MOTOWN FLASHBACK: Six GREAT Motown acts PLUS three headliners on the Fox marquee in 1966. That’s NINE stage acts — a single ticket price would get you in for the entire show: $2.50!A Motor Town Revue flashback: The Marvelettes (four members then) live on stage at the Detroit Fox Motor Town Revue, Sunday, November 17, 1963A Motor Town Revue flashback: Motor Town Revue with the Marvelettes on stage at the Detroit Fox Theater, Sunday, November 17, 1963DETROIT FREE PRESS Motor Town Revue ad, Sunday, November 17, 1963A Motor Town Revue flashback: Smokey live on stage at the Detroit Fox Theater, Saturday, November 16, 1963.A Motor Town Revue flashback: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles onstage at the 1963 Motor Town Revue at the Detroit Fox Theater. Saturday, November 16. A Motor Town Revue flashback: The Miracles and Smokey live onstage doing their “Mickey’s Monkey” Motown act at the Detroit Fox Theater on Woodward Avenue, Saturday, November 16 1963.Also below:a RARE video featured flashback — one hour of Robin Seymour’s ‘Teen Town‘ — The Motown Story 1965 — watch it here, the entire Detroit CKLW-TV9 teen dance show (from 1965) on Motor City Radio Flashbacks!A Motor Town Revue flashback: An authentic Motor Town Revue poster. Detroit Fox Theater, December, 1967.
22 thoughts on “MOTOR TOWN REVUE SHOW AT THE DETROIT FOX 1966!”
Wow !!! As a kid, I took the Woodward bus to see venues downtown, including the Fox. The BEST $2.50 + bus fare I ever got!
The 4 of us would scrape together enough money for one ticket and the the ticket holder would open the side exit for the rest of us to get in. We were in awe of the all the acts especially the Temptations. At the end of each show we hide behind the last row of seats and wait for the next show. We would watch all 5 shows and never get tired.
I am interested in purchasing videos, posters etc. is there a website . I remember every Christmas Day catching the bus to Detroit and standing in line to attend the Motown Revue at the Fox!
Yup same here take the Davison Bus East to Woodward Avenue and take the southbound Woodward bus to the Fox Theater…and get in line to buy tickets first come first served.
This year, my mother and I both saw every show for that week or weekend. We would watch the matinee show and then wait for the audience to file out and then we’d both go to the restrooms in the Fox and then come out of there when the new audience started filing in. In between sets, we’d run down to the White Castle and get some burgers and fries on a few of those days. We watched Willie Tyler and Lester, Stevie, Smokey, Temptations , Marvin and Tammi and everybody on Motown Records would perform. After those shows, I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment business. I eventually played to a few sold out houses at that same theater. That’s was a very influential time for me. There’s never been anything like it since.
My friend Brian and I went two times in the 60’s.
It was open seating and very crowded so we had to sit in the back at first.
As the show went on we had worked our way up to the second row by the time” Little”
Stevie Wonder went on. He played the harmonica and then the drums “Fingertips Part two”
He broke one of his sticks and a piece went flying. We were young kids and scrambled to get it which we did. Unfortunately I don’t know what happened to it.
He also had a stage person who came out put a robe on him and attempted to take him offstage A’ La James Brown, but Stevie came back and played even better. It was amazing
I have seen Stevie several times since then, and will attend the Grammy Tribute next Tuesday, but will never forget that first show.
During the 60’s I saw many great concerts in Detroit. The Beatles, (twice) Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, (three times) Herman’s Hermits, Paul Revere and the Raiders but not one Motortown Revue!! I OUGHT TO BE SHOT!! In fact I may do it myself!!
I was working in the inner city that winter just off Woodward & Henry at a day labor office. I was working the night shift, 9:00pm-5:00am, sending guys out on late evening jobs and doing paper work. I went down to the Fox Theater and saw the entire Motown show with a date for only $4 per ticket. One of the best live rock shows every. Thanks Detroit.
O yes we had a great and bless time then, we use to go about three or four time to see them all. Great great shows, if you never saw this show you miss out on a lots of great talent.
I was at this concert as a young teenager. I went with a group of kids from work, from Milroys Fish and Chips is East Detroit, MI. I snuck out of the house to go as my mom would not have let me go otherwise. There were about 6 to 8 of us…the only white kids in the whole place. But, it didn’t matter to us and it didn’t matter to the crowd. It was such a positive, happy event. I loved Motown even through the Beatles craze. All I remember is the fun we had, the great performances…Stevie Wonder playing his harmonica…so small and young. Brilliantly talented musicians all in one place was so exciting. I often think of this event, even now as a 64 year old woman. A few years ago I worked at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre. I worked there as a secretary for 8 years and even though I could have gone out and watched all those concerts I only went out to see a couple. Nothing ever thrilled me like the Motown Review at the Fox in 1966.
You weren’t the only white kids there. I was already at WSU in ’66 but I’d also made it to the ’64 Revue when I was 16, in high school, Cass Tech. There were few white folks attending then, but I recall that by ’66 it was already much more mixed. Just as you say, I, too, had the feeling that none of the racial crap mattered. I felt that was what it was supposed to feel like all the time. For me, being a downtown Detroit kid comfortable and having a blast within the cultural and social mix…it was a revelation which helped inform my all-inclusive life attitude. I learned well about celebrating the intricate relationship of connection and diversity. We were so fortunate to have all that — the music, the brilliant talent and art, and embracing connection.
Lived in the Brewsters on Hastings St. Went to all the Motown Reviews. Didn’t have the money for admission so I used to hang out at the side door of the Fox and when the band entered I would ask to help carry their instruments in. Had the best back stage view.
IN 1965 the Motown review came to London and played the Astoria at Finsbury Park, I was 10 years of age and bought a ticket with my birthday money and finally saw all of my American idols live on stage, I loved the Supremes most of all and the opening bars of Where did our love go, still makes the hair on my arms stand up, over 50 years later.
God bless Berry Gordy for what is surely one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century and the stars at Motown for making it sound so fantastic, never has a sound had so much longevity, will we still hear the current sounds of pop in 50 years time?
December 1967. My brother was home on leave from the Army. Together with his girlfriend, we went to the USO on Michigan Ave. and got free tickets to the Motown review. Smokie, Stevie, The Vandellas and many more. Great memories.
Wow !!! As a kid, I took the Woodward bus to see venues downtown, including the Fox. The BEST $2.50 + bus fare I ever got!
Hi Jerry
Growing up in England, we just had the records, you were really lucky! In 2006 we saw The Funk Brothers WOW all my records became more than real.
Regards
Chris
The 4 of us would scrape together enough money for one ticket and the the ticket holder would open the side exit for the rest of us to get in. We were in awe of the all the acts especially the Temptations. At the end of each show we hide behind the last row of seats and wait for the next show. We would watch all 5 shows and never get tired.
WOULD U HAVE THE MOTORTOWN REVUES SHOWS FROM THE FOX THEATRE ON DVD?
I am interested in purchasing videos, posters etc. is there a website . I remember every Christmas Day catching the bus to Detroit and standing in line to attend the Motown Revue at the Fox!
Yup same here take the Davison Bus East to Woodward Avenue and take the southbound Woodward bus to the Fox Theater…and get in line to buy tickets first come first served.
how can i get the 1962 apollo show on dvd?
I just love this remember my mom @aunts,family friends get togethers, just a kid but watched them enjoy this music @life.
This year, my mother and I both saw every show for that week or weekend. We would watch the matinee show and then wait for the audience to file out and then we’d both go to the restrooms in the Fox and then come out of there when the new audience started filing in. In between sets, we’d run down to the White Castle and get some burgers and fries on a few of those days. We watched Willie Tyler and Lester, Stevie, Smokey, Temptations , Marvin and Tammi and everybody on Motown Records would perform. After those shows, I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment business. I eventually played to a few sold out houses at that same theater. That’s was a very influential time for me. There’s never been anything like it since.
I went to almost every show in those years, I was only 7, 8 or 9 then…
My friend Brian and I went two times in the 60’s.
It was open seating and very crowded so we had to sit in the back at first.
As the show went on we had worked our way up to the second row by the time” Little”
Stevie Wonder went on. He played the harmonica and then the drums “Fingertips Part two”
He broke one of his sticks and a piece went flying. We were young kids and scrambled to get it which we did. Unfortunately I don’t know what happened to it.
He also had a stage person who came out put a robe on him and attempted to take him offstage A’ La James Brown, but Stevie came back and played even better. It was amazing
I have seen Stevie several times since then, and will attend the Grammy Tribute next Tuesday, but will never forget that first show.
During the 60’s I saw many great concerts in Detroit. The Beatles, (twice) Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, (three times) Herman’s Hermits, Paul Revere and the Raiders but not one Motortown Revue!! I OUGHT TO BE SHOT!! In fact I may do it myself!!
I was working in the inner city that winter just off Woodward & Henry at a day labor office. I was working the night shift, 9:00pm-5:00am, sending guys out on late evening jobs and doing paper work. I went down to the Fox Theater and saw the entire Motown show with a date for only $4 per ticket. One of the best live rock shows every. Thanks Detroit.
O yes we had a great and bless time then, we use to go about three or four time to see them all. Great great shows, if you never saw this show you miss out on a lots of great talent.
I was at this concert as a young teenager. I went with a group of kids from work, from Milroys Fish and Chips is East Detroit, MI. I snuck out of the house to go as my mom would not have let me go otherwise. There were about 6 to 8 of us…the only white kids in the whole place. But, it didn’t matter to us and it didn’t matter to the crowd. It was such a positive, happy event. I loved Motown even through the Beatles craze. All I remember is the fun we had, the great performances…Stevie Wonder playing his harmonica…so small and young. Brilliantly talented musicians all in one place was so exciting. I often think of this event, even now as a 64 year old woman. A few years ago I worked at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre. I worked there as a secretary for 8 years and even though I could have gone out and watched all those concerts I only went out to see a couple. Nothing ever thrilled me like the Motown Review at the Fox in 1966.
You weren’t the only white kids there. I was already at WSU in ’66 but I’d also made it to the ’64 Revue when I was 16, in high school, Cass Tech. There were few white folks attending then, but I recall that by ’66 it was already much more mixed. Just as you say, I, too, had the feeling that none of the racial crap mattered. I felt that was what it was supposed to feel like all the time. For me, being a downtown Detroit kid comfortable and having a blast within the cultural and social mix…it was a revelation which helped inform my all-inclusive life attitude. I learned well about celebrating the intricate relationship of connection and diversity. We were so fortunate to have all that — the music, the brilliant talent and art, and embracing connection.
Lived in the Brewsters on Hastings St. Went to all the Motown Reviews. Didn’t have the money for admission so I used to hang out at the side door of the Fox and when the band entered I would ask to help carry their instruments in. Had the best back stage view.
Any idea where this photo came from? I’m trying to find a higher resolution version of it.
https://usaradiomuseum.com/?p=28416#jp-carousel-28417
Thanks!
IN 1965 the Motown review came to London and played the Astoria at Finsbury Park, I was 10 years of age and bought a ticket with my birthday money and finally saw all of my American idols live on stage, I loved the Supremes most of all and the opening bars of Where did our love go, still makes the hair on my arms stand up, over 50 years later.
God bless Berry Gordy for what is surely one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century and the stars at Motown for making it sound so fantastic, never has a sound had so much longevity, will we still hear the current sounds of pop in 50 years time?
Great post! Have nice day ! 🙂 abhoc
December 1967. My brother was home on leave from the Army. Together with his girlfriend, we went to the USO on Michigan Ave. and got free tickets to the Motown review. Smokie, Stevie, The Vandellas and many more. Great memories.