This Old Building
Over 40 years ago on December 31, 1978, an extraordinary event took place at Post and Steiner streets in San Francisco as over 5000 Deadheads gathered with their favorite band to pay tribute and bid farewell to one of the most beloved music venues in the Bay Area, Bill Graham’s historic Winterland Arena.
"If I had my way,
I would tear this old building down."
The Final Night at Bill Graham's
Renowned Winterland Arena 12.31.1978
This storied night featured the New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Blues Brothers, the Grateful Dead and of course the Deadheads—now you can relive this remarkable affair.
Hi, I’m Jarid and I was there to capture the event. Welcome to The Closing of Winterland, where you can view photos, read tales of adventure from Deadheads who were at the show, enjoy personal essays by Winterland production manager Bob Barsotti, legendary rock writer Joel Selvin and Dead historian Dennis McNally, plus learn more about this celebrated San Francisco venue.
In addition, you can purchase select fine art prints from my book This Old Building: The Closing of Winterland, printed on Archival Hahnemuhle matte cotton rag, only available here.
A Celebration in Words
and Pictures
“This old place is closing up and so let’s give this old place
a round of applause because it’s done us all a real good thing.”
Bob Weir
Amazing! What a thrill to not only finally see your photos, but to see them presented in such a stylish and loving way. To say I’m grateful for all your exterior, interior and crowd shots would be an understatement, and of course, nothing like seeing new images of the show all these years later.
Rob Bleetstein ~ Fellow Deadhead & Winterland Enthusiast
It was in 1928 that Winterland as we knew it first took shape as the Dreamland Theatre. Here is a look at the history of the building from its beginnings in 1906.
San Francisco Theatres Blog