Bands

Ron Onesti:  The Birth of Folk-Rock and History Repeating itself Have you by chance been watching the television special about “Laurel Canyon” lately?  It is a wonderful Rock-u-mentary about a small neighborhood located in the Hollywood Hills region of the…

Ron Onesti: Another King Is Gone We lost one of the very last founders of Rock ‘N Roll recently, Richard Wayne Penniman, otherwise known as Little Richard. As flamboyant as he was entertaining, he was often called the “Architect of…

Ron Onesti: Celebrating 15 years with this 94-year old gem May 13, 2005, a day that will live in infamy! Fifteen years ago this week, I signed my life away and took over The Arcada Theatre! And the truth is, I…

Ron Onesti: Another Year Older, Another Year Lovin’ My Music! Well today, May 8, is my birthday. I was born in 1962 so you do the math…it’s a bit painful for me! I know some of you reading this are…

Ron Onesti: What I Miss the Most, And What I Won’t Miss At All This Pandemic thing has been tough on so many fronts. Besides the health concerns, I believe it has been the “not knowing” that is so difficult on…

Ron Onesti: Reflecting on my heroes during self isolation In an attempt to identify somewhat of an “upside” or silver lining to all we are going through these days, I am revisiting all the “Sunday projects” I had hoped to…

As another Valentine’s Day comes and goes, I can’t help but think about the countless romantic moments of which the Arcada Theatre has been a part. Of course, giving the gift of entertainment has always been a valuable resource when…

I went to visit a close friend of mine this morning. His name is Nick, or as I call him, “Uncle Nick.” He will be 92 soon, and he is in a rehab center after challenges he is experiencing with…

Being in the biz of entertainment for almost four decades, one can only imagine how many boxes of “stuff” I have packed away in my basement. An extra-ordinary and unorganized collection of autographed posters, set lists, vinyl albums and backstage…

“Wizard Of Oz,” “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane,” “Gone With The Wind,” “The Godfather.” The exclusive list goes on with timeless classic films that have touched the hearts of generations of movie fans around the globe. And as “It’s A Wonderful Life”…

I began grammar school in Chicago at St. Callistus off Taylor Street and Ogden Avenue, and graduated from Our Lady of the Angels School in 1976 (yes, the one that had the tragic fire in 1958). Then, I went to…

The frontman for the hard rock band Poison, Bret Michaels, returned to The Arcada for what has become a tradition … a special holiday show on Friday, Dec. 6. His sold-out show last year was an incredible experience, so we…