Greenwich Village, 1963

Subject: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:00 PM

Rummaging through some old slides, I came across two photographs I took in Greenwich Village, in 1963. Both phoyographs were taken on McDougal St. The corner of McDougal and Bleeker streets was considered the center of Greenwich Village and these pictures were taken in front of the Kettle Of Fish tavern, the Gaslight Cafe and Izzy Young's Folklore Center.

The Gaslight Cafe was my favorite place to go to listen to, and play music. Monday night's, Dave Van Ronk ran a hootenanny there and if you wanted to gain favor with him, you'd do a few songs so that he could go upstairs to the Kettle Of Fish to have a couple of beers. I sang there just about every Monday night, and even ran the hootenanny once for Dave.

You could see or hear just about everyone at the Gslight Cafe. Among the people I heard there were Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie (when he was about 16), Jack Elliot, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk when he wasn't running the hootenanny, Noel Stookey as a comic(Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary), Len Chandler, Lou Gossett, Bill Cosby, Wavy Gravy, Jim Kweskin, Johnny Cash, Peter LaFarge, Peter Stampfel, Peter Tork (later of the Monkees)David Cohen (who later changed his name to D.David Cuffe, and finally to David Blue) and many more that will come to mind as soon as I post this. I saw Cisco Houston there, just before he died... he couldn't sing any more, but came in to hear the music. And one night, I opened for The Highwaymen, who had a current hit with Michael, Row The Boat Ashore.

Across the street was the Fat Black Pussy Cat where I shared the stage one evening with Richie Havens and Tiny Tim.

Jeff has posted the two photos on my photo page, along with a photograph of the Gospel Messengers for the curious of mind.

Good memories from just two photographs..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:08 PM

Here they are - in case anyone doesn't know about the photo section of the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:17 PM

Know that well Jerry.

One of the biggest decisions of my life was to either move (or STAY, actually) to New York City or NOT. Had I been a bit older, and gotten there during the time frame you describe, I probably would have stayed. I'd have figured SOMETHING out, vis a vis Vietnam....probably having two different coloured eyes would have gotten me out.

It wasn't til the LATE sixties that I got there though, and things were already dyin' down.

I went to London, though, and stayed for a while. That was fun. Then on to Amsterdam which was great......but.......

Unfortunately (for a folk musician's career) this "PULL" had a hold on me, and took me back to Toronto. "The PULL" said, "you must WORK for a living, if you're gonna be a musician, learn a million songs and be constantly employed in hotels". I did. Guess it was the "Protestant work ethic". Wish I'd just played what I loved though.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:37 PM

Thanks, Kevin:

Jerry

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Mark Ross
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 05:23 PM

Thanks Jerry,
            I started hanging out in the Village in '63. When I moved down there in '67 The Kettle, The Gaslight, The Pussycat, The Wha? were my hangouts among others. Thanks for the memories.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 09:21 PM

I was still a baby - 15. My friends and I used to hang around Bleeker and MacDougal hoping to catch a glimpse of Dylan. We did once and were too stupid to do anything but follow him at a safe distance. Safe for him or us???? We were too young to drink so when we dated "college" boys we went for hot apple cider with cinnamon. I will be awake all night trying to remember the name of our favorite coffee house where everything was served by the pitcher and the choices were coffee, beer, lemonade (with a million maraschino cherries), or cider. Happy times.

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:29 PM

STRANGE, Mr. Jerry, just today I e-mailed six photos I found recently to Katlaughing----1964 pickers on a Sunday afternoon in July playing in front of the Washingron Square arch.

We're still connected somehow, Jerry.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 09:20 AM

Dont forget Cafe Figaro

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 10:22 AM

Cafe Figaro is one of the few spots still pretty much the same. I've gone there a couple of times recently with my wife, and ate on the street (table and chairs provided.) We have the t-shirts to prove it..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 10:29 AM

We are all connected, Art. The old times are still alive..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Greenwich Village, 1963
From: Amos
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 10:39 AM

Hey, Art:

Tell Kat to put those dang photos up!! I gotta see this!

A