Cain's Ballroom, built in 1924 is home to a wealth of music concerts featuring some of America's best known bands. It has a full program and has recently featured Ben Harper Cross Canadian Ragweed, Hanson, Bloc Party and the Indigo Girls. It hosts the Freaker Ball at Halloween and the Tulsa Overground Film Festival. The building itself is listed on the Register of Historic Landmarks and retains the 1950s red and blue neon lighting and spring maple flooring. There are also old photographs of early performers including Bob Wills, Kay Starr and Ted Williams.
The Ballroom is probably best known for the rise of Bob Wills and a visit to the town by the Brit punk band the Sex Pistols. Bob Wills, the undisputed King of Western Swing' rose to fame with his band the Playboys. They played almost daily broadcast concerts and dances twice a week at the Ballroom. Wills was later inducted in to both the Country and Western Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.
The ballroom's swing dances continued into the 1960s but musical tastes were changing and it was hard to recreate the 'good old days' The venue was ought in the late 1970s and began booking little- known acts such as the Police, Huey Lewis and the News and Pat Benatar — all of which became huge stars. In 1978 the punk band the Sex Pistols played at the Ballroom on their American tour — and although the gig wasn't up to much, as result of their later fame and notoriety their visit to Tulsa has become part of its musical history.
