The Spectrum opened in 1967 and, along with the Flyers and the Sixers, dozens of musicians played there. It is closing October 31, after the last of four Pearl Jam concerts. Here are some readers' favorite memories:

Marc B. Zingarini, Philadelphia:

The memories of the Spectrum which are most vividly etched in my mind are those from the '70s. Concert-going was a much different experience back then; much more down and dirty. The air was always thick with pot smoke, the floor sticky with spilled beer (which was sold for the duration of the show, no matter how long into the evening or early morning hours), people held up matches for encores rather than cell phones, any band worth seeing showed up several hours late, and the concourse was usually littered with people who passed out before the first note was even played. And of course, who can forget the ability of Deadheads to be able to spin around in a circle for about three hours without getting dizzy? I usually spent most Dead shows out in the concourse watching the dancing rather than inside watching the band. Ah — those were the days.

While in high school, I never seemed to have the connections to get tickets to the big names of the early '70s, so it was a matter of going down to the Spectrum just for the concert experience, or to go see whatever show the guy who had a driver's license got tickets for. That would be the only explanation for being there for such acts as Slade and Beck, Bogart and Appice. I do remember once having tickets to see the Doors, but my mother wouldn't let me go after hearing about Jim Morrison's on-stage antics.

I saw my first-ever concert there — Ten Years After and Bo Diddley. (I was mesmerized by Alvin Lee's guitar-face on the big screen in Woodstock) — just had to see them.

Before I had a license, I had to take the train down from Trenton to go to shows. I recall being so enthralled by the Lou Reed/Brian Auger's Trinity Express concert that my friend Terry and I missed the last train back to Trenton and had to spend the night in the Greyhound bus terminal popping quarters into the armchair TVs they had until the testing patterns came on and then catching the 6 a.m. bus. My parents were really happy about that one.

The best show I ever saw there — it had to be Bruce in August 1978 touring in support of the Darkness [on the Edge of Town] album. From the opener, "Summertime Blues," to closing with Gary Busey doing "Rave On," there was just amazing power and energy coming from that stage that I'll never forget. He remains the greatest live performer in the history of American music. I'll be there again when he does his final shows.

Trip McClatchy, Havertown:

The Spectrum and music can be summed up in two words… Bruce Springsteen. I've seen Springsteen and the E Street Band there 24 times, none more memorable than Dec. 9, 1980, the night after John Lennon died. After some show-must-go-on soul-searching, Springsteen opened with these remarks:

"It's a hard world that asks you to live with a lot of things that are unlivable. And it's hard to come out here and play tonight, but there's nothing else to do."' And then he launched into a ferocious, life-affirming Born to Run and ended three hours later with a cathartic, joyous Twist and Shout, a note-perfect Lennon tribute and the start of the healing process for a grief-stricken rock community.

Seeing Rod Stewart and The Faces in May 1973 was a life-changing, family-enhancing experience. After paying for our sister's ticket so she would drive, my brother Scott (age 12!!) and I knew we'd spend the rest of our life chasing nights like these, and he morphed from annoying little twit in the other bed to fellow lifelong music freak and a fine rocker in his own right. Not to mention his first concert was much more memorable than my youngest brother Kevin's first show, Kansas, in 1977, where the 14-year-old little nipper fell dead asleep, only to be roused from his slumber by a bombastic Carry On Wayward Son. I still have not forgiven him.

There was the spectacular 1974 triple bill of Slade (hard to believe they headlined the Spectrum), Jo Jo Gunne, and Brownsville Station, where my dad drove me and two other couples to the big show. Slade were tremendous but me dateless was a disturbing trend that would unfortunately continue for the rest of the decade.

After Springsteen (24 times) and Rod Stewart (7), the artist I saw most often at the Spectrum was The Beach Boys. That was a surprise to me (the spreadsheet never lies), but they were a tons-of-fun, raise-the-roof, loaded-with-hits concert attraction in the mid-'70s. This was not the "genius" Beach Boys, but the ultimate party band. Still no dates.

In December 1975, I witnessed a pulverizing set by The Who, still the loudest show I've ever seen, and Townshend's windmill remains rock's most electrifying move. The next year featured a solo Cat Stevens and a goosebump-inducing Paul McCartney and his Wings Over America tour. My one and only brush with a Beatle!

Other memorable shows include a Live at Budokan-inspired, world-conquering Cheap Trick, with blistering openers Graham Parker & The Rumour in 1979, a height-of-his-powers Prince in 1984, and Paul Simon's genre-busting 1987 Graceland tour.

Shows at the Spectrum were all about a shared experience with like-minded souls, making instant brothers and sisters out of complete strangers. I can only assume that was the appeal of The Grateful Dead, whose audience I enjoyed much more than their music in my lone Dead experience in September 1988. A half-hour drum solo? Hard to believe, Harry. Another lowlight was a somnolent Stevie Winwood show in 1986, a bloodless outing with my then-girlfriend's family. Maybe the no-date '70s weren't such a bad idea after all.

By 1990, I was pretty much done with the big rock show in hockey rinks. My concert jones became fulfilled by club and small theater shows. There would still be the occasional Springsteen show, but other than The Boss only Tom Petty (1990), Beck (1997), The Cure (2008) and Green Day (2009) have been able to lure me back to the cavernous venue in the last 20 years. The Cure I got to experience with my daughter, and Green Day with my 12-year-old son. The excitement I saw in them brought me back to that 1973 Rod Stewart show.

The circle remains unbroken.

John J. Edwards, Broomall:

I have seen many shows at the Spectrum theater, however, the show that stands out for me occurred Dec. 16, 1977. The band Kansas was scheduled to play on a Saturday evening in early December of that year. This was/is my favorite band and I was going to see them live and in color at the Spectrum.