There was nothing like being in that crowd during the national anthem with the incredibly loud cheering reverberating around the stadium. I’ll always treasure that as a Blackhawk fan.
Chicago Stadium, Boston Garden, Montreal Forum, MSG, Philadelphia Spectrum, Maple Leaf Garden...........nothing like em, nothing ever will be like em again. Feel bad for those who were too young to experience these venues and the hockey played in them........and thanks for this video, simply chilling
The new arenas, stadiums and ball parks are as homogenized and romantic as a trip to Walmart or reading the USA Today. It is difficult, today, to differentiate them from each other. The old places brought the fans to their team without the lasers, over amped music, LED effects, smoke and pyro techniques. Thank you, for this fabulous example of real energy and love.
You sir have hit the bulls eye!! Perhaps one day the proverbial brick outhouse will fall on these sports magnates and they will realize places like these and the fans are what made them what they are and NOT the corporate bigwigs and their luxury sky boxes.
God bless Wayne Messmer. I'm a Flyers fan, but Wayne is my favorite anthemist. I didn't know he was shot in the throat. Absolutely horrible. First discovered him in 1991 at the start of the Gulf War, and never looked back. I know you recovered, but life is precious. Keep what you doing sir. You're a great American.
And we will, with God's help stand with our Canadian brothers and sisters. I will always remember my trip with my high school chorus to Toronto in 1955 for a program we put on for those in attendance and always wished I had gone back to tour the city.
The truly sad part was that it needed no repairs. Chalk up another loss to the luxury suites and food courts. You know, stuff us real fans can't relate to......
I don't know how Kathleen held it together. It's 27 years later, I'm sitting at a computer and I can't even. It's amazing that Wayne recovered and eventually was able to continue singing.
My Dad used to take me there in the 70s. I tried to talk to him one time as I stood next to him, and I could not even hear MY voice. I never tried that again after that. Chicago Stadium WAS Hockey, and it was a privilege to be there
+Ken Dufresne, you are SO RIGHT! Every time I watch a game, someone else sings the anthems and doesn't sing them RIGHT! It just breaks my heart! If someone CAN'T or WON'T sing them CORRECTLY, have the organist play them!
@@M1ke1997 If you are over 50 you can probably appreciate the CHARACTER the old arenas had! Speaking of organists, I think it was at the old Montreal Forum when the refs came out on the ice before the game, the organist played 3 BLIND MICE! L0L
@@russhook6595 I actually am 50 years old and back when I was a youngster, people had more respect for our nat'l anthems than they do today, everyone stood and no one EVER took a knee!
Red Wing fan here. The Olympia was also something special, but I gotta say that the pipe organ, the foghorn and Wayne Messmer singing the anthem with 20,000 fans cheering made the Chicago Stadium THE greatest venue in NHL history!
Also from Detroit. I have been fortunate to attend NHL games in at least 15 different league venues since 1967 but the old Chicago Stadium, ( and the singing of the National anthem with Wayne Messmer) was far and away the very best experience any true hockey fan could have ever wished for.
This is the last REGULAR SEASON anthem at the Chicago Stadium (4/14/94). The VERY LAST ANTHEM at the old barn was on 4/28/94 when the Blackhawks lost game six of the conference quarterfinals to the Toronto Maple Leafs and were eliminated from the playoffs. In 1999 the Blackhawks returned the favor by beating the Maple Leafs in their final home game at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Bulls played their last game at the Stadium on May 20, 1994 against the Knicks, so that would have been the real and true last national anthem at ye olde Chicago Stadium.
Wayne Messmer is THE ONLY MAN that should have EVER sang the Anthem at the Stadium - new or old. He has the voice ... and the class! He was attacked on hos way out of the stadium he helped make great! HE STILL has it!
I agree. The Blackhawk ownership firing Wayne cause he was part owner of a minor league hockey team the Wolves in Chicago was so SH - - - Y PERIOD. Who cares, the Hawk's were selling out their games anyway. They did not even compete against each other. If they were both in the NHL like the Cubs and White Sox, then I would understand. That always left a sort spot in my heart.
My Beloved Boston Bruins fought some memorable wars in that old barn. I go back to The Golden Jet, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Stan Makita etc. I have never been to the old Chicago Stadium, alas I missed out on something great. But i remember it being the loudest rink in the league. I am a naval veteran and i take te playing of the anthems seriously. Wayne Messmer was a credit to this country, his family, the Blackhawks organization, and especially the fans of Chicago. It takes a lot to get me emotional, but that was beautiful. Wayne was one of a kind. Im glad to see Jim corneilson has kept wayne and the Chicago tradition alive. I was at Notre Dame stadium for the winter classic and he did not disappoint. God speed wayne, wherever you are. You spirit is missed both in Chicago and around the league. Take care sir.
I was at that game i miss the old barn those were the good old days! I was also at the playoff game when JR scored the last Blackhawks goal in the old Stadium. I was 22 when this game happened now im 50 its hard to believe where time went.
My memory of this place as a Rangers fan is when Steve Larmer returned and scored on a penalty shot against Ed Belfour, and the place erupted. New arena's don't have the feel of places like this. They're all generic and soulless.
I’ve visited Chicago many times from England as a Hawks fan. Since 2001 of my first visit to the city and United Centre, I still get very emotional witnessing the anthem being sang by our amazing fans. The best atmosphere in all of sports imo. Love America & love Chicago. Go Hawks! 😀🇺🇸❤️
Before every stadium arena became the same Blueprint for every stadium. no soul , no loud intimidating atmosphere with horrible acoustics. No standing room only admission tickets for $10.00 . The stadium was awesome just like my hometown buffalo memorial auditorium Had its own unique feel
@@amazinmets8439- excuse me??? A miniature version of NYC?? Not even close!!! Chicago has never had a personality complex with NYC & never will!! The city of big shoulders stands alone & sidles up against no one.
@@chooch1995 I wasn't trying to be insulting. Although I'm not sure what's so great about Chicago. It's an extremely corrupt city (See: Jussie Smollett) with a high violent crime rate. Decent pizza I guess, but pales in comparison to NY pizza. There's no city in the world like NYC. Everything else is 2nd rate.
@@amazinmets8439 - no one was insulted, Tie. "I'm not sure what's so great about Chicago" you say? We're all commenting on a video about the greatest stadium to ever hold a hockey game here, Tie.....what are you watching?
Three of us drove down from Toronto to see this game. We heard the pre anthem speech asking for prayers to God for Wayne. We went to Wrigley Field the next day and heard the same speech pre anthem again. The beer vendor who sold us a lot of beer at the Hawks game was also selling beer the next day at the Cubs game. After again hearing the same speech with all the religious overtones he looked at us, rolled his eyes and said how "it's amazing how a bullet in the neck will help you find God." Best line of the trip. Cubs lost 16-1 btw.
The cubs lost games by that margin when I was growing up in the early 2000s too We used to call Dempster "Dempster fire" because hed blow so many games I do remember the cubs in 04/05 coming back from around a 10 run deficit, and that was 20 years ago lol
This was magic .I remember watching this .Wayne was unfortunately fired because he become a Senior Executive Vice President of the Chicago Wolves' .I did one time have chance to hello to him at one of Wolves games. Classy guy!
I was lucky enough to see my first hockey game there and it was a playoff game against the Maple leafs... It was one of the best nights of my life!!! I never witnessed such a atmosphere like that!!!! It was Unbelievable.. Then we went down to Chelios’s bar and grill, ate hotdogs, got totally wasted and a ton of Hawks players came in after the game... It was amazing!! And I believe that’s the same block where Wayne got shot a few days later
Man I miss seeing these old stadiums and the fans on the TV. Never visited them but even here in Vancouver, Canada we knew the loud and intimidation factor going on when any game was played at the Blackhawks stadium. The old Boston Garden and the Forum in Montreal. Maple Leaf Gardens. Man those were the days.
The most tragic part about watching this video is knowing that the Blackhawks fired Messmer a year later because he performed the anthem for another team during the NHL lockout.
It was not just another team. He was fired because Dollar Bill saw the Chicago Wolves as competition. Even though they are a minor league team. Wayne is also the senior vp of the wolves.
Bill Wirtz most likely was behind the firing. We remember him as the genius who stubbornly refused to televise home games inspite of all the evidence it was a counter productive policy. In his final years the Hawks were mediocre or worse, and they played before a lot of empty seats. After his death, his son Rocky took over the team, and Rocky immediately got rid of the home black out policy. The team quickly improved and would win 3 Stanley Cups. Attendance quickly soared. Rocky obviously grew up learning what NOT to do from his father's example.
I was at this game! The video doesn't do it justice. I literally thought the roof was going to cave in it was so loud! Sadly we never hear the ROAR anymore with the same enthusiasm as we once did.
When I first started to go to the Chicago Stadium the great Al Melgaard was at the organ and later of course Frank... Nothing like the sound and it brings back so much memories... I'm so nostalgic about this... Emotional, I can't explain it!
I am a fan of the Maple Leafs I remember this game very well this was epic taped from the All star game durning the Gulf War the old buildings are all gone now. Anthem singers change it all around that's dusrespecful
The U. C. now is a modern day entertainment center. Not bashing the building in any way, but we all know the Old Stadium as we remember it and knew it was a rugged diamond within itself and meant so much to so many. There is no comparison between the two, the stadium was the energy the heartbeat the soul of Blackhawk hockey. The anthem, the sound in the building was thunderous that was created by the fans and yet the building knew the energy it was receiving and gave it right back to us. Frank Pelico pounding the keys on the organ, and the thunderous roar after a Blackhawk win that left my ears ringing after games. The memories of that building will never be forgotten, walking up to the 2nd balcony via stairs that stuck to the bottom of your shoes. The bathrooms without mirrors and door stalls, and of course the Andy Frain ushers and off duty police officers that broke up many of fights. The all star game during the gulf war that I attended was nothing less then a memory like no other, that anthem brought more than a tear to my eye, it was when we all felt we were all part of a great nation. The Stadium will never ever be replaced, doesn't matter how many billions they spend on luxury, the Stadium was more than a building it was and is cherished icon.
I mean, sure it's good in the United Center with Jim Cornelison, but I seriously wish I could have been able to see a game and hear the roar at the old place.
Wayne Messmer loves Chicago and really loves the Wolves ,Blackhawks and Cubs but the funny thing is he don,'t even live in Chicago. I find that strange if it was't for Chicago he would have to find someother place to sing. But Chicago sports team keep him and his family in life of luxury.
I was at this game and Many others at CHICAGO Stadium including game #4 of The Stanley Cup Final when Pittsburgh hoisted the cup. All I can say is the video on sound are cool, but do not do justice. During the Anthem and other moments yoyr body literally shook. The building vibrated, you could feel the Organ and the Fog Horn when the Hawks scored in your chest.
I was born in Blue Island Illinois January 17 19 62 in St Francis Hospital that's when they told my Mother Alicia Franco Escutia she can't get pregnant because they took out her Matriz when i was born that's why I have a scar on my left cheek
steff Yoshida When stadiums belonged to the city and the people. Look at what happened to that beautiful art-deco building that was the Aud in Buffalo. Torn down and replaced with a square box that's name changes with the highest bidder. Was HSBC Arena, then First Niagara and not sure who now. Naming venues and tournaments after sponsors? How about playing for a tournament called Waste Management. No thanks.
@@34Packardphaeton Nope. The few who are executed get an injection, and IL no longer has a death penalty, though at least they were able to execute John Wayne Gary nearly 15 years after he was arrested for multiple murders of teenage boys.
That's exactly what it was. The fine arts don't belong on Madison Street. They belong on elitist, yuppie scumbag Michigan Avenue. Fine arts and sports don't mix. Come to watch and enjoy a game, not deal with someone's manic depression.
Daniel Franco Jr to be The Mayor of Laredo Texas and also Silvano Auerlos Conejo y Mauro Ramón Ballesteros Figueroa said El Profesor Daniel Franco Jr Escutia to be The Presidente de Morelia Michoacán México oh El Profesor Daniel Franco Jr Escutia para Presidente de Cuitzeo Del Porvenir Michoacán México el Pueblo Miajico and The Chicago Blackhawks Stanley cup finals i have it
These old stadiums were the best new stadiums and arenas nowadays suck. They all look the same and are so generic very cookie cutter. I love when the stadiums were unique and had their own special charms to them
