Northwest Dancehalls

The U.P.S. Field House
University of Puget Sound
3326 North 11th Street
Tacoma, Washington
Built in 1948

The UPS Field House, a facility of the University of Puget Sound, was popular venue to attract some of the better known groups rocking the Pacific Northwest in the 1960's

Some of the bands that rocked the UPS Field House or fought it out in the battles of the bands in the 1960's were:

"Freedom Child" Alexis
The Bandits
Beach Boys
The Beau Brummells
Black and White Affair
Buddy Miles Express
Deep Summer
Don & The Goodtimes
Dusty Springfield
Elvin Bishop
Elvis
Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Gypsy
The Knickerbockers
Liverpool FIve
Merrilee & The Turnabouts
Mourning Sun
Ohio Players
Paul Revere & The Raiders
The Rascals
Ray Charles
Righteous Brothers
Sly & The Family Stone
The Sonics
Steppenwolf
Steve Miller Band
Sugarloaf
The Syndicate of Sound
Three Dog Night
Van Halen
Yardbirds


Jimmy Page & The Yardbirds at the UPS Field House


Don and The Goodtimes at the UPS FIeld House - Thanksgiving 1966


The Rascals Backstage at the UPS Field Houose

If you have more information, photos, one liner quotes, or stories to share about this popular 1960's young adult dance and concert hall, please send them to our Webmaster

UPS Field House in 1956

I saw Three Dog Night in the 60's at the Fieldhouse and sat about three feet from them on the low stage. Wow, what a group they were!..

Jim Martin, Tacoma, Wa. "Coupe DeVille", "Sky River", "Fortunate Sons"

The Bandits opened for the Knickerbockers summer 1966 at the UPS Field House

Peter Simpson, November 2003

I think I remember seeing the Yardbirds opening for the Beach Boys at UPS Field House in the 60's.  I was sitting in the upper level with a view of back stage and remember that they wouldn't stop playing and get off stage to allow the Beach Boys on.  So the manager for the Beach Boys pulled the plug.  It was an amazing show especially for someone who had gone to see the very clean cut Beach Boys and then was blown away by the very bad boys from England.

Steve Beard, September 2005

I went to my first concert there in 1979.  There was a new band that never played the northwest... Van Halen!

Steve Vervalin, March 2007