Welcome to this new blog devoted to my forthcoming book about the Pop House of Beloit, Wisconsin! This is my first post. (If you arrived here via a search engine, be sure to go to http://pophouse.accardiweb.com to see all the posts.) Please share a memory or a comment. Thanks.
Joe Accardi
March 15th, 2006 at 10:02 pm Who remembers the band from Belvedere called The Esquires? Didn’t they make a recording that was a cover of the Ronnette’s “Be My Baby”?
May 14th, 2006 at 1:03 pm I attended Beloit College from 1950 to 1954. The Pop House was my home away from home.
May 14th, 2006 at 1:07 pm I worked there. Played on all the Pop House sports teams witrh George’s brother Vince and led the college group in the famous city-wide Pop House Water Fight of 1954. See Beloit Daily News. I have a few stories that might be of interest.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:39 pm Does anyone remember the Leopard Men or you may remember them as Mic’s Masters? Twins Roger (lead guitar) and Robert Mickey (Rythum guitar/keyboards, Stan Schufelt (vocal) and Jim Rogers (drums)? I traveled with them as the guest of Bob time and time again. They played all over southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. A great group which drew 100’s. I loved them dearly. This group played the Pop House in the early mid 60’s. Then the military called and we all lost contact. I would love to know where they all are and what has happened in the last 40 years. I came down for a class reunion in 1990 and stopped in the Pop House, looked just the same. Their picture was on the board right by the door.
June 4th, 2006 at 7:47 pm Pam, I do remember Mic’s Masters and have a couple of photos of the band that I will include in the book. Thanks for your comment. Joe
July 2nd, 2006 at 12:52 am My recollection of the bands is very faint. I do recall that the Club was not at third street, but further west at fifth street.
July 7th, 2006 at 11:14 am John, You’re correct. It was Fifth Street. I had some erroneous information from a Beloit Daily News article. Joe
July 19th, 2006 at 4:19 pm Remember the Band “The Chevelles”? If anyone has a copy of our 45, please let me know. — your so wise b/s Debbie i love you…
July 21st, 2006 at 6:34 am Hi Dave, I’m glad to hear from you. Please get back to me. I don’t have a copy of your record, but I do remember you, The Chevelles and “Debbie I Love You”… maybe even some of the lyrics… “Debbie, I love you so, More than you’ll ever know. I’ll do what you want to, So give me a try. I’ll be your guy.” Am I close? Hope to get a chance to talk with you about The Chevelles, The Marauders, and Camel Magic. Anyone have a copy of the 45 for Dave? Joe
August 5th, 2006 at 2:43 pm Thanks Joe for jogging my memories. I was a BMHS grad of 67. We might have lived on the same block. Didn’t you live on Henry and Church? I remember the Mealys because my father worked part time at Mickey’s liquor store which they owned. The Pophouse is a fond memory because I went on my first date there. In 1968 I started recording local bands with equipment I borrowed from Lafayette electronics. I went to garages, basements and clubs and had some great recordings. Unfortunately when I got drafted into the army in 1970 all my equipment and tapes where all stolen in storage.I still love and miss that primitive garage band sound I loved. As an example go and listen to The Kingsman recordings(Louie, Louie). That was hi-tech at the time!!Now you can use a small mixer+laptop for digital and easily editable capture. If I were rich I would set up a studio in Beloit for a free experience for young people to have good and clean fun.
August 7th, 2006 at 5:55 pm Good to hear from you, Mike. Yes I grew up on the corner of Henry and Church. I seem to remember you living up the block on Park Avenue, right? Do you remember the names of any of the bands you recorded? Stay in touch.
September 7th, 2006 at 11:54 am Hello from PA - I lived in Beloit until 1967 when I moved to PA. I have fond memories of the Pop House and the kids that went there. Does anyone remember ordering a “PK” Burger and fries. That was the specialty. I remember the dances and the bands. My friends were Lynn Carey and Debbie Hill. We never missed a dance. I miss the place and all the people. If anyone knows me, I would love to hear from you.
October 18th, 2006 at 11:31 am Joe: Nice Site. I remember seeing Paul & Paula at the Pop House. The dressing room was right on Portland Avenue and they were having a big fight! Later they, of course, performed as sweethearts. Whenever anyone asks me what kind of sandwich I would like I always want to order a Smiley - Cheese, tomato, lettuce and mayo. May have been named after Don Smiley of BCH. Kevin
October 18th, 2006 at 11:49 am Hi Kevin. Thanks for writing. Joe
October 21st, 2006 at 6:44 am Hi, nice site. I will tell my brother Ben to check this out. The Pop House was his hangout also. I remember the burger and fries, $1.00 for both right? I think I still have a pimple from all the grease. Some good bands and memories. Then there was Cheap Trick and R.E.O. Speedwagon for a $1.75 and the Waverly Ballroom. Maybe someday we will all have our own Pop House reunion. Might be fun.
October 22nd, 2006 at 3:35 pm Thanks for your comment, Pete. The menu I have doesn’t list the prices, but you could be right. Did you see Cheap Trick and REO at the Pop House or the Waverly? I remember seeing The Grim Reapers and Paegans at the Pop House. Each of those groups had members that later formed Cheap Trick. Joe
November 11th, 2006 at 5:51 pm I forgot to tell you I remember seeing your band in South Beloit and really enjoyed it. As far as remembering all those I recorded I can only remember a band called “The Bitter End.” It had a singer in it named Matt Goodwin. We recorded in a church with beautiful echo and they did some great Allman Bros. stuff. They hailed from the Turner school area and I loved the rehearsals in the basement. I can’t remember many other names other than a great soul band named “The Seven Shades of Brown Unlimited” which I taped at a bar in Rockford. I also remember a guitarist named Jon DeCori. Sorry..the old grey mare ain’t what he used to be… KEEP UP THIS AWESOME WEBSITE !! A great job in preserving many precious memories. God Bless you Joe !!
November 12th, 2006 at 1:20 pm Thanks for your comments, Mike! You must have seen my band, No Left Turns, play at the South Beloit American Legion Hall. Their dances were run by a lady named Fran DeSarbo. Thanks for the mentioning Matt Goodwin. I met with Dave and Jim Hernandez recently. Dave worked with Matt in a band called Tramp. I’ll be posting more about them soon.
December 29th, 2006 at 12:43 pm This is a great site Joe. One of the fond memories I have as a member of the Pop House was being a “Grillman” and working at the Pop House. It was quite a job working for George, especially for sockhops and dances. We actually received “Grillman Cards” to verify we worked for George. Some of the other grillmen were Chris Martin, Bob Eicher, “Fuzzy”, Tom Roehl, and Bill Kruse just to mention a few. When I was a freshman, I also recall having to be interviewed by George in order to get a membership card and a key to enter the Club. Lots of memories.
June 22nd, 2007 at 6:18 pm HI JOE: I LOVED GOING TO “THE POPHOUSE” IN 1957-1959. I GRADUATED IN 1959. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION FROM THOSE YEARS AT “THE POPHOUSE”.?? IF YOU DO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW…..ANY PHOTOS OR INFO?? BUT, AS FAR AS THE PHOTO OF THE GALS FROM 1960-1962, THE GAL ON THE FAR LEFT IS MARILYN PETERSON AND THE GAL ON THE FAR RIGHT IS MY SISTER (DECEASED), SALLY JOANNE BUA WHO WAS CHILI QUEEN AT THE POPHOUSE 1960-1962………PLEASE REPLY. AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THIS INFO THAT I WILL NOW PRINT OUT…………SINCERELY, SUE (1959)
July 15th, 2007 at 12:46 pm Joe got your site thru KEVIN SCHMALE love it. In the early days of june in 1964 my buddy CHRIS MARTIN and I tore out of LINCOLN JR> HIGH SCHOOL and down to the CLUB POP HOUSE to have our “INTERVIEW” with GEORGE to see if he was going to let us join in membership. After some basic family qustions (george graduated with my mother the formally racheal sorlie)in 1943 and some do’s and don’ts we were in.This was the greatest accomplishment of my young life to date. The following weds, was my first “JAM” a record jam (cost 25 cents) I stood in a corner and watched the most beautiful girls on earth all dance with each other and I knew that there was no way I could dance with “THEM”. I got hungry so I ordered a hamberger (cost 25cents) some french fries (cost 15cents)and a pepsi (cost 10 cents) from a guy that I found out later was JOHN MALONEY at that time GEORGES right hand man. I was in heaven and I knew that if the lord let me live I was going to become a GRILLMAN shortly. The JUKEBOX had every song I liked and you got (5 plays for a quarter) seemed fair. the menu consisted of Burgers and Fries But also THE SNEED was there THE SMILEY and also THE TWELVE_O_ONE (anybody remember) you could get your fries in single or doubble orders (30 cents) cheeseburger (30 cents) the famous SNEED was a whoping (55cents) Record jams (RCAand THE VICTORS) were 25 cents Fri. nite LIVE JAMS were 80 cents and if a good band came in they were a BUCK AND QUARTER.Some of the greatest years of my life were spent at THE CLUB POP HOUSE.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 am jil olson cook this is your sister julie visiting clark and sandy moriarity how can anyone get back to you when you didn!t leave an address or email
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 am hi club pop house this is from julie olson colvard we moved out east in 1966 when we moved my father said to us there is no pop house so without my friends and pop house i was devastated i remember all omy friends sandy carlson moririty sandy russell backus linda clumpner gallagher jackie devlin austin marsha schroeder norton getting ready for the jam sessions had to be perfect hairdos and clothes thought out to the max for those special nights at the club pop house i remember all the great food and the special people that made my high school years a blast at the pop house thank you
September 8th, 2007 at 11:02 pm Joe,Thank you much for the memories! What a great tribute to George and his lifework that so wonderfully and magically affected soooo many of us. I HAVE NEWS CLIPPINGS from the past 35+ years of the TURKEY BOWL. Starting in the early 70’s I was assigned the task of writing up the news release for the BDN WITH THE LINEUPS AND OTHER GAME AND FESTIVITIES relating to the annual Thanksgiving Day game. We would meet at George’s house the monday night of thanksgiving week and we would call “alumni of the POP HOUSE from all around the country to tell them of the big game! We would share stories and toast a few until the wee hours. If you would like to borrow or use any of the clippngs you are welcome. Since George’S PASSING WE HAVE KEPT UP THE TRADITION WITN VINCE AS THE “COMMISSIONER”….This year will be the 60th Annual TURKEY BOWL….KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! dave luebke