Reynoldsburg was a tiny semi-rural community 13 miles outside of Columbus, Ohio in 1958. Owing to a new plant from Western Electric, a new North American contract, and a change in status for Lockbourne Air Force Base, the little town grew from 700 to about 12,000 by 1960 and 35,000 in 1970. Although our move there in '59 had nothing to do with any of those things, I am simply pointing out that the influx was from all over and all backgrounds.

Don's Briarcliff Drive-In opened in that same year. A classic art deco looking joint with many oranges and shades of turquoise, montrous glass windows, booths in areas somewhat separated by stone planters, a low horseshoe counter, car hops outside (at first, they were gone by '64), and the most catholic selection on the Juke Box that anyone could imagine. From Perry Como to Otis Redding, Dean Martin to Hendrix, over the years there seemed to be something for all. At times you'd realize there was a war in progress as a kid would load up the three for a quarter Juke with 75 cents worth of rock and his parents would charge it with 2 bucks of easy listening. You could also tell what time of day it was by which music played because "that crowd" had arrived and Billy Vaughn's Golden Saxophones were in battle with Patsy Cline.

For some odd reason there was one song you could be guaranteed to hear at any time of day on every day for many years. I often have wondered how many copies of the 45 had been worn out. Why leave this song when others came and went? The song in question was Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman." It played every time I think I was ever in there and to this day just the sound of anyone doing one of those argling growls takes me back to the orange naughahyde booths and turquoise tables of Don's.

Don's Briarcliff Drive-In was missing when I returned to Reynoldsburg in the mid 80's and indeed much had changed. Back in '59, Don's was a new place for a sort of new town and I suppose it was never going to survive as the community became more stagnant and "settled." Over the years it had been the hangout for several generations of kids, the monthly meeting place for most of the civic groups, and the morning stop for the coffee clatch. A Burger King on that corner just isn't the same......and no Juke either.....................

Spaw