Blackham Coliseum 1950 . . .

[cajun1300]

Anybody remember Linda Ronstadt performing at Blackham?

I don't remember Ronstadt, but I saw The Commodores there.

[shof]

I have a framed poster in my house dating back to, I believe 1972, called The Budweiser Bayou Classic at Blackham Collesium. It is a drawing of a sell-out game at Blackham and pictures of our 5 most outstanding players up to that time, Andrew Toney, Bo Lamar, Jerry Flake, Marvin Winkler and Dean Church. This may be a collectors item, but I still cherish it and the memories to this day.

Geaux Cajuns!!

Andrew Toney on a circa 1972 poster :confused: He didn't start school at USL until around 1976 I thought. It must have been a ghosts of basketball past, present and future poster. If you can, why don't you take a picture of it and post it here so some of us other old-timers can enjoy it too.
Shof

[waterboy]

I was a student then, but didn't see the show. However, I heard about it! Heard she had some unpleasant things to say about Lafayette and walked off the stage. BTW, the old Lock & Key bar out on Pinhook was run by the Ronstadt's, a relative of Linda's. They had a daughter who looked a lot like Linda.

That is somewhat true, the Lock and Key was originally owned by the Lauck's and was later sold to Ronnie Ronstadt and it was then called the Caberet. I think there was a relation to Linda. As for Blackham I remember going to my first game there in the 70's. Also remember making a bunch of games in the 81-83 seasons and it was very loud. Alonza Allen, Dan Gay, Graylin Warner they were good. I also remember later on watching them on TV from there and if I remember right B of P was doing those games too.

[leeman]

I remember seeing the bands "america" "leon russell" "no show george jones" who came out drunk.. "the beach boys" "cheap trick" "willie nelson" and a few others I can't recall....oh yeah, I shook hands with "festus" (sp) from gunsmoke. he was there for a rodeo..lots of memories from blackham...

[BirdofParadise]

Yes, it is (was) louder. Back when the fire marshal looked the other way, we used to pack 9,000+ into Blackham. I don't think we've had many crowds that size in the Cajundome. The new seating capacity at BC is listed as 6,200. So, you can see that it was pretty packed in there. Also, the comforts were definitely not there. My butt used to get pretty numb on those old boards. No backs - kinda like watching a football game!

Part of the wonderful stories of Blackham Coliseum is how much they lied to everyone back then about attendance. The seating capacity was no more then as it is now. And there was no way that you got an extra 2800 folks in there to make 9000.

They really fed a fish story.

[RedBug58]

Part of the wonderful stories of Blackham Coliseum is how much they lied to everyone back then about attendance. The seating capacity was no more then as it is now. And there was no way that you got an extra 2800 folks in there to make 9000.

They really fed a fish story.

Not so fast.............
Blackham had the student seating in wooden bleachers custom made to fit completely around the concrete wall. There also were seats in both endzones. These seats are no longer there. I also remember times when all of the aisles were completely full with 2 people sitting on every step. I remember games where I stood on the floor by the entrance because there was no place to sit.
A 1968 program says that the remodled Blackham will seat over 8,000 fans for the 68-69 season.

[RaginFan2]

Part of the wonderful stories of Blackham Coliseum is how much they lied to everyone back then about attendance. The seating capacity was no more then as it is now. And there was no way that you got an extra 2800 folks in there to make 9000.

They really fed a fish story.

You know, someone told me that old fish story was all Jay Walker's fault. I just knew it smelled ... well... fishy! Seriously, I did know they kinda, uh, padded the attendance figures. Now I don't know if it was intentional or if they just "guesstimated". But I do feel sure when it was packed to the rafters there were more than 8,000. Over 10,000? Maybe not. I do know for a FACT that the place was rocking for many games! =>)

[ShowDog]

Anybody remember Linda Ronstadt performing at Blackham?

Yep, she looked great but stunk up the place. Diana Ross and the Supremes along with the Loving Spoonful in fall of '65 was outstanding.

[ShowDog]

Anyone here who has seen a game before a packed house in BC? is it louder than the CD? if so, that will be pretty cool... definatly an intimidation factor..

Much louder due to the fact it is smaller and was always packed to the rafters for big games. Many times when Bo Lamar played there it was standing room only.

[ShowDog]

I have a framed poster in my house dating back to, I believe 1972, called The Budweiser Bayou Classic at Blackham Collesium. It is a drawing of a sell-out game at Blackham and pictures of our 5 most outstanding players up to that time, Andrew Toney, Bo Lamar, Jerry Flake, Marvin Winkler and Dean Church. This may be a collectors item, but I still cherish it and the memories to this day.

Geaux Cajuns!!

Church was an unbelievable shooter. Anyone remember Larry Simon and Bill McHorris from the late 50's early 60's? They are the guys that got it all started with Beryl Shipley

[BirdofParadise]

Not so fast.............
Blackham had the student seating in wooden bleachers custom made to fit completely around the concrete wall. There also were seats in both endzones. These seats are no longer there. I also remember times when all of the aisles were completely full with 2 people sitting on every step. I remember games where I stood on the floor by the entrance because there was no place to sit.
A 1968 program says that the remodled Blackham will seat over 8,000 fans for the 68-69 season.

There were three sets of wooden bleachers on each side. Each set of bleachers had only five rows. Each set sat approximately 125 (X6).

There are 20 sections at Blackham, each with 16 rows. If you sat two to an aisle, that's 32X20=640.

The old Blackham did not have the seats on the court, so you have to subtract those.

Do the math, my friend. 5600 actual seats. Add the endzone seating. Add the custom bleachers....you can't get to 8000, even if you stuff the aisles.

[Turbine]

There were three sets of wooden bleachers on each side. Each set of bleachers had only five rows. Each set sat approximately 125 (X6).

5 rows looks right. Might have been more than 6 sections though, it looks like they might have wrapped.

Still 9000 would be a hard # to reach.

1971-72