"A Walk through an empty Boston Garden before the Closing Ceremony" (September 29th, 1995)

I took this video prior to the crowds arriving for the Banner Years celebration. I worked at WBZ-TV as an assistant producer. The legendary television station produced the closing ceremony broadcast as the curtain came down on the Boston Garden. I was very familiar with the old Boston Garden. I worked as a vendor for SportService selling popcorn, ice cream and soda in the late 1980's and early 90's.

[@javianjohnson8746]

HISTORIC building, and now suddenly this nearly 30 year old video is historic too

[@skiz72]

Omg....25 seconds into this video and they show the exact spot that me and my old friend Larry used to stand at every Bruins game after we purchased "obstructed view" tickets for like $12.....The spot is where the bright light is, and we used to lean on those railings and stand for the game....It was actually an awesome view of the ice from there.

[@gregmcquade641]

Glad you enjoyed my video, Skiz72. I may have passed you and Larry used to stand while I was selling popcorn and Cokes.

[@Jeffway24]

You can really feel the “soul” of the building even through the video. It’s really something about all the special moments, whether they be sports or concerts, that just almost seems gets baked into the walls of the arena. It’s a shame that many new venues of our modern time do not have that same aura about them.

[@matthewfrawley724]

I attended many games, events and concerts here from 1982 through 1995. Probably sat in every section of the building including folding chairs on the floor for a Celtics game and the luxury boxes where I would stuff my face with free food and soda. Saw my one and only Grateful Dead show there in ‘94, the Harlem Globe Trotters, many Celtics games, Disney on Ice, and Phish New Years. Thanks for the memories!

[@gregmcquade641]

Hi Matthew. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I miss the old place.

[@805livin4]

You are one lucky son of a gun, I wish I was old enough to see The Grateful Dead live…

[@fhowland]

Love the authentic Boston accents! I have childhood memories of circuses and Disney on Ice at the Garden.

[@thenobleone-3384]

Boston has so much history and the Celtics team is a special organization I would of wanted to play for either the Celtics or Lakers back then. So many Celtic legends

[@RobMcDougall]

Miss this place. Not gonna lie, some of the balcony shots gave me vertigo 😂

[@stephcarlofc]

My father went the Garden many times!! He was there when the Bruins won the Cup in '70 off Orr's famous goal. He was also there at the infamous Heat Game in the 1984 Finals!! Awesome experiences I bet they were!!

[@gregmcquade641]

Hi Steph! Thank you for reaching out. That is great! I too was at the Friday night sizzler in 1984 against the Lakers. It was Game 5 of The Finals. I was 14 and sitting with my step-dad in the corner behind the Lakers bench. Kareem had an oxygen mask on during the game while seated on the bench. It was sweltering that night. Bird was on fire. Cheers!

[@stephcarlofc]

@@gregmcquade641 Yeah my mother was pregnant with me and I would be born 5 days later in Boston lol!! Hands down bro even though I'm a stone-cold Bulls fan the 1984 finals is still one of the greatest top 5 NBA Finals that have ever been played. I also heard the whole Boston Garden literally ran out of soda and water!!

[@gregmcquade641]

@@stephcarlofc Oh yeah Steph.. Everyone was drenched. Temps were in the 90's inside!

[@austinsmanicuredlandscapin3333]

I always wonder why they didn’t just renovate and modernize it but now I can see how small the arena was

[@Kevin-it4fh]

Yeah, though they should've made the exterior of the new arena look like the old like they did with Yankee Stadium.

[@hightolerance8728]

@@Kevin-it4fh wouldn’t have worked for how that area looks now. I feel like there trying to recreate downtown or time square 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@jamiemoffatt50]

The new garden literally seats 20 people more than the old!

[@hightolerance8728]

@@jamiemoffatt50 hey 20 there’s no way that’s true you must be thinking about them seats they put on top of Green Monster at Fenway. What you said doesn’t make sense financially

[@austinsmanicuredlandscapin3333]

@@hightolerance8728 yeah I think I read the old garden only sat like 14,000 and the new garden is close to 20,000

[@rpk5216]

Aww! Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@christophernorman5432]

What a wonderful old barn miss ya buddy

[@eliwallace3825]

thanks for sharing this video bro, people like you keep these legacies alive

[@gregmcquade641]

I appreciate the kind note Eli.

[@dmccalldds]

Thanks for posting this!

[@gregmcquade641]

My pleasure, @dmccalldds. Glad you like the video.

[@joederochemont6219]

Wow, thank you for this. I was born & raised in NH. Mom loved the B's, yelling score, 13 inch black & white. My parents took me there for my 12 birthday, to see Barnum Bailey circus lol. My only time there. I'm 53 now. But I still remember walking in there & being in awe. It really was a magical place. Thanks again great video sir.

[@gregmcquade641]

Hi Joe! Delighted you like the video of the ol' Boston Garden. It was a magical place. Hard to believe it was closed 28 years ago! Have a great day.

[@oldtimetablehockey5832]

Man!! I wish you posted this two years ago when I started building my replica Garden, this would have came in handy!

[@gregmcquade641]

WHAT!?! A replica Garden? Have you finished the replica? How large is the model? Happy New Year OTTH.

[@ComeSeeWithMe]

Thank you very much for posting this. Unfortunately, I never got to see the Boston Garden. It was on my list of places to see for a number of years, but by the time I visited Boston for the first time, it was already gone. I appreciated your video because it helped give me an idea of the look and layout of the venue. Thanks again.

[@gregmcquade641]

Hello. I am delighted you enjoyed my video of the Boston Garden. It was a pleasure to work there and experience, Celtics, Bruins, Wrestling matches and the Circus among many other concerts and events. There was no place like it. Thank you again for reaching out. Cheers!

[@trevortayler6258]

Ill never forget goin to a circus there i was either 7 or 8 years old and my mom made the mistake getting us front row seats and thats were they happen to keep the barrels for all the elephant poop. Yea i can say that night really stunk. I also had the pleasure to skate on the ice b4 it was closed i really miss that old barn least we still have Fenway.

[@gregmcquade641]

What a memory Trevor! The old "Gahden" was something special. Thank you for sharing.

[@rossbergen]

Wow, thank you so much for posting this video. I search KZbin a few times a year to see if anyone has uploaded any new footage of the old Boston Garden. This video certainly didn’t disappoint. The shot at 6:33 is the view where my grandparents had their season tickets to the Bruins (one of the four corners in the balcony). Man, I haven’t seen that point of view in 25 years since I was last there, when I was about 8 years old. All I had was a faded image of this view that has lasted in my memory, until this video. My cousins and I all had our names carved into the yellow pole that was in front of our row. I remember my parents wouldn't let me add my name into it, until the last season, when we knew we were at the last game we’d ever attend there. I have an old video from 1988 where my parents and some other family members won a contest to shoot hoops on the Celtics parquet for an hour or so. I’ve been meaning to upload that to KZbin. Do you have other videos or pictures? I’d love to see more that has yet to reach the internet! Thanks again for uploading this!

[@gregmcquade641]

What a terrific post Ross! Thank you for sharing your memories. I am glad the video I shot on 9/29/95 could spark lots of fond memories of the long gone landmark. It was a thrill working there over the years. I will keep checking my archives for old Boston Garden footage. Be well. Cheers!

[@rossbergen]

@@gregmcquade641 Thank you Greg! :)

[@matthewfrawley724]

Thanks for the video. My last trip to the old Garden was in February or March of ‘95 for a Celtics game. Fond memories of going there with my father for games in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Saw Phish and The Grateful Dead there, too. Life goes on.

[@JayRiemenschneider]

I miss the tightness and atmosphere and the organ and the no piped in music and noise prompts and lack of 'pinkhats' and being on top of the ice. Place was just fantastic for hockey games

[@kennethsacca6212]

Cars concert, 1980, I remember being infatuated with a girl in the group I was with, even though I was there with my GF. Can still hear the crowd during Bruno Sammartino or Iron Sheik. Saw REO Speedwagon there, as well as Ozzy Osborne with Randy Rhodes. Worked as a security guard and when shift ended, watched Jordan and Bird go toe to toe in 1986 when Jordan scored 63 in double OT and lost.

[@lukeg1968]

Probably some of the best memories of my life there. I remember you scurrying around for autographs and our chats. Hard to believe how fast the years go by, feels like yesterday to me.

[@gregmcquade641]

LUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! How are you, my friend?! So good to see your name and read your comments. Yes! Great times for sure. Thirty plus years! Where did the time go? Happiest of New Years to you.

[@lukeg1968]

@@gregmcquade641 likewise greg! kzbin.info/www/bejne/joW0d5WKgbJ3rLssi=VRIXPp1rxAxvX3ZM

[@amerpearson892]

Sold newspapers in the Boston Garden as a kid from the West End around 1952. Didn’t know much about basketball or hockey. Remembered thinking that Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman were small relative to other players. Also sold in the bars along Causeway St. Cost 12 cents to go to the Rialto movie theater also on Causeway St across from the Hotel Manger.

[@gregmcquade641]

Great story Amer! Thank you for sharing. Amer what street was the Hotel Manger on before they tore it down and built the Federal Building? I remember my mother who sold liquor taking me to a bar/restaurant across the street from Hotel Manger on a street that doesn't exist any longer. It was about 1980ish. The street was perpendicular to Causeway. I remember as a kid thinking the bar/restaurant had great steak tips. That area has changed so much since I was a kid.

[@amerpearson892]

@@gregmcquade641 The street corner was Nashua and Causeway Sts., then Billerica and Lowell streets just southward. The MTA turned from Causeway onto Lowell St to go to East Cambridge. Lots of antique shops on Lowell which was dark because of the overhead rail. Being young thought it was strange that a guy named “Antique” owned so many old stores. Yes area is unrecognizable. My boyhood life revolved around Auburn (home) Leverett (grandparents), Chamber and Spring Sts. Also Blossom (School), Cotting to Wall (sledding in winter). All (except Blossom St) erased.

[@gregmcquade641]

@@amerpearson892 Thank you buddy. I appreciate it. That is a great story about the man named "Antique!" It is funny.. he owns some stores down here in Virginia too!

[@danjenkins5732]

I know the building was insufficient compared to modern day NBA and NHL arenas, but they should have never torn down the Garden. They still could have built the fleet center and played their, but leave the garden and have the occasional “Garden Game”.

[@BostonSteve922]

Born and raised in Boston loved the old Garden

[@justinbond1899]

Thank you for posting this. I've had an infatuation with the Boston Garden for most of my life. I never got the chance to visit this hallowed building. I'm 36, I was born in Lowell, but my Dad was in the Air Force, so I didn't grow up in Massachusetts, I lived in Germany and Virginia. By the time I was old enough to enjoy the Celtics and Bruins, this building had already been torn down. I wish I could have attended just one game at the Garden. This is a great video. Thank you.

[@gregmcquade641]

My pleasure Justin. Thank you for reaching out. I worked at the "Gahden" as a vendor selling popcorn, ice cream and Coke during Celtics and Bruins games. It was a special place. Larry Bird was my idol. I would wait for him after C's games to say "hi" and get his autograph. I have a brick from the old building after they tore it down. Happy New Year, Justin.

[@SuperDave30]

R.I.P. Boston Garden very unique and legendary arena! 1928-1995

[@gregmcquade641]

Indeed David. A special place.

[@mikestashik193]

I had the honor of going there twice to s the Bruins. What a fantastic building. I was amazed as I walked on the concourse and security stopped traffic, as the Zamboni crossed the concourse o dump the I outside. Also, one of the coolest things was the Bruins had to cross the concourse to get to the ice. So, they had a see through curtain they would put up when they came on and off the ice. Such a cool thing for fans.

[@gregmcquade641]

Great memories, Mike! Thank you for sharing.

[@michaelc6126]

Never been there but this place was so old like Chicago Stadium. Can't believe it lasted that long. Reminds me of an old school... cinder block walls, wooden stadium style seats (imagine how your butt felt after sitting on them for 2-4 hours watching a game or concert!), narrow corridors, mobile vendor style concession stands, multiple obstructed views... man talk about vintage! At least you were up close to the game and players and hear everything. A historic legendary building where many classic basketball, hockey games and live performances were played in.

[@ISLAVERDE29]

They still have wooden seats in the grandstand at Fenway Park

[@bostonwalkdrive7763]

My first game was in the 73/74 season - Esposito vs. Esposito. The game ended with a bench clearing brawl. Who could ask for anything more! I remember Scotty Bowman got caught in the crowd after a game going down the 'cattle ramp' exits. We didn't go easy on him. ;) Good memories there. Can't forget my first concert either - Bob Segar in '78. Rock and Roll never forgets!

[@anthonyb33]

I always felt the Celtics should have renovated it and used it as their practice facility. Makes me sad that it was torn down. Such an historical landmark.

[@willisapril]

Boston however killed 2 birds with 1 stone kept and renovated Fenway and built a state of the art new ball park with Polar Park even though it is tripple a

[@afmartin2734]

The Jacobs Family are a disgrace.

[@elhajjmalikel6266]

Some interesting history for you Bostonians. The last game for the Boston Celtics was in 1995 against my Orlando Magic in the First Round where we went on to defeat them to advance to the 2nd Round. Our last game in the old Orlando Arena(O-Rena/TD Waterhouse Centre/Amway Arena) was Game 5 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics where the Magic went on to win that game then eventually lost the series in 6. Funny how our histories correlated like that....

[@BostonSteve922]

Thank For The Memories

[@gregmcquade641]

Glad you like the Garden video Steve!

[@BostonSteve922]

@@gregmcquade641 I went to many Bruins games in the Gahden

[@gregmcquade641]

@@BostonSteve922 It was a special place. I can still picture being inside and smelling the popcorn.

[@BostonSteve922]

@@gregmcquade641 it’s a good memory to have, I remember walking into the building from Causeway St after getting if the Orange line at North Station and walking through the turnstiles up a ramp turning and walking up another ramp getting to the top and seeing the doors that were behind the loge sections

[@willisapril]

Good Bye Boston Garden and Foxboro Stadium. Hello TD Garden, Gillette Stadium and Polar Park. Forever Fenway Park!

[@custerdestiny30]

Its like you can still here the boo's.

[@rogerdean5313]

Miss the old Garden... Though I don’t miss the concerts in the summer without A\C..

[@gregmcquade641]

Those summer events were memorable, Roger. There was nothing like the original Gahden!

[@Davidjon1946]

Man the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium look just like the Boston Garden except there was a little bigger

[@mrjcbuc]

Reading Leigh Montvilles book on 69 finals. Had to look at video after reading his description. What. A. Dump!

[@profsteel8217]

Besides Bruins games, saw Jimmy Page with the Firm here in 85. The place had no acoustics at all. Almost all shows went to the Centrum. Hard to argue about replacement with Fleetcenter. It just wasn’t built for the long haul and while iconic, was a relic.

[@PhantomDreamer_]

67 years...

[@theborg]

I went to this

[@paullagasse5504]

Is that you mozz

[@theborg]

@@paullagasse5504 Am I still ill?

[@jay0726]

My bestfriend work at the Boston garden.. He has a seat from the garden it was given to him all the staff wrote on it and the office 1995 for me and my friend it was sad but look at the New TD garden fantastic 💕

[@gregmcquade641]

A great keepsake! I do have a brick from the old barn.

[@jay0726]

@@gregmcquade641 #7 That's the number from Bench still at my friend house

[@johnh23z]

Nuts to tear it down.

[@willisapril]

Boston however killed 2 birds with 1 stone kept and renovated Fenway and built a state of the art new ball park with Polar Park even though it is tripple a

[@Davinyl]

My grandfather was an usher at the Boston Garden and always tells the story of how he introduced Bobby Orr to the garden.

[@gregmcquade641]

Great memory David. What was your Grandfather's name? I knew plenty of the ushers on staff when I was a vendor.

[@Davinyl]

@@gregmcquade641 Tom Williamson

[@gregmcquade641]

Hi David. His name doesn't ring a bell. Do you know when he stopped working there? I was a vendor from 1988 to 1991. Cheers!

[@Davinyl]

@@gregmcquade641 It was long before that, I believe it was in the 60’s.

[@jamiemoffatt50]

Should have kept it! Fuck the fleet center or whatever it is now!

[@slydEvil35]

Thank you for posting! If I could go back in time to see sporting events would be 1986 Celtics in the garden and the 1992 bulls in the Chicago stadium. Unfortunately both were demolished when I was 3 years old so never got the chance. Can’t imagine the energy and the roar of the crowd. Could you smoke cigarettes in the garden?

[@gregmcquade641]

You're welcome. Would be great to time travel for sure. Thank goodness we have video tape to revisit these special places.

[@HayastAnFedayi]

Originally you could but eventually it became smoke free, but I can tell you from first hand accounts that people were still smoking up in the balcony seats in the early 90s during Celtics games, either they were sneaking them or the ushers didn't care...def a different time back then. Nothing like the old Garden, I miss it soooooooo much! everything about it including the elevated Green Line tracks and station connected to it! So many cold winter evenings leaving a celtics game with my dad or one of my grandfathers waiting for the train, memories I will always cherish!

[@slydEvil35]

@@HayastAnFedayi thanks for that great story! Really felt like I was there by your description.

[@slydEvil35]

@@gregmcquade641 were you there for the sauna game in 1984?

[@gregmcquade641]

@@slydEvil35 Yes! I was there. It was a Friday night. Game 5 against the Lakers. I was in the loge section with my step dad. I was 14 years old. It was sweltering in the Garden that night. Bird went off. I remember it well.

[@dw1985]

Do you have any memories or stories from pro wrestling at The Garden? They always drew well at the Garden as I recall

[@Davidjon1946]

Yeah that was cool to see that they gave them a WWF pay-per-view Survivor Series 95 even though it was one of the worst ever

[@willisapril]

There are a lot of old wwf cards uploaded here on you tube

[@joeycalderwood9814]

@@Davidjon1946 Survivor Series 93 not 95

[@scottkoziara6434]

I was in AWE of this place. I went to my first game in either January or February of 1987. The Celtics easily beat The Pacers. Bird had a great game. I was fortunate to sit on the floor and remember Chuck Person trash talking Bird saying "come on Bird."

[@gregmcquade641]

Great memory Scott! I'm sure Bird took the challenge from Person and made him pay.

[@lordraiden6965]

Is now TD Garden at the same place where BG was or TD is different location?

[@gregmcquade641]

Hello L.R... The old Boston Garden stood next door to the TD Garden along Causeway Street. TD Garden was built behind the old Garden. The old Garden was torn down over the course of several months in 1998.

[@ronbuda44]

Do you remember a guy named Sal Mele on concessions?

[@gregmcquade641]

Hi Ron. Hope you're well. The name sounds familiar. However, I knew most guys in concessions and the Bull Gang by their first names. It was a special time and place. Great memories.

[@ozzieray]

Why do they call it a garden?

[@chickenwing111]

It looks dreadful compared to the 30 year old new place.

[@JamesBond-uz2dm]

The old hoc key barn served its purpose, and needed to be replaced.

[@inallairness]

Hey from Australia, Greg. I'd love to invite you on my NBA-history podcast to discuss your memories of and involvement w/ Boston Garden and the Celtics. Would you be interested? Past guests include the iconic Bob Ryan. Look forward to your reply. Great upload, thanks! My podcast is 'In all Airness' - inallairness.com

[@gregmcquade641]

Hello Adam. Hope you're well. I apologize for the late response. I was just going through my KZbin channel and came across your comment. If you're still interested in having me on and chatting about my memories drop me a line at [e-mail]. Let's see if we can work something out. Cheers, Greg