Final Days For The Cow Palace

The Cow Palace has hosted some of the biggest musical acts in the past half-century, from the Beatles to Elvis (November 13th, 1970 + November 28 & 29, 1976 - each show for 14,300 fans), and it was at the Daly City venue that John F. Kennedy gave his 1960 speech that first outlined his idea for the Peace Corps.

Though it is one of the Bay Area's historic venues for concerts and events, the Cow Palace may soon go the way of other old structures - like New York's Polo Grounds and San Francisco's Playland at the Beach- that are torn down to make way for redevelopment.

State Sen. Leland Yee has introduced a bill to let Daly City purchase the Cow Palace property, which is owned by the state. He said he wants to fix up the neighborhoods near the Cow Palace and put more money in state coffers. Ultimately, say Yee and Daly City officials, the 68-acre property will be used to build a grocery store, bank, housing and other projects that will benefit people in the underserved areas - including San Francisco's Visitacion Valley - that border the Cow Palace.

On the picture you see autographs from celebrities, including Elvis Presley and Gene Kelly, which decorate the walls of the Cow Palace box office.