History of the Super Bowl halftime game

Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Imagine a pair of astronauts launching into the sky at halftime of a Super Bowl game? Well, believe it or not, that’s basically what happened during the first Super Bowl tournament show.

On January 15, 1967, the Green Bay Packers led the Kansas City Captains 14-10 during halftime of the first AFL-NFL Championship Game (now known as Super Bowl I). That’s when two men with jetpacks on their backs launched from the field and above the Los Angeles Memorial Arena, introducing the opening spectacle known as the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Since then, protracted waste during halftime has become an annual topic of conversation, sometimes even more so than the game itself. The halftime break of most NFL games is typically 12 minutes long, but the Association Super Bowl Show is much longer for entertainment purposes. Performances usually last between 14 and 16 minutes. With the setup and takedown required, the entire break lasted almost 30 minutes.

Here’s a pretty succinct summary of what’s best in that half hour.

1960 – Birth of the Super Bowl Halftime

Midday performances are nothing new. Pro Football has mimicked what College Football started years before the NFL by letting local marching bands provide entertainment during the downtime. However, the Super Bowl called for something much more unique. This was partly because the opening match wasn’t taken as seriously as it is now.

The flyers of the first half of the show that were part of the production had more than 1,000 people on the field (a number easily surpassed in later innings), including the Grambling State University Marching Band and the Band. University of Arizona symphony marching band. However, that is nothing compared to the number of pigeons released after 10,000 balloons were also released. In total, more than 4,000 pigeons attended the Colosseum at halftime.

The Grambling State University marching band returned the following year, and the Florida A&M University Band entertained the crowd at Super Bowl III in January 1969, which was actually the first time the game had been called “Super Super.” Bowl”.

1970 – It’s starting to look like a Super Bowl halftime

Many marching bands appeared in the big game this decade as its popularity grew. There are some unique shows, such as the 1976 non-profit Up With People and the 1978 Disney play “It’s a Small World”.

The decade began with “In Honor of Mardi Gras,” at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans. This is the first time the Super Bowl Halftime Show has featured performances by major celebrities. Tony Award winner Carol Channing and legendary jazz musician Lionel Hampton entertained the audience at Tulane Stadium.

Two years later, when the game returned to Tulane Stadium, so did Carol Channing and this time another jazz legend, Ella Fitzgerald, also played on the field in a performance that will likely never be hit. The price is high because the scene is sadly considered lost.

At Super Bowl IX in Miami in 1976, Mercer Ellington led a tribute to her late father, the great Duke of Ellington. She is supported by his band, which includes renowned jazz trumpeter Cootie Williams and singer Anita Moore. The Grambling State University marching band also makes an appearance here again.

1980’s – An Expiration

Apparently, the NFL was a favorite of Up with People when they returned to performing in 1980, 1982, and 1986.

The 1987 edition, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, was called “A Salute to Hollywood’s 100^order Anniversary.” It was introduced by George Burns and one of the band’s dancers was none other than Mickey Rooney, who brought out the best laugh from the crowd.

In 1988, fans were kicked out of the Rockettes with a swing from Chubby Checker.

The decade’s final mid-show show is in 3-D, so you need the special cups offered by Coca-Cola through their retailers. It was a tribute to 1950’s Rock n’ Roll and has been called “Be Bop Bamboozled,” which, coincidentally, is exactly what happened to the Cincinnati Bengals that day.

1990’s – Shoot for the Stars

New Kids on the Block had many hits. With their performance in 1991, they were also the group that kicked off a new era of the Super Bowl Halftime Show where chart-topping artists took to the stage. This is a turning point in the history of the Super Bowl Halftime, effectively making it more of a “show” than just an annual “entertainment.”

The following year, Gloria Estefan performed, then megastar Michael Jackson wowed the crowd and the halftime performance began to become what everyone looked forward to on Super Bowl Sunday, in part. thanks to the many stellar fights in the game itself. The rest of the decade was filled with big names including Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Bennett, Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, ZZ Top, James Brown, Queen Latifah, etc.

In 1996, Diana Ross performed, stole the show (almost the same way Larry Brown did on the pitch later that day), and got out by jumping in a helicopter and flying away, waving goodbye as she fly to the sky.

2000s – The mid-time show must go on

Despite performances from Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Aerosmith, U2, Shania Twain, No Doubt and others, the first half of the decade is mostly remembered only for the 2004 show that featured Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, thanks to the infamous wardrobe malfunction.

It is speculated that this caused a change in who was booked for the next few shows, as the organizers decided to choose artists that were deemed safer, limiting the chance of controversy.

To be sure, the second half of the decade was filled with older musical legends. Phil McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were all introduced.

It was a performance courtesy of Prince in 2007 that was critically acclaimed and arguably the most memorable of the period.

The 2010s – Big Names and Big Games

Beyoncé led the stage in 2013 at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, which experienced a midway blackout performance. She did it like a pro, and the show continues with Destiny’s Child reunion to boot. Just three years later, she passed Coldplay at their own Super Bowl halftime headline performance, taking sips of what would become. Lemonade.

It was a decade that saw Madonna, The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, and Lady Gaga all delight the public. Just like 10 years ago, this decade also has many unforgettable matches in the mini show called the Super Bowl. It’s also Justin Timberlake’s return to the mid-half parade since the controversial 2004 version of which he was a part.

The 2020s – So far….

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez rocked the audience in 2020.

Last year, it was Super Bowl Weeknd, thanks to Weeknd, who provided both a performance and an experience as he wrapped up his “After Hours” character’s backstory.

Who Has The Most Appearances?

You may have found the answer by many of their mentions in this article.

Although last performed at the Super Bowl in 1998, the nationally renowned Grambling State University Marching Band has the most appearances at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with six appearances. However, when you consider that the Grambling band at its peak was 250 people, that number far exceeds the 4,000 pigeons of Super Bowl I!