The Circle Star was known for the revolving stage which ensured all the 3743 seats were within 50 feet of the stage; there were no ‘bad’ seats in the house.
Social media, while marching ahead, looks back and embraces the past so much that it has even created a TBT; Throw Back Thursday. Each Thursday people using social media such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook ‘hashtag’ TBT and share a photo from the past. This last Thursday our photo subject was Circle Start, thanks to local musician Dave Crimmen’s suggestion. The photo received over 100 ‘LIKES’ and over 80 comments from neighbors sharing memories.
Circle Star opened in the early 60’s and boasted 3743 seats surrounding a revolving stage and since no seat was further than 50 seat from the stage, every seat in the house was perfect. Circle Star closed it’s doors in 1993 and the building caught fire in 1997. An office complex now stands in it’s foot print.
Our post this past Thursday was simple and we ask you all the same questions: #TBT Circle Star, Who remembers this place and what shows did you see?
Jacqui Grant SOUND OF MUSIC.
Gigi Santinelli Santamaria I remember going there to see Rick James, and also went with my mother when I was a lot younger to see Tina Turner.
Gina Karas I saw a ton of country stars there, as well as Chuck Berry & Expose! Going way back!
Claire Murtagh O’Hara Wow I barely remember that. I saw Donnie and Marie osmond! Haa
Like · Reply · 1 · February 26 at 11:51am
Rhod Wallace I fought Sonny Liston there.
Jeannette Yesitsnineletters Harry Chapin!!
Maria Pineda I remember this place! wow
Stephanie Miller Circle Star. I saw Jay Leno and ShaNaNa there about 40 years ago.
Lewis Caputa WOW…. Went there once with Andrew Greenlee and Andy McNeil and saw Bob Cat Goalthwait
Karen McEvoy Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers.
Ryan Rogers Frank Sinatra. Amazing show!
Christine Area I almost got hit by a piece of watermelon when I saw Gallagher there…
Brian Gavin Jackson 5, Dionne Warwick, Jerry Seinfeld
Kathy Loza I loved going to The Circle Star!!!
Margaret Morris Saw Richard Pryor there. He was hilarious!
Diana Gomez I just drove by here last week. Sad to see it’s gone. Burt Bacharach.
Allen Galli Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey
Patricia Cariño Chan Diana Ross with Jerry Seinfeld as her opening act!
Debbie Leighton Doherty My mom would take me to the Children’s Theater productions there when I was a kid. I saw Kenny Rogers there and also Tim Allen.
Glen Wandersee Never saw a show,but mom saw,RICK JAMES,WITH MARY JANE GIRLS,OPEN FOR COMMODORES.
Keith Shawn Tower of Power rocked the place
Don Hageman I worked there with my mom and brother. My brother and I were ushers…
Peps Padilla Tower of Power Luther Vandross Jeffrey Osborne. Najee Earth Wind & Fire Con Funk Shun James Ingram. …. Those were the Days! Awesome venue. Not a bad seat in the house with the rotating stage
Raul Rodriguez Circle Star, I miss that place. Saw many shows especially MOTOWN, Smokey which I took Stella before we were married, Temps, 4 Tops, Stevie Wonder plus others!
Beverly Spatafore Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, George Carlin, Mac Davis and many more….
Vickie Pfeiffer Loved that place!! So many great shows there!! Good memories!
Mareth Vedder Gladys Knight, Smokey, Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers come to mind off the top of my head. Wonderful memories!l
Bobbi Woolworth Johnny Cash, Mac Davis, The Carpenters, Don Williams, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Bobby Vinton, Reba McEntire
Vickie Pfeiffer Righteous Brothers, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Liberace, Kenny Rogers, Gallagher, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson–can’t remember the rest right now!! Fun times!!
Marco Ramirez mc hammer.. and an extra for a show called midnight caller
Patricia Baker As I kid, we went there to see “Wizard of Oz” and “Cinderella”. Later in life, I saw several country acts there, including the Bellamy Brothers, Larry Gatlin & Bros., George Jones, and (my favorite) Merle Haggard.
Cynthia Arias Stevie B!
Dirk Zander First concert Jackson 5 and I worked there in high school.
Ellen Minucciani Donnie and Marie, Sammy Davis Jr/Spinners, Sonny and Cher. Just to name a few…..
Lolita Batis-Mccoy Saw a few concerts there in the 70’s & 80’s.
John Predmore I do, I do, lived in Redwood city when was first transferred to the Bay Area… By General Electric Company!
Constance Maffei I used to work there. The last memorable shift I worked was Anita Baker…ask Krisi Riccardi what made that night so hard to forget. On second thought, let’s just leave that one in the past.
Rebecca Crociani wow I went there a bunch of times with my husband back then he was my boyfriend but we had a great time at that place
Theresa Di Falco Neil Diamond, Sonny and Cher, Rufus, Al Green.
Laurie Ratliff Weird Al Yankovitch in the mid 80’s.
Gloria Nuanes Merino WAR
Carol Fink Broussard Sonny & Cher, George Benson
Barbara Bathurst O’Donnell Cheech and Chong, the play “Unsinkable Molly Brown”, Smokey Robinson……maybe more. Circle Star is gone?
Kim Hawkins-Lerch The Jackson 5
Anita Porpoise The Ohio Players, The Temptations, Kenny G, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, and probably others. Saw The Music Man and Oliver there. Also ushered for Liberace when I was 11 or 12, under age.
Rose Rudometkin Many shows… Smokey, k c & sunshine band. Frank Sinatra, WAR, al Green, E,W!& F, and many more. It was a nice theater in the round.
Jay Morena Shanana
Patti Rodriguez TOWER OF POWER a few times, CHAKA KHAN, CHEECH AND CHONG, TOM JONES, HUGH MASEKALA, PHILP BAILEY and many others…..
Joyce Messing Jaws
Whitney Connors-Pasion ohhhh ya!!!! Carpenters ……Peaches and Herb……..Commodores……….Tower of Power
Muriel Pleasic Peninger Tom Jones every year.
Noel Hayes BB King. Bobby Blue Bland, James Brown, Sinatra, Roy Buchanan, Dr John, Lonnie Mack, and Many other Blues bands andsaw the ones on this list many times there
Jon Henz yes Jackson 5/ tom jones/ the polish prince and a lot more all seats were great stage rotated lots of Mexican singers Vicente Fernandez tony Orlando wow what memories /tower of power
Steve Firpo My wife worked there for two years. Bill Cosby, frank Sinatra and Tim jones pretty good shows.
Christina Fedelin Oates Kool and the Gang, Jackson Five, Ohio Players, Stylistics, Whispers, Commodores, and so many others. So many great memories. I really miss that place.
Karen Johanson I saw a theater in the round productions of Peter Pan, with Mary Crosby as Peter, and Carousel with Anna Maria Albraghetti (sp?). Many concerts in the following years.
Johnny Wad Goldthwaite Roy Orbison and Frank Sinatra
Wesley Nelson You did not see Frank???
Tom Gerkensmeyer Frank Sinatra, BB King, George Carlin. parking lot was a great place to see 4th fireworks
Susan Gerkensmeyer O’Hare Hey Tom you saw those guys there?? I never knew!! I saw a few in my day too.
Cathy Duncan Gallagher.
Kathleen Rogers Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Redd Foxx, The Kingston Trio to name a few. What a
Bobbi Woolworth Johnny Cash, Mac Davis, The Carpenters, Don Williams, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Bobby Vinton, Reba McEntyre
Peggy Vogele Kid in the 60’s….Lil Abner & Babe’s In Toyland
Mike Delucci Where was this at?
Darlene Yee Peter Pan, Redd Foxx, and Rodney Dangerfield
Tanya Benedik Willie Nelson!
Sherrie Haas Escamilla Barbara Marjorie Israel and Bob took us to see Tom Jones in the 70’s.
Karen Cass Too many to count. The best was Liberacie on the revolving stage in his outrageous costumes.
Claus Heaney Frank Zappa, Chicago, Chaka Khan….
Athena De Leon is the drive in
Reenie Eaton Saw Cheech and Ching there while in high school. Fun times. Rode from SSF all the way in the back of a pick up truck with friends Debbie Hensic Loudon Mary Brasher etc.
Sandie Ferrari Rocky!!!!!!
Robert Landucci Shanana, George Carlin. Parents saw Frank Sinatra here.
Kenneth Buhagiar Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor (Tim Allen), Michael McDonald, Kenny G (yuck), wanted to see Sinatra but couldn’t get away.
Andy Chan Gallagher, Dangerfield, Carlin… music groups America, Tower of Power, Peaches and Herb… I think Doobie Bros played there too, but I think I saw them at the “Day on the Green” years
Harry Hamaker Dad taught me how to drive stick in circle star parking lot…skateboard ed PLENTY there aswell
Diane Gagliani I saw Frank Sinatra at the Circle Star and Neil Diamond and Tower of Power.
Mike Erin Girimonte to many to remember,our dear friend Ida Hynes used to be an usher there for years
Helene Orsini-Vencill Many shows I have see there. Dianna Ross, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Sony and Cher and the Fifth Dimensions.
Jan Mazzotti Diana Ross…Sonny & Cher….Kenny Rogers and I’m sure some more stars. Loved that place, lots of great memories. Usually went out to dinner first at maybe “Charlie Brown’s” (remember that one?)
Don Lucchesi Stevie Wonder!
Cecil Branner LL Cool J , D.R.S , & H-TOWN
Steve Johnson I auditioned for a scholarship. Shelly winters was the judge. Dead drunk at 2 pm and snored through my best willy loman. Never went back
I saw the king family their in 1965 or 66 can’t rember, my uncle Kent larsen band director was married to Marilyn king, saw them at Hollywood bowl Aug 26,1967
Saw Peter Pan with Mary Crosby as Peter. Early sixties still remember it.
Dave Clark 5 – We had a garage band that participated in the Bay Area “Battle of the Bands” at the Circle Star.
I saw Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis there, also Albert King, BB King and Bobby Blue Bland!
Saw Chaka Khan, George Benson, and Return to Forever.
That was one of the best venues ever! Short of clubs!
Anyone out there know the years when any of the above performed at Circle Star Theater?
Saw Chaka Khan, George Benson, and Return to Forever.
That was one of the best venues ever! Short of clubs!
Anyone out there know the years when any of the above performed at Circle Star Theater?
I was a stagehand and assistant stage manager at Circle Star from 1991 to 1993. I have AWESOME memories of the place that changed my life forever. We were a family and some of us still stay in touch.
Former auditorium & entertainment center was built in the early 1960’s until closed in 1993 & demolished in 1997 22 years ago converted into commercial center & a hotel too & it is history as a iconic landmark.
I was fortunate enough to see Frank Sinatra with my co-worker Clay who had a extra ticket and is a big Sinatra fan. After seeing Frank in concert I am now a big Sinatra fan. His voice was great! I was at the April 27th 1991 concert.
I lived very close to the theatre! I saw the Jackson 5 in 1973 with Michael Jackson, i was 10 yrs old. He was an amazing singer and awesome dancer, even as a lil’ kid!..Great performance by the “5”!….saw other famous singers/groups there too! Great place!
I lived very close to the theatre! I saw the Jackson 5 in 1973 with Michael Jackson, i was 10 yrs old. He was an amazing singer and awesome dancer, even as a lil’ kid!..Great performance by the “5”!….daw other famous singers/groups there too! Great place.
I remember going to the circle star to see the Jackson 5ive 1973 I believe. Man I was so in disbelief!!! I saw MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!!
The year was 1973, Barry White, Love Unlimited and Love Unlimited Orchestra. Opening act was The Dells.
My very 1st concert when I was 5 years old with my mom to see Tom Jones!! (1975?) I remember his great songs and amazing voice!!!
Was there to see Tom Jones on four different shows.
He was great every time. What a voice and a performer…
BB King @ Bobby Blue Bland & George Carlin.
Cheech and Chong at their peak c.1975, opening act was the Pointer Sisters. Twenty years later, Chuck Berry. He drove his own car to the show. The back up band barely knew the music.
Saw Jerry Lee Lewis, Barry Manilow, George Carlin (more than once, I think), Tavares, Aretha Franklin, Ike and Tina (with one extremely sexual song) and the Temptations.