Great Coffee Houses

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 09:55 AM

V,

I left out all the great Chicago folk clubs because they didn't serve coffee. The NO EXIT was an old beatnik coffeehouse (served unique coffee concoctions in the 50s before anybody else in Chicago) that catered more to race car drivers than anything else before the folk era. It always had chess boards inlaid into the top of every table. It was in to be AWAKE rather than sedated (as with alcohol) even though smokedreams were rampant there too. "Unique" paintings were on the walls. Beatniks were, if nothing else, literary --- as in Kerouac and Ginsberg & MANY other lesser lights. (Check out Ann Charters __THE BEAT READER__ for a good overview. She is/was (whatever) the wife of Sam Charters the blues scholar.)The later hippy thing was tune out & turn on as well as Anti-war and a reaction to a seeming threat of destruction of the largest generation of Americans ever by "old men", who had the power to do that, over the young people. The baby boomers used their sheer numbers to fight back for the first time since the Civil War.

Mick, Is that why unions were busted right and left by people intent on destroying the example set then that showed what collective action can truly accomplish?)

Anyhow, allow me to include, THE EARL OF OLD TOWN, THE QUIET NIGHT, THE GATE OF HORN, BARBAROSSA, SOMEBODY ELSE'S TROUBLES, THE YELLOW UNICORN, RUE, THE COLLEGE OF COMPLEXES, MOMARTRE and, last but not least THE ERECTION which had to change it's name for obvious reasons in 1963 to the ERECTHEON.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Easy Rider
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 09:58 AM

Surprising nobody has mentioned the Gaslight Cafe or the Cafe Au Go Go, in Greenwich Village, in the 60s. I saw Missippi John Hurt there, and Danny Kalb and the Blues Project. I saw an unknown named Richie Havens and a very early Bonnie Raitt and hundreds of others.

There were the Broadside hoots, at the Village Gate, on Sunday afternoons, and so much more. It was wonderful, for a kid just learning about folk music and blues.

Gerdie's was a bar. I was too young, but I saw Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee there, when I grew up a little.

The only thing left today is the Bottom Line. I've seen a lot of good performers there recently.

EZR

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Allan C.
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 10:35 AM

Don't remember ever drinking coffee there, but The Cellar Door in Washington, D. C., deserves mention. It was a cramped but cozy place to hear and see folks who were becoming and people who already had become well-known. Others, like me, were happy just to get a chance to get on stage now and again at the Sunday night Hootnanny. Ian and Sylvia had their own mailbox in the alley (which doubled as the backstage area). I missed seeing Bud and Travis play there but I remember seeing Joe and Eddy's performance. They were backed by an excellent bassist named, Buck Wheat. Another D. C. coffeehouse of repute was The Crow's Toe (it featured a stuffed crow suspended from the ceiling by that appendage).

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: o'hanrahan
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 11:42 AM

Also on Charles Street in Boston was the Turks Head Coffehouse. Night Owl:Yes i do remember The Hillbilly Ranch right next to the Trailways bus terminal. Quite a trip to say the least. There ere also free concerts at the Cambridge Common that were lots of fun.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: folk1234
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 01:30 PM

Allan C: Thanks for bringing up the Cellar Door. Back in 1966 we went there to see the Chad Mitchell Trio. Well, Chad was ill, so he was replaced by some weird looking, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and far-to-enthusiastic young guy with big funky glasses who sure sounded strange when he sang. He did a few solos and the other two members of CMT did both solos and duets. When they all sang together as a trio, they were pretty bad. So bad that the CD management gave us our cover charge back. A week later Chad was fine and we enjoyed their great music. Of course by now you know the rest of the story. The weird guy was none other than John Dueschendorff (Denver) who eventually replaced Chad (did a great job, too) and still later had a very impressive career of his own. I GUESS YOU HAVE TO GIVE A FOLK SINGER A CHANCE. FIRST IMPRESSIONS MAY NOT BE THE LAST.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 06:43 PM

I played at the Crow's Toe in D.C. in 1964. It was STRANGE. On the bill was a gold-painted female impersonator named Robin. The Cellar Door was where I saw Dave Van Ronk. First met Joe Hickerson at the Libr. Of Congress that year--his first at the L. Of C. Passed the hat at the Wha in New York & got enough to buy a meal at the automat. Walked all night as hotels cost too much. In the morn went to Staten Island Ferry & rode for .05---shaved in the men's room--gave my 000-18 to a hotdog seller on the boat to hold for me so I could go to Central Park and pretend to be sunbathing while I slept. Then went to the boat again, got my guitar & went to "work". Did that a week and a half I think. (Ah, youth!) Bought a standing room ticket to see Richard Burton do Hamlet. The night of the performance, a guy returned one 3rd row center ticket just as I was passing the box office. I traded my standing room ticket for that one!! After sleeping in the park for a week, I sat there among the tuxedos and the evening gowns and added to the ambiance by providing a rather aromatic aspect to the performance. It was great. Woody would've been proud! In 1964 we could do all that I describe here easily and safely. No problems at all. Kids, I'm not making this up. On the way back to Chicago I went to Nashville and hung around Hank Snow's shows at the Opry and then at some county fairs in the Midwest. 'Twas a fine summer. Not all on coffeehouses, but this entry DID stasrt with the coffeehouse called the Crow's Toe in D.C.

But I digressed a bit...

Art

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Big Mick
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 11:01 PM

A bit of thread creep, but I must answer the Rev. Mr. Thieme.

You are right on the mark, bro. Big Capital has done everything they can to destroy the notion that protected concerted activity by workers is a good thing. They continue to wage a perceptual battle for the hearts and minds of the young ones. There is a whole crop of new labor singers out there that are working in and around the campuses that are writing some pretty good labor music that attempts to counteract some of the half truths and misconceptions being spread by those whose agenda it is to convince people that workers don't need the power of collective bargaining. The stakes, for working families, are huge.

Mick

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: ddw in windsor
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 11:24 PM

I woudn't rate it with The Buddhi and the Sword and Stone (both in Oklahoma City, as mentioned above), but there was a place in Cleveland, Ohio in the late '60s called La Cave where I saw Josh White, Terry & McGhee, Jesse Colin Young and a lot of others. Like the rest, it's gone.

There was also a lot of folkie action in the Hamilton-Toronto (Ontario) area in the early '70s at places called (respectively) Campbell's Coffee House and Fiddler's Green. The former had a good stable of local talent and brought in such acts as Leon Redbone, Dave Essig, Willie P. Bennett and a host of others -- mostly Canadians. Fiddler's Green, whose mainstays were also responsible for a lot of what went into the Mariposa Folk Festival, used to get great acts from out of town to augment its regulars.

Unfortunately, most of those great venues are gone now and many of the ones left are -- I don't want to rehash what's in another thread, so this is just in passing, OK? *grin* -- taken over by the singer/songwriters, most of whom can do neither.

ddw

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Curtis & Loretta
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 11:34 PM

In Minneapolis, there were the Coffeehouse Extempore, and New Riverside Cafe, both gone now. Actually, the "Riv" survived, owned and run by a collective, until just a couple years ago.

Loretta S

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Divine Wilygoatess (inactive)
Date: 07 Jul 99 - 03:20 PM

The Quadrant in Easton, PA

Anylise's Hava Java in Allentown, PA

Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, PA (not really a proper coffee house, kind of a byob place, but they do have coffee and books and music)

Deja Brew in Bethelehem, PA

~Miss V

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Jul 99 - 08:21 PM

I just realized fairly recently where the name Godfrey Daniels came from. I was watching a W.C. Fields short movie and every time he wanted to utter s curse, something that would be taken for swearing, he'd say, "GODFREY DANIELS" !!! It was great to "finally know" .

Art

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 08 Jul 99 - 12:15 AM

Alice...re-read this and saw your post about Idaho Spgs. Call me at 303-838-6533 when you get to town, ask for EJ.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Sourdough
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 01:26 AM

I was talking to a friend today and telling him the glories of Mudcat na dof this thread in particular. He started reminiscing about 1950s(!) coffee houses in Boston. He was a waiter in one in the late fifties while in high school. He asked if anyone had mentioned it. Not only hadn't anyone mentioned it, I had never heard of it. It was near Boston University and was called The Salamander. It took its name from its location. It was in a basement under a bar called The Rock. Cute?

He remembers Joan Baez singing there while she was a college studet, a couple of years before her "early" appearances at The Golden Vanity and yhe Club 47. According to my friend, she made $10/night. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: don in oshawa
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 10:51 AM

Toronto's "THE RIVERBOAT" just has to get a mention...the key site of Toronto's Yorkville scene and sound... early days... the young Gordon Lightfoot.. visiting Yankees.. dylan, baez Terry and McGee, and then a second generation... Neil, just after Buffalo Springfield, Joni.. as a solo.. Having missed the first generation.. i was pleased to visit more regularly near the end... Fraser and Debolt.. Brent Titcomb.. Nancy Simmonds..... Did Leonard Cohen ever play the Riverboat? i dunno?

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: bbelle
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 02:08 PM

folk1234: We must have been at the Cellar Door the same night in 1966! My aunt and uncle took me there to celebrate my 18th birthday to see the Chad Mitchell Trio, although ... you know the rest! A comedienne named Donna Jean Young opened for them ... she was very funny ... wonder whatever happened to her. Saw Ian & Sylvia there and was in attendance when John Denver and Fat City recorded "Country Roads." Took advantage of many of their Open Mike Sundays. There was a coffeehouse called "The Agape" located in a Lutheran church, where I spent almost every Saturday night in the early '70's. None of the performers were known, but there was a wealth of talent in that little room ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 06:29 PM

1) Glad somebody mentioned Godfrey Daniels. Dave Fry has been running the place for as long as I have lived in the area and never gives up. 2) Much of what I know about the coffeehouse scene in Boston i8n the 60s comes from a book "Baby let me follow you down" by Jim Rooney and Eric Von Schmidt. What a wonderful book! Everybody's reminiscences. Of course, it's out of print. 3) A friend of mine has bought a church in New Hope PA; the congregation is leaving for a bigger home with good parking in about three months, and she intends, after an appropriate deconsecration ceremony, to re-dedicate it as a coffeehouse. 3a) Can anybody think of a good name? 3b) what would be appropriate in a RE-consecration ceremony? My own preference would be to sing as many verses of Old Time Religion as possible (see other ongoing thread) to make sure that Nobody is left out.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 11:11 PM

3a) Alice's Restaurant? Or is that too obvious?

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 02:10 AM

Let's see - Church/ coffee house = Holy Joe's ?

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Sourdough
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 02:23 AM

Let's see, how about

Pews Are Us

or

Altar Ego ?

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Pete Curry
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 01:10 PM

In the late '50s and early'60s, Philadelphia had a thriving folk music scene centered around The Gilded Cage at 261 S. 21st (owned by Ed Halpern) and the Second Fret at 1902 Sansom St. (owned by Manny Rubin). The "Fret" was more like a night club and it was there that I first saw Dave Van Ronk, the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the Kentucky Colonels (with Clarence & Roland White), Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee (who recorded a live album there­in the cover photo, the back of my head is clearly visible right in front of the stage), Reverand Gary Davis, Tom Rush, Mississippi John Hurt, Joni Mitchell, The Dillards, etc. The "Cage" was Philadelphia's oldest coffeehouse and hosted round-robins every Sunday afternoon featuring such luminaries as Roger Abrams, Dick Weissman (pre-The Journeymen), Tossi Aaron, Linda LaBov, Billy Vanaver, Mike Miller, blues guitar great Jerry Ricks (now Mississippi Jerry Ricks) and Arlo Guthrie's late accompaniest, John Pila. Those were the days!

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: annamill
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 01:14 PM

I don't understand? It obvious to me. What is more appropriate for a re-consecration name than "NEW HOPE" COFFEEHOUSE.

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 11:45 AM

Oh, yes, the Kardomah in Corporation St , B'ham, the National Milk Bar in Aberystwyth, where did my youth go? [and did he take my wallet?]

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 12:33 PM

We had Elizabeth's Coffee Bar in Dover. No live music, but a crowd of young people around a table in a carrel after church on Sunday evening, talking about anything and everything, the whole evening on one coffee in one of those shallow glass cups, or an ice cream float in summer. (Does anyone know if it is true about aspirin in Coca Cola?). Then it turned fast food, and uncomfortable chairs, and out as quick as you can. They don't make places like that any more. Not over here, at any rate.

Penny

Have you noticed Pete M isn't back yet?

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Mike Strobel
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 01:36 PM

Today, in Rochester, New York it is : 12 Corners Coffeehouse ( Though it is much more like a concert hall), Blue Sundays Coffeehouse, Java Junction , Weider Hall Art Gallery........................Now in the early seventies in Buffalo there were ( still are ) 2 taverns which featured a lot of folk music : The Central Park Grill and The Tralfamadore Cafe.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Sourdough
Date: 31 Jul 99 - 12:55 PM

Joe Offer,

On behalf of everyone who reads this thread, thank you for removing the duplicate messages. (It was very embarrassing). I have no idea what happened.

Sourdough Current holder of the Duplicate Postings Championship

Sourdough Current holder of the Duplicate Postings Championship

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Mudjack
Date: 31 Jul 99 - 04:57 PM

Starbucks, OHhh... It has to be a "Coffee House" I tend to call a lot of venues coffee house but more correctly it should be Acoustic Music Venue. A bar converted from the old stables it was at the University of California Riverside with it's "Folk Concerts at the Barn" Sunday nights. Who's who of folk music has performed there. The good folks who produced the concerts are very dear friends of mine and I have a life time of graditude to them for their efforts. They stopped the series about 18 months ago due to the UCR demanding more rent money and constantly adding more restrictions as time went on. I know Sandy has been there, thats where I met him many years back. It had a bar atmoshere but emphasis were on the music and a very quiet setting. I remember how depressed I became when I decided to leave the area and suddenly it donned on me what I might not be able to replace in my life, will there be another Barn? I hav'nt found it yet.
My other folkie hang out was "The Starvation Cafe". Patrick managed to serve up some poor man's soup and coffee. Very Bohemian for the 80's and 90's. Avante Garde was the theme but bluegrass and folk would intertwine the programs.
Just as I got interested in performing music,The Penny U in San Bernardino CA was closing it's doors. That was a real BUZZ and hooked me on the "live music" scene. It was thr predesessor to the above clubs.
Mudjack

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 02:04 AM

The Walt Robertson thread brought this one back to mind. Bongos, goatees, berets, poetry and the atmosphere of infinite possibilities....

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 06:15 AM

Bannon's Spa in Haverhill MA. been there at least 30 years, likely much more. No live music there, just coffee and donuts and some raunchy characters. I spent a good part of my childhood in there, my dad's hangout. He wouldn't be caught dead near any of those hippy joints. eric

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: RichM
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 09:36 AM

In Ottawa (Canada) Rasputin's Café on Bronson Avenue has been the home of folk music here for the last 20 years.

The owner, Dean Verger, has been instrumental ;) in bringing hundreds of acts, local, national and international to the community.
There's a full list of performers who have appeared, at the café's website:
http://www.cyberus.ca/~rasputin/

I am proud to be among this group; yours truly was once part of a local bluegrass group called "Toy Heart"...

Rich

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 10:53 AM

In and around Chicago in the early 70's, there was an odd combination of bars/coffee houses that I got started in; these were the "folk clubs" that you just don't seem to find around anymore. I was too young for places like the Gate O Horn. The Barbarossa, the Saddle Club, Orphans, Minstrels, the Bulls all had local musicians and gave newcomers a chance. The Quiet Knight had the very best national and international acts, as well as local artists who had proven themselves. The Earl of Old Town, where I went to hear Bob Gibson and was introduced to a "new kid in town" who sang his latest song "City of New Orleans. Within a month everyone was singing Steve Goodman songs.

Two places that were truly unique were the Ranch in downtown Chicago and Durty Nellies in suburban Palatine. The Ranch ran music from 7:00 until 4:00 AM. They had a "Sons of the Pioneers" style western band playing forty minute sets and usually someone with an acoustic playing the twenty minute breaks. I got to do the breaks for a short time and it was like going to country music grad school. The regular band (The Sundowners)played there six nights a week for thirty years. They were a full volume set of the encyclopedia of country music, and with forty minutes between sets, you did nothing but eat the chili, listen and learn. This place was in the basement of an office building right by the Greyhound bus station and got a weird mix of business men, "ladies" and sailors coming in or going out of Great Lakes Naval Training Center. The first time I sang "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and the dance floor filled up, I knew I had to be doing something right.

There are still a few of the old coffeehouses around the Chicago area. No Exit is still running. The Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downers Grove just celebrated 30 years and is going strong. I get to play a night there March 30th and I'm thrilled.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Gray Rooster
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 11:51 AM

And, back to the Village, let us not forget: Café Basement and Figero's.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 11:52 AM

When I moved to Tucson from Boston in the late 80's (Im back in Boston) I found no coffee house type venues, a few came and went but nothing much. But there is still a strong folk scene there. I wound up going to lots of music party things that wouldn't be jam sessions but would have someone do a solo set, then a band might play, whatever... it was real cool, I've never seen that around here in Boston, but I think it might happen, I just don't know about it. I remember playing with my folk band in some backyard in the desert and the place would be just packed, granted they were there to drink beer mostly but if that same band was in Boston we'd have a tough time to get any gigs. What's my point? I don't know.hehe

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 11:56 AM

When I moved to Tucson from Boston in the late 80's (Im back in Boston) I found no coffee house type venues, a few came and went but nothing much. But there is still a strong folk scene there. I wound up going to lots of music party things that wouldn't be jam sessions but would have someone do a solo set, then a band might play, whatever... it was real cool, I've never seen that around here in Boston, but I think it might happen, I just don't know about it. I remember playing with my folk band in some backyard in the desert and the place would be just packed, granted they were there to drink beer mostly but if that same band was in Boston we'd have a tough time to get any gigs. What's my point? I don't know.hehe

Oh, "The Hillbilly Ranch" mentioned earlier sounds excellent. I live right near that site, I can't imagine anything like that happening around this area now. Bluegrass in downtown Boston? HA!

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Gray Rooster
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 12:09 PM

And in Dallas, TX:

(THEN) Moon Alley

The Rubyiat (perhaps spelled Rabayat or Rubyait) but definitely after Omar

Mother Blues (gasp!!!) Yes in the back bar at "her" first location

(NOW) Uncle Calvin's (listening)

Cafe Brazil (Central Expy. location)

Sons of Hermann Hall (old fashioned in the round on Thursday nights, sometimes three rooms going at once)

Houston, TX (NOW) Anderson Fair (the oldest continuously operated music venue in Texas)

Galveston, TX (NOW) The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe

Ft. Worth, TX (NOW) Trinity Coffee House

Flower Mound, TX (NOW) Coffee Klatch

Mmm, I better stop. Fingers want to play guitar now.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Art Thieme
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 12:46 PM

We had a thread here a while ago about the "last days" of The NO EXIT coffee house in Chi. THOSE DIDM'T HAPPEN. The place was saved when Brian and Sue Kozin were able to sell it to Michhael James, the owner of The Heartland Cafe only half a block away. "The Exit" is now cleaner and painted white. Some music is back. The brown burlap is gone from the walls. The smoke it less. The graffitti is pretty much gone from the bathroom walls. Blind Jim Brewer, who sang his Mississippi acoustic blues Wednesday nights for so long, has passed on. I played at the place for 37 years and then couldn't any longer. (For some perverse reason I was hoping to make 40 years.)

Recently I went by there and the place looks nice. But the ghost of Kerouac has left as far as I could see. I do suspect that is as it should be in this new millennium.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: BlueJay
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 01:01 PM

So, LEJ, that makes two old haunts we have in common: Muddy's and the Little Bear. I'm pretty sure Muddy's went by the wayside, but you never know, maybe it was resurrected. Sure was a great place, with all the books, games, talented folks, and food. Thanks for the memory jog. BlueJay

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Sourdough
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 04:55 AM

I think the archtype of Beat coffee houses was the Cafe Figaro in Greenwich Village. It reminded me of a bit of literature trivia.

There was no live music at the Figaro. Maybe that's whythere were always tables filled with people talking earnestly about life, art, ethics, and theology.

While I was a college student, I workd at a place called the Living Theatre up on the corner of SIxth Avenue and Fourteenth Street but I lived in the VIllage. Through an odd working out of coincidence, I was working with Judith Malina and Julian Beck in a play that was an off-Broadway hit and very highly regarded in the Village. When I joined the company, the play had already been running for several yeas. The Living Theatre was one of the central nodes of what was called the hip scene in New York at that time. Just having a job there transformed me, at least in my own mind, into a real Villager. Hell, I even had a nodding acquintance with Jules Feiffer and went out twice with a waitress from the Figaro.

We'd finish up at the Living Theatre around eleven and then we would head out for a place to talk, drink, meet friends and make new ones - all while remaining cool.

One of my favorite place was the Cafe Figaro on the fabled corner of Bleeker and McDougal. There was always the possibility of incredible conversations. The effect of sitting and listening to Paul Goodman, Alan Ginsburg, Maya Deren, a lot of abstract expressionist painters, Martha Graham dancers and uncounted writers was not lost on this eighteen or nineteen year old New Hampshire boy.

The mention of graffiti and The Figaro in an earlier mesage reminded me of somethng I saw in Figaro in the late '50s. By the pay phone on the wall someone had scrawled "It's better to have flunked your Wasserman than never to have loved at all." For those of you to whom the words "Wasserman Test" mean nothing, you should know that it was the syphlis test of that time.

In the context of the period it was funny and was far more memorable than another graffito scrawled in the same hand just below it. It asked a question that would in a few years become a household word, "Who's afraid of Virginia Wolf?"

I can't say from first hand knowledge that Edward Albee first saw the phrase there and decided to use it as the title of a play je was writing. He had already written The Sandbox and Zoo Story which were, I think, one-acts and was writing every day. His roommate at the time was Paul Goodman so I know that Albee used to spend time at the Figaro and if he ever used the phone he would have seen it for sure.

Even though the play and then the movie, Whose Afraid of Virginia WOlf gererated tremendous interest, I have never seen I have never ever seen a mention of that graffito. Remember, you heard about it first on Mudcat.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 08:57 AM

Hadn't realised how predominently American the coffee house has become since its heydey in 17th/18th century London. Fraid I've only skimmed this entertaining thread, but are The Shambles, Roger the Zimmer and Penny the only posters to take the discussion beyond America's boundaries?

I remember seeing those same people at that same venue Shambles. I also saw some of them - and Ralph McTell,Tim and Maddy Prior and Martin Carthy - at a nearby place just beyond Soho, called Bunjies - another alcohol-free zone I seem to remember, unless I was always there at the wrong time of day.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Gray Rooster
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 11:53 AM

Sourdough (and all), when I was going to Figaro's, there was live music. Not paid or set up in advance. Just happened. They were pretty tolerant. And yes, it was full of artistic intent and delivery.

I can't remember the man's name (Charles?) who managed the place at that time, but he was black and a friend of my brother's. He had part of his finger missing (Air Force accident I think). He introduced me to a chess player or two and I won and lost while playing songs like Down and Out, Deliah's Gone and St. James Infirmary among others. At times, other voices and guitars would chime in from various locations throughout the place. Very impromptu. A poet would rant or growl. Wine would appear on the table. A flute would haunt the air. Classic combustion. I miss it.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 12:09 PM

I can recall when London had the Troubadour, Bunjie's, The Witches Cauldron, and more. Manchester had The Left-Wing, Exeter had The Left Bank(in Paris Street)Nottingham had Jules et Jim, and there was a folk coffeebar in Liverpool but I can't remember it's name.These all go back to the late 50's, early 60's. In America I've sung at Focus2, The Chelsea House,Godfrey Daniel's, Main Point, 8th Step, Cafe Lena, and had a ball in all of them. Never made it to The Ark, which I'm sad about given it's reputation. Is it still going? I musn't miss out the Fiddler's Green, Toronto. That was great. Burl

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Art Thieme
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 12:13 PM

I think I'm gonna find that old "Demise of The No Exit Coffeehouse" thread and resurrect it just to keep it closer to this good thread.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 12:16 PM

I can recall when London had the Troubadour, Bunjie's, The Witches Cauldron, and more. Manchester had The Left-Wing, Exeter had The Left Bank(in Paris Street)Nottingham had Jules et Jim, and there was a folk coffeebar in Liverpool but I can't remember it's name.These all go back to the late 50's, early 60's. In America I've sung at Focus2, The Chelsea House,Godfrey Daniel's, Main Point, 8th Step, Cafe Lena, and had a ball in all of them. Never made it to The Ark, which I'm sad about given it's reputation. Is it still going? I musn't miss out the Fiddler's Green, Toronto. That was great. Burl

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 12:46 PM

Hi Art - ref 'Godfrey Daniels' as a euphemistis swear word. In England we say 'Gordon Bennett' for the same purpose. Said with enough vehemence it really works. Ref old coffee houses, wasn't there one once, somewhere in Canada, called The Bohemian Embassy. Great name.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: wdyat12
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 05:22 PM

The Club 47 in Cambridge during the sixties was my favorite haunt. Sometimes I was lucky enough to sit up front. I remember one night Tom Rush was thumping out tunes from his "Blues, Songs, and Ballads" repertoire when all of a sudden one of his fingerpicks flew off and landed in my lap. I jumped up and gave him his fingerpick back, he nodded, and kept on playing without missing a beat. I'll never forget that night.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 08:03 PM

burl didn't mention The Partisan in Soho, which was a great folk place (and movement place generally) at one time in the early 60s. Martin Winsor, Redd Sullivan, John Baldry, and others. They used to take advantage of the fact that a lot of the public transport stopped early (and still does) to have all nighter folk-sessions lasting in the cellar, lasting until the bleary dawn. Great place to spend the night.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 01:08 PM

Correct McGrath, I'd forgotten that one. I'm trying to remember the name of another London place that had parrots in the window. Joan & Rena Swankie used to sing there. Any ideas? There was a bloke called Curley used to run some late-nighters in London Too, any ideas on that?

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 08:58 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Deckman
Date: 17 Feb 01 - 12:17 PM

I'm surprised that no one from Seattle has jumped on this yet. Starting in the mid 1950's we had a slew of wonderful coffee houses that were very folk music friendly. The most famous of all was of course,"The Pamir House" or "P" house as we called it. John Timmins started it. In fact, just few years we had a 30 (I believe) re-union. JOhn showed up, as well as a host of the famous performers from the early days: Don Firth, Nancy Quense, Mike Leib, Walt Robertson, and many more. Other great coffee houses were: The Place Next Door, The Corraberie (sp?), The Door, The Matador.

Also, today in Yakima, "Grants Pub" is very friendlt to live performers. CHEERS, Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: Hollowfox
Date: 17 Feb 01 - 03:01 PM

Besides the Caffe Lena, the Capitol District (that's anywhere within about 50 miles of Albany, NY), let's not forget the 8th Step (which is in it's second location, and has never had eight steps in it, anywhere), and Mother's Wine Emporium across the Hudson River in Troy, New York.

Subject: RE: Great Coffee Houses
From: GUEST,Blind desert Pete
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 02:05 PM

Art or Bart: Do either if you remember a Chi coffee house called the 5th peg? FullertonAve? my memory of those days is real shakey.