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This webpage is a collection of Alan Freed clippings and images from various newspapers, as well as The Cash Box magazine, for the time period 1957 to 1958.
LISTEN TO ALAN FREED RADIO SHOWS FROM WJW (Cleveland) AND WINS (New York City).
PART SIX (1959 - 1965) HISTORY. ALAN FREED HISTORY MAIN PAGE.
THE CASH BOX, February 16, 1957: FREED TO TAKE R&R SHOW INTO N.Y. PARAMOUNT
NEW YORK—Alan Freed, who has set national records in his series of appearances at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre with his rock and roll shows, will take his show into the New York Paramount Theatre for one week on February 22....Freed will be shooting at the top record currently held by Martin and Lewis. His package consists of the Platters, the Teenagers, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, Ruth Brown, Nappy Brown, Maureen Cannon, Bobby Charles, and Freed's rock and roll orchestra.
ABOVE LEFT: NEW YORK AGE, February 23, 1957.
ABOVE RIGHT: DAILY NEWS, December 24, 1957.
ABOVE: HOLIDAY JUBILEE SHOW, February 1957.
THE CASH BOX, February 16, 1957: FREED GROSSES $125,000 AT N.Y. PARAMOUNT
NEW YORK—The Alan Freed Rock and Roll show grossed a "highly satisfactory" $125,000", reported Bob Shapiro, manager of the New York Paramount Theatre. While the show failed to top the $143,000 recently pulled in by the Nat "King" Cole package, Shapiro explained that they were two entirely different types of audiences. Freed's attraction was to teenagers.On many occasions the lines were lengthy outside the theatre. It was impossible to get them past the box office into seats as the enscounced youngsters inside the theatre refused to leave.
At right is a birds-eye view of the unbelievable jam-up in front of the Times Square Paramount where Alan Freed, WINS deejay, opened his Rock and Roll stage show on Washington's Birthday. Police estimated that approximately 12,000 people lined the streets to see the all-star show when the doors were opened for the first show.
APRIL 6, 1957: NEW FREED PLANS INCLUDE MUSIC-TV-THEATER DEALS
NEW YORK—Alan Freed, WINS deejay here, is forging ahead with several music, TV, movie, and personal appearance deals.... He has slated a new BMI publishing firm, Figure Music, which will be headed by Jack Hooke. Freed will not start his own record company, contrary to previous reports, pointing out his contract with Coral was renewed within the past few weeks....The jockey takes his next stageshow presentation into the Brooklyn Paramount Theater April 19.... Freed also might take a rock 'n' roll package to Europe for a tour sometime between September and the end of 1957.
DAILY NEWS, April 28, 1957:
.... Speaking with Alan Freed backstage at the Brooklyn Paramount, he was reminded of the days when the parents of today stormed the Paramount to hear Tommy Dorsey swing it or to swoon over a Frank Sinatra ballad. "We were criticized then, just as the dungaree brigade is today", he said. "I can recall insisting on doing my homework with a Benny Goodman record going. Invariably, my mother would open the door of my room and command 'Will you please turn that noise off!'"Rock 'n' roll, according to its chief ambassador, had to happen. "Jazz got so far out, it lost its beat and the bands became conscious of new sounds, forgetting people still like simple melodies. For 10 years the kids were starved for music they could dance to".
The explosion came about three years ago in Cleveland when Freed, forseeing the possible impact this music would have, launched his Rock 'n' Roll Party. The music swept the country and before Alan had time to flip platters, station WINS was after him to head his current disc show. He now receives a six-figure annual income.
These offbeat sessions had immediate appeal to the teeners, especially when Alan beat time with the songs on a telephone book or whatever other prop was handy....
APRIL 1957:
NEW YORK—With Easter drawing near, Alan Freed goes into the Brooklyn Paramount with an imposing lineup that includes Charlie Gracie, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen and the Rhythm Orchids, the Cellos, the Cleftones, Bo Diddley and his Band, Billy Mason and the Rhythm Jesters, Anita Ellis, The G-Clefs, the Pearls, the Heartbreakers, Bobby Marchan, the Harptones, the Rosebuds, the Solitaires, the Four Joes, and Freed's own big Rock 'n' Roll Band featuring Sam (The Man) Taylor, Big Al Sears, Freddie Mitchell and Panama Francis....
RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH, July 7, 1957:
Alan Freed will emcee the Big Beat Show which ABC-TV will premiere at 9 p.m. Friday. His name, as such, has been linked primarily with rock 'n' roll. But ABC says the Big Beat Show will not be all out in the r'n'r manner. ABC is planning to present the nation's popular recorded songs and the artists who made the songs hits for the records. And, under present conditions, rock 'n' roll will be in the act.The Billy Williams Quartet, Connie Francis, and the Everly Brothers will be among the guests in the opener. Alan Freed also will conduct his recording orchestra, which includes "Big" Al Sears and Sam "The Man" Taylor.
ABOVE LEFT: JOURNAL AND COURIER, November 2, 1957:
The Man who gave rock 'n' roll its name, Alan Freed, stars at the head of a great array of recording headliners in "Mister Rock And Roll", due today at the Mars Theater.ABOVE RIGHT: ETOWAH NEWS JOURNAL, October 17, 1957.
DECEMBER 1957: DEEJAY DOINGS
Alan Freed's recent stint at a Bayside High School dance in Long Island, N.Y., was a huge success. The event took place on November 22 with Freed broadcasting his WINS program from the school.A WINS spokesman, in telling the story, noted that "six hundred nicer, more well-behaved kids you'll never meet". He added "The boys and girls had a wonderful evening and the G.O. is richer by $750.00". Freed donated his services and that of his 18-piece band. WINS covered the broadcast expenses.
PRESS AND SUN BULLETIN, January 12, 1958:
ONE OF THE TOP lineups of rock 'n' roll talent in a long time is rocking the walls of the venerable Paramount Theatre in New York these days. Alan Freed, the Manhattan deejay who gave rock 'n' roll its name, is directing the show which has shattered every attendance record the house has ever known. Freed plans to take the show on a cross-country tour as soon as the show finishes its current engagement at the Paramount.
ABOVE RIGHT: KANSAS CITY TIMES, April 11, 1958.
ABOVE RIGHT: PRESS SUN AND BULLETIN, January 12, 1958.
ABOVE LEFT: HARTFORD COURANT, January 12, 1958: AT STATE TODAY
Alan Freed (top center), billed as "The King of Rock 'N' Roll", and his outstanding "Holiday of Stars" revue with 55 top entertainers is being presented at the State Theater for the last times today.Headline attractions include Chuck Berry with his big hit "Rock 'N Roll Music"; Bill Justis and Band, famed for "Raunchy"; Lee Andrews and the Hearts, recording stars of "Tear Drops"; and the Moonglows, singing "The Beating of My Heart". Also appearing is Jo-Ann Campbell, offering her popular favorites including "Wait A Minute"; the Dubs with "Could This Be Magic"; the Twin-Tones, who skyrocketed to fame with "Jo-Ann"; and the Sparkletones with "Penny Loafers and Bobby Sox".
Also presented is the Alan Freed Band featuring Sam "The Man" Taylor and King Curtis. Performances are continuous with a late stage show tonight at 10 p.m. Regular admission prices prevail.
ABOVE RIGHT: HARTFORD COURANT, March 28, 1958: AT STATE SUNDAY
Alan Freed (top) and his all new 2 1/2 hour stage revue "The Big Beat", with a cast of 65, will appear at the State Theater Sunday, March 30, for one day only. Headlining will be Jerry Lee Lewis and his Band, famed for "Breathless"; Buddy Holly singing "Peggy Sue"; the Crickets with "Maybe Baby"; Chuck Berry with "Sweet Sixteen"; and Billy and Lillie with "La Dee Dah".Also appearing will be Frankie Lymon, the Diamonds, Danny and the Juniors, the Chantels, Dicky Doo and the Don'ts, Larry Williams, the Pastels, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Jo-Ann Campbell, the Thunderbirds, and the Big Alan Freed Band with Sam "The Man" Taylor.
Extra attractions will be the Velours with "Remember"; the Shirelles with "I Met Him On A Sunday"; the Twin-Tones; and Ed Townsend, new singing discovery, with "For Your Love". Performances will be continuous with stage shows at 3, 6, and 9 p.m. Popular prices will prevail.
FEBRUARY 1958:
Jack Hooke tells us that Alan Freed, getting ready for his 44-day tour about the country, covering a period of March 28 through May 10, has already inked Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, the Crickets, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, and Larry Williams and orchestra. More names will be announced when they are signed to the dotted line. Hooke, busy with so many facets of the business, is also elated with the success of Figure Music.The publishing firm is currently torrid with "Jo Ann" by the Playmates, the Chantels' "Maybe", "Short Shorts" with the Royal Teens, Robert and Johnny's "We Belong Together" the Four Coins' "New World", and "Remember That Crazy Rock 'N Roll Tune" by the Satisfiers. (NOTE: Jack Hooke was Freed's business manager and Figure Music was Hooke and Freed's music publishing company.)
ABOVE LEFT: LANSING STATE JOURNAL, April 23, 1958.
ABOVE RIGHT: DAILY NEWS, August 29, 1958.
ABOVE LEFT AND RIGHT: THE BIG BEAT SHOW, April 1958:
ABOVE: THE CASH BOX COVER, April 26, 1958:
CAPTION: Jerry Lee Lewis, young Rock and Roll sensation of the Sun label, signs the contract to head the Alan Freed R & R package now touring the United States. The Freed show, "The Big Beat", is about midway through its 44 day trek, and has been playing to standing room only in all cities since it left New York. Freed, lower left, hands the pen to Lewis. Jack Hooke, associate of Freed, who buys all the talent for Freed's shows, stands between Freed and Lewis. Milt Shaw, Shaw Agency, who books the show, placed the contract for Lewis to sign.
THE CASH BOX, May 17, 1958: ALAN FREED RESIGNS FROM WINS
NEW YORK—Alan Freed, nationally known rock and roll deejay, has resigned from station WINS in New York. Jack Hooke, Freed's manager, announced the resignation last week in protest over what he termed the station's "wishy-washy" attitude toward him since the violence which broke out around Boston Arena following one of Freed's rock and roll stage shows there recently.The Boston show, which played to more than 6,000 youngsters, was followed by a report that some fifteen persons were robbed or assaulted by teenagers. The trouble led Mayor John B. Hynes to ban future rock and roll shows in public auditoriums. Such shows were subsequently banned in New Haven, New Britain, Conn., and Newark, N.J. Freed denied there was any trouble in or around the arena during or after the show.
Last week, Freed was indicted by a Suffolk County (Boston) grand jury on charges of inciting the unlawful destruction of property during the alleged riot reportedly touched off at the Boston Arena performance....
In a letter which Freed sent to WINS station manager Jock Fernhead, Freed is reported to have said that he is resigning because the station had failed to stand "behind my policies and principles". Freed is also reported to have said that the station "should have given me a little support after all the unproved publicity from Boston".
BEATRICE DAILY SUN, May 18, 1958: DISC JOCKEY FREE ON BOND AFTER RIOTING
BOSTON—New York Disc jockey Alan Freed was free on $2,500 bail today after pleading innocent in Suffolk Superior Court Friday to charges stemming from riots that followed a rock 'n' roll music session May 3 at Boston Arena. Freed's attorney, Paul Smith, was given three weeks in which to file pleas and no date was set for trial.Freed was indicted by the grand jury on charges of exciting a riot and inciting unlawful destruction of real and personal property. Police reported that 15 persons were assaulted after "The Big Beat" show.
KENOSHA EVENING NEWS, May 21, 1958: NEW RADIO SPOT FOR ALAN FREED
NEW YORK—Alan Freed, rock 'n' roll disc jockey indicted in Boston for allegedly inciting a riot, will begin spinning his records over another radio station here next month. The American Broadcasting Co. announced yesterday that Freed had signed a long-term contract to a radio program over local station WABC. Beginning June 2, he will be disc jockey on the station Monday through Friday from 7:15 p.m. ABC gave no further details.Freed quit local radio station WINS recently, complaining that the station failed to back him up in the Boston controversy. He was indicted after gangs of teenagers beat up several persons and destroyed property following his May 3 music session at Boston Arena.
THE CASH BOX, May 31, 1958: ALAN FREED INKS 5 YEAR PACT WITH WABC IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK—Alan Freed this week announced the conclusion of a deal with WABC-New York which calls for a five-year term at the healthy figure of $500,000. Freed stated that he has full control over the material he will air and that he will pursue exactly the same type of program which he has been successfully offering to the WINS audience for the past few years.He also stated that he was negotiating for a television show with WABD-TV, New York, and that the deal had advanced to a point where an announcement could be expected in about a week or ten days.
Freed threw a bombshell recently when he resigned from WINS-New York following his Boston fracas. Freed felt the station should have taken a stand in his defense instead of maintaining a hands-off policy. He was approached by the station several times, he advised, to reconsider his resignation, but once having made the step he decided to adhere to it. Freed explained his working without a contract as a "goof that occurred when the station changed management".
Freed will begin his WABC program on June 2. It will be preceded by a heavy promotion campaign to acquaint the youth of the metropolitan area of his new address.
ABOVE: THE CASH BOX, September 13, 1958.
DECEMBER 1958: D.J. DOINGS
....Murray Kaufman, heretofore strickly a post-midnight man at WINS-New York, has taken over the evening time period formerly occupied by Alan Freed. Kaufman, by the way, just received a BMI award as publisher of Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash".... (NOTE: Kaufman became better known as "Murray The K".)
Last Updated: 5/23/20
E-mail: PART SIX (1959 - 1965) HISTORY.
