Allan S.I remember that "coffee house on Howe Street" very well. It was called, "La Gallette" and was my favorite place in New Haven. You could go in there on any night and find a few people with guitars and occasionally another instrument although guitars were by far the instrument of choice. There was no paid entertainment there, just the clientele in an ongoing informal nightly hoot.
Perhaps it was this thread that started me remembering that coffeeshop but the other night I dusted off a song I hadn't even thought of in decades. It's one I learned there and haven't heard anyplace since.
Some of the people around Indian Neck in those early times hadn't made any sort of reputation yet, I think. Otherwise, I am sure I would have remembered that Gordon Bok was there. Tom Paley I remembered because the NLCR were already well known in these circles. Also, I have to admit that I do not have a good record for spotting up and coming talent. I used to hang out at Goerde's Folk City in NYC (I had a job in New York and commuted from NH while in school) when Bob Dylan was there and I don't remember him at all. I do remember Phil Ochs and some of the others of that time but I sure didn't recognize the superstar.
What are the chances of getting a Xerox of the '61 article?
Is the New Haven Register the morning or evening paper in New Haven? I know the morning paper has probably disappeared by now but I was friendly with the editor of the morning paper, Lee Arens who loved folk music and would often come down to La Gallette to join us.
The owner of the cafe was someone I went to highschool as well as college with. I can't remember his name offhand but he was also a poet. He has remained both a cafe owner and a poet in the decades since then and is running a cafe, so I have been told, right near Jackson Square in New Orleans.
Sourdough