Cleveland Public Hall

Public Auditorium, also known as Public Hall, is a multi-purpose performing arts, entertainment, sports, and exposition facility located in the civic center district of downtown Cleveland, Ohio 1 . The facility was planned and funded prior to World War I, with construction beginning in 1920 and the building opening in 1922 1, 2.

The Public Auditorium is a significant part of Cleveland's architectural and cultural history. It was one of seven public buildings constructed as part of the Cleveland Group Plan of 1903, reflecting the goals of the “City Beautiful” movement 12. The building was designed in the classic Renaissance style by city architect J. H. MacDowell, with Frank R. Walker as consulting architect 14.

The facility includes a 10,000-capacity main auditorium, a 3,000-capacity Music Hall, and a 600-seat Little Theater 1, 4, 7, 10, 14. The main auditorium and Music Hall share a stage, allowing the two halls to be united by raising a rear stage wall 14. The Music Hall was added to the south end of the building in 1928 and was designed specifically for musical performances 15.

Over the years, Public Auditorium has hosted a wide range of events, from sports tournaments to concerts and conventions. It was an important factor in bringing the Republican National Convention to Cleveland in 1924 and 1936 14. The facility has also been a venue for performing arts, fairs, expositions, and sports events, including Cleveland State University basketball 2. Notable concerts have included performances by Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Supremes, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Queen, the Beach Boys, Prince, and more 2.

"it was epic"

Greg Anderson saw them at Cleveland

Did you go? Comments, info welcome...

Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please email blackmarketclash

The Clash - First Light

12 May 1984
Cleveland Scene

Clash comes on Strong

Cleveland Plain Dealer
12th May 1984

(just the article)

The Clash visited ...

Cleveland Scene
17th May 1984

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Thanks to Ray for the articles, help

While poking around your site in the gigography section I noticed that there was a Clash show listed as Cleveland, Sept. 18, 1979. Now I was only 18 at the time, but I think I would have remembered if they had come twice in the same year, and I would have gone to that show for sure because I had a car and was 18. So as I said I would try to find more reviews for you anyway, I decided to go to the Cleveland library for some research. I looked up microforms for Scene Magazine and The Plain Dealer where necessary. The Plain Dealer is the main Cleveland newspaper. The first date I checked was Sept. 18, 1979. I checked Scene both for the previous week and the week after, looking for an ad/listing and the review. I could find neither. There is no way Scene would have ignored such a show and at the least it would have been listed the week before. So I would say that this show never happened, at least not on that date.

I then checked for the February, 1979 show. This I found as February 13, not 14 as is listed on your site. There is a great review of this show and I even found a mention of the benefit in the previous week's Scene.

I then checked for the 1984 Cleveland show. I had to check the Plain Dealer because someone had stolen the reels for late 1982 through mid-1985 or so (which also included the KSU show I wanted to check). I did however find it. It appears to have been Friday, May 11, 1984 at Public Hall in Cleveland. It is a pretty good review written by Jane Scott, who had even covered the Beatles appearance in Cleveland and was considered well-liked and knowledgeable about the music scene despite her age at that time. I saw her at shows often. I believe she just died recently.

Like I said, I tried to get the KSU review. I should be able to find it somewhere along with the Scene review of the '84 show. And incidentally, the Akron '82 show was at the Akron Civic Theatre, not Civic Center. I also have the '96 Cleveland Pistols show review if you or someone is interested.

Ray from Ohio
Thanks to Ray Sfferra in Ohio for his incredible perserverence on gathering newspaper articles opposite...