Cain's Ballroom, often referred to simply as Cain's,[4] is a historic music venue in Tulsa, Oklahoma that was built in 1924. The building is over 100 years old and serves as a historical landmark in downtown Tulsa, with performances still running today.
The Cain's was originally built in 1924 by W. Tate Brady as his garage. The building was purchased in 1930 by Madison W. “Daddy” Cain to serve as "Cain's Dance Academy."[1] In the 1930s and 40s the Cain's served as a "dime-a-dance",[5] offering dance lessons for ten cents.[6]
Bob Wills came to Tulsa in the 1930s after parting ways with his manager at the time, who in retaliation barred him from performing on Texas and OKC radio stations.[7] After impressing the reluctant station manager at KVOO-AM, Wills began performing almost daily on broadcast from the Cain's.[8] His first concert at the Cain's was on New Year's Night in 1935.[1] It was during his performances at the Cain's that Wills popularized the Western swing genre.[1][7] Wills performed at the Cain's regularly until 1943 when he left Tulsa to pursue other interests,[8] with his brother Johnnie Lee Wills taking over regular concert duties.[9] Today, the venue has a banner above the main stage that states "Home of Bob Wills."[1]
While much of Tulsa was segregated at the time, the Cain's regularly booked black artists such as Count Basie and Ernie Fields.[2] However, in the late 40s and 50s, the Cain's declined in popularity as public perception of the venue soured. Poor management lead to the venue being "virtually empty" through the 60s.[8] The venue was purchased in 1972 by Marie Meyers, an elderly woman who unsuccessfully attempted to bring dances back to the ballroom.[8]
In 1976, concert promoter Larry Shaeffer purchased the venue for $60,000 dollars,[1] money he had earned from booking a Peter Frampton concert that same year.[10] It was during Shaeffer's tenure as owner that several popular rock acts of the time were booked at the Cain's,[1] including native Oklahoman Leon Russell.[11] The venue also became known as a spot for "baby bands," artists who were on the rise in the scene, to perform.[10]
Shaeffer owned the Cain's up until 1999, operating the venue even while touring with Hank Williams Jr.[10] He sold the ballroom that year to brothers Danny and Mark Finnerty[11] for not much value.[12] During this time rumors spread that the Cain's Ballroom was shut down for good.[13] While plans were made for the brothers to retain the venue,[13] eventually it was sold in 2002.[11]
In 2002, the venue was purchased by James Rodgers, a neurosurgeon, and his wife Alice. The Rodgers family has owned the venue since.[14] The building was in disrepair and needed several renovations to put it up to modern standards.[5]Dwight Yoakam was the first artist to perform at the Cain's after these renovations.[5] By 2013, the venue was co-owned by James and Alice's sons, Chad and Hunter Rodgers.[15]
As of the 2020s, the venue has been a hotspot for local Oklahoman artists such as JD McPherson and Wyatt Flores[1] The venue is seen as a "you made it" milestone for local artists.[16]
Notable performances
Cain's Ballroom at night
The venue was one of only seven venues played by the Sex Pistols in 1978 during their only North American tour. The band appeared January 11, 1978.[17] After the show, a frustrated Sid Vicious punched a hole in the drywall of the green room.[17] The wall section with the hole has since been removed and is preserved and on display at Cain’s.[5]
Musician Jack White has performed at the Cain's since 2010,[5] apparently a favorite venue of White's.[11] He has returned to the Cain's several times since including a three-night stand in 2019 with The Raconteurs[11] and a surprise show in 2024.[18]
Influence and legacy
Cain's Ballroom is frequently referred to as a historical part of Downtown Tulsa.[1][19] The venue has become a beacon for red dirt musicians, with the venue being a frequent bucket list item.[14] "Cain's Dancing Academy" was listed in the National Register of Historical Places in 2003.[4] In 2021, Pollstar ranked Cain's Ballroom at number 13 worldwide for ticket sales at club venues.[20]
In 2024 the Cain's celebrated its 100th anniversary with a series of high profile concerts throughout the year.[1][14] There were plans announced for a documentary entitled Raisin' Cain to be released with Tate Wittenberg directing.[16] Cameraman Michael Peyton Jr. provided footage from his decades experience working in the Cain's.[21] As of October 2025, the film has yet to have been released.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
