This is one of a series of posts expanding on my 50 States in 50 Dates blog by documenting the global touring adventures of George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers and the earlier years of their career.
Quick Links:
The Famous Ballroom.
Date: February 1, 1980.
The Destroyers played two shows at the Famous Ballroom on this date.
Venue: The Famous Ballroom. 1717 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD. 21201. USA.
The Famous Ballroom was on the second floor.
Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/sGvMX661mxtPDqHs5
Venue Exterior:
1977:
Source: Reddit
2019:
Venue Interior:
Circa late 1960s/early 1970s:
Opening Act: The Charlottesville Blues Allstars (aka The Allstars; aka The All-Stars).
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not (yet) come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ 1980 shows at the Famous Ballroom. Please get in touch if you have a scan or a photo that you can share.
Press & Promotion:
Source: Baltimore Sun. Jan. 20, 1980. Pg. D6.
Source: Baltimore Sun. Feb. 1, 1980. Pg. B2.
Ticket Price: $8.
Ticket Stub: I have yet to see a ticket stub for these concerts. If you have a scan or a photo to share, please send me a note.
Attendance: 1,000 per show. Of note, the Famous Ballroom officially held 600 people. Both of the Destroyers’ concerts were sold out.
Source: Billboard Magazine. Feb. 16, 1980. Pg. 31 & Baltimore Sun. Feb. 4, 1980. Pg. B6.
Set List:
- Who Do You Love?
- Madison Blues
- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
- No Particular Place to Go
- Johnny B. Goode
Source: Baltimore Sun. Feb. 4, 1980. Pg. B6.
Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown. Please get in touch if you have any information.
Concert Photos:
Source: Baltimore Sun. Feb. 4, 1980. Pg. B6.
Concert Reaction:
Reviewer Rafael Alvarez of the Baltimore Sun had this to say about the Destroyers’ shows at the Famous Ballroom in 1980:
“Backed up by what he called the ‘Bethesda’ Destroyers (a combo of sax, bass and drums), Thorogood turned the Famous Ballroom upside down and into a freaky, giant sock-hop for two sold-out shows last Friday night. People were twisting on tables, jumping on chairs and singing right along with the man who has a voice like sand and glue and rolls more of his R’s than Charo.”
Source: Baltimore Sun. Feb. 4, 1980. Pg. B6.
Other Notes: None.
Fate of the Venue: The Famous Ballroom briefly became Godfrey’s Famous Ballroom in 1986. In 1994, the space was incorporated into the neighboring movie theatre, “The Charles”.
Source: Baltimore Sun. Feb. 9, 1991 & Davis, Amy. “Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters”. 2017. Pg. 247.
50 States in 50 Dates 
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