06.08.2021
The real story of how pop concerts began at Ravinia
or "How a college kid changed Ravinia forever."
First, let me tell you about a personal friend of mine… a guy a couple years older than I when I was a high school kid who worked with me at the box office at Ravinia Park in the 50s.
His name was Ernie Santi.
Ernest John Santi was all anyone could ever want as a friend and mentor. He had it all. He was tall, good looking to a fault, and had a way with words in a calm and quiet way that drew attention. And he dated cute girls. He was my personal hero.
In 1956, Ernie was respected and popular.
The trustees loved Ernie; management loved Ernie; the maintenance guys loved Ernie; everyone thought well of this bright charming college kid. So, when he came up with the idea of booking a quiet folk singing group to come and attract a younger audience they listened and booked them on his say so.
The group was called The Kingston Trio.
Of course, this was before they came up with their amazing songs, "Tom Dooley", "Scotch and Soda",
and the like. And the price was right.
When the season ticket sales started in the late 50s, almost no seats were sold for their performances in the Pavilion. In those days general admission was always a last minute thing. The word around town was that some local college folks might show up to listen, but, other than Ernie,
management thought that it could be a bust.
Perhaps Ravinia and the North Shore might not be yet ready for folk singing. The only popular stuff at the Park prior to them had been Benny Goodman and some few others with performances few and far between.
_____________________________________________
06.16.2021
The real story of how pop concerts began at Ravinia, Part II
or "How a college kid changed Ravinia forever."
Last week, I began the story of how a young college kid, Ernie Santi, started the popular concerts at Ravinia by bringing in The Kingston Trio. When he got management to book them no one, outside of San Francisco, had heard of this group. it was on this tour which included Ravinia that they recorded their first album which had “Scotch and Soda”, “Tom Dooley”, and others.
But Chicagoland’s college kids knew better.
With hardly a seat sold in the Pavilion, thousands came to see this folk singing group on the first night. With
traffic from the city backed up onto Edens Expressway from the Park, cars were parked and abandoned there as their people walked up Lake Cook Road to get to the Park.
We weren't ready for it. Not even close. When this large collegiate mass came to the gates, we couldn't sell tickets fast enough to break the long lines trying to enter. That didn't slow them down. They tore down the fence north of the gate and swarmed on through. And the concert began.
And then came the rain.
Of Course, making matters worse, mid-concert, a partial system error resulted in turning off a good chunk of the sound to portions of the Park. Then, the shortest of the Trio, informed those near the theater
that seating was now available under cover. And then….
Next week, the conclusion.
Bill
_____________________________________________
