  Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 278 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
We know where the mainstream hotspots are pretty much contained today for people who want to get their drink and/or dance on (Royal Oak, Pontiac,Ferndale, Downtown Detroit) but I've always wondered where did people use to "get down and boogie" in the 1970s? Where and what were the area's biggest discos as well as other bars? Anyone remember? | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 23 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 216.93.121.82 |
Detroit is a Rock & Roll city, there were many venues to dance and watch live music. Harpos was I spot I went quite a bit. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6150 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
The Bump Shop Disco, Pontiac. I was too young to get in at the time. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 253 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 67.107.47.65 |
The original Bookies: http://www.bookiesclub870.com/ history.html | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 398 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
West siders went to Uncle sams, in the strip mall at Telegraph and Schoolcraft. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 2101 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 65.45.136.79 |
Bookies was the first club that I ever hit. One of my friends from Redford HS was filling in for a missing member of the Algebra Mothers, (AMoms) who played there one night in 1978, shortly after I got my drivers licence. I remember sitting there trying not to look like an awestruck sixteen year old and ordering Black Russians, a drink choice that surely revealed our amatuerness. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1004 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.71.17 |
Bookie's was late '70s... A bit earlier in the decade, the Red Carpet was a hotspot. Coral Gables on Woodward in Royal Oak (or was that Berkley)? | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 927 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.60.177.56 |
I have been trying to remember the name of Coral Gables for the last year. | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 27 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.230.140.240 |
There was a Coral Gables in Taylor, in the old Taylortown strip mall (Ecorse and Pardee Rds). They converted it from a grocery store (Kroger?). It changed to something else, but it was first called Coral Gables. Wasn't there a club in the Ren Cen back in the early days? Also, I vaguely remember a club called "Chassy's?" Maybe not. Too many drinks, too many places, too few brain cells. | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1676 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.250.205.35 |
And of course there was Menjo's on McNichols for the boys. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1005 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.71.17 |
Coral Gables seemed to be either a mini-chain, loosely affiliated, or everybody was in love with the name in the '60s/'70s, dunno. There was a big Coral Gables in East Lansing for years... | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2567 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.154 |
MY perspective was only the last year of the 70's as I was underage and looked younger than I was and that was the first year I could sucessfully even sneak into places. Punk: Bookies, that bare bones place on Cass and some of the concerts at the Motor City waay up and waaay over in Warren. Funk: there usedta be these travelling DJ'ed parties in random rented halls all over the city, it was all word of mouth and you paid $2 at the door. These places would get PACKED. You had to get dressed up for these. Gay: Menjos and, I _think_ that one in the strip mall on Joy offa greenfield (Backstreet?) was in busines then too. Dance: that on-again off-again paleo-rave usually offa Atwater in that empty warehouse. Rumor had it that rock stars etc would go there apres concert, never saw anyone famous there tho. This place was really something, kinda a foundational place for much of what evolved into the 80 detroit club scene. I didn't go there but there was that disco on 8mile that for several years was THE club in Detroit. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3465 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.79.82.99 |
On Congress, next to St. Andrew's, now the home to the Zoo. There were a bunch of places on Telegraph, stretching from Flat Rock, up to around Six Mile that went through various incarnations. | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 150 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.88.89.94 |
"that bare bones place on Cass " --that would be the Freezer Theater, though that place really came into its own in the early '80s. "A-Moms"--wonderful band. Gerald Collins, any relation to Mick Collins? "A bit earlier in the decade, the Red Carpet was a hotspot." --was at the Red Carpet in the late '70s a couple of times. Heard back then the rumor that David Bowie visited the Red Carpet before his "Aladdin Sane" days. Found that hard to believe because the place was so small, but heard it from a few people way back then, though have not heard nor read anything since to confirm that. Did anyone else hear that? | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 35 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 63.102.87.27 |
I remember hearing about people seeing shows at a place called The Punch & Judy Theater, but I don't know where that was located. Other bars from back in the day: New York, New York, Traxx, The Ritz in Roseville, Todd's, The Latin Quarter, Leidernoch (which is now City Club), Hamtramck Pub, The PRCU Hall, Motor City Roller Rink, Isis in Pontiac, um .... | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1006 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.71.17 |
The Punch and Judy was in Grosse Pte, Kercheval I want to say? It now holds offices. Lots of good shows there, Devo, etc., in the late '70s. Motor City Roller Rink was also late '70s, not a bar but a venue for live entertainment like the Pretenders and Clash. | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1114 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128 |
Late 70's Eastsider here....I drank legally for 8 months before the law changed to 21 in January of 79'. The Morons never heard of a grandfather clause. Two bars still served those under 21 though..."Struttin Club" at 9 & Gratiot, and "My Place Lounge" on I believe 10 Mile East of Gratiot. $.25 cent drafts. Had my first legal drink at "Joey's Steering Wheel", which is now T.J.'s at 11 Mile & 696. As for Detroit, I remember going to CJ's Rock Saloon on 6 & Gratiot, which later became the punk bar TRAXX. Saw concerts at The Nortown, Ramona, & the Punch & Judy. Harpo's and Trump's (down the street) I think NEW YORK NEW YORK was called "September's back then. LOts of bars in Ham-town...Seven Bros. was my favorite. For some Altes or Geobell, Huessner's (Nowinski's) & Midway were always hopping. Same with "The Saloon" (Dillards) and "Victory" across the street from one another at 12 & Mound. Damn...I need a Ham's now. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 256 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 67.107.47.65 |
This dude has some pics and info on some of the rock clubs mentioned: http://www.nestorindetroit.com /old_clubs.htm (Message edited by Pam on June 19, 2006) | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 2102 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.2.148.47 |
the Freezer Theater....early 80's...Detroit Food lines on the world news cause East Germans to send us food packages... Another friend's band, Mr Unique and the Leisure Class, played the Freezer, where you paid a couple bucks and brought your own 40 oz. Strohs... Other nights, The Necros and a great band from Lansing, The Crucifucks | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 3463 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.208.127.19 |
My uncle was telling me about a place in Mt. Clemens in late 70's that was thee place for a while. Might have been downtown MC...any clues? Wasn't a club though. More of a dive bar. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 262 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.41.48.200 |
Barnes- did you see Minor Threat at the Freezer? That is the only show I remember seeing there. | ||
Goggo Member Username: Goggo Post Number: 184 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.136.49.226 |
Some that I remember; Bobby's Lounge on Telegraph and 5 Mi (mid 70s) West Side Six (early-mid 70s) Bookies (mid-late 70s) The one on Plymouth Rd. in Redford that had Jeff and the Atlantics forever (early-mid 70s) The Colonial on 7 Mi & Farmington (late 60s-mid70s)) The one downtown that had the Brit flag on the front (1970ish) The Token Lounge in Westland (mid 70s) Sherwood Forest in Davison (1970ish) Coral Gables (and some buzz-busting pizza from the Il Forno there) (early 70s) The Main Event in Brighton (late 70s) 747 Lounge in Taylor (mid 70s) Uncle Sam's in Redford (first giant screen videos that I'd ever seen)(mid-late 70s) Tremors in Livonia (late 70s) (Message edited by goggo on June 20, 2006) | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1007 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.71.17 |
West Side Six!! I was there. The Red Carpet was in the city, but does anyone remember where? I remember having to cross a scary railroad track with no gates to get there... | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 263 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 4.229.81.213 |
From the link I posted:
| ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 112 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 68.33.56.156 |
there used to be a big place with great music that attracted a real variety of people--it was on State Fair --i think it was called Teds--not sure though---anyone remember that place or is this just more proof i am senile | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1366 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Does anyone remember these places in the mid- to late 70s and early 1980s? Oliver's (later Trumps and now I-Rock) The Red Grape (on McNichols, I think) Shirley's Swinger Lounge (9 Mile and Mack) The Library (Groesbeck east of 16 Mile Rd.) Frankie's (Westland) JB's Firebird (Pontiac) Napoleon's (Plymouth) Shorecrest (9 Mile and Harper) Belanger House/Mr. Christian's (Royal Oak, 12 and Main) The Gatsby (Mount Clemens) Harper House (15 Mile and Harper) Teddy's Swinging City (Hamtramck) DeSopper's (12 Mile and Harper) Back then, Dave was with groups like Steppin, RPM, and New York Express, playing most of these clubs....My girlfriends and I also followed a group called Cirrus. | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 626 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 12.47.224.8 |
Anyone remember B'Stilla? East side? | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1008 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.71.17 |
And then there's Ethel's Cocktail Lounge and Phelps Lounge (on Oakland), for the best in rhythm and blues. The Aorta Bar (7 Mile?) was great for dancing, but no live music. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 938 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.60.177.56 |
Gawd I saw Ted Nugent try out a new band when the WestSide Six became the Silverbird. The DC Hawks, great band played a lot of AC/DC. | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 31 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.230.140.240 |
Tremors - I remember the name, but where was it located? I forgot. I DJ'ed at alot of clubs from the mid 80's to mid 90's, and I think I remember a friend working Tremors, but my brain cells ain't what they used to be. Also, what was the name of the club that was in the renCen? Anyone? Bueller? | ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 113 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 68.33.56.156 |
there used to be a big place with great music that attracted a real variety of people--it was on State Fair --i think it was called Teds--not sure though---anyone remember that place or is this just more proof i am senile ----I now remember it used to be called Todds. Whatever happened to it? | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 279 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.248.73.205 |
Wasn't Tremors in the Holiday Inn in Livonia (McNichols and 275)? | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 932 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.184.29.148 |
Todd's was the best. Dancing and LOUD music upstairs, porn and makout booths in the basement. Charles English and DJ Tom spinning, the guy with the same Spanish Conquistidor outfit every dman week. It was on 7 Mile, the site is now a strip mall. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 408 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
There was a club on telegraph, just south of Joy on the east side of the street, had several names/operators. I remember it as "Dimples" in the 70's, and went there when it was "DeSoto's" in the 80's. It was a happenin' place as DeSotos. They tore the building down, and there is a Belle Tire on the spot today. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2572 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.154 |
To my knowledge, Todds wasn't big in the 70's. In ~84-85 Todd's was the place to be. Thursday nights was the happening night, it attracted an eclectic group of people: new wave hipsters, disco queens, punks, poseurs and even Detroit music badasses of all stripes witnessing the cusp of something new. Thursday night was eventually played out and Todd's balkanized into more of a theme-night club, still cool at times but a shadow of itself. I remember the Flamenco shoe wearing guy, lol! He would lean back on his heel and spin around the dance floor like a Whizzer in slomo. I wonder if he posts on this forum ... | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 155 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.88.89.94 |
"It was on 7 Mile, the site is now a strip mall." Ugh, sorry to hear yet another once cool venue end up in parking lot heaven. Charles English, didn't he get married at Todd's? | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 729 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
I remember Westside Six and Sams. There was also a spot on Telegraph past Michigan that also had a strip club below it. It's now a LaFontaine dealership. I remember a guy running across Michigan with some dancer's top one night. Had a girlfriend who worked at the rock place until some guy got hit in the head next to her with a bottle. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1016 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.71.17 |
Ugh, those one-word names -- Tremors, Cheeks, etc. -- were so '80s...I can just see the big hair .. | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 32 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.230.140.240 |
How about Telegraph NORTH of Joy. In the 80's it was called Gangster's, and it was also called Club Mayhem before it burned to the ground. I was a DJ there for the last few incarnations. I think I still have my Gangsters t-shirt somewhere. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 280 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
What about The Backstage?! I believe it was on Woodward near 7 mile. I used to eat there a lot as a kid with my dad and uncles. I believe it had a nightclub or bar attached to it. It burned down maybe 10 years ago. | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1126 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128 |
The only thing I remember about Todd's was the freak who worked the door. Just staring at the nails on that He/She scared the hell out of me. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2575 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.154 |
Backstage was big in the 80s not 70s. It was more of a restaurant that served booze than a bar. It was nominally a gay establishment but it was so much more. For an Eastside analogy think Pinkey's. Pinkeys had better food and "live" music but IMO Backstage attracted a much more interesting crowd. (Big diff: Backstage didn't serve booze afterhours, it was a legit late night resuaurant.) It was a really weird place. It was on WW north of 7 mile sorta of in the no mans land between the cluster of Gay bars and clubs to the south down WW and to the north along 8 mile. Its decor was an unfortunate mix of an Elias Brothers meets a 70's fern bar with a broadway theme (no I'm not making that up!). The food was relatively pricey and, well, random (corned beef sandwiches, prime rib, pasta dishes, BIG salads, HEAVY desserts). I _GUESS_ it did a decent pre-theater, date night business, but what really made Backstage a happening place was the late night crowd. Late night the Backstage attracted the broadest cross section of metro Detroiters youd ever see in one place. Any given late evening you'd bump into older black church ladies, Detroit honcho cops, middle class middle aged blacks and whites, city big wigs, older men with younger women (on the sly), older men with younger men (on the sly), young gays, hipsters, drunks between bars, old gays (closetted and out), way cool underaged school kids out too late, and other seemingly random Detroiters ... AIR the place would stay open like forever, for example, you could go there AFTER Jimmies crowd petered out on a random weeknight. I understand it closed and then reopened up in Royal Oak but it lost whatever magic it had in the move. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2576 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.154 |
The popular bar in the 70's around thereabouts was Diamond Jim's (or was it Diamond Jim Brady's?) a few miles west of there on 7 mile. Diamond Jim's (not a gay bar) was an insitiution for years (before my time tho). | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 139 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 70.141.180.192 |
Glad to see the Backstage mentioned here, that place was a lot of fun back in the day. I used to spend a lot of time there. A few hip downtown spots from that era were L.O. (Lafayette-Orleans), L'Esprit, and Piper's Alley (Edison Plaza)> Straight up disco and all the way live every Friday night. I see several of us also remember Bookie's and the Aorta "The Main Vein of Detroit" on W. Mcnichols. Those joints were totally off the chain nearly every weekend. Good memories. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 975 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.60.177.56 |
Remember the Ritz? The only time I ever ventured into the east side in those days was to go there. I remember the graffiti in the women's bathrooms, referring to the Ritz security - "Body builders have tiny peepees". | ||
Keystone Member Username: Keystone Post Number: 223 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 63.241.158.33 |
What was the name of the dance club on Shelby just south of Congress? I think one of the Ford girls got into some trouble there. | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 140 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 70.228.0.25 |
Keystone, that would be L'Esprit and I got in trouble down there a few times myself. | ||
Elevator_fan Member Username: Elevator_fan Post Number: 8 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 65.42.41.61 |
There was a disco in a building on Northwestern Hwy. near 12 Mile, that housed the Standard Club in later years. Lively while it lasted, but can't recall the name. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1375 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Was it The Perfect Blend? That was out that way, wasn't it? Trying to come up with that name drove me to my old date books (yes, I have them all in a box; they date back to 1975!) and I bring them out every once in a while to look up a date or place from our past. Other clubs that I don't think we've mentioned so far include Pampa Lanes (still going strong on Van Dyke n. of Chicago), The Other Place (along Telegraph, I think), the Quarter Deck (Brownstown Twp.), Brandy's at Shorecrest Lanes, Trampps, the One on One (was this on Plymouth Rd.?), and Bogart's. | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 145 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 70.228.0.25 |
Kathleen, the Perfect Blend was in the basement level of the office building at the northwest corner of Evergreen and Northwestern Hwy. The name of the buidling has changed, and I can't recall it's current name. The PB was a nice little club back in the day. Elevator_fan, I believe you're talking about Excaliber. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1376 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Thanks, Gary. You're right on the mark with the location of The Perfect Blend. And Excalibur sounds right....out Northwestern near 12 Mile...cuz it's still there!!! | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1026 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.221.69.175 |
Gary -- the Aorta...the Main Vein. Yeah I used to go there to dance on "Motown Thursdays." | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 146 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 70.228.0.25 |
Yeah Pffft, the Aorta was a cool bar. At one time, they had a big biker crowd in there, but you could usually run up on almost anybody in that joint. By the 90s, it had been sold and remodeled into a trendy after work spot called Papillon. Don't know if it's still open. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 281 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.10.215 |
The Excalibur changed names a few years ago and changed its look. Was it really a full-blown disco? I just remember eating there as a restaurant. What about Yesterday's at the Southfield Sheraton on 9 Mile?? I have an old ad for that place from the late 70s. | ||
Dalangdon Member Username: Dalangdon Post Number: 27 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 67.171.17.254 |
What about the Subway disco in the Shelby Hotel? ;-) I had a link to a picture on forgottendetroit.com, but deleted it. It turned out it wasn't the Subway disco. (Message edited by dalangdon on June 24, 2006) | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 935 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.125.129 |
How about Harpo's? The metal heads still rock out on the huge WORKING light up dance floor. It is kind of a Decline of Western Civilization meets Saturdaynight Fever thing. | ||
Elevator_fan Member Username: Elevator_fan Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 68.41.183.86 |
Gary & Kathleen: The Southfield disco was not Excalibur. That was a nearby restaurant, that has been sold and is operating as an Italian place now. The disco I am thinking of had a circular logo, and it was definitely not the Perfect Blend. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1394 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Elevator_fan: FYI...There is still an Excalibur restaurant located at 28875 Franklin Road, Southfield. The nearby Italian place is called Il Posto and it is at 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield. Guess I never made it to the disco you're thinking of. I'm an eastsider so stayed pretty much with that side of town in the mid- to late 70s. Once Dave started playing with bands with west side roots or bands that got gigs everywhere in the metro area, my friends and I started checking out clubs to the west and to the north. | ||
7051 Member Username: 7051 Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.219.102.145 |
I believe that the very popular La Dolce Vita Italian restaurant is in the building where Backstage was located (Woodward & 6 1/2 Mile). Anyone? | ||
Mrfrench Member Username: Mrfrench Post Number: 23 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.136.146.194 |
backstage deli was next to la dolce vita across the side street. i believe it is a laundrymat know | ||
Mrfrench Member Username: Mrfrench Post Number: 24 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.136.146.194 |
Us Pontiac rats would go to the 300 bowl or Firebird lanes to get our groove on. How about the T.N.T club on 8 mile. | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1397 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Mrfrench: Did you ever hear the New York Express at JB's Firebird? Hubby Dave played with NYE for about 8 years. JB's was one of the main clubs they played, often 4 week engagements 4 or 5 times a year. | ||
Chalu64 Member Username: Chalu64 Post Number: 42 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.136.151.176 |
jimg, B'Stilla! Wow. Right next to the Hungry Penguin on Warren/3 Mile Drive. | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 640 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
Spent many eves at B'stilla hangin' with the Sun Messengers... | ||
Chalu64 Member Username: Chalu64 Post Number: 43 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.136.151.176 |
Who owned that place? Or ran it? They had interesting food. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 283 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Backstage Deli burned down. Whatever is in its place was built from new. | ||
Dave Member Username: Dave Post Number: 96 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.244.185.171 |
A great poster from Cobb's Corner just sold on ebay for $4.99 http://cgi.ebay.com/LYMAN-WOOD ARD-SAM-SANDERS-COBBS-CORNER-D ETROIT-JAZZ-AD_W0QQitemZ290002 680669QQihZ019QQcategoryZ10874 9QQcmdZViewItem dave | ||
Elevator_fan Member Username: Elevator_fan Post Number: 11 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 65.42.41.61 |
Kathleen: Sorry, but you are mistaken. The people who own Il Posto bought Excalibur a while ago and opened Caffe Milano in that building, as a more casual Italian restaurant. See: http://www.theoaklandpress.com /stories/120304/mar_2004120300 4.shtml | ||
Goggo Member Username: Goggo Post Number: 185 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.136.49.226 |
Oh yeah... in the mid 1970s... the place on Telegraph (in Dearborn) that had the telephones on each table... you could call directly from your table to another table in the bar... what was the name of that place? | ||
Inquisitor Member Username: Inquisitor Post Number: 13 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 205.56.129.195 |
Anyone ever heard of "the dancery", in the burbs | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 152 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 66.73.238.3 |
Elevator-fan...I may have temporarily gotten over my chronic case of CRS. Was the place you're thinking of on Northwestern located north of 12 Mile on the east side of Northwestern? If so, it may have been the Lion's Head. If that's the place your thinking of, it was definitely a hot club back in the day. I think that huge FTD office complex is on that site now. | ||
Elevator_fan Member Username: Elevator_fan Post Number: 12 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 65.42.41.61 |
Gary: No, it wasn't the Lion's Head. I don't actually recall that name at all, although I do remember the Trio Restaurant occupying what is now the single story section of the FTD complex. There were three restaurants in the Trio, a formal one, a deli, and a bar. The bar may have been called the Lion's Head; I don't know. The mystery club I am thinking of was kitty corner from there: South of 12 Mile Rd., west of Telegraph. About a block south of where Excalibur was. I'll have to drive by there to see if the building is still there. | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 1644 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 4.229.132.201 |
Detroit has had a great tradition of entertainment.JimG's book certainly is evidence of that. Kathy my very 1st regular gig was at Teddy's swinging city in Hamtown.We would do week long stints there and then go to a restuarant next door to eat this was around '75.I remember one of the members telling me that to think driving up the Davison would be inspirational rather than scary.........it was a rough area. Most of you are going back to the 80's and bar and club stuff.But Detroit had a great nightclub tradition.The Roostertail in Detroit and the Tophat and Elmwood casino in Windsor were all part of the tradition much like the Copacabana in Nyc and the 500 club in Atlantic city.And the Caucus club as well.In fact just messing around on google I read an interesting review if a 1968 Bobby Darin show at the Roostertail.And of course there was all the history in Jims book ..Before motown"... | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2666 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
The mention of a 70's era singles bar up on Telegraph (with phones on the tables?!?! .... EEEEW!) reminds me of McFrock's (sp?) of a few years later (usually refered to as "McFucks" since near as I could tell it was where the business-clothes-wearing 20 and 30 somethings there abouts went when they were in heat.) ... I recall it was somewhere waay up nosebleed country around Northwestern and Telegrah or Orchard Lake Rd. Maybe it was the same place carrying on the me generation vibe into the 80s under a different name! | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2667 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
Completely unrelated to this thread, but CL's mention of Bobby Darin makes me have to vent ... I just rented the Bio musical pic about Bobby Darin called "Beyond the Sea" starring Kevin Spacey. Holy GOD was that a bad movie! I'm talking like Showgirls bad except not in a good way ... in fact, showgirls with Kevin Spacy as Nomi would be a better movie than Beyond the Sea. Christ was that a horrible movie. Kevin Spacey was about a quarter of a century too old to play the part and on top of that he looked nearly a half century too old (no I'm NOT exagerating). And the age thing was just a MINOR point in making the movie stink, the movie was selfindulgent, false and insulting. It was dull. Jeez did that thing stink! It was such a bad movie that NO part of it was good. You couldn't edit 5 minutes of good anything of the entire thing. | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 1645 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 67.36.21.222 |
Self indulgent yes, and they did take liberties with the truth but Spacey sings his ass off and the musicianship was top notch. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2671 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
CL, yeah and the costumes looked clean too. How'd ya like the fantasy dance sequences? (yes fantasy dance sequenceS plural.) How'd ya like his conversations with his boyhood self (which is bad enough in and of itself) ... but at the BEGINING of the movie and interspersed throughout!?!? I mean if you are gonna crank out a Deus ex machina for Zeus's sake ya do it in the last act not the prologue! By the end of that stinker I was rooting for his father to turn up as Kyser Soze and clean house of the lot of them. | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 1646 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 67.36.21.222 |
Well I guess if you(spacey) are making the movie you can do whatever you fancy. | ||
Eastside Member Username: Eastside Post Number: 898 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 68.42.171.216 |
I'm just glad I dont live next door to CL. I have a sense the guy would be the prick of the block. | ||
65memories Member Username: 65memories Post Number: 261 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.74.29.226 |
From the Bars in Detroit thread (too lazy to write it over) As an oldtimer, there are certain bars I miss, REALLY MISS, including: ...Diamond Jim Brady's , on 7 Mile at Greenfield, where Matt and Pat Brady served up the best hamburgers and chili you could find in Detroit. It was the establishment closest to being a real "Cheers", more than any other bar I've ever been in. If you were a regular on Friday nights(when mostly teachers and administrators frequented the place) everybody really did know your name. I cried when it closed. Other Brady's bars have popped up from time to time, but nothing has been like the original. ...Tom's Tavern on 7 Mile. The floor sloped and you got your own beer, leaving your payment on the bar. A unique institution, run by an eccentric proprietor. Tom I think is gone but I understand the bar goes on. ...Vernes down at Wayne State. I still remember one winter night in the 70's, sulking in my beer, sitting in there while someone played Don Mclean's "American Pie" about 20 times on the jukebox. It was the first time (and ultimately the 20th) I had heard the song. Its symbolism was too much. Vernes and the Alcove (on Woodward and Warren, with 25 cent shells) were great places to hang out at Wayne State. ...Cobb's Corner...Robert Cobb's place on Cass...eclectic and electric...a writer's paradise, serving up every walk of life. The Lymon Woodard Organization, with Norma Jean Bell on Sax, used to find the groove every Friday and Saturday night. Great memories. ...The Lindell AC, just recently torn down, full of unbelievable stories and characters. ...The Blue Note on Six Mile...full of jazz and unsophisticated soul...close to Juanita's, where things didn't start hoppin' til after Midnight. ...The original Anchor...Doc Greene and Pete Waldmeier's favorite place to imbibe, as well as 75% of the employees of the News and Free Press. ...The Normandy,in the New Center area, where Bill Bonds would often be opining. ...Someone mentioned Lafayette Orleans in the Lafayette Park strip mall...it was indeed the place for urbane, sophisticated drinkers, where some of the prettiest women would hang out. | ||
14509glenfield Member Username: 14509glenfield Post Number: 12 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.69.137.36 |
Teegarden & Vanwinkle played the same night at the Red Carpet after Goose Lake. That hole in the wall bar (obviously I frequented regularly) was a great growing up escape. Hey. Oops I discredited it. Sorry..though being new to this check out Water Winter Wonderland.com. You probably have already. | ||
14509glenfield Member Username: 14509glenfield Post Number: 13 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.69.137.36 |
Out of curiousity, no one has addressed the "Dairy Workers Hall" events in Detroit or Mt Clemens. Do we need to go there? | ||
Scofield Member Username: Scofield Post Number: 3 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
anyone remember "riff raff" or "the Raff" from the 1980's? Lead Guitarist is my buddy.  |
