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From 1917 to 1958, summers in Akron meant one thing, Summit Beach Park. Step back in time to the heyday of the famous Summit Beach Ballroom and hear musical memories from the Big Band era.
Join us for this free performance and hear musical memories from the Big Band era: Stompin' At The Savoy, When You're Smiling, Stardust, Opus No. 1, Sentimental Journey, Begin the Beguine and much more. For the first time in six decades, this exciting concert features the swinging arrangements of famed Portsmouth, Ohio native band leader, Clyde McCoy and his "Sugar Blues" Orchestra. An Akron favorite, McCoy performed four times at Summit Beach Park from 1937-1946 and an additional nine appearances at the Palace Theatre and other Akron venues.
With a swinging 16-piece big band and vocalist Heidi Swinford, you don't want to miss this exciting "living history" concert tribute to Akron's gone, but never forgotten amusement park with Joseph Rubin and His Orchestra. An expert on American popular music, Mr. Rubin specializes in concerts recreating the music of 1890-1949 in a historically accurate manner. Mr. Rubin founded the non-profit American Musical Productions in 2003 and is one of the foremost authorities on early American Musical Theatre.
Doors open at 7:00 pm to this free performance in our Main Library Auditorium. Concert begins at 7:30 pm. Performance will run approximately 120 minutes including a 15-minute intermission. No registration required. For more information, contact Special Collections Division Manager, Mary Plazo, at 330-643-9030 or by email at: mplazo@akronlibrary.org.
You can learn more about the historic Summit Beach Park in the Special Collections Division at the Main Library.
You can also check out lots of big band era music both online and on cd just by searching in our library catalog.
EVENT TYPE: | Music | Live Performance | History |
TAGS: | Jazz | Concert | Activities for Families | 1940s |
Main Library, located in the heart of downtown Akron, combines compelling public space with meaningful and relevant public library services for all members of our community. Since opening in 2004, the downtown library welcomes more than one million visitors each year.
Subject divisions include: Business, Government & Science, Culture & AV, Magazines & Newspapers, Special Collections (local history & genealogy), TechZone@Main, Teen, and a 12,000 square feet Children's Library.
Special services available at Main Library include: a Patent & Trademark Resource Center; U.S. Passport and Notary services; a Microbusiness Center; a Maker Space; a resource lab for early childhood educators; and regularly scheduled computer training classes. Also available at Main Library are more than 125 public access computers, color photocopiers/printers, laminating, scanning, faxing, and free Wi-Fi.
Specialized spaces include a 425-seat auditorium, public meeting rooms, and a used bookstore. An interior glass block walkway leads to a 600-space parking garage owned by the City of Akron. An outdoor amphitheater and landscaped park complete the complex.
60 South High Street
Akron, Ohio 44326
330.643.9000
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