WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The Old Ballgame: The Chicago Disco Night

Episode Date: December 1, 2023

A look at the Disco Demolition night of 1979.

Welcome to the old ball game, where we talk about the past of America's favorite pastime. I'm Tate Christensen. Today we talk about the Disco Demolition Night of Chicago. In the late 1970s, the Chicago White Sox were struggling to draw large crowds at their ball games. At the same time, and seemingly unrelated, there was a movement of rock music fans rebelling against the very popular disco music. How do these two relate? Well, the White Sox contacted anti-disco promoter Steve Dahl, a Chicago shock jock, to run a promotion in coordination with the White Sox. and Doll's radio station. Here's how the event worked.

For the White Sox's double header on July 12, 1979, admission was 98 cents for every attendee who brought in a disco record. These records were collected to be exploded and destroyed by Doll between games. The White Sox hoped to draw about 20,000 attendees from this event. Instead, it drew 50,000 with more standing outside. Doll exploded the records as planned. But following this, thousands of fans stormed the field, remaining there until Riot Police removed them.

The White Sox were forced to forfeit the second game. This has been the old ballgame on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.