Long Live the Spectrum
T-Bone 82
Posts: 415
Hi everyone. I wanted to present my piece that I wrote on the history of the Spectrum, my experiences, and Pearl Jam. Here it is. I don't know if it will all fit at once, so it might take a couple of posts.
Long Live the Spectrum
Sometime in 2010, a piece of Philadelphia’s history destroyed…blown to smithereens. Some would say it’s just a building; an old and outdated one at that. There is no more use for the ol’ girl. She’s already been replaced by a bigger, sexier, more modern building next door. But to me and many others in the Philadelphia area, the Spectrum will always be near and dear to our hearts. This building has a soul.
The Spectrum’s history is a short but rich one. It was built in 1967 but quickly became a vital venue. It was home to the Golden Eras of the 76’ers and Flyers of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. Legends like Dr. J, Mo Cheeks, and Moses Malone dominated the hardwood. Sir Charles came along a little later and while his teams were not great, his game and his attitude fit perfectly in Philadelphia.
This building and the teams that played in it seemed to reflect the culture of the Philadelphia sports fan; tough, gritty, and no frills. It was solely about the game, the noise, and the intimidation of opponents. The fans didn’t come for the concessions, bars, or carnival-like atmosphere that many newly constructed sports venues provide. No, it was only about getting a ‘W’.
The concerts were legendary. Billy Joel, The Boss, The Grateful Dead, Elton John, Aerosmith…the list goes on and on. The acoustics are such that you feel like you’re at a club or theater show. It’s the smallest, most intimate big venue in the world. When house lights go on this Halloween and Pearl Jam exits stage left, that will be the last encore for the Spectrum.
I was born in 1982 so, unfortunately, I did not exactly get to experience the Golden Era of this building. The Sixers and Flyers moved next door to a new building in 1996 and, quite frankly, neither team was very good during my formative years. Having said that, I do have some very fond memories, which include the best concert I’ve ever seen from my favorite band in the world, Pearl Jam, who will quite fittingly close the doors on this historic venue.
My first memory of the Spectrum was in 1993. I was in 6th grade when my team, the Mill Road Middle School T-Birds, got to play an exhibition basketball game in the building. I grew up near Atlantic City, so we took a bus 60 miles to Philly to play our cross-town rivals of Linwood, NJ. After our game, we each received a ticket to watch the ‘76ers battle the Indiana Pacers (In case you were wondering the outcome of that game, Dana Barros hit a buzzer-beater with 0.5 seconds left to beat the Pacers. You know it!).
As a 6th grader on the 6th to 8th grade team, I did not exactly see much action. I had decided during warm-ups that if I got in the game, I was going to make the most of it. I entered late in the second half for some garbage-time minutes. I received the inbounds pass from under the basket, dribbled to the top of the key on the other end of the floor (I didn’t even consider passing) and launched a three pointer from the NBA stripe. “Brick! Back iron!” My goal was not to leave it short for an air ball, so I view the shot as a success even though it didn’t go in.
More recently, I was fortunate enough to attend the last college basketball game ever played at the Spectrum, the Villanova Wildcats vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers on January 28, 2009. College basketball was a big part of the venue’s history. The Spectrum was home to the legendary Christian Laettner buzzer-beater in the 1992 NCAA tournament which gave Duke a win over Kentucky in the elite 8 (I must have practiced that turnaround jump shot on the basketball court in my backyard 500 times from 1992 to 1996), several other NCAA and conference tournaments, as will as many Big 5 (the Philly schools – Villanova, Temple, Penn, St. Joe’s, and LaSalle) games. Villanova, my Alma matter, closed out NCAA hoops in the venue with a 67-57 win over Pitt, who was then ranked #3 in the nation. The win got ‘Nova started on their road to the Final Four and their best season since 1985 when they won the National Championship.
My fondest memory of the Spectrum was not sports related. It was April 28, 2003 and my favorite band, Pearl Jam, was taking the stage. At the time, I was in my second semester of my junior year at Villanova. I had just finished an internship, so I did not have any class work for the remaining three weeks of the semester. Life was good. I had some cash in the bank and had been offered a full-time job with the company I interned with pending graduation. I had one mission for the last three weeks of school: Rock out!
The plans for the concert had been well-laid. I was to take the train into the city, meet my buddy Jon (Temple guy) at 30th Street Station, wait for our friend Kevin to arrive on his train from Rutgers, and the three of us would drive down to the Spectrum in Jon’s car. I had spoken to Kevin earlier in the day. He informed me that he had just finished a brutal final exam and was going to start drinking alone in his room for a few hours before he would get his train. I thought, “Kevin’s a level-headed guy. He’ll only have a few to loosen up.” I was wrong.
I arrived at 30th Street, found Jon, and hopped in his car. I decided to give Kevin a call since I thought he may actually beat me there. He answered the phone and yelled, “Hello!” I could tell from that one-word greeting that he was bombed. I replied, “Yo man! Where are you?” Kevin slurred, “I don’t know. I lost my train pass and then I had to buy another one, but I missed the train but then I got on another train…(trailing off).” “Ah jeez. How long before you get to Philly?” I asked.
Kevin had no idea where he was, what train line he was on, or when he would arrive. For all we knew, he could have been on his way to Pittsburgh. So we just decided to sit and wait…and wait…and wait. Almost two hours later, we see this drunk lunatic stumbling out of 30th Street Station. Kevin had arrived.
Luckily, we had planned for a long tailgate so we still had plenty of time before the show. We cracked open some beers and hunkered down in the parking lot. It was a beautiful day. 78 degrees and sunny, a rare April treat in the Northeast. We were enjoying the atmosphere as we soaked in the rays and the adult beverages.
Kevin was still a mess, however. He was loud, unruly, and obnoxious. At one point, he decided to lie on the hood of the car across from us as the occupants of that car had headed into the venue to catch the opener. I said something funny and he threw his head back in laughter, banging it on the windshield of the car and making about a quarter-size crack. At that point, Jon (a 6’6’’ Irish man with a hollow leg) did something unprecedented…he told another person to stop drinking.
Jon grabbed Kevin, pulled him off the hood of the car, took his beer and threw him in the back of his SUV. Like a scolding father he said, “Now stay in there and don’t even think about coming out! We’ll come get you before the show is about to start!” Kevin proceeded to take a short nap.
As the show approached, my brother and two friends from school had arrived. Like me, my brother is a rabid Pearl Jam fan. My other friends were not, but that was about to change. They were late to arrive, so we had one or two with them and then decided it was time to head in. We tried to grab Kevin, but he claimed (in a half blacked-out state) that he wasn’t coming. After ten minutes of prodding him to wake up and get out of the car, he finally obliged. On the way into the venue he picked up where he left off. He walked over to a bike rack on the sidewalk, grabbed it with two hands, and proceeded to hump it while screaming, “I wear a blue shirt! I wear a blue shirt!” On one hand, he was wearing a blue shirt, so he was speaking the truth. On the other hand, it was a rather asinine claim.
Once we got through the Kevin fiasco, it was all about the show. My brother and I would be sitting in the fan club seats, which are some of the best in the house. As we were walking down the hallway to our seats, we heard the opening chords to “Crazy Mary,” a rare show-opener. We knew were in for a special night.
Throughout the show, the crowd was absolutely deafening and amazing! The crowd screamed, “Hello!” in unison during “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.” It was the most powerful thing I had ever heard. Before one song, Eddie Vedder stepped to the microphone to address the crowd. Before he could say a word, the crowd erupted. He tried to talk, but he was drowned out by the sound of 18,000 strong. He stepped back, took a look around in amazement and just gave up trying to say whatever he was going to say.
The entire show was outstanding. “Do the Evolution” felt like it shook the building. The band played hits, rarities, and covers throughout their rich catalogue. I would single out more songs, but there truly was not a down moment during the concert. I must have gotten up once to go to the bathroom, but if I did I don’t remember doing so. Everyone there truly did not want to miss a moment.
Pearl Jam closed with the trio of “Fortunate Son,” (a Credence Cover), “Rockin’ in the Free World,” (a Neil Young cover), and “Yellow Ledbetter.” If I recall correctly, the house lights were on for all three of the songs. It was amazing to see the crowd absolutely going INSANE! I got up on my chair during “Rockin’ in the Free World” and the woman behind me (clearly the one person in the audience who wasn’t having fun) told me to sit down. I said, “Are you out of your mind?! There is no way lady!” I usually would never say a thing like that, but I felt like I just had to enjoy that moment to it’s fullest, and if that meant standing on my chair then that’s what was going to happen.
After the show, the group reconvened in the parking lot. Kevin, finally sober at this point, claimed he had a great time but I seriously doubt he was fully conscious for most of it. The proof that this show was legendary can be found in my friend Pete’s statement, “I feel like I should send the band more money. The $45 I paid was not enough for that experience.” And Pete was not a Pearl Jam fan going in.
I have been to 16 Pearl Jam shows and this was by far the best one. I used to wonder, “What made this show so great?” I have seen them play better and tighter. I have seen them play better setlists. I finally figured out the answer recently; it was the venue. The Spectrum has a way of tapping into the true force of the performer and the audience. One feeds off of another. The great acoustics make everything louder, clearer, and more powerful, whether it’s 18,000 screaming Flyers urging their team on or 18,000 Pearl Jam fans singing in unison. It is the kind of thing that gives you the chills.
How is it that a venue can have a soul? Is it history? Is it the fans? Is it the performer or the team? Well, I believe it’s a combination of everything. It doesn’t happen overnight, it can’t happen without great performers, and it can’t happen without passionate fans. The Spectrum has a soul. It’s more than a building. It’s a reflection of a city, a people, and a culture. I will be sad when they tear it down, but I cannot begin to describe how fortunate I feel to posses a ticket to the last major event in this building’s history. I know Pearl Jam is the kind of band that understands what this means to Philadelphia and they will do their best to give it a proper send-off.
When they blow it up the structure will be destroyed and the building will be gone, but the Spectrum will never die. A soul lives on forever. Long live the Spectrum.
Long Live the Spectrum
Sometime in 2010, a piece of Philadelphia’s history destroyed…blown to smithereens. Some would say it’s just a building; an old and outdated one at that. There is no more use for the ol’ girl. She’s already been replaced by a bigger, sexier, more modern building next door. But to me and many others in the Philadelphia area, the Spectrum will always be near and dear to our hearts. This building has a soul.
The Spectrum’s history is a short but rich one. It was built in 1967 but quickly became a vital venue. It was home to the Golden Eras of the 76’ers and Flyers of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. Legends like Dr. J, Mo Cheeks, and Moses Malone dominated the hardwood. Sir Charles came along a little later and while his teams were not great, his game and his attitude fit perfectly in Philadelphia.
This building and the teams that played in it seemed to reflect the culture of the Philadelphia sports fan; tough, gritty, and no frills. It was solely about the game, the noise, and the intimidation of opponents. The fans didn’t come for the concessions, bars, or carnival-like atmosphere that many newly constructed sports venues provide. No, it was only about getting a ‘W’.
The concerts were legendary. Billy Joel, The Boss, The Grateful Dead, Elton John, Aerosmith…the list goes on and on. The acoustics are such that you feel like you’re at a club or theater show. It’s the smallest, most intimate big venue in the world. When house lights go on this Halloween and Pearl Jam exits stage left, that will be the last encore for the Spectrum.
I was born in 1982 so, unfortunately, I did not exactly get to experience the Golden Era of this building. The Sixers and Flyers moved next door to a new building in 1996 and, quite frankly, neither team was very good during my formative years. Having said that, I do have some very fond memories, which include the best concert I’ve ever seen from my favorite band in the world, Pearl Jam, who will quite fittingly close the doors on this historic venue.
My first memory of the Spectrum was in 1993. I was in 6th grade when my team, the Mill Road Middle School T-Birds, got to play an exhibition basketball game in the building. I grew up near Atlantic City, so we took a bus 60 miles to Philly to play our cross-town rivals of Linwood, NJ. After our game, we each received a ticket to watch the ‘76ers battle the Indiana Pacers (In case you were wondering the outcome of that game, Dana Barros hit a buzzer-beater with 0.5 seconds left to beat the Pacers. You know it!).
As a 6th grader on the 6th to 8th grade team, I did not exactly see much action. I had decided during warm-ups that if I got in the game, I was going to make the most of it. I entered late in the second half for some garbage-time minutes. I received the inbounds pass from under the basket, dribbled to the top of the key on the other end of the floor (I didn’t even consider passing) and launched a three pointer from the NBA stripe. “Brick! Back iron!” My goal was not to leave it short for an air ball, so I view the shot as a success even though it didn’t go in.
More recently, I was fortunate enough to attend the last college basketball game ever played at the Spectrum, the Villanova Wildcats vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers on January 28, 2009. College basketball was a big part of the venue’s history. The Spectrum was home to the legendary Christian Laettner buzzer-beater in the 1992 NCAA tournament which gave Duke a win over Kentucky in the elite 8 (I must have practiced that turnaround jump shot on the basketball court in my backyard 500 times from 1992 to 1996), several other NCAA and conference tournaments, as will as many Big 5 (the Philly schools – Villanova, Temple, Penn, St. Joe’s, and LaSalle) games. Villanova, my Alma matter, closed out NCAA hoops in the venue with a 67-57 win over Pitt, who was then ranked #3 in the nation. The win got ‘Nova started on their road to the Final Four and their best season since 1985 when they won the National Championship.
My fondest memory of the Spectrum was not sports related. It was April 28, 2003 and my favorite band, Pearl Jam, was taking the stage. At the time, I was in my second semester of my junior year at Villanova. I had just finished an internship, so I did not have any class work for the remaining three weeks of the semester. Life was good. I had some cash in the bank and had been offered a full-time job with the company I interned with pending graduation. I had one mission for the last three weeks of school: Rock out!
The plans for the concert had been well-laid. I was to take the train into the city, meet my buddy Jon (Temple guy) at 30th Street Station, wait for our friend Kevin to arrive on his train from Rutgers, and the three of us would drive down to the Spectrum in Jon’s car. I had spoken to Kevin earlier in the day. He informed me that he had just finished a brutal final exam and was going to start drinking alone in his room for a few hours before he would get his train. I thought, “Kevin’s a level-headed guy. He’ll only have a few to loosen up.” I was wrong.
I arrived at 30th Street, found Jon, and hopped in his car. I decided to give Kevin a call since I thought he may actually beat me there. He answered the phone and yelled, “Hello!” I could tell from that one-word greeting that he was bombed. I replied, “Yo man! Where are you?” Kevin slurred, “I don’t know. I lost my train pass and then I had to buy another one, but I missed the train but then I got on another train…(trailing off).” “Ah jeez. How long before you get to Philly?” I asked.
Kevin had no idea where he was, what train line he was on, or when he would arrive. For all we knew, he could have been on his way to Pittsburgh. So we just decided to sit and wait…and wait…and wait. Almost two hours later, we see this drunk lunatic stumbling out of 30th Street Station. Kevin had arrived.
Luckily, we had planned for a long tailgate so we still had plenty of time before the show. We cracked open some beers and hunkered down in the parking lot. It was a beautiful day. 78 degrees and sunny, a rare April treat in the Northeast. We were enjoying the atmosphere as we soaked in the rays and the adult beverages.
Kevin was still a mess, however. He was loud, unruly, and obnoxious. At one point, he decided to lie on the hood of the car across from us as the occupants of that car had headed into the venue to catch the opener. I said something funny and he threw his head back in laughter, banging it on the windshield of the car and making about a quarter-size crack. At that point, Jon (a 6’6’’ Irish man with a hollow leg) did something unprecedented…he told another person to stop drinking.
Jon grabbed Kevin, pulled him off the hood of the car, took his beer and threw him in the back of his SUV. Like a scolding father he said, “Now stay in there and don’t even think about coming out! We’ll come get you before the show is about to start!” Kevin proceeded to take a short nap.
As the show approached, my brother and two friends from school had arrived. Like me, my brother is a rabid Pearl Jam fan. My other friends were not, but that was about to change. They were late to arrive, so we had one or two with them and then decided it was time to head in. We tried to grab Kevin, but he claimed (in a half blacked-out state) that he wasn’t coming. After ten minutes of prodding him to wake up and get out of the car, he finally obliged. On the way into the venue he picked up where he left off. He walked over to a bike rack on the sidewalk, grabbed it with two hands, and proceeded to hump it while screaming, “I wear a blue shirt! I wear a blue shirt!” On one hand, he was wearing a blue shirt, so he was speaking the truth. On the other hand, it was a rather asinine claim.
Once we got through the Kevin fiasco, it was all about the show. My brother and I would be sitting in the fan club seats, which are some of the best in the house. As we were walking down the hallway to our seats, we heard the opening chords to “Crazy Mary,” a rare show-opener. We knew were in for a special night.
Throughout the show, the crowd was absolutely deafening and amazing! The crowd screamed, “Hello!” in unison during “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.” It was the most powerful thing I had ever heard. Before one song, Eddie Vedder stepped to the microphone to address the crowd. Before he could say a word, the crowd erupted. He tried to talk, but he was drowned out by the sound of 18,000 strong. He stepped back, took a look around in amazement and just gave up trying to say whatever he was going to say.
The entire show was outstanding. “Do the Evolution” felt like it shook the building. The band played hits, rarities, and covers throughout their rich catalogue. I would single out more songs, but there truly was not a down moment during the concert. I must have gotten up once to go to the bathroom, but if I did I don’t remember doing so. Everyone there truly did not want to miss a moment.
Pearl Jam closed with the trio of “Fortunate Son,” (a Credence Cover), “Rockin’ in the Free World,” (a Neil Young cover), and “Yellow Ledbetter.” If I recall correctly, the house lights were on for all three of the songs. It was amazing to see the crowd absolutely going INSANE! I got up on my chair during “Rockin’ in the Free World” and the woman behind me (clearly the one person in the audience who wasn’t having fun) told me to sit down. I said, “Are you out of your mind?! There is no way lady!” I usually would never say a thing like that, but I felt like I just had to enjoy that moment to it’s fullest, and if that meant standing on my chair then that’s what was going to happen.
After the show, the group reconvened in the parking lot. Kevin, finally sober at this point, claimed he had a great time but I seriously doubt he was fully conscious for most of it. The proof that this show was legendary can be found in my friend Pete’s statement, “I feel like I should send the band more money. The $45 I paid was not enough for that experience.” And Pete was not a Pearl Jam fan going in.
I have been to 16 Pearl Jam shows and this was by far the best one. I used to wonder, “What made this show so great?” I have seen them play better and tighter. I have seen them play better setlists. I finally figured out the answer recently; it was the venue. The Spectrum has a way of tapping into the true force of the performer and the audience. One feeds off of another. The great acoustics make everything louder, clearer, and more powerful, whether it’s 18,000 screaming Flyers urging their team on or 18,000 Pearl Jam fans singing in unison. It is the kind of thing that gives you the chills.
How is it that a venue can have a soul? Is it history? Is it the fans? Is it the performer or the team? Well, I believe it’s a combination of everything. It doesn’t happen overnight, it can’t happen without great performers, and it can’t happen without passionate fans. The Spectrum has a soul. It’s more than a building. It’s a reflection of a city, a people, and a culture. I will be sad when they tear it down, but I cannot begin to describe how fortunate I feel to posses a ticket to the last major event in this building’s history. I know Pearl Jam is the kind of band that understands what this means to Philadelphia and they will do their best to give it a proper send-off.
When they blow it up the structure will be destroyed and the building will be gone, but the Spectrum will never die. A soul lives on forever. Long live the Spectrum.
"Darkness comes in waves, tell me, why invite it to stay?"
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Comments
I saw The Dead at the Spectrum in 1989 (ha ha... you were like, 7?). I was so high... up in the seats. Man, nobody does nosebleed like the Spectrum
want to be enlightened"
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)