Tuesday, February 8, 2022

LINCOLN ARTS CENTER - 1983-87


Lincoln Arts Center 
66 Bell St
1981-87

The building that housed the Lincoln Arts Center from 1983 to 1987, dates back to 1906, when it was home to Seattle Empire Laundry, which employed 10 percent of Seattle's laundry workers, and was once the focus of a historic strike by femlae laundry workers in 1932. It was later occupied by the Arctic Fur Company, which was one of the major manufacturers of Davy Crockett-style coonskin caps in the 1950s. The address 66 Bell first appears in the Seattle dailies in 1961, when it was known as the Seattle Table Tennis Center. In 1970, it was occupied by the Acme Restaurant Co and it was first mentioned in the entertainment listings as Lincoln Arts Center in 1983. The Center typically featured ballet/dance performances, artists' workshops, and the occasional burlesque show. Although the Rocket listed a punk show at the Lincoln as far back as 1981, these types of shows didn't really get rolling there until August of 1984. The next month, a riot took place after the Fire Department shut down a show by Vancouver BC band DOA, due to overcrowding (the fire code limited capacity to 99, and there were close to 300 attendees inside). The promoters of the show, Holy War Cadets, agreed to give refunds to the fans in the form of tickets to a future concert, but they came up 150 short. Attendees then sat in the middle of Bell Street, swigging beer and refusing to move until they were reimbursed. When police attempted to move the group, bottles were thrown, dumpsters were set ablaze, a police car was spray painted and turned onto its side, and numerous other acts of vandalism took place. Officials took action, and banned the center from booking punk shows, although occasionally some would slip through the cracks. The Lincoln continued booking other types of performing arts events until November 1987, when a pre-demolition party was advertised, inviting attendees to "bring hammer, crowbar, and shovel." In 1990, building owner Peter Erickson convinced investors to donate to convert the building into artists' lofts. By 1998, Erickson intended to convert the building into high-end housing, but five tenants of the building were successful in their effort to have it declared a landmark. However, the Landmark Preservation Board, wile granting landmark status, also approved all of the changes proposed by Erickson, who evicted the tenants and turned the old warehouse into The Belltown Lofts in 2000, which continues under that name to this day.

1981

December

31 - The Enemy, Fastbacks, The Deans, others

1984

March 


3 - Girl Talk, Non Special Effects

9 - Tiny Grace Theatre, Yolanda Adams, Little Dove


May


4 - Cinco de Mayo, Los Altenos

12 - The Portage Bay Big Band


June


16 - Noh Special Effects, Barbies Out Of Bondage


August


18 - Charm School, Stanley’s Wife. Animal Slaves, The Fabulous Belle Reves

24 - Fang (CA), House of Commons (Canada), The Fags, DSML


September


1 - The F.U’s, Stranglehold, Rejectors, Accused 

6-7 -  Color Twigs

8 - Ten Minute Warning, The Fags, VXT

14 - D.O.A., The Unwanted, DSML, Green River (canceled?), Immoral Roberts (infamous riot ensued after Fire Department shut the show down due to code violations/overcrowding)

15 - Bam Bam, R Gang, The Homewreckers

22 - U-Men, Crypt Kicker 5, Vexed


December


1 - Redemption, Crypt Kicker 5, L-Mores 


1986


February


7-8 - Windchase Ensemble

27 - Frederick Matthews


July 


5 - Shana Iverson's Arm Aid Benefit w/ Walkabouts, Feast, Arms Akimbo, Bundle Of Hiss, Angus & Grienke, The Casuals, Jesse Bernstein, Hubris, Sympathy Card, Art On Fire, Prudence Dredge, Public Domain, 5516


August


2 - My Eye, Feast, Malfunkshun

17 - Pure Joy, Chemistry Set


September


5 - Cheating Death, Crotch Rockets, Gut Reaction

6 - Room 9, Pure Joy, Bundle of Hiss

13 - Walkabouts, Pure Joy, Fallouts, Interstellar

27 - Michael Morrison


November


15 - Mace, False Liberty, SGM, Noxious Fumes or Subvert, Danger Mouse


1987


March


13 - Chemistry Set, Pure Joy, Weather Theatre
14 - Matthew Horton


July


25 - Walkabouts, Vomit Launch, Terry Lee Hale & The Ones

31 - Fred, Crunchbird of the Bleeding Vortex


August


23 - Music By Design

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