DiCesare Engler Productions

DiCesare Engler Productions was a Pittsburgh-based concert promotion firm.[1][2][3][4]

The company was formed in late 1973 when Pat DiCesare, who was the dominant concert promoter in the region,[5] chose Pittsburgh native Rich Engler to form a new partnership.[6] Engler was a drummer in a band and ran his own promotion company 'Go Attractions'. The firm promoted most of the major rock concerts and festivals in the Pittsburgh tri-state area (Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia) where the words 'Produced by DiCesare-Engler' became a familiar tagline in radio and television ads.[7]

In 1977 the firm purchased The Stanley Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh. The venue was named the number one mid-size concert auditorium in the United States by Billboard magazine in 1978. That same year, DiCesare Engler Productions was named as the number two production team. Bill Graham Presents was number one.[2] The theatre remained number one for several years until it was announced in November 1983 that the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust had purchased it for 12.1 million dollars.[8]

DiCesare Engler also owned or operated other national top grossing venues in the 1980s and 1990s including the Syria Mosque, AJ Palumbo Center, and the IC Light Amphitheatre,[9] as well as co-promoting concerts at the Star Lake Amphitheater in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.[10]

In July 1998 DiCesare Engler was sold to SFX Entertainment and became known as DiCesare Engler Productions/SFX.[11] DiCesare Engler/SFX promoted the last concert at Three Rivers Stadium and the first concert at Heinz Field – 'N SYNC.[12] They also promoted a pay-per-view concert[13] known as the Rolling Rock Town Fair which averaged 90,000 in attendance.

The company became known as Clear Channel Entertainment Pittsburgh by the time Rich Engler parted ways with the company in 2004.[14] It is now under name Live Nation.

  1. ^ Rutowski, R (31 December 1976). "Pittsburgh: a first-rate concert city today". North Hills News Record.
  2. ^ a b Barron, J (27 June 2012). "Rich Engler shares stories from 40 years in music business". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  3. ^ King, Peter B (14 February 1991). "Publications name WDVE top station, hail local concert venues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. ^ Reinartz, J (3 June 2010). "A Promoter's Farewell to Mellon". Pollstar Magazine. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  5. ^ Masley, E (30 September 1994). "D-E 20 Year Anniversary". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  6. ^ Staff (23 November 1973). "Ross Man Promoted". North Hills News Record. p. 25.
  7. ^ D'Astolfo, G (10 May 2012). "A piece of rock & roll history began a half-century ago at YSU". The Youngstown Vindicator. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  8. ^ Stack, BW (29 November 1983). "3rd theater suggested for new cultural area". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. pp. 1, 4.
  9. ^ Lubenski, C (10 February 1991). "Entertainment star still shining". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  10. ^ Sheehan, A (10 March 1990). "DiCesare says he'll book acts for Star Lake". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 6.
  11. ^ Waddell, R (6 August 1998). "SFX Buys Another Promoter, Locks Up Pittsburgh Market". Billboard.
  12. ^ Suhr, L (19 August 2001). "'N Sync Thrills Fans at Heinz Opening". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  13. ^ Barbieri, K (21 August 2000). "First Rolling Rock Town Fair Draws 33,000; Adds to income with pay per view". Amusement Business.
  14. ^ Masley, E (27 October 2004). "Engler, Clear Channel Communications part ways". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 8 July 2012.