San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Old Man Arizona
Date: 24 May 14 - 05:50 PM

I used to hang out at the Gourd, to listen. Especially when some of the names from the Hungry i would come in afterhours and jam for the fun of it. My most vital memory is of the cheese and crackers. Buy cheese and a beer and all the Ritz Crackers you could eat were there. An impoverished hippie could live for days on those meals. Does anyone recall Tom and Dick Smothers showing up one night and singing and laughing from the audience?

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Jim Babbitt
Date: 07 May 14 - 07:08 PM

The Drinking Gourd was one of my favorite places. On several occasions, I saw a singer named Victoria (Damelgoski). Does anyone remember her? She was terrific.

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 03:01 AM

I only was able to go to the Gourd a couple of times in the early 70s from Seattle. I loved the place; saw Steve Seskin and friends and a guy name Joe Russo singer songwriter who played piano !! Anyone know of Joe Russo? thanks Richie   Also what was the music venue across the street then?

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 05:09 PM

Guest Lorna ...

Were you working the two nights, a Friday and a Saturday night, when we had the fund raising benifit for JoAnne Spence? I well remember that there was a seven foot tall Irishman "bouncer" who shook everyone down as they came in the door to get all the cash they had for the fund. He then put the money in a guitar (without strings) that was hanging on the wall behind the entry desk. bob(Deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Lorna Price Dittmer
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 11:24 PM

I worked 2 nights a week at the Gourd...founded by 2 of my classmates at Pomona College...George & Charlie. I worked there as an on-foot barmaid for 2 nights a week in ca. 1963-1965 or so. George & Charlie, founders of the Gourd, were my classmates at Pomona College...I'd come to SF to gain some distance from a seemingly doomed love affair [which ended well, resulting in a marriage of more than 35 years...}...anyway, my Gourd years were some of the best times of my 'late youth' and I'll always be grateful to George and Charlie for the opportunity to participate in the life of this wonderful and unique San Francisco 'fixture' of a certain kind of night-life.
Adiosito, amigos mios...I have missed you for decades!--Lorna

email: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 10:02 PM

I wonder if someone has yet written the history of the Drinking Gourd? If they haven't, someone should! I also can think of few other clubs that were so vital to the musicians in the fifties and sixties: Seattle's "Pamir House", Sausilito's "Anchor Steam House" ... on and on and on. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 11:05 AM

Hello All,

I'm "Live Oak" of Live Oak and Teri. "Saturday's Luck" (our name came from a song title by the late great Gamble Rogers) consisted of the two of us and Michael Milner and his wife Claire Hart.

Many great moments in the Drinking Gourd and I have fond memories of the early 70's in SF.

I still play and sing, doing the odd gig, and have written around one hundred songs, one recorded by John Denver--"Relatively Speaking"--and two by Bernie Leadon after leaving Eagles (for an album that was never released).

My wife Katie and I have been working on what ails the human race. Our answer is we're all freaking nuts: "We Are ALL Innocent by Reason of Insanity." I wrote a musical based on this concept and you can hear a couple of these songs on our site: http://www.innocentbyreasonofinsanity.com/

Best wishes,

Arthur "Live Oak" Hancock

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Futwick
Date: 28 May 13 - 04:35 PM

Didn't Marty Balin hang out there to find people to recruit into Airplane?

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 28 May 13 - 04:08 PM

Don't remember David Spence or family. I did remember that Richard and Becky Stover played the Gourd on Tuesdays when Jeffrey was in L.A.

AND...... Rick Meyer? Hosted the open mics after Rik Elswit went on the road with DR. HOOK.
names are coming back to me...open mic performers The Bald Eagle, and Howdy Moon (with
a very young Valerie Carter----Terrific vocals and songwriting.)

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 27 May 13 - 09:23 PM

I expect to see Ginny in ten days ... I'll certainly say "HI." Is there any chance you have any idea where David Spence's widow, JoAnne Spence is, or their son Aaron? bob

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 27 May 13 - 08:05 PM

Bob,

If you see them ,say hello...David is my brother

Paul

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 27 May 13 - 05:05 PM

Ginny Reilly and David Maloney will be performing in a couple of weeks here in Everett Washington. Today, they are performing at the NW Folklife Festival, in Seattle. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 13 - 04:29 PM

Paul

I worked as a bartender from the fall of 1971 until it closed in 1973. Doug Schmidt was a law student (Hastings) and showed me the ropes. Cheese and crackers, wine and beer, not too complicated. The biggest job was trying to keep things quiet while performers were singing.

Sunday (Cherie Ernst) -Monday (Open Mic hosted by Ric Elswit) -Tuesday Jeffery Comanor- Wednesday (Ginny Reilly)- Thursday(Reilly and Maloney)- Friday(Jim Post)- Saturday(Mick Stoneheart, Cynthia, Live Oak and Terri ...as Saturday's Luck).

Nancy(from Hawaii) was the waitress early on, John Baker, with his Groucho persona, was a regular, as was Elliott, clinging the bar and sharing his vast musical knowledge.

The music and performances were inspirational and unforgettable.

it was a magical time.

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 11:01 AM

Hi Carol .... Bob (deckman)Nelson up here in Everett, Washington ... 25 miles north of Seattle. Jim Post is still performing around here often. And Reilly and Maloney (Ginny and David) are also very popular up here. CHEERS ... bob

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Carol
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 02:14 AM

I used to hang out at the Drinking Gourd in the early 70s. I was a big fan of Reilly and Maloney, a singer songwriter duo from Seattle, and Jim Post, who was from San Francisco. I probably saw every gig they played at the Gourd from the time I arrived in San Francisco in 1973 until the Gourd closed! It was a great venue, very friendly and comfortable. In those days you could always find a parking space nearby.

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Spencer and Juniper Thompson
Date: 18 May 12 - 06:29 AM

I was a 5-string banjo player and hung out at the Drinking Gourd for a few months in 1965. Listened to Dave Spence and his wife on many nights, even recorded him on a reel to reel tape. Also, many other talented performers. Larry Vargo, some groups, more folksingers and comedians. Just can't remember the names. Met my wife Juniper (she was from Maine) outside of the Drinking Gourd. We drove across the country in an MGB, married in Boston, settled on a Maine farm about 40 years ago. Was a marketing and graphic design guy, now retired and manage our farm on the Sandy River. Still play the banjo but it is hard to finger the strings after working the farm and the woodlot. ([e-mail])

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 04:34 PM

Thanks Deborah ... I'll be sending you an e-mail with my specific question. bob nelson

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: babypix
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 02:23 PM

You should probably get ahold of Barbara Dane, whom I think owned or at least booked it for a while. Barbara is on Facebook, has a website, or, if that doesn't work, feel free to get in touch with me, and I'll connect you.

Kindest regards,

Deborah Robins

www.larryhanks.com

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Jim Ahern
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 02:15 PM

I can't say I remember Spence at the Gourd. I am better with faces than names, especially at this advanced age. There were a lot of people passing through at that time and my memory of all who passed through is not anywhere near complete. Bedsides, later on, we were too busy getting the Matrix opened up.

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 06:20 AM

There are several of us up here in the Pacific Northwest area that snag there ... Linda Allen (Bellingham) and myself, for two. It was great place.

I well the night we all held a memorial gathering for Dave Spence, and the then S.F. mayor Alioto (sp?) came in with his large entourage of beauties.

They had a seven foot Irishman acting as "greeter" at the door. He would take cash donations from folks, some voluntary, and put the money in the soundhole of a string-less guitar hanging on the wall. The wake lasted two nights and his widow JoAnn received a goodly sum. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Amos
Date: 24 Feb 12 - 07:37 PM

I passed it many times. There were several other coffee shops up the street from the Hot Dog Palace, if my memory serves. Given the conditions of the times (late 1963) I would be surprised if memory served at all; you know what they say about remembering the 60's. WIsh I could remember the names of those dives. Wish I'd spent more time at the Gourd.


A

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 24 Feb 12 - 05:02 PM

Jim ... Do you remember listening to DAVE SPENCE? He sang most every Friday night for five years. bob

Subject: RE: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: GUEST,Jim Ahern
Date: 24 Feb 12 - 04:42 PM

Bob
Yes, the Drinking Gourd was a great place. I moved to San Francisco near the end of 1964 and spent many a night there until late in 1965 when I moved away. Monday nights were the best, if you were low on cash (weren't we all?) because that was open mike night and Pete would give us free beer after we had performed. Those were the days. Looking back, we just didn't know how good they were.

Subject: San Francisco ...'The Drinking Gourd' ?
From: Deckman
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 03:07 AM

I'm archiving music from the 1950's and 1960's. I'd like to connect with anyone that hung out at "The Drinking Gourd", in San Francisco during that period. This was a fabulous place of music and people.

If you remember it, please get in touch with me ... Bob Nelson AKA "The Deckman" on mudcat.