Read all about the original Allman Bros. in Atlantic City and see a photo gallery from their shows at Steel Pier and in Atlantic City.
All photos courtesy of E.J. Devokaitis at the Big House Museum in Macon, Ga.
During a career that now spans 42 years, the Allman Brothers Band has shared a stage with such musical luminaries as the Grateful Dead, B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix.
Forty years ago this summer at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, the band shared a bill with another legendary performer — a four-footed one.
“They used to talk about opening for a diving horse,” recalled Kirk West, an archivist and former road manager for the band.
An airborne equine and a boardwalk environment created an atmosphere far different from the clubs and theaters the group would normally play.
The six days of shows at the Steel Pier — July 5-10 — were not the standard type of concert for the Georgia-based band. The engagement was the longest in one place for the original lineup featuring slide guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley.
Before arriving in Atlantic City, the band had its highs and lows on the road, just like the ocean tide. Promoter Bill Graham, an avid fan, had selected the group to close the Fillmore East in New York City on June 27. An eagerly awaited concert set for Independence Day weekend at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island was canceled due to a major crowd disturbance, a big letdown for the group.
Money was a prime factor in bringing the band to South Jersey as part of a tour to promote Idlewild South, the group’s second album.
“We got a pretty good fee,” recalled Willie Perkins, the band’s road manager for the tour. The band received $12,500 for the concerts under the contract that was signed in February 1971.
The Steel Pier performances meant a change in the band’s routine. While the Allman Brothers would normally play concerts of more than two hours and occasionally more than twice that length at the Fillmore East, the contract called for “3 shows daily, 30 to 40 minutes each.”
The shortness of the set required an adjustment. “One song could normally last 30 minutes,” Perkins said. Performances of “Whippin’ Post” and “Mountain Jam,” could surpass the half-hour mark, thanks to extended solos.
Billed in a newspaper ad as a “popular rock group,” the Allman Brothers performed in the Golden Dome Ballroom. Receiving top billing in the same ad and performing in the Music Hall were the Cowsills, a different type of sibling act. Admission, which included the bands, two movies, children’s theater, the diving horse and water show, was $3 for adults and $1.50 for children.
The two musical acts never crossed paths, Perkins said. “We never saw them and they never saw us.”
George Jackson opened the Steel Pier in 1898, less than 50 years after Atlantic City’s incorporation. He was followed by owner Frank P. Gravatt, a showman who realized the public’s appetite for an eclectic mix of entertainment in one location at one price, 25 cents.
The Catanoso brothers were already seasoned amusement-park veterans when they reopened Atlantic City’s Steel Pier with 14 rides in 1993, a scant 22 days after signing a five-year lease that extended to the year the famous Pier turned 100.
One year to the date Gov. Chris Christie signed landmark legislation designed to revitalize Atlantic City and set the surrounding region on a new course for economic growth, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) adopted the Atlantic City Tourism District Master Plan in a special meeting Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the A.C. Convention Center.
The Philadelphia-based band Steal Your Face is no stranger to southern New Jersey, having done numerous local gigs including after-parties at Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Café when the Allman Brothers Band and Furthur (the band featuring the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, among others, which is coming back to Atlantic City in November) were each in A.C. last year. Early last month, though, the band jammed for the first time on the deck of a party boat during a three-hour back-bay tour of Margate. “I was really impressed by how cool that was and how well it went,” says Steal Your Face rhythm guitarist Garry Engle. “Everybody had a great time, so we’re doing it again.” This Saturday, Sept. 17, from 7-10pm, the five-man band (also including lead guitarist Curtis Eustace, drummer Lou Zalvino, bassist Paul Baroli and keyboardist Michael Morrow) will do another sunset jam aboard the 65-foot Jessie O’ II party boat. The boat leaves Captain Andy’s Marina (9317 Amherst Ave., Margate) at 7pm and includes a buffet dinner, live music and scenic bay cruise for $40 per person, or $75 per couple. There will be no liquor served, but patrons are welcome to BYOB. Call 412-3635 for reservations. Click here for an awesome...
Steel Pier Associates, LLC, it was announced late Wednesday, Aug. 3, has become the new and latest owner of Atlantic City's famed Steel Pier, an amusement park with a rich history, which resides on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
For Catanoso, the interest of casinos in embracing the amusement pier is a hopeful sign. Operators of family attractions have long been battling it out alone.
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1. Anonymous said... on May 25, 2011 at 10:05PM
“ALLAMAN??? in the title, maybe you should know how to spell the name of the band you're writing about!”
2. Anonymous said... on May 27, 2011 at 06:46AM
“That one picture of the roadie looking like his was sleeping on an amp was not sleeping on an amp. LOL.
The band an crew made some very good lady friends who, I think, took all of the pictures.
It was the beginning of an amazing 41 years.”
3. Anonymous said... on May 27, 2011 at 08:54PM
“Awesome job, y'all! Thanks so much! Nice to see pictures of the ABB crew!”
4. Anonymous said... on May 28, 2011 at 11:25PM
“I was there with friends who were members of a well-known local Philly band. I remember that during some down time a good friend of the Allman Brothers was having a great time singing '' High Heel Sneakers". I think his name was "Tiny". He was a big guy, wearing overalls. At one point, some folks did go over to see the Cowsills. Their older son did a good "Mick Jagger" impression, or so it seemed at the time.
I have mentioned the Allman's playing at Steel Pier, but never came across anyone else who remembered being there. Thanks for the article and pictures.
”
5. Trevor Nadjiwon said... on May 29, 2011 at 10:42PM
“These are good photos of the Allman Brothers Band....”
6. Dennis Benedetto said... on Jun 1, 2011 at 04:38PM
“Thank you for the article and pictures; they rekindled so many wonderful memories of that time. Interestingly, though, you failed to mention how sparsely attended the concert was. My brother and I anxiously awaited that week of concerts after having seen the Allman Bros Band absolutely destroy the house at the Cherry Hill Arena earlier that spring (they were actually a warmup band for Savoy Brown and Van Morrison). We got to Steep Pier very early to get good seats only to find that by the time the show started there were still only about fifty people in attendance. At some point during the performance, Dickie Betz (I think) actually invited several of us to sit on the edge of the stage). You can see in the pictures how close the "crowd" is to the stage. Phenomenal shows. We returned later in the week for another day of shows assuming word would have spread by then and we would be in a real crowd; once again it was a very small house. Great band... great memories....”
7. Barky said... on Nov 29, 2011 at 12:29PM
“I was there in 1971 with about 50 other people, then two years later at Watkins Glen with 600,000 other people. Didn't know at the time how lucky I was to see Dwayne.”
8. Anita in New jersey said... on Feb 12, 2012 at 06:55AM
“Wow I was wondering if I would ever see this moment that I experienced at age 15 with my mother and she loved them as much as I. I love seeing these pics and one of them has someone that looks like me up front. Wow cool. Is there any live music from then posted anywhere? I would love to know.”
9. Lee Mathis said... on Nov 28, 2012 at 08:43PM
“I was working that summer at the Pier, worked for the Hamids that summer and was walking out to the end of the pier, having never heard the band. Got about half-way out and started to hear this outrageous guitar work. As I walked in the theater, I realized that it was two, Dickie and Duane trading licks. Needless to say, I went to as many shows as I could, saw them at Watkins Glen later on and many, many concerts over the years.
Gotta Love The Pier!!”
10. Anonymous said... on Jan 5, 2013 at 09:46PM
“I was there at one of these shows when I was 19 with a few of my girlfriends from Yonkers. I had been listening to the Allmans my freshman year at college and was a huge fan, and couldn't believe my luck when I found them playing at the Steel Pier while we were vacationing in AC. Even then, I was amazed how few people were in the audience, and how close we could get to the stage. It was a great show - didn't realize how lucky I was to see Duane. Great to see these pictures and remember this weird and wonderful concert!”
11. Dennis Skey said... on Mar 18, 2013 at 01:15PM
“I was there ...It was the first time I saw a band with two drummers.. One white and one black..
Bar BB King who I would see every other weekend at the Steel Pier. I never heard white guys play the blues.. No radio station in AC or Philly played the Allman Brothers.. I actually had my elbows on the stage... There wasn't alot of people there at the day time show.. Groups back then played two or three shows a day back then..
I use to hang at ACRATs.. I remember telling the owner.. I couldn't explain the music or compare it any group...”