Bob Eubanks Remembers Booking Dylan at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965

1965-09-03, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

You have to read Bob Eubanks’ long Wikipedia page pretty closely to spot the words “Bob Dylan.” Eubanks is far better known as a television personality and game show host, having hosted The Newlywed Game for decades, than he is for any Dylan connection. But in 1965, before his TV career began, he was a radio DJ out in Los Angeles. While in that job, he promoted a number of big concerts. That included several famous Beatles shows at the Hollywood Bowl and Dodgers Stadium. That also included Bob Dylan’s first Hollywood Bowl concert, 59 years ago today.

This show was not part of a tour. After going electric at Newport Folk Festival, Dylan did his first two full half-acoustic/half-electric shows in the two biggest cities in the country. First at Forest Hills, NY, on August 28, then a few days later this show in Los Angeles. They were like high-profile warmups for his first proper electric tour, which would start, with a reconfigured band, a few weeks later.

I asked Eubanks about that ‘65 Bowl show. It was a fairly small footnote in a long career, almost 60 years ago, so there were only so many details he remembered. But he gamely (no pun intended) shared a few fun anecdotes from the event.

How did the show come about? I read that you weren’t even a big Dylan fan at that point.

I was working as a disc jockey at the hot station in town, KRLA. Because of the Beatles, I think, I was offered Dylan. I was a little reluctant. But all of a sudden, bam, his record sales started to zoom, so I said, “Whoa, maybe I should book him.” I was impressed by his immediate stardom, if you will. That’s why I agreed to buy him. I don’t know what I paid him. I think it was like 15k, but I’m not sure.

Sure enough, a $15,000 guarantee. The contract, signed by both Bobs.

The only time he was available was like a week after the Beatles were there at the Hollywood Bowl. He didn’t make any demands. I was very impressed because the Beatles demanded a limousine. He came driving in in a little compact car with a real pretty girl.

All of a sudden this guy out in the parking lot said, “I want to see Dylan.” I said, “Well, there’s 8,000 people in there that want to see Dylan too.” He said, “No, I gotta see him.” “What’s up?” “I stole his jacket in Seattle and I want to give it back to him.”

So I went to Albert Grossman and I said, “There’s a guy here who said he stole—” “Oh my God, the jacket?” “Yeah.” He said, “Well, bring him back.”

So I brought him back in and they treated him like he was an all-star. They introduced him to Dylan, he gave the jacket back, and they gave him a good seat. It was just amazing.