ALLEN THEATRE - 02/13/1970

CLEVELAND, OH - U.S.A.

 

Venue Address: 1501 Euclid Ave. - Cleveland, OH 
Promotion: Belkin Productions/Cleveland After Dark
Event: In Person

Also Performing:
Eli Radish

Setlist:
 
Early Show
Roadhouse Blues
Ship Of Fools
When The Music's Over
Light My Fire
      -Fever
(Incomplete)
Late Show
Roadhouse Blues
      "I Feel Good Tonight"
Break On Through
Alabama Song >
Backdoor Man >
Five To One
Ship Of Fools
      "Hey, Listen..."
Love Me Two Times
      -Baby, Please Don't Go
When The Music's Over
      -Something Wrong
      -Away In India
      -Why Won't You Boogie
      "I'm Not Gonna Leave This Place..."
      -You Gotta Boogie
      -Build Me A Woman
      -Sunday Trucker
Rock Me
Will The Circle Be Unbroken >
Petition The Lord With Prayer >
      -Pastor Jim
Wake Up! >
Light My Fire
      -Summertime
      -Fever
Soul Kitchen
"Who's In Charge Around Here?"
"Are Any Of You A Drummer?"
Maggie M'Gill*


* Featuring Skip Heil on Drums


Recordings / Film:
Amateur/Audience Recording (Late Show) (See Below)

Photographers:
Doc West

Reviews / Info:
-7:30pm & 10:00pm scheduled start times.
-Ticket sales for these shows create demand for an unscheduled performance the following day.
-Approx. 3,000 in attendance during both performances.
-The Doors are not recorded for 'Absolutely Live!' as indicated by local newspapers.
-Jim Morrison interacts heavily with the audience and gives a lively performance during the late show.
-The Doors give a rare performance of Will The Circle Be Unbroken.
-John Densmore may have left the stage before Maggie M'Gill.
-During the late show Jim announces that two of the band's coats were stolen.


SKIP HEIL DRUMS WITH THE DOORS



"I was the drummer for the band Eli Radish. The reason Eli Radish was chosen to open for The Doors was because we were managed by Roger Abramson of the Belkin Brothers Company. They produced many of the concerts around the area at that time.

I always had a memory of this event because I played the drums with The Doors on the last song. Jim Morrison had called out for someone to replace him at the end of the concert so I sat in. Since things were not documented in those days the way they are now there was little evidence of the event so I am happy to see that someone remembers that night. I do remember the drummer walking backstage and holding up his hands which seemed bloody in the creases of his fingers. He asked if anyone could play drums. I felt all warmed up since we played before them so I said I'll do it. I do remember that there was a bass player (keyboard player) but I wasn't sure of the song. I thought it was a simple shuffle.

While I was playing the drums, Jim was standing in front of the drum podium when a female audience member ran onto the stage and up to him and grabbed him. I mean she was facing him and holding him close in a sort of tight grip. His arms were folded in front of him while holding the microphone. For several moments it was a question as to what will happen next. Instead of trying to squirm free, Jim looked very calm and just handed the microphone to the girl. She looked surprised, took the microphone, releasing him from the hug and that set him free. She was then ushered offstage by someone and they gave the microphone back to Jim. I just thought it was very cool and professional the way he handled that.

That same night Jim was accidentilly locked in the old funky bathroom and one of the roadies came and said "stand back Jim" and proceeded to smash the door in to set him free. Those were interesting times."

Skip Heil
Santa Rosa, CA
Copyright © 2019 Skip Heil

A Special Thanks to Skip Heil aka Skip Towne of Eli Radish for sharing his memories of the show with MildEquator.com!



"I saw them in Cleveland. Waiting for The Doors, suddenly the curtain parted slightly and Jim staggered out with a mic and yelled "Somebody stole our ****ing coats! Thanks a lot Cleveland!" and left the stage. A huge collective "ohhh" went up from the audience and everybody was bummed out. 5 or 10 minutes went by. Then Jim came out again as the curtains started to open and said "OK we found them... Let's GO!" and the band slammed into "Roadhouse Blues". Jim had a case of beer on the drum riser and every few minutes he'd pop another can and take a huge slug, then throw it across the stage spewing brew everywhere and into the front rows. It was chaos and debauchery to the max but he sang perfectly and hit all his cues, all the while rolling and jumping around. He sang parts of songs laying down.

He worked the crowd with his staring sneers and sexy leather posing, witch doctor mumbling and general slouching about. The lighting and sound was dramatic. The band was great, with extended solos and workmanlike professionalism, delivering the music behind the Shaman. No one could take their eyes off of Jim. It was one of the best concerts I saw and I'll never forget it."

John Brite
Cleveland, OH
Copyright © 2020 John Brite

A Special Thanks to John Brite for providing his review of the concert to MildEquator.com!

AUDIENCE TAPE RECORDING



Contributed By: Doc West via Chris Simondet

On February 13th, 1970 The Doors late show performance at Cleveland's Allen Theatre is captured on cassette tape by audience member Doc West. Highlights from this mostly complete recording of the show include a lengthy performance of When The Music's Over, a tour rarity Will The Circle Be Unbroken, and a comedic pastor-like sermon from Jim Morrison himself. We'd like to give a very special thanks to Doc West for his loaning of the master tape to Chris Simondet who has in turn released to the world a fantastic digital transfer of this unique concert recording!

TAPER'S NOTES:


"The opening act was 'Eli Radish', a band from the Cleveland area...Jim was wearing black, head to toe...he had a lot of fun and alluded to the Miami concert when said "I've got something to show you tonight, and it's bigger than a breadbox" and was quite sober....the show was longer than usual Doors concerts....the show ended, we headed for the exits when Jim came back onstage and told some of the motorcycle gang that was in front of the stage to stop people from leaving...Jim said that someone had stolen one of their jackets and then flipped the audience the finger and said 'thanks Cleveland' and went back behind the curtain....we were shocked but it was post Miami, so we were looking at each other wondering if this was over or not....then Jim came back onstage and said there had been a mistake and The Doors wanted to play longer, but their drummer's hands had been taped up....was there a drummer in the house who could play with them....a minute or so later he came back and they had the opening act's drummer playing for them....at one point Ray Manzarek sat on a chair and played slide guitar on i believe 'Little Red Rooster'....I was only 19 years old and totally sober....don't believe they served alcohol at concerts back then, but I do think I saw the motorcycle dudes carry a case of beer to the front."



DETAILS:


RECORDING DATE: February 13th - 1970 (Late Show)
TRACK TIME: 123:43
TRACKLIST:

Tracklist:
Roadhouse Blues
      "I Feel Good Tonight"
Break On Through
Alabama Song >
Backdoor Man >
Five To One
Ship Of Fools
      "Hey, Listen..."
Love Me Two Times
      -Baby, Please Don't Go
When The Music's Over
      -Something Wrong
      -Away In India
      -Why Won't You Boogie
      "I'm Not Gonna Leave This Place..."
      -You Gotta Boogie
      -Build Me A Woman
      -Sunday Trucker
(Tape Flip)
When The Music's Over
Rock Me
Will The Circle Be Unbroken >
Petition The Lord With Prayer >
      -Pastor Jim
Wake Up! >
Light My Fire
      -Summertime
      -Fever
Soul Kitchen
"Who's In Charge Around Here?"
"Are Any Of You A Drummer?"
Maggie M'Gill*
(Cut)

* Featuring Skip Heil on Drums

ARCHIVE/MEMORABILIA:



NEWSPAPER PHOTO:

The Doors - Cleveland 1970 - Newspaper Photo
Contributed By: ElBupperto

REVIEW #1:

Newspaper: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Author: Jane Scott
Publish Date: February 14th - 1970
Copyright © Cleveland Plain Dealer
Allen Theatre - Review
Contributed By: MildEquator.com

REVIEW #2:

Newspaper: Dayton Daily News
Author: Doug Walker
Publish Date: February 14th - 1970
Copyright © The Dayton Daily News
Allen Theatre - Review
Contributed By: jim4371

REVIEW #3:

Newspaper: Cleveland Press
Author: Dick Wootten
Publish Date: February 14th - 1970
Copyright © The Cleveland Press
Allen Theatre - Review
Contributed By: jim4371

REVIEW #4:

Newspaper: Elyria Chronicle
Author: Shannon Kaiser
Publish Date: February 17th - 1970
Copyright © The Elyria Chronicle
Allen Theatre - Review
Contributed By: MildEquator.com

ARTICLE:

Newspaper: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Author: Unknown
Publish Date: February 13th - 1970
Copyright © The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Allen Theatre - Article Contributed By: jim4371

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