Well, this is the week for Beloit’s Club Pop House to be published. Among other places, it’s available locally at Turtle Creek Books (http://beloit.bkstore.com/). I’ll be there on Saturday, June 7 beginning at 10:00 a.m. to sign your copy. The Pop House reunion party will be later that evening at Suds O’Hanahan’s Irish Pub, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Hope to see you all there.
I received an email from Jerry Wood (BMHS 1955). He was interested in knowing who were the members of the 1957 Chili Queen Court. So, here is a photo that didn’t make it into the book (though there are a couple of others in the book that feature Chili Queen Carol Maryott, seated in the booth, second from right in this photo). You can help Jerry out by identifying these folks, including the guys in the sombreros…
(Courtesy of the Pop House Collection)
Also, here’s a picture of Beloit’s own Mics Masters after they became the Leopardmen in 1964. Looks like there was at least one personnel addition. Are these five guys Roger and Robert Mickey (at each end), Chuck Voss, Steve Leitz, and Jim Rogers? Can anyone confirm this? Bob… or Pam Barrs… are you still out there?
(Courtesy of the Pop House Collection)
I was contacted by someone interested in one of the “Top 50 Events to Remember” in Wisconsin sports history. It was the 1969 state high school basketball tournament. The specific event was “the shot heard around Wisconsin.” At the final buzzer, Beloit Purple Knight Lamont Weaver, made a 55-foot shot that banked in to tie the game. Beloit won the game over Neenah in double overtime and took home the State Championship. The date was Saturday, March 22, 1969. The question: Was there a dance at the Pop House that night… record jam or band (and who was the band)… or was the night reserved for watching the game? Was there a TV on? If anyone has any memories of what was happening at the Pop House that night, please leave a comment. Thanks.
Hi everyone.
***** NEWS FLASH *****
Looks like on Saturday, June 7 I’ll be signing copies of Beloit’s Club Pop House at Turtle Creek Books in downtown Beloit, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Later that evening, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., there will be a “Pop House Reunion” at Suds O’Hanahan’s Irish Pub, across the street from the bookstore. Hope to see you all there.
***** *****
Thought I’d draw your attention to the publisher’s information about Beloit’s Club Pop House. The official release date for the book is May 12, 2008. Don’t rush out and order your copy just yet though. The publisher and I will be trying to organize possible book-signing events with some
Here’s the link to the book promo: http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/book/0738552097
Stay tuned for breaking news as it happens.
Well it’s officially spring, though you’d never know it by today’s weather. We’re into March Madness(R) and “bracket fever.” Also, baseball season is right around the corner. To celebrate, I’ve put together another Pop House softball team photo gallery. This group of “Whoozdis?” pictures haven’t been published previously on the blog and won’t be included in the book. There are many teams and faces to identify, so have a good time!
P.S. The web site has been migrated to a new server and I’m getting used to some new software. It may be a few days to a week before I can moderate your comments on this, so please be patient.
Gary Myers, author of Do You Hear That Beat and On That Wisconsin Beat, was interviewed by Stan Milam on Janesville’s WCLO 1230 AM radio on Tuesday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m. Both DYHTB and OTWB describe Wisconsin bands from the 1950s and 1960s who made their mark by recording one or more 45rpm singles. More than 350 bands are covered including a number of them who performed at the Pop House such as Mics Masters, the Beau Gentry, the KnighTranes, etc. More information about the books and how to buy them can be found on Gary’s web site: http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777/.
I have both of Gary’s books and they are filled with information that would interest local music fans.
The interview may be downloaded at as a Podcast or an MP3 from the WCLO “Stan Milam Show Archives” at: http://wclo.com/podcasts/stan-milam-show/2008/mar/. The audio file is available now from that site. Thanks to Gary for mentioning my book about Beloit’s Club Pop House to be published in May.
Last month I was contacted by Janesville Gazette reporter Cathy Idzerda who came across the Pop House Blog while she was researching the answer to a question submitted by a reader. The question pertained to a music venue called the Meadow. The Meadow was a “psychedelic” environment created on weekends inside the old Ace High Roller rink on West Court Street in Janesville. The owners brought in many fine bands from around the Midwest, some of whom are mentioned in the following article that appeared in the January 13, 2008 issue of the Gazette. Some of the other bands I heard at the Meadow in 1968 were the Cryan’ Shames (Sugar and Spice) and the Robbs (Race with the Wind), both of whom had performed at the Pop House years earlier. The Robbs, from the Milwaukee area, played as Dee Robb & the Starliners (and then as Dee Robb & the Robbins) in the early 1960s. The Cryan’ Shames were at the Pop House in 1966. During the summer of 1968 my band, Volume One, played at both the Pop House and the Meadow. Unfortunately, there were no photos of Volume One. :(
(Courtesy of the Janesville Gazette)
As it happens there were a number of photos that didn’t make it into the final version of the book. Here are a few that I hope you’ll enjoy seeing. Feel free to comment on any or all of them…
(Pop House Collection)
This must have been one of the summer softball team cars getting ready for the big tournament parade. It’s a Chevrolet (looks like about 1959) with a roof rack holding a sign for the SANFU Jrs. Some of the names written on the sign that I could make out on the original photo are Kerm, Mitch, Saverio, and Pavish. Sounds more like a law firm than a softball team! Anyone know what year the SNAFU Jr’s played?
(Pop House Collection)
Looks like the Rookies captain and limo driver posing with Sandy Thorpe and another tournament court member after parading to the playing field. This must have been around 1970. Is that Dave Hanson on the left, and are those Pop House jackets they’re wearing?
(Pop House Collection)
I’m pretty sure this band is playing for a Chili Festival sometime before the ballroom was built, 1959-1963 era. The only clue I had is that they were booked from the Al Schultz Booking Agency out of Waukegan, Illinois. Even remaining associates of that agency couldn’t remember the name of the band. Anyone recognize them?
(Pop House Collection)
And speaking of Chili Festivals, this one was a bit of a mystery until just a couple weeks ago. Last fall someone at The Mouse identified the young lady on the left as Chris Witlich — don’t know if I have that spellling correct. Couldn’t tell who was behind the hands until Patti and Bob Harrer sent me the next photo recently…
(Courtesy of Patti and Bob Harrer)
It’s the 1964 Chili Queen, Patti Choudoir! Easy enough to figure out now from the sweater, corsage, and hairstyle. But who is the dignitary performing the coronation? Thanks for the photo, Bob and Patti.
Well, that’s it for now. BTW… happy Valentine’s Day to everyone.
Last week I received my copy of Confluence, newsletter of the Beloit Historical Society. A regular feature of the newsletter is a section called “Ads of Old” where copies of long-forgotten advertisements from past newspapers, directories, yearbooks, and other historical sources are featured.
On page two of the latest issue there were some ads from the 1954
The printed picture is a little dark, but you can view a fast-loading JPG image of just that page by CLICKING HERE. You should be able to enlarge the page on your display by clicking on the image.
The complete online newsletter in PDF can be downloaded at: http://www.beloithistoricalsociety.com/newsletter/january2008.pdf
(It will take a while to download because it’s a large file.)
While you’re there at the website, you might want to consider joining the Society or renewing your membership.
Here’s some other trivia I researched about the photo. A few Christmas greeting cards can be seen hanging from the ceiling. Also visible on the wall to the right are a couple of small posters. One is a picture of Gene Knutson, a 1950 BHS graduate who played football for the University of Michigan Wolverines and then for the Green Bay Packers in 1954 and 1956. The other is a photo of the Wolverine team on which Knutson played along with a newspaper clipping about him tacked below it. Barely visible but stuck on the refrigerator doors are pictures of two major league pitchers, Bob Rush and Warren Hacker. Both played for the Chicago Cubs in the late 1940s to mid 1950s. Rush also played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1958 to 1960. On the counter to the right you can see the vintage Rochester Root Beer dispenser. The dispenser was probably red with brown and black labels, two on each side and one on the back. The handle pulled for dispensing root beer which was mixed from separate syrup and soda compartments.
The original picture used in the Beloiter ad is one of nearly 200 photos that will be featured in the book, Beloit’s Club Pop House. Below is another “ad of old.” This one is from the 1954
(Courtesy of the Beloit College Archives)
A belated Happy New Year to everyone! I’m pleased to announce that the book, Beloit’s Club Pop House will be published in May 2008 by Arcadia Publishing. I plan to continue the blog and will be posting odds and ends that didn’t make it into the final version. So please continue to comment as more postings will follow. Thanks for your participation and contributions.
In the meantime, here’s a question that needs a quick response: In the 1971 Pop House softball league, there was a team named the WAFS. What does WAFS stand for?
Anxiously awaitng the book… or the annoucement of a Chili Queen. I forget which.
(Courtesy of the Pop House collection)
Recognize anyone in the above picture?
If you played the October 18th edition of ”Whoozdis?” you saw some Beloit Memorial High girls from the class of 1967 around the Pop House Christmas Tree. Here is another group shot around the same tree that features a few 1967 Beloit Catholic High girls from that same year. Thanks to Michele (Chekouras) Pizza for verifying and correcting some names. And thanks to Pat Fitzgerald for identifying Cindy Wieland standing between her and Jane. (BTW… did you girls attend your post-graduation party at the Wieland farm and hear my band, The No Left Turns, play there?)
(Pop House Collection)
From left: Jane Aeschlimann, Cindy Wieland, Pat Fitzgerald, Linda Senes, Gloria Sierra, Patty Yanulis, Sue Fogle, Michele Chekouras, Ann George
Also, I promised Mike Hutchinson I’d post a photo of his 1966 Pop House League softball team, “The Humpers.” So… here it is. He told me that eight of them still get together at least once each year for a reunion. They met in Florida this November and Jim Buroker was the host. Maybe you guys can help with the name of the first guy in the front row. Who were some of the other teams and players from 1966?
(Pop House Collection/Mike Hutchinson)
Back: Dave Peacock, Bill Dietsch, Jim Sand (Bessy), Don Schoville, Kent Hamblin, John DeNoto (Rosie)
Front: Roger Goodwin, Jim Long, Donna Luebke, Mike Hutchinson, Dave Lynch
And just for good measure, here’s yet another basketball team photo from the 1948-50 era. Please check the names and let me know if I might have them right. Who is the second guy in the front row? Also… this picture is on the wall to the left of a handwritten sign that reads “Home of the Famous Pop House Basketball Team” in the next photo. (Trust me… I had to use a big magnifying glass to read it.)
(Pop House Collection)
Back: Vince, George, Don “Goose” Tamulis
Front: Fran Dooley?, ___?, Clarence Knutson?, Carl Feldon?
(Ida and Dick Lenz Collection)
Anyone know what year this photo might have been taken and who any of the people are? You can barely make out the basketball team photo on the wall above the head of the guy in the t-shirt.
And here are a couple more vintage photos that need some identification if possible… In this first one, the sign over the “B” is congratulating “Fran and John” for something. Is this John and Fran pictured below? What are their last names?
(Ida and Dick Lenz Collection)
And here is another meal being served in the original dining room, probably around 1949. The round sign above the arched door reads “Home of the Famous Pop House Softball Team”. The sign on the door to the left is promoting a “Dance” somewhere. Anyone know who the server is? The diners?
(Ida and Dick Lenz Collection)
***** FLASH *****
Hog Cabin won the game.
The final score was Hogs 22, Mouse 2. The Mouse’s only points came from a safety late in the game.
*****************
Information hot off the press from the Stateline News…
For the complete story with photos (PDF format) follow this link:
http://www.statelinenews.com/tearsheet%20pdfs/SN1118.pdf
and go to page 12.
Hope to see you there. Happy Thanksgiving!
So these basketball pics were among some contributed by Ida & Dick Lenz. A couple of faces have been identified, but it would be helpful to know a few more and maybe some years these might have been taken. Any of them from the city championship team of 1957 or the undefeated team of 1952? Seems the Pop House basketball teams were pretty good, having won about a dozen championships of one sort or another over the years. Take another look at the blog entry “Congratulations” dated 6/26/07 too. Thanks. BTW… you can right click on these, save them, and enlarge them in your photo viewer.
#1
Is that Vince on the left? Is Bill Watson in there? What about the guy with the glasses?
#2
Everett Haskell is front right. Is one of them Bill Merkle?
#3
Looks like E.J. Mauel on the left. Who’s the other guy?
#4
An action shot. Who is the opposing team… (something) DALE DEMONS?
I’ve learned that some national music acts in the sixties traveled and performed together as a “packaged deal.” Evidence seems to suggest that such was the case for a couple of Pop House shows in 1964. I wasn’t quite a sophomore and couldn’t go to the Pop House yet. For those of you who were around that summer and saw these shows, let me know if I’m right about this. During the summer of ‘64, I believe the following acts appeared together:
(Pop House Collection)
Paul & Paula, Dick & DeeDee, and the Dovells
June or July 1964
Backing band was Danny & the Velaires
Phyllis (Goodwin) Kaplan was pretty sure she’d seen Paul, Paula, Dick, and DeeDee on the same night.
What do you remember?
(Pop House Collection)
Johnny Tillotson and Bernadette Carroll
July or August 1964
Backing band was Ronnie Dio & the Prophets
I’ve heard from some of you who saw Johnny Tillotson. Did the others perform that night too?
Another packaged deal (Dick Clark’s “Hitsville”) that appeared in April 1965 probably included all or some of these acts: Lou Christie, The Trade Winds, Reparata & the DelRons, Round Robin, Louise Caldwell Harrison (sister of Beatle George), and backing band Gene Jones & the Impacts.
If you were there for any of these shows let me know.
Are you ready to test your memory… or check with someone else who still has theirs?
Here’s another installment of “Whoozdis?” where the object is to help identify people or events in some photos. If you know the answers, post a comment. Here we go. Just click on the graphic…
OK… a picture… finally! Here’s a Chili Queen group image with a BCH Mardis Gras “Queen” and a couple of Grillmen thrown in for good measure. Have some fun by identifying each one by number. Match some of them up with the names below. Right click on the image, save it to a file, and enlarge it in your viewer for better detail.
Chili Queen Trivia:
- Was the first Chili Queen crowned in 1953? (My understanding from an unknown source is that it started in 1949.)
- Were the first few queens Beloit college students? (Possibly, but probably not.) If so, until when?
- Were subsequent Chili Queens all high school senior girls? (Yes, elected in November/December of senior year.)
- Mimi, the 1955 queen, had her picture published on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal. Anyone know the exact date of that newspaper issue, probably January 1956? (I’ll be checking on some microfilm for this.)
- Here’s a list of Chili Queen names I’ve been able to put together. What are the missing names and are there any corrections? (Can anyone confirm the first one on this list?)
1953 Beverly Ann Tuttle - “Toots” (’54 BMHS)
1954 Virginia Lois Jacobson - ”Ginny” (’55 BMHS)
1955 Mary Alice Winger - “Mimi” (’56 BMHS)
1956 Chrystal Rowene Pearson (’57 BMHS)
1957 Carol Jean Maryott (’58 BMHS)
1958 Karen Durben (’59 BCH)
1959 Christine Laage (’61 BMHS)
1960 Mary Lynn Poole (’61 BMHS)
1961 Sally Bua (’61 BMHS)
1962 Barb Conry (’63 BCH)
1963 Maureen
1964 Patti Choudoir (’65 BCH)
1965 Jenny Pargmann (’66 BMHS)
1966
1967 Linda Dale (’68 BMHS)
- Were there any more after this? (See comment from Bonnie Cheadle below. Also, hamburger-eating competitions started around this time, 1966-67.)
I need your help identifying this event.
I’ve discovered a few photos coming from different sources, but that are all of the same event. HOWEVER, THE EVENT WAS NOT HELD AT THE POP HOUSE. I’ve determined that the event took place at the Beloit Moose Club, probably in the mid-to-late 1950’s.
The event involved the crowning of a young woman as shown in this photo.
(Pop House Collection Photograph by Edwin Sweet)
A swing band, as seen in this photo, was playing on the Moose Club stage which was set back in an alcove under the moose head mount which can be partially seen.
(Pop House Collection Photograph by Edwin Sweet)
There are other photos, all taken by photographer Edwin Sweet (as stamped on the back), that show both George and Vince as well as a number of other people (possibly Beloit College students) at this event. Alcohol was served as some photos show beer bottles and highball glasses on tables. Can you help me identify what the event is and what the Pop House connection is? Is it a Beloit College v. Pop House ”post-Spring Olympics” event? Would there have been a “Queen” crowned? Or were some events held at the Moose club while Pop House remodeling was underway? These are all just guesses. If you know, please leave a comment. Thanks.
A big thanks to Kevin Schmale for getting a few folks together at The Mouse in
(Pop House Collection)
Also, special thanks to Tom Roehl for hosting and especially for acquiring many more photos for the book from Larry Stankewitz. Thanks to Dave Luebke for loaning me his Turkey Bowl scrapbook. Dave modeled his Pop House baseball jersey for us, but no one had a camera to capture the moment. Not to worry, though. Here he is wearing it in 196_? (That’s Larry “Bear” Scott peering over his shoulder)…
(Pop House Collection)
Thanks to Kevin and everyone who showed up to share stories, identify faces and events, reminisce, and have a good time – Jeff Hanaman, Art Case, Phyllis Goodwin, Bob Sulser, Judy Collins, Dave Hernandez, and everyone else (including spouses) whose names I have completely forgotten. In hindsight, I should have asked everyone to sign-in on a piece of notebook paper. Guess I got too caught up in the excitement of seeing some folks I hadn’t seen in a long, long time.
I’ll be sorting through many photos and posting a few on the blog as I continue working on this photographic history of our own “Happy Days.”
Now… would someone please identify the dude standing to the left (right, as you’re facing her) of chili queen Jenny Pargman in this picture? We all know George, of course, though it’s hard to tell with that snazzy hat and vest on! :-) The band playing this night was The Esquires, December 1965. We’ve already established that it’s not Bob Harrer… he was the 1962 Mardi Gras queen… really. 
(Pop House Collection)
Also… who is this performer in the embroidered pants and riding boots? Looks like about 1961-62 on the patio stage.
(Pop House Collection)
This fine looking 60’s vintage Pop House jacket was provided by Patti Collins Manning (BCH ‘67). It belonged to Al Bach (BCH ‘67) whose name is embroidered on it. The jacket was photographed by Dave Hernandez at the BCH class of 1967 40-year reunion this past summer. (Has it really been that long? Yikes!)
(Jacket courtesy of Patti Collins. Photo by Dave Hernandez. Edited by Joe Accardi.)
The name of George Stankewitz will be added to the Beloit Historical Society’s Hall of Fame, according to a Beloit Daily News article by Bill Behling published on August 29. The honor will be bestowed on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Society’s Lincoln Center on Hackett Street. George’s name is among five deceased Beloit residents receiving such recognition this time around.
Behling writes that “George Russell Stankewitz was known to his wide circle of friends as ’Honest,’ a nickname that he earned in dealing with people. A decorated World War II veteran, he owned the former Pop House, a gathering place for young people in the ‘40s through the ‘60s that later was renamed the Alumni House. He served on the Rock County Board and the Beloit board of education. He was born in Beloit in 1923 and died in 1991.”
We knew George as a terrific guy who ran a great establishment for us to meet friends, have some good fun, and listen to some cool music.
Dr. Bill Fitzgerald (BCH ‘71) sent me some snapshots from 1973, the year Club Pop House finally closed. The Beloit Daily News reported that George fought the trend for almost thirty years, but finally decided it was time to get a liquor license for the Club in the fall of 1972. According to Bill, George would bring out the booze, check I.D.s and keep out the kids on certain weekends after the 18-year old drinking law caused him to lose many of the Pop House alumni to the Dal House and other taverns.
“Bartender George” in 1973.
(Courtesy of Dr. William Fitzgerald)
Other bartenders (or perhaps they were just sneaking a couple of beers for the photographer) were Mike and D.J. Masterson.
(Courtesy of Dr. William Fitzgerald)
(Courtesy of Dr. William Fitzgerald)
Fashion trends in 1973 were quite colorful. As Bill commented, “Nice pants, girls!” The band playing at this dance was ”CrossWind.” (I know that from another snapshot not included here.) If you were there that night or know about the band, please drop me a line. Not sure if this was the last dance held at the Pop House. Another source told me that the last dance featured Dave Major & the Minors. If anyone can verify that, I’d like to know.
(Courtesy of Dr. William Fitzgerald)
In April of 1973, George sold the business and announced that he was retiring. This group shot must have been taken after a presentation of the plaque which George is holding. I see Tom Roehl (standing second from left) and Bruce Rudolph (lower right) in the picture, but I don’t recognize others. Can you help me out? Also, do you know what happened to the plaque or what was printed on it?