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| Downtown amphitheater 1980s. Weatherball in the background! |
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| This image is from a postcard at the GRPL |
Actually in this same spot in the photo, I have a memory from the 80s, sitting with some people on the curb late one night and noticing a guy precariously walking across that arch. He looked like he'd been drinking as he was rather wobbly and I remember thinking "this guy is going to fall any minute" and on cue, he did (shit! did I psychically cause it??) He hit the pavement and went unconscious. Some people helped him until the ambulance came. Never found out what happened or if he ended up being okay.
A few yards away from the amphitheater was a little white gazebo with payphones...
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| Gazebo, across from Flanagan's 1981. |
And also, I wonder if anybody even sees this blog of mine? I get very infrequent comments... Is it just boring and stupid? I'm beginning to feel like giving up on it.
For what it is worth, I think your blog is awesome, and I enjoy it very much.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember Monroe Mall having a fiberglass kiosk with 4 TV's embedded in it showing various cable channels?
I remember this...it seems like it was only there for a VERY short time in '86..
DeleteI don't think so... although it seems vaguely familiar. I got here in '86 so if it was before that, I wouldn't have experienced it firsthand.
ReplyDeleteI think this blog is fantastic. I don't know how many current residents of GR even know Rosa Parks Circle used to be called the ampitheatre. Thanks for the pic of the Gazebo, I had forgotten all about that.
ReplyDeleteThe GR I grew up in in the 80s and early 90s has changed immensely. There wasn't a whole lot of 'entertainment' options for marginalized and disenfranchised youth. The only coffee shop was Denny's on plainfield and the only place to dance to 'good' music was Top of the Rock on thursdays...I left in '92 and have watched the city change and evolve into something very promising, but I very much appreciate that you are keeping the history alive.
Well thank you!
DeleteAnother one who has been quietly following the blog for a while now. Lots of helpful reminders as I work to reconcile what I remember as "my" GR to what is represented here at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Keep it up if you can!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's good to know there actually are some eyes out there.
DeleteI like the blog a lot but I forget to check in on it. If you hooked up a twitter account to your RSS feed (via something like twitterfeed.com), I'd never miss a post.
ReplyDeleteSeems these days that people don't comment on blogs as much. Everybody uses facebook, twitter, et al to carry on the conversation.
I think I might have seen the same guy fall of the arch. I remember something happening exactly how you describe. I just came across this blog and it is so fun. I have some things I would like to contribute.
ReplyDeleteWell please get in touch with me! poopville@yahoo.com
DeleteThe old Amphitheater was a skateboarders heaven back in the 90's
ReplyDeleteI just discovered this site tonight! I graduated from Grandville in 1985 and this has brought back a ton of memories! I am going to share with all my Facebook friends and can now officially say I am a fan. The site is bookmarked and I hope you keep this going! Thank you for the fun trip back to my high school and college years!!!
ReplyDeleteAgree with Robert--just discovered your blog and am LOVING it. I remember working with you a few times at GRTV when I was interning there and have so many aligning memories of GR. Really enjoy revisiting all of these lost memories.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've kinda let it stagnate a while but usually the long winters of being locked indoors motivate me to work on new content.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been looking for images of this place for years. When I was a kid I used to skate down here all the time, haha it was the first place I ever hit a handrail! Thanks for sharing this photos!
ReplyDelete- Nick Nortier