Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos

San Carlos, California, Concert Hall. Theater-in-the-round venue had a big circular stage in the center of the seating that could rotate in either direction. Even though the Circle Star seated more than 3,500, and a few of the acts complained of motion sickness, the farthest back you ever had to sit was about the 30th row. It closed in 1993, and a five-alarm fire caused about $500,000 worth of damage in 1997 — which was never fixed because it was demolished later that year. Famous early on for featuring Vegas-style acts such as Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., and later featured a lot of aging Motown singers and stand-up comedy. Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor were frequent guests and George Carlin recorded at least one album there.