One of Philadelphia’s premier rock clubs — now and then — has been the Electric Factory which opened on February 2, 1968 with The Chambers Brothers. Located in an old converted tire warehouse at 22nd and Arch Streets, it was founded in 1967 by Larry Magid and Allen Spivak. Over the years, it hosted acts like The Who, Pink Floyd (September 26, 1970), Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa & The Mothers, the Velvet Underground and The Grateful Dead. Cream played April 12-14, 1968. And the bookings were as diverse as the hip, cool 60’s could offer. Muddy Waters, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Seatrain, It’s A Beautiful Day, Wes Montgomery and Bobby Darin were booked. Hendrix played four shows in two nights three weeks after the club first opened with Todd Rundgren and Woody’s Truck Stop as support. The hippie revolution hit Philly and many of the bands played the old Factory. The “old” Factory was only around for a couple of years. The then police commissioner-turned-Mayor Frank Rizzo constantly tried to close the venue, and new larger venues were being built to accommodate the larger crowds of concert goers. During its time though, the Factory was the place to be if you wanted to turn on and tune in during the late 60’s. The Electric Factory reopened in its new location at 7th and Willow in October, 1995.

Johnny Thompson of Quakertown remembers Hendrix the Factory