The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,LarryBaumhor
Date: 02 Jan 24 - 12:20 PM

Did you see David Crosby or Bill Cosby at 2nd Fret? Thank you Larry Baumhor email: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Scott Darby
Date: 24 Jun 23 - 09:37 PM

Many dates to "The Fret" in the early 60's. Surprised at only one reference to Gerry Ricks. Gerry was the life blood of the Fret, and my first guitar teacher. As a student of Gerry I got to meet Doc Watson and Merle, Mississipp[ John Hurt in the "Green Room," upstairs, as well as Sonny Terry, Buffy St. Marie and others. Fabulous memories.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Nick Sawka
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 04:18 PM

Went to the 2nd Fret in the spring of 1966. Saw Joni Mitchell. I believe Phil Ochs opened for her. She came down the stairs to the stage wearing a white blouse and a very short mini pencil skirt. At one point in her show she went into a lengthy, convoluted story about her dentist and how he liked to collect junk and then sang the song, Dr. Junk the Dentist Man. It was a marvelous show.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Gloria Harrelson
Date: 03 Mar 23 - 07:18 PM

Mid to late 60s ..such a great place. I remember Esther Halpren singing.…nice memories of that place. I was a kid trying to be cool
Make me a pallet on your floor, make it soft make it low ..Doc Watson ??

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 03 Aug 22 - 09:57 PM

Pre getting drafted in '95 I thought I saw Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan? and Jose Feliciano. Wow, another great memory from the sixties.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 11 Feb 22 - 03:57 PM

While rehearsing for a hopeful/eventual recording today, something reminded me of The Second Fret. So I searched for "The Second Fret". While I was in high school in the late 60's, I had the good fortune to be able to travel downtown via The Reading Railroad line (SEPTA)to hear the great music of the day. Those of us who are old enough to remember, could hear/see big time acts, and more important very talented local acts, for the price that a high-school part-time grunt worker could earn. I remember Mandrake Memorial at the Second Fret. Mandrake was my favorite local act. I still have their 3 vinyl recordings. Anyway, in addition to "The Trauma", "The Factory" and "The Main Point" on the main line, "The Second Fret" was one of my favorite hang outs. Those were the days!

Great Memories!!

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 21 - 04:26 PM

Back then, I would focus the spotlights on the entertainers. After some shows, we would go to the Harvey House on Broad Street for a meal and talk.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,John Creighton
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 05:00 PM

I SAW JIM KWESKIN PLAY IN 1966. TOOK THE BUS FROM MILLVILLE, NJ TO HEAR GREAT MUSIC. I WAS FROM THE STICKS, LIKED THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE CITY. I WAS 22. LOTS OF COLLEGE EDUCATED CLIENTELE. I HAD A KID AND DIVORE ALREADY. IN FREE FALL, ENDED UP IN SAN DIEGO. AT 76, BACK IN MILLVILLE.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Still Playin Blues
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 12:31 PM

The Second Fret was a small, "intimate" coffee house with bathroom up a flight of tight steps. It was probably the most iconic followed by the Main Point. Jerry Ricks was the booking agent and a talented guitarist, especially finger-picked country blues. He would work with the country blues greats when they were performing in town. He also taught private lessons.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 25 Sep 16 - 10:06 PM

My band, Thin Ice opened for the Mandrake Memorial there in the summer of 1969. I was very young playing guitar at my first professional gig. If anyone has a memory of this please let me know. Thanks.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Wayne Hulsey
Date: 01 Aug 16 - 11:20 PM

I was 17 from Oklahoma and a freshman at Michigan State University. My roommate lived in Pennsauken and I hitchhiked out to visit him over Spring Break in March 1967. Friday night he took his girlfriend to dinner in Philadelphia and gave me directions to the Second Fret. Patrick Sky was playing that night. Great vibe to the place.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 16 - 12:38 AM

HI my name is jim hoffman. i am the administrator of a f b site called the second fret in philadelphia. we would love to have any one with memories of the second fret. again the site is called
the second fret in philadelphia
thank you

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Janice Wildemore
Date: 16 Jul 16 - 07:42 PM

My girlfriend and I were both 17, wearing our "micro" mini dresses, catching the local group, Elizabeth, playing at The Second Fret. I loved the guys in bell bottoms and long hair, and all the new "mod" clothing stores on that street. Such a great time to be young, hip, and experiencing such great talent! I cherish these memories and how cool the times were back then..Miss the unique coffee house atmosphere instead of these "cavernous" stadiums everywhere.

Subject: RE: The Second Fret (Philadelphia)...memories wanted
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 16 - 10:43 PM

Up above, somebody gave the URL of a memories Website for the Second Fret. That Website is gone now, but there's an archive of it here (click).

Reminds me of the good times I had at a coffeehouse in Milwaukee during my college years. I think it was called the Lemon Tree.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Jerry Melchiode
Date: 03 May 16 - 10:20 PM

I was a member of the Original Hahnemann City Jug Band that played at the Second Fret in th e summer of 1965 for 2 weeks. The other act was Benji Arronoff. I fondly remember Manny who would often sit at a front table and play spoons as we performed. A great guy who loved the music and was very supportive of our group. We broke up the group shortly before we graduated from medical school. I saw many great acts at the Fret. Best coffee house venue in Philly. Thank you, Manny.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Guest LSL
Date: 06 Nov 15 - 04:00 PM

First date with wife , 1963. Saw Bob Dylan as lead act for Jim Kweskin Jug Band. First song was "Girl from North Country", Second was "Masters of War".

Hard to plan second date!!!

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Russ & MT
Date: 29 May 15 - 11:30 AM

Will never forget Jim Kweskin, Geoff & Maria Muldar with the Jug Band, back in 1962 and '63. Great humor, warmth and originality.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Rich Williams
Date: 24 Feb 15 - 01:24 PM

My brother Bob & I frequented Sansom St & The 2nd Fret many, many times. The list of performers: Koerner, Ray, & Glover, Tom Paxton, Doc Watson, Judy Henske,etc. We'd go across the street to a little club to see a group called Gulliver featuring then-unknown Darryl Hall. The Fret was instrumental (no pun intended) in my becoming a singer, songwriter, & performer in my late teens and into my late twenties.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 14 - 07:07 PM

Bobbi Cole Hersh
Joyce and Aaron Caplan took me there when I was visiting from Ohio.
I don't really remember the experience but the name intrigued me and I never forgot it.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Judith (Howshall) Elliot McDonald
Date: 18 Jul 14 - 01:17 PM

Somewhere around 1967 my little guitar and I became the opening act for Dave VanRonk, who was a fairly frequent performer at the Fret. How I got the job I do not know except that at that time I was a twenty-one year old leggy long-haired redhead.

My theater group was performing next door in the Pocket Playhouse so there was some connection there, I suppose.

I had very little talent, could strum chords on the guitar and sing pretty well, but opening for Dave Van Rock was another story. Sitting upstairs with him (and his bottle - was it Jack?)alone waiting to go on was very intimidating. He didn't talk very much and when he did it was with that rough rasp.

Needless to say, he blew the house away when he performed. I don't think this was a particularly good night for him. Those of you who knew him better can fill in the blanks.

Great memory of a simpler time.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 30 May 14 - 09:01 AM

I can't remember where I am or Why I'm here, I think i've lost my mind in this belief I find purple painted paisley crossly sky's........ Lyrics from a Mandrake Memorial song well done by Randy the lead singer. Good days and memories.

Subject: RE: Help: Thanks for the Second Fret Memories...
From: GUEST,Janice Wildemore
Date: 02 May 14 - 09:49 PM

I remember being 19 years old, and going to the Second Fret Coffeehouse to see the local group, "ELIZABETH". My best
friend was dating the drummer, Hank Ransom. It was the coolest
place...very "avant-guarde" and cozy, for its time. There was
also an "underground", inside mall close to the coffeehouse,
with lots of little, "boutique" stores. The first "hippie"
clothing store opened on Sansom Street; we went from the BEACH
BOYS, short hair, to men wearing hair down to their waists,
fringed, leather jackets, and bellbottom pants. An incredible
time to be young! My boyfriend and I spent many a Saturday,
wandering around Sansom Street..so cool and fun to watch all
the "hippies"....

Janice Wildemore

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Tony Sariti
Date: 23 Mar 14 - 03:01 PM

Home from freshmen year at college for Thanksgiving vacation in 1961, I went to the Second Fret with my girlfriend (now wife), my college roommate and a local girl I had fixed him up with (this did not, however, lead to much as my roommate left Georgetown the next year to attend the seminary). Headliner that night was Lightnin' Hopkins, who had just begun to surface to the broader public a year earlier when he debuted at Carnegie Hall on October 14, 1960, with Joan Baez and Pete Seeger. A Philadelphia TV station had broadcast a show that week in 1961 featuring Hopkins and Baez...each singing separately against a black background one after the other for an hour. There was no talking, just singing. The contrast of style and singer could not have been more stark...or more wonderful in an era when folk and blues were beginning to merge. That night at the Second Fret with Hopkins just a few feet away playing (to a bunch of white college kids for the most part) was a night I have often thought about over the last 53 years and one of those moments a person can savor and think, "I was there."

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret - The best memories
From: GUEST,Bruce B.
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 08:10 PM

I met my wife in front of the Fret in 1969. It was snowing and she looked beautiful. I'm happy to say we're still together and very happy. I saw Tom Paxton there in the 60s and later on, used to go to see Mandrake and other local acts after the Trauma closed. The Second Fret was just a great place to go and I miss it. It always felt like home. It was so great in Philadelphia that you could see amazing music in small clubs surrounded by people who really appreciated what they were hearing and seeing. I'm very thankful for Manny who did so much to bring music and such good experiences to Philadelphia.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Ronald Marquiss
Date: 22 Jun 13 - 07:38 PM

My brother was drummer of the house band, The Candy Men and The Cats Cradle, There are several news paper photos a second fret ad too. I am looking to get recordings from this band? Anyone out there?

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Sid Sachs
Date: 05 May 13 - 03:06 PM

I saw Dave van Ronk sometime in fall 68- spring 69. The space was so intimate I think I was five feet from him playing.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 13 - 09:45 PM

I saw Moby Grape here at some point in the Fall/Winter of '67-'68!

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 13 - 09:36 PM

hello Ia one of the hippes from ritten house squrare I remeber frenche tiki shaun tjatro hobbit rich franco beetle franco mark rulweel crzy tom charlie pig crap smythe sue ogara I remeber the people of the square I remeber new years eve one time at the second fret when mandrake memmorail was palying and iw as on the upper floor lower tissue paper on to the stage where they were playing.
I remeber many of you My name was bob I remeber the creep george peterson one of the fake hippes and sexual devate. I remeber the good people the true lovers of what we stood for I remeber tony sancheze
I remember oragnge wedge and I remeber peach blosom I remeber a kilo of good jamaican was 180 bucs
I remeber fun and remeber inocence I remember feeding strangers. I remember what it meant to bea true hippy and it wasnt political

Subject: Folklore: Second Fret Emcees
From: Ianzblues
Date: 08 Aug 12 - 01:08 PM

I'm doing some folk music research and was hoping some folks could tell me who generally emceed shows at the Second Fret in Philly circa 1971. Was it Manny Rubin or someone else? Many thanks,

Ian

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: Elmore
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 10:56 AM

Attn: Guest Sorry to nit pick, but I assume you meant Bill Cosby?

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,"Good Memories"
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 11:27 PM

We were just teenagers in love, and the Second Fret was a magical place to us. We remember Bill Crosby with a little table and sitting on a chair during his act, and so many other amazing acts.

From N and R--- and yes, thanks to the Fret we are still "teenagers" in love after all these years.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:22 PM

We used to go to the Second Fret alot back in the day. I remember going to see Joni Mitchel there and opening for her was Arlo Guthrie playing Aice's Restaurant. he was an unknown then.......was so excited when his song took off and we could say we heard him when.........
I was just into Philly and went by the old coffee house........I plan to do a painting of it. it's all closed up now, but the building has lots of character!

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,An Old Philly Folkie
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 02:22 PM

I started going to "The Fret" when I was a freshman in high school. The "Folk Scene' had just started and I was looking for some authentic music.I remember seeing Arlo Guthrie there and speaking to him upstairs in the performer's dressing room. It was very laid back then and you could approach this performers very easily. I have very fond memories of the club and I also became a guitar player and attended the very first Philly Folk Festival in 1961. It was held at the Old Pool Farm in Paoli' PA.

Subject: RE: Help: Thanks for the Second Fret Memories...
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 05:37 PM

Debbie, I know you know and it was probably a typo, but it is Sansom St., not Samson. You know we Philadelphians get a little picky about that. Well, that and hoagies. And Frank Rizzo. I'm just sorry I don't have any memories of the Fret other than walking past it many times! If only I'd known...

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Thanks for the Second Fret Memories...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 03:27 PM

Wow - just remember, if you can remember the 60's, you weren't really there!

Subject: Thanks for the Second Fret Memories...
From: GUEST,Debbie Rubin
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 11:09 AM

Thanks so much to those of you who've visited the Memories page at the Second Fret site (http://www.secondfret.com/second_fret_memories.htm ) and added your recollections. I hope folks continue to visit the site and reach back to the 60's and remember. Please share with us all your times at The Second Fret Coffeehouse...Samson St., Philadelphia, Pa. It's a bit of nostalgia for so many of us. Thanks...for your memories

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 10:56 PM

I wish I could say I'd been to the Fret...always saw the little ads in the Bulletin but I was too (something) to go. I grew up in Philly, but when I finally discovered folk music I'd spend my 4 bucks at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr. That's probably worth a book, as well. (In fact, it did make the cover of Oak's "Coffeehouse Songbook"!)

Aloha,
Mark

PS, 'Spaw, thanks for finding that Hedy West thread...it's a gem! I've just refreshed it.

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: 53
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 10:25 PM

I'D LIKE TO HEAR AND SEE MORE ABOUT THIS, I LOVE HISTORY AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT MUSIC AND HISTORY. BOB

Subject: RE: Help: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 01:01 PM

Debbie, there was some discussion of "The Second Fret" on THIS THREAD....It's a start.

Spaw

Subject: The Second Fret...memories wanted
From: GUEST,Debbie Rubin
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 12:53 PM

The Second Fret was a Folk Club in Philadelphia, Pa in the early to mid 1960's. Owned and operated by Manny Rubin, the Fret became one of the most influential clubs of that era. We'd like to gather an archive of stories, remembrances and photos from our Uncle Manny's club...and we'd like your help. Please tell us what you remember about those days at the Fret. If you have a photo you'd like to share...e-mail me at [e-mail] and I'll arrange to put it on a photo page..

Thanks so much for helping us remember and bringing back some of the nostalgia of those days . Visit the page below and share your stories...

http://www.secondfret.com/second_fret_memories.htm