City officials at the Memorial Coliseum construction site, 1959. Officials in the image include Stanley Earl, Ormond R. Bean, and Terry Schrunk.
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2005-005.716.80.
Memorial Coliseum, 1959
Vintage Portland
City officials at the Memorial Coliseum construction site, 1959. Officials in the image include Stanley Earl, Ormond R. Bean, and Terry Schrunk.
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2005-005.716.80.
Vintage Portland 
Lots of cigar cigarette and pipe smoking going on.
I never smoked a pipe. So, I am two out of three. Now, nothing!
The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elvis & the Bee Gees have all given performance here.
Poet Allen Ginsberg attended the Beatles concert and wrote a poem…
Portland Coliseum
From the Penguin Classics: Read the Beatles
“Portland Coliseum”
by Allen Ginsberg
A brown piano in diamond
white spotlight
Leviathan auditorium
iron run wired
hanging organs, vox
black battery
A single whistling sound of ten thousand children’s
larynxes asinging
pierce the ears
and following up the belly
bliss the moment arrived
Apparition, four brown English
jacket christhair boys
Goofed Ringo battling bright
white drums
Silent George hair patient
Soul horse
Short black-skulled Paul
with the guitar
Lennon the Captain, his mouth
a triangular smile,
all jump together to End
some tearful memory song
ancient-two years,
The million children
the thousand words
bounce in their seats, bash
each other’s sides, press
legs together nervous
Scream again & claphand
become one Animal
in the New World Auditorium
—hands waving myriad
snakes of thought
screetch beyond hearing
while a line of police with
folded arms stands
Sentry to contain the red
sweatered ecstasy
that rises upward to the
wired roof.
-August 27, 1965
Thanks, Lou! Regarding the Beatles, the Oregon Historical Society’s new major exhibit revolves around them.
Part of the destruction of a vibrant black community along Williams Ave. “Jumptown” by Robert Dietsche offers a glimpse into Porland’s great jazz scene in that neighborhood. I was just a kid when the coliseum was built and like a lot of white kids I was happy to go to a Portland Buckaroos hockey game, not yet understanding what urban renewal was really about. It is jot a question of feeling guilty about the past, just recognizing what did happen and why.
Need to at least mention that today there would be at least one woman in the photo.
Fat cat political hacks right after a 3 martini lunch on the taxpayers.
Looking kind of silly in hard hats.
I think these guys did a great job. They helped build the Veterans Memorial Coliseum which led to the many great events/concerts and eventually, the Portland Trail Blazer franchise. Soon after, the Jack Ramsey and Bill Walton era would arrive with an NBA title in 1977. That remains a high point in the city’s sports history as the Blazers have yet to repeat such glory. To the guys in the hard hats: Well done.
Yay !!
At least the majority of those oppressive tobacco using white guys are wearing Bullard 303 helmets !
its a portland mid century land mark !
Here is the area from 1938.
https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/aerial-view-of-downtown-1938/
Neal Diamond; The Monkeys, Beach Boys; Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers, lots played here.
That comment about “darkies”? That’s acceptable at this site? Really? If so, go screw yourself!
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I am totally good with those terms of use. But I would like to know how “neighborhood observers” comments about getting rid of “darkies” was deemed to be an acceptable post under those guidelines? I am here for history and enjoyment, not to get racist comments. Please respond from an official capacity
The term “oppressive tobacco using white guys” is racist language too. And be removed.
Racist how ?
Are they white guys? Yes.
Tobacco using ? Yes.
“Opressive” is opinion. Is tobacco oppressive ? I don’t think so, but others might.
Is being officials of City Government oppressive ? It’s basically a job requirement, Somebody gets opressed under its rule, while some do not.
Terry Schrunk was a former Portland policeman who brought both dignity and class to the office; a humble and mild manner gentleman.
Maybe a bit too incorrect to mention but along with the numerous Buckaroo games I attended there I fondly recall the Easter Sunrise services.