As The Big Dome turns Gold

So where were you half a century ago when the Araneta Family inaugurated the Araneta Coliseum, more popularly known as Big Dome, hailed as the World’s Biggest Covered Coliseum in the early ‘60s (featured in Life magazine)?

I’m sure that the big celebration the Aranetas are preparing to mark the Big Dome’s 50th anniversary on March 16 will evoke fond memories among baby boomers who have grown up and grown older watching concerts of international artists, including Julio Iglesias (a good friend of Araneta Center big boss Jorge Araneta and his wife, Stella Marquez-Araneta) who is returning to the Philippines for the nth time for yet another concert at the Big Dome.

As a tribute to the Big Dome, Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas has drawn a list of the first 50 international events mounted there.

Said Celso, “The list is a mixture of various entertainment namely concerts, pageants, musical extravaganzas, cultural shows, circus and fashion shows; sports tournaments and even a political convention.”

♦ Battle of Champions for the Jr. Lightweight Championship of the World, March 16, 1960. Harold Gomes (USA, World’s Lightweight Champion) vs. Gabriel “Flash” Elorde’ (PI, Lightweight Champion of the Orient). The coliseum was filled up to a capacity crowd of almost 30,000 boxing fans. Elorde beat Gomes after one minute and 50 seconds in the 7th round of the 15-round bout.

♦ Holiday on Ice, March 25 to April 17, 1960. Over 450,000 witnessed the spectacular ballet on ice.

♦ The Neil Sedaka All-Star Show, May 4 to10, 1960. Neil Sedaka was supported by The Shepherd Sisters, Les Spencers and The Hilltoppers.

♦ Fashion on Wings, May 11, 1960.

♦  Bayanihan Philippine Dance Group, May 16 to 22, 1960. (Trivia: 1959 Miss Philippines–Universe Cristina Matias was a member of the Bayanihan dance troupe).

♦ Triple Main Event Battle Royale, June 4, 1960. Roberto Cruz (PI, Undefeated Featherweight Champion) vs. Solomon Boysaw (USA, No. 2 Junior Lightweight Contender); Payung Napaphol (Thailand) vs. Fighting San Carlos, (PI) and Tanny Campo, (PI) vs. Jae Quen Yang (South Korea). 

♦ Zugpitz Artisten, June 10 to 23, 1960. A breathtaking, death-defying, spectacular show performed by 20 German aerialists and acrobats.

♦ Miss Philippines 1960 Pageant, June 25, 1960. Edita Vital was crowned Miss Philippines 1960; her runners-up were Josephine Estrada Brown (Miss Luzon), Editha Fargas (Miss Visayas) and Carminda de Leon (Miss Mindanao). (Trivia: Gemma Cruz, Marichu Vera Perez and Conchitina Sevilla were among the 23 usherettes).

♦ 36th NCAA Basketball Tournament Opening Games, July 4, 1960. The games were played during weekends and the championship was held on Oct. 2, 1960. Letran won over JRC, 75-73.

♦ Double Main Event, July 9, 1960. Flash Elorde (PI) vs. Nachiro Ito (Japan) and Solomon Boysaw (USA) vs. Roberto Cruz (PI). 

♦ Harry Belafonte, Aug. 1 to 7, 1960. 

♦ Hiyas ng Silangan (Gem of the Orient) Parade of Stars, Sept. 9, 1960. One hundred forty stars from Sampaguita Pictures, LVN and Premiere Productions participated in this colorful fashion show of regional costumes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Premiere’s Leonor Vergara was Miss Luzon with Fernando Poe Jr. and Bob Soler as escorts. Aureo Alonzo made the costumes with red motif. Sampaguita’s Gloria Romero was Miss Visayas with Ric Rodrigo and Luis Gonzales as escorts, and Pitoy Moreno created the costumes with white motif. LVN’s Charito Solis was Miss Mindanao with Nestor de Villa and Pancho Magalona as escorts, and Ben Farrales designed and executed the costumes with blue motif.

♦ Ricky Nelson, Sept. 12 to 13, 1960.

♦ The Johnny Mathis Show, Oct. 14 to 23, 1960. Due to insistent public demand, the show was extended. earning the title “Araneta Coliseum’s Biggest Box-Office Blockbuster of the Year.”

♦  International Triple Main Event, Oct. 29, 1960. Jiro Sawada (Japan) vs. Rocky Kalingo (PI), Sammy Borja (Guam) vs. Baby Brown (PI) and Carl Baldwin (Canada) vs. Angel Boy (PI).

♦  Main Event, Nov. 5, 1960. Bert Somodio (PI) vs. Solomon Boysaw (USA).

♦ Showmen’s Show of 1960, Nov. 6, 1960, presented by the Showmen’s Club of the Philippines topbilled by stars of Sampaguita, LVN, Premiere and Larry Santiago film studios. It was featured in Kaming Makasalanan (Eddie Gutierrez and Liberty Ilagan, 1960) as a special added attraction.

♦  Main Event, Nov. 12, 1960. Roberto Cruz (PI) vs. James Ellis (USA).

? MICAA Basketball Championship Series Opening Games, Nov. 24, 1960. Yco Redshirts whipped Ysmael Steel Admirals, 70-55, during the championship on Dec. 18, 1960.

♦ Christmas Cavalcade of 5 International Stars, Dec. 24, 1960 to Jan. 1, 1961. The cast included Hollywood celebrities Teddy Randazzo (composer of classic hit songs such as Goin’ Out of My Head and Hurt So Bad), Jo-Ann Campbell, Molly Bee and German acrobats The Original Benders with the special participation of our very own Carding Cruz and his 24-men orchestra.

♦ The Fabulous Fabian, Jan. 19 to 22, 1961. The show stars 17-year-old Fabian (America’s Teen Idol of the ‘50s), The Fabulous Four and juggler duo Satoni and Mai.

♦ The Tokyo Follies of 1961, Jan. 23 to 29, 1961, topbilled by 1959 Miss Universe 1959 Akiko Kojima and showcased other beauty queens, top models, acrobats and jugglers from Japan. 

♦  Chinese Musical Extravaganza, Feb. 4, 1961.

♦ Trio Los Panchos Variety Show, Feb. 9 to 12, 1961, composed of Johnny Albino, Chucho Navarro and Alfredo Gil, the popular Latin-American trio who performed Spanish romantic favorites.

♦ The Battle of Knockouts, Feb. 15, 1961. Bert Somodio (PI) and Vicente Rivas (Venezuela).

♦ Double Main Event, Feb. 22, 1961. Kazuo Takayama (Japan) vs. Little Cezar (PI) and Ismael Espaoa (Venezuela) vs. Henry Dave (PI). 

♦ The First Heavyweight Fight, 1st Anniversary Presentation, March 25, 1961, with Archie Moore, Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, beat Reagan ‘Buddy’ Turman, Heavyweight KO Sensation of Texas, in a 10-round bout.

♦  Pageant of the World Beauty Queens, April 6 to 11, 1961. The two-hour beauty-fashion show for the benefit of The Foundation for Gifted Children was composed of an impressive array of international beauty queens, fashion models and glamour stars headed by newly-crowned 1960 Miss International Stella Marquez. 

♦ Double Main Event, April 15, 1961. Bert Somodio (PI) vs. Cisco Andrade (USA) and Alfredo Escobar (USA) vs. Oscar Reyes (PI).

♦ Rock ‘n Roll Festival, April 20 to 25, 1961. The new dance craze Twist was introduced on the show which starred Johnny Preston, Paul Evans and Pilita Corrales (fresh from her triumphant tour in Australia). 

♦  Sedaka-Bryant All-Star Show, May 4 to 11, 1961. This was Neil Sedaka’s second show in Araneta Coliseum in just one year, co-starring singing beauty queen Anita Bryant (1958 Miss Oklahoma and 1959 Miss America second runner-up).

♦ International Double Main Event, May 17, 1961. Flash Copeland (USA) vs. Young Terror (PI) and Tonio Coria (Mexico) vs. Oscar Reyes (PI).

♦  Nat King Cole, May 24 to 28, 1961.

♦ The Battle of Ring Giants, May 31, 1961. Flash Elorde Jr. Lightweight Champion of the World vs. Giordano Campari (Italy).

♦ Nacionalista Party Convention, June 3, 1961. 1,400 NP delegates nominated incumbent Pres. Carlos P. Garcia and Sen. Gil Puyat as the party’s standard bearers for the 1961 national elections. 

♦  International Double Main Event, June 24, 1961. Morgan (No. 5 World Rated Lightweight from America) vs. Kalingo (PI Knockout Boxer) and Jamito (PI Bantamweight Champion) vs. Jones (Chicago K.O. Sensation).

♦  Follies Internationale, July 6 to 11, 1961.

♦ The Battle of Champions, July 15, 1961. Cezar (PI) vs. Reyes (PI) and Asis (PI) vs. Scarponi (Italy).

♦  International Triple Main Event, July 22, 1961. Flash Copeland (USA) vs. Wally Taylor (Australia), Adisak Kwaengmechai (Thailand) vs. Sugar Boy Yalong (PI) and David Floyd (Australia) vs. Leo Ricardo (PI).

♦  Pat Boone in Person, July 26 to Aug. 3, 1961.

♦ The Battle of Champions, Aug. 5, 1961. Roberto Cruz (PI) vs. Gary Cowburn (Australia) and Wally Taylor (Australia) vs. Leo Espinosa (PI).

♦ Patti Page and Jimie Rodgers, Aug. 18 to 27, 1961. 

♦  The Everly Brothers All-Star Show, Sept. 15 to 24, 1961. 

♦  Jimmy Clanton Show, Oct. 12 to 18, 1961.

♦ Main Event, Oct. 21, 1961. Roberto Cruz (PI) vs. Johnny Gonsalves (USA).

♦ Lightweight Championship of the World, Oct. 28, 1961. Joe Brown (USA, Champion) vs. Bert Somodio (PI, Challenger).

♦ Renata Tebaldi, Prima Donna, Nov. 18, 21 and 25, 1961. The world’s greatest soprano was accompanied by Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Arturo Basile.

♦ Double Main Event, Nov. 19, 1961. Roberto Cruz (PI) vs. James Ellis (USA) and Arthur Persley (USA) vs. Winnie Rebolado (PI).

♦  Paul Anka, Dec. 1 to 10, 1961, billed as the hottest entertainer anywhere in the world and the top moneymaker in show business.

♦ Four Main Events, Dec. 12, 1961. Boxing: Solomon Boysaw (USA) vs. Arthur Persley (USA), Army Wonder Boy (PI) vs. Veeranid Charernmuang (Thailand), Famiro (PI) vs. Por Tor (PI), Kid Pio Tatel (PI) vs. Angel Boy (PI).

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])