Blades, Bands, and Ballers: How “Flash and Cash” Rescued the Flyers and Created Philadelphia’s Greatest Showplace A Memoir

by Lou Scheinfeld

Imagine Philadelphia without its beloved Flyers and Spectrum. It almost happened! Until Lou Scheinfeld and Ed Snider, otherwise known as “Flash and Cash,” came together to help save the city from disaster. Blades, Bands, and Ballers is Lou Scheinfeld’s heartfelt memoir of an America now gone, a world of local spectacle and national pride. Dubbed “America’s Showplace” between its birth in 1967 and much-lamented death in 2009, the Spectrum has one last story to how it came to be, how it really was, and how it ended. Lou Scheinfeld is the one man standing capable of telling inside stories of Ed Snider and his blood feud with Jerry Wolman, Frank Rizzo and the Rolling Stones, Kate Smith and her Broad Street Bullies, Sinatra and the Philly Mob, Dr. J and the 76ers, Electric Factory’s emergence, Elvis’ sad appearance, Joe Frazier’s lament and more. It’s a true story of a time gone by. Witness a retelling of once-in-a-lifetime moments of the rollicking 1960s and ’70s from the man who was there through it all and helped lift the spirits of millions in this must-have book.

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2021

Reviews

[Dan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book an excellent read on the history of the Spectrum. Not just about sports, the Flyers and the Sixers. Great stories and anecdotes about those teams. But also the boxing matches, the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus and the many entertainers that made the Spectrmn America’s Show Place. Highly recommend for any Philadelphian or anyone that grew up visiting the Soectrum for these events.