LR Lately
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Subscribe to LR Lately | View All PostsGatsby-Worthy Parties from Hampton's Historic Casino
Posted On: 08/17/2015
The first concert I ever attended was Little Feat with my dad. I was eight years old and it was the first time I learned what a bar smelled like. I wore a little girl’s sundress to the summer concert, fell asleep in my seat a few times, got my cheeks pinched by some buzzed older ladies, and woke up just in time to sing along to the few songs my father had taught me. As the oldest kid in my family, my father was proud to share his favorite band with me in the heart of Hampton Beach at the Casino Ballroom. Since that concert, I have seen Susan Tedeschi, the Black Crowes, and Little Feat again in that venue. I have much more appreciation for the atmosphere of the space now that I can partake in alcoholic beverages, but I look back on that time fondly remembering sharing music with my dad.
The Casino Ballroom is a great space to enjoy music or a stand-up show. It overlooks the main beach at Hampton, is surrounded by plenty of places that sell luscious lobster meat and fried dough, and it always has a great line-up. This summer is no exception. They have some acts into the fall that will make you pull out your credit card and search for Ticketmaster! I just found that Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) and his wife Megan Mullally (Will and Grace) are doing a joint comedy show there on October 16th. Kathy Griffin will also be there sharing her comedic bashings! The J. Geils Band, The Mavericks, Three Days Grace, and Joe Walsh are all musicians and bands on the list for the rest of the Casino Ballroom season. You may be lucky enough to get tickets if you watch Ticketmaster like a hawk!
The Casino Ballroom was created by the wealthy businessman, Wallace D. Lovell. He owned the Exeter, Hampton, and Amesbury Street Railway Company so he had plenty of money to finance a building for Hampton Beach tourism in 1899! The casino was originally meant for summer renters to have a lavish place to rest their heads, listen to music, dance, play pool, bowl a little, and eat some exquisite cuisine. It was taken over by a new owner in 1927 with a new ballroom design to accommodate more dancing visitors. This space came in handy in the Big Band Era when performers like Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington all took the stage to a whole new level of entertainment! As rock and roll became popular, the casino brought more and more big performers like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, The Beach Boys, and Led Zeppelin who in turn brought even more audiences to the venue. Since the build of the Big Band, the Club Casino has been able to offer more and more programming to Hampton Beach visitors and have helped with the upkeep of one of New Hampshire’s great historical sites!
We hope you get to see one more show before your summer is out and that you’ll share your experience with us at @LakesRegAirportShuttle on Instagram! We hope to see your dancing shoes!
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