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:
Cotillion Ballroom.
Date: March 3, 1980.
Venue: Cotillion Ballroom. 11120 W. Hwy 54. Wichita, Kansas. USA.
The modern address of the Cotillion Ballroom is 11120 W. Kellogg St. Wichita, Kansas. 67209. USA.
Find it on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zmhm8MEJBhVpUfnD7
Venue Exterior:
1961:
Source: Wichita State University Archives.
2021:
Venue Interior:
1961:
Source: Wichita State University Archives.
Opening Act: The Artists.
Above: The Artists were a rock group from Kansas City, MO. Source: Facebook.
Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill to advertise this concert. Please send me a note if you have a lead.
Press & Promotion:
Source: Wichita Eagle. March 2, 1980. Pg. 3C.
Source: Wichita Beacon. March 3, 1980. Pg. 2B.
Source: Wichita Eagle. March 3, 1980. Pg. 5B.
Ticket Price: $7.50 advance; $8.50 at the door.
Ticket Stub: I have not (yet!) seen a ticket stub from this concert. Please send me a note if you have a scan or photo to share.
Attendance: “About 1,000”.
Source: Wichita Eagle. March 5, 1980. Pg. 20B.
Set List:
- Reelin’ and rockin’.
Was the Concert Recorded? Unknown.
Concert Photos: I have not uncovered any photos from this concert to date. Please get in touch if you have any to share.
Concert Reaction:
Terre Johnson of the Wichita Eagle filed this positive review of George Thorogood and the Destroyers’ concert at the Cotillion Ballroom on March 3, 1980:
“It has never failed. At every concert a curious person has asked me what I’m doing with pen and notebook. My stock answer: “Trying to review the concert.” I was doing that Monday night as George Thorogood and the Destroyers were rippin’ up the Cotillion Ballroom – by revitalizing music of greats like John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Elmore James and someone by the name of Johnny Cash – when a young woman asked that question. Then, she offered, “Well, you want my opinion? Trash! It’s trash!”
There are better words to describe Thorogood and the Destroyers. Words like exciting, flamboyant, invigorating and phenomenal aren’t overstatements referring to the performance which had to be on the worst day possible for a concert: Monday. It mattered very little to Thorogood as he kept referring to the night as “the Monday night hootenanny at the Cotillion.”
[The] hootenanny got off to a slow start with the opening act. The Artists, a four-member rock group from Kansas City, Mo., kept pace with beer sales at the ballroom’s two concession counters, but couldn’t really get things going with the audience which numbered about 1,000. It was odd. The crowd was somewhat different from the usual wild and woolly-like folks who regularly take part in beer concerts at the ballroom. For one, the crowd was just too quiet in its reaction to the Artists, which wasn’t doing that bad a job on stage. Using original material with reggae tendencies, the Artists tried its best to bring out the best in the reserved crowd.
[The] mood of the crowd changed rather quickly when Thorogood beckoned to anxious ones yelling. “George! George! Come play rock ‘n’ roll!” And he did come, not wasting any time before he loosely duck-walked across the stage during the first song. That’s all it took, and Thorogood had the crowd dancing in chairs and on table tops for two hours. Thorogood was an expert manipulating the audience with his rolling gravel-like voice and a boyish smile.
And the three-member Destroyers wasn’t slack in its work either. Bassist Billy Blough, drummer Jeff Simons (sic) and saxophonist Hank Carter (who, with dark sunglasses, looked like an escapee from the Blues Brothers Band) backed up Thorogood with rich and spirited sounds needed for the several boogie-woogie, blues and rock numbers.
Only a third of the way through the performance, most of the audience had crowded tightly around the stage. Sweat dripping from his chin and more from his hair, Thorogood pulled off his snakeskin jacket and asked for the lights to be turned on and the women to dance. With both of his requests honored, he and the Destroyers opened a six-pack and things really got loose on the dance floor and stage.
In one of his encore songs Thorogood was singing a Chuck Berry line: ‘Wheelin’ (sic), rockin’ and rollin’ (I think) until the break of dawn. And that’s how I left them.”
Source: Wichita Eagle. March 5, 1980. Pg. 20B.
Other Notes: None.
Fate of the Venue: At the time of this writing, the Cotillion Ballroom continues to operate as a venue for concerts, exhibitions and other live events.
50 States in 50 Dates 
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