1973 Allman Brothers concert at Grand Opera House comes back to life there on film
If you’re of a certain age, you might have gone to the Grand Opera House in 1973 to see the Allman Brothers Band in concert.
If you’re at the Grand Opera House on Friday for the first entertainment feature since its grand new makeover, you can relive that concert on the big screen.
Following the tragic deaths of Duane Allman in 1971 and Berry Oakley in 1972, the band was soldiering on in 1973 with Dickey Betts as lone guitarist and the addition of Chuck Leavell on piano and Lamar Williams on bass.
Fortunately, the 1973 concert was tapped for television’s new weekend rock ‘n’ roll series, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.” Originally called “Saturday Night in Macon,” the tapping also featured Wet Willie and the Marshall Tucker Band along with the Allman Brothers and a brief routine by comedian-actor Martin Mull who didn’t appear on many final tapes.
Friday’s opening event at the Grand Opera House also includes the film of Gregg Allman’s 2015 appearance there, “Back to Macon GA.” “I think it’s extremely appropriate they’re doing this and adding the Gregg show,” said Kirk West, of The Big House-Allman Brothers Museum who served as the group’s road manager for 20 years. West is also a renowned photographer of the group and countless other bands and performers.
“Nothing appeals to the Brothers’ fan’s hearts like those early days and ties to Macon and the Opera House,” he said. “That show was seen across America and across Europe and showed the world what Macon was about. The entire country was buzzing about the Allman Brothers. They were the biggest thing around.”
West said there’s a ticket — a $5 ticket — to the concert laying around The Big House somewhere.
Joe Patti, Grand Opera House executive director, said he’s heard from people who were at the original show.
“I was contacted by someone who said they were there and now live 120 miles away,” he said. “They’re traveling back to see it. There’s certainly a lot of history at the Grand Opera House and a lot of the Allman Brothers’ history was here. It makes sense to have them as kind of a centerpiece. People coming will find a lot they remember but be happy about the nicer seats, expanded restrooms, two lounges and basically how everything is better in every way.”
Bob Mavity, the Grand Opera House’s senior technical director, is a musician himself and fan of the Allman Brothers. He said fans coming to the movie shouldn’t worry.
“It will be good,” he said. “And it will be loud.”
“The Allman Brothers Band at the Grand Opera House”
Where: The Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry Street, Macon
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 19
Cost: $5
Information: www.thegrandmacon.com/events