South Dakota State University students from the late 1970s know all about Friday’s, which opened in Brookings in the fall of 1977. It was in the former College Theatre building and was converted to a 3.2 bar. The building was so large that Friday’s had three tiered levels in the bar. The top level was the round bar, the second level held numerous tables and chairs, and the
third level contained a large dance floor and a big stage for bands.

Bands played Wednesday through Saturday nights. On Sunday through Tuesday, Friday’s rolled down a giant screen and showed movies with the projectors that remained from the theatre. The bar hosted many Midwest bands. The house band was Ivory. Bands such as Festival, Johnny Holm Band, Flaming O’s, Aaron Baron Band, Willow Creek and numerous other appeared at Friday’s – the hot spot in Brookings to showcase bands.

Since the building was converted from a movie theatre, the acoustics were excellent and bands enjoyed playing at Friday’s.

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