Infamous Disco Demolition Night

It’s always odd when something that simply sounds like a quirky event is revealed to be a much uglier and heinous moment in time. 1979’s Disco Demolition Night in Chicago always sounded like a funny bit of pop culture rebellion with trashing of various albums and that infamous big “Disco Sucks” banner. But it was far rowdier and more troubling than that peculiar mental imagery suggests.

Weird History digs into this less-than-bright spot in Chicago’s past. Charting from the disco boom in the early-to-mid ‘70s to the explosive riot that ruined a White Sox game and led to multiple arrests, it’s a fascinating unfolding of chaos that is far more intriguing than just a photo op or simple disapproval of a genre of music. The YouTube channel also explores the darker implications of the event, including the repugnant currents of homophobia and racism.

As the channel summarizes:

On July 12, 1979, the term "disco inferno" took on a whole new meaning. As the "disco '70s" drew to a close, Chicago radio DJ Steve Dahl decided to speed up the process by promoting a Demolition Disco Night in between games at a White Sox double-header at Comiskey Park. He invited the listeners of his popular radio show to come out to the game and set some records on fire, and tens of thousands showed up to burn a farewell to disco. But during the event, things got seriously out of hand; after a sluggish baseball season, the stadium hadn't seen crowds like this for quite some time.

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