Roseland Ballroom:
Financed by the Yeungling Family (Beer!)
Founded 1917 in Philadelphia, PA.
1919, relocated to 2nd story of 51st
& Broadway to escape blue laws.
Fletcher Henderson; Louie Armstrong; Harry James; Count Bassie,
Chick Webb; Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman.
Marathon dancing.
Female prizefights.
Yo-Yo contests.
1956, relocated to 52nd St, NYC.
Iconic building built in 1922.
Former ice skating rink, then converted to roller skating
rink.
3,500 capacity.
97 years later for Roseland and 92 for the building.
Closed for business.
Long gone are the swinging big bands and ballroom dances
that made venues like the Roseland, The Savoy, Starlight and The Hammerstein
Ballroom famous, and like most all of the venues from that era, another one
bites the dust. It happens. Owner sees more money in redeveloping the property
with a high-rise multi-use building. Hopefully like a Phoenix it will rise from
the ashes in a new location at some point in the future, but this is the end
for now.
In Bass We Trust stopped out one last time to say goodbye to
the landmark building and enjoy a quick Lady Gaga concert erstwhile. Gaga had
played the venue regularly and closed out the ten decade long party with an extended 10 night stand musical funeral for the building. When we walked in, they were handing out commemorative
hologram concert stubs with Gaga on the front with a pre-fame photo proclaiming in 2008: “I am Lady Gaga, a singer/songwriter. You’re going to know me one
day.” Her last 6 years have been meteoric.....and we all know her name.
The show was the introduction for her worldwide Artpop Tour;
which fans can hit around the country and throughout the globe
at much more affordable ticket prices during the summer months.
The show opened on a rose adorned stage with Gaga solo on
the piano playing a fabulous version of ‘Born This Way’, reminding us that it
was her 28th Birthday and glad we were all there to celebrate with
her. A few songs later she climbed a ladder and high above the crowd sang ‘Bad
Romance’. At one point she was singing from a replica subway car. At another
she was playing a key-tar decked in red roses. There was an inordinate amount of female crotch grabbing, but that is expected from Lady 'F*n Gaga. A stunning amount of wardrobe changes occurred and there was a host of amazing male back-up dancers.
Although barely and hour long, the energy was so high and the action focused it resulted in a performance that seemed at least twice as long.
Although barely and hour long, the energy was so high and the action focused it resulted in a performance that seemed at least twice as long.
Born This Way (solo piano)
Black Jesus/Amen Fashion
Monster
Bad Romance
Sexxx Dreams
Dope
You & I
Just Dance
Pokerface (solo piano)
Artpop
Applause
Encore: G.U.Y. 
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