Venue Address: 1241 Elm St. - Cincinnati, OH
Promotion: Belkin Productions/Squack Productions
Event: In Concert

Also Performing:
Unknown

Info:
-Two performances are scheduled on this date.
-4:00pm & 8:00pm scheduled start times.
-WCKY announces to the public that it will do everything in its power to stop this show.
-These performances are cancelled due to the circumstances regarding The Doors performance in Miami on March 1st.
-WCPO-TV Channel 9 reports on the cancellation of this show.

CINCINNATI DAMAGES SUIT

FILED: MARCH 15TH - 1969

Following the cancellation of The Doors performance in Cincinnati, promoters of the show file an injunction to have the shows re-instated, and threaten to sue city officials for over one million dollars in losses. Their case is brought to court before U.S. District Judge Timothy Hogan, who refuses to issue a court order to allow the show to go on. The promoters lose their case as the Judge states that a contract was willingly signed by the promoters to allow the show to be cancelled if deemed to be potentially obscene or obnoxious. The suit is dismissed.

JUDGE:

Hon. Timothy S. Hogan

ATTORNEY:

Allen Brown (Plaintiff)

COMPLAINANTS:

Frank E. Wood (Squack Productions)
Richard Muth (Squack Productions)
Elisabeth Frohlich (Squack Productions)
Roger Abramson (Belkin Productions)

DEFENDANTS:

Eugene P. Ruehlmann (Mayor)
Henry Sandman (Safety Director)
John W. Warrington (Music Hall Association)
Peter Outcalt (Music Hall Association)
Roger Pellens (Music Hall Association)

TIMELINE:

MARCH 1ST

-The Doors perform in Miami.

MARCH 6TH

-Despite The Doors cancellation in Jacksonville for March 9th, Cincinnati promoter Frank E. Wood of Squack Productions states that Cincinnati will be presented a tasteful production by The Doors.

MARCH 8TH

-Local radio station WCKY states it will do everything in its power to prevent The Doors from performing in Cincinnati and pleads with ticket holders not to attend the performances should they be allowed to go on.

MARCH 10TH

-The Cincinnati Music Hall Association vote to cancel both of The Doors performances scheduled for March 30th. The voting is backed by Mayor Eugene Ruehlmann and city officials, including Safety Director Henry Sandman. The cancellation is announced by a representative of the Music Hall Association at a meeting called by Mayor Eugene Ruehlmann.

-The promoters of the event state that they plan to take the issue to court.

MARCH 12TH

-A motion is filed for advisory to the city council on means to prevent the performances. City Council commends the Music Hall Assocation for its action.

MARCH 15th

-Promoters Frank E. Wood of Squack Productions and Roger Abramson of Belkin Productions file a damages suit with members of the Cleveland Music Hall Association and city officials for over one million dollars and an injunction to permit the shows to go on via a court order. The promoters sue for $20,000 in ticket sale losses, and $1,000,000 in punitive damages.

-City officials Mayor Eugene Ruehlmann, Safety Director Henry Sandman, and three members of the Cleveland Music Hall Association are named as defendants in the suit.

-City mayor Eugene Ruehlmann makes a statement claiming that city police are prepared to arrest Jim Morrison and hold him for the FBI should he make an appearance in Cincinnati.

-The suit claims that Music Hall is "maintained as a public auditorium for the presentation of concerts, lectures and similar public productions" and that the defendants "acted willfully, knowingly, and purposefully with the specific intention to deprive the complainants (The Doors) of their rights to freedom of expression". The suit also charges that "a prior censorship... usurping the functions of a trial court of a sister state (Florida)... repealing the presumption of innocence... conducting themselves in a manner offensive to every constitutional concept in a democracy."

MARCH 17TH

-Newspapers across the country begin reporting on the cancellation and lawsuit from the Cincinnati show.

MARCH 18TH

-City Manager Richard L. Krabach advises City Council to insist that obscene entertainment be disallowed by the city owned Music Hall.

MARCH 19th

-A hearing takes place at 9:30AM. The promoters' attorney Allen Brown asks Judge Hogan to issue the injunction to allow The Doors to perform.

-Judge Hogan expresses doubt that there is a legal ground for him to order the Music Hall Association to permit the performances.

MARCH 20th

-A second hearing is set to take place on this date.

MARCH 21st

-A tape recording of the Miami performance is played in court.

MARCH 25th

-U.S. District Judge Timothy Hogan rules that the Music Hall Association was within its rights to cancel the performances and the suit is dismissed. He comments on a hearing in Miami where policemen who witnessed the Miami performance that Jim Morrison, the leader, had "used hardcore obscene language and exposed himself to the audience". He also comments on the fugitive status of Jim Morrison for outstanding warrants that have not been served.

MARCH 26th

-Newspapers begin to report that a rally for decency has been scheduled for April 20th at Cincinnati Gardens. The event is backed by Frank Weikel of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Bob Braun, a local television personality.

MARCH 30th

-The Doors do not perform in Cincinnati.

ARCHIVE/MEMORABILIA:

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ARTICLE:

Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
Author: Unknown
Publish Date: March 7th - 1969
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Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Publish Date: March 11th - 1969
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Newspaper: The Daily Reporter
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Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Publish Date: March 15th - 1969
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Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Newspaper: The Detroit Free Press
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Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Newspaper: The Marysville Journal
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Newspaper: The Sandusky Register
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Newspaper: The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Publish Date: March 22nd - 1969
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Newspaper: Middletown Journal
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Newspaper: The Dayton Daily News
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Publish Date: March 26th - 1969
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Newspaper: The Oakland Tribune
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Newspaper: The Newark Advocate
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Publish Date: March 26th - 1969
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Newspaper: The Florida Playground
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Publish Date: March 27th - 1969
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ARTICLE:

Newspaper: University Of Cincinnati News Record
Author: Jeff Mitchel
Publish Date: April 1st - 1969
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