't until Bill Graham, a legendary concert promoter, took over in 1968 that it became the Fillmore East.
The Fillmore East operated from March 8, 1968, to June 27, 1971, hosting an eclectic array of talent. It was the East Coast counterpart to Graham's Fillmore West in San Francisco. Here, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who all graced the stage, making it a key site in rock history.
One of the hidden gems of the Fillmore East is its elaborate light shows. These were not your average stage lights; they were psychedelic masterpieces created by Joshua White and his team, better known as the Joshua Light Show. Their innovative use of liquids, oils, and colored lights projected swirling, mesmerizing patterns that perfectly complemented the music.
The Fillmore East was also a hub for live album recordings. The Allman Brothers Band recorded their legendary album "At Fillmore East" here in March 1971. The Grateful Dead were frequent performers, and their live album "Ladies and Gentlemen... the Grateful Dead" captures some of their performances at this iconic venue.
Now for some quirky trivia: Did you know that the Fillmore East had an unusual scheduling system? Shows were often scheduled as late-night affairs, sometimes starting as late as midnight and running until the early hours of the morning. This was partly due to the venue's location in a residential area, where noise ordinances were more lenient late at night.
After its closure, the venue went through various incarnations, including a brief stint as a gay disco known as "The Saint" in the 1980s. Today, the building serves as an EmblemHealth office, but it still holds a special place in the heart of music lovers.
Despite its relatively short lifespan, the Fillmore East remains an integral part of rock and roll folklore, immortalized in countless live recordings and the memories of those who were lucky enough to attend a show there.