Wild Ones

Went to the Museum of Sydney with my sister to see an exhibition, 'The Wild Ones', which is a celebration of the Sydney Stadium, fondly known as the Old Tin Shed.

It had a seating capacity of approximately 10,000 and was mainly used as a venue for boxing matches until the mid-1900s. From 1954 onwards it was frequently used to host concerts by visiting overseas performers-notably the groundbreaking "Big Show" package tours promoted by expatriate American entrepreneur Lee Gordon-as it was the only large-capacity indoor venue in Sydney at that time. It was also notable as the venue for the Sydney concerts performed by The Beatles during their 1964 Australian tour.
Carl saw the Stones there in the 60s.
It closed in 1970.

Most Sydneysiders of my vintage will have been there at one time or another.
It was a huge barn, with a lot of corrugated iron and a central stage which was just the boxing platform minus the ropes.
The audience sat all around the stage and the performers had to enter down a long aisle, flanked by the audience. The seats were tiered wooden planks.

It was basic, to say the least.

These shoes were worn by 'The Wild One', Johnny O'Keefe.
You can see the cuffs of the matching red suit, with leopard skin lapels, which his mother made for him.


The first show I saw there was Dusty Springfield with Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1967.  
An odd combination, but it worked for me.
I also saw a few roller derbies there, which were more fun than you'd imagine.