The Fillmore East and West: A Brief but Legendary Run
The Fillmore East in New York City and Fillmore West in San Francisco were both in business from 1968 to 1971, operating for just over three years before closing their doors in the summer of 1971.
Opening and Closing Dates
Fillmore East opened on March 8, 1968, at 105 Second Avenue in Manhattan's East Village, occupying a space that had previously been the Commodore Theatre. The venue closed on June 27, 1971, with a legendary final concert by the Allman Brothers Band that lasted seven hours.
Fillmore West opened on July 5, 1968, in San Francisco at the former Carousel Ballroom on South Van Ness Avenue, a mile from the original Fillmore Auditorium. It operated until July 4, 1971, closing just days after its East Coast counterpart.
Why They Closed
Promoter Bill Graham shut down both venues for a combination of financial and industry-related reasons. The music business was shifting toward larger arena and stadium concerts, and the 2,600–3,000 seat capacity of the Fillmore venues couldn't compete with the economics of bigger spaces. Running costs were steep-about $18,000 per week for Fillmore East and $12,000 for Fillmore West. Graham also reportedly wanted to step back from the day-to-day grind of venue management and focus on promoting larger-scale events.
Legacy
Despite their short lifespan, both venues became iconic. Fillmore East hosted acts like Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, and the Allman Brothers. Fillmore West served as the West Coast companion, continuing the legacy of Graham's original Fillmore Auditorium.
The buildings still stand today. The Fillmore East space later became the gay nightclub The Saint in 1980 and is now an Apple Bank branch. The Fillmore West building remains at its South Van Ness location.