I know this topic – The List – is not anything to brag about, nor is it politically correct or polite, nor does it share a lot of commonality with the other aspects of the blog. Consequently, I should not be surprised to have received a complaint this week about the topic and its necessity and/or appropriateness. “Why all the sex?” was the specific complaint. All I can say is I feel the need to document this aspect of me that the 340 elicited. I hope it is not too disrespectful, demeaning or seen as braggadocio; I mean nothing of the kind. I certainly do not mean it to be sexual, lewd, or titillating in any way. It is just a bit of me that I felt the need to include if I’m going to document my experience in the decadent decade on West King Street.
So, without further adieu or apologia, back to The List. The second half of the year continued with a young lady (#77) at the Dutch Inn in Jersey at a street hockey tourney, a pick up (#78) at Zangari South one Sunday evening, less said the better about the next one (#79), the next young lady (#80) and I made sweet music on the banks of the Conestoga near Sunnyside and in her orange bug, her ex (I think and hoped at the time) was 6-5, 330, next was a nice young lady (#81) who I ticked off too early in our all to brief relationship, I met the next young woman (#82) at the Village and took her across the street to the Brunswick rather than the 340, a Fairmont House bar maid (#83) was next, then there was a friend (#84) of the piano keys, the year ended with a little cradle robbery as the girl (#85) might have been as young as 16. She caused one of the few arguments that Phil & I had on King Street. The juke was a little too loud for her tastes and I turned the music down; well, Phil musta been diggin’ the rock n’ roll cause he rather quickly and assertively turned it right back up. I showed restraint and that was the end of the flare up. The young lady and I were a number for a while but, of course, it could not last. The year ended with my having made 18 new friends as well as renewing acquaintances with 12 friends from earlier times. I can’t help but call that year – for me at least – the Summer of Love.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Okay, we know you survived TMI but ...
You know you want one ... so see Phil now
These buttons will be on sale only at the reunion ... $3 each; two fer $5
These buttons will be on sale only at the reunion ... $3 each; two fer $5
From the Golden Age of Music Television
A new feature starting today in keeping with the times of August 1981 will be the presentation of an early M TV classic; and so –
The truth was that, while the juke may have had a lesser profile, the 340 Club fueled by Music Television rocked on.
The truth was that, while the juke may have had a lesser profile, the 340 Club fueled by Music Television rocked on.
From the (not so) Mighty Juke
It’s a wrap, well sort of since the Mighty 340 Juke is a difficult machine to turn off but then again. Here’s three from the Juke
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Video Killed the Mighty Juke
The Wrestling Extravaganza was a hit … a score of guys drinking, eating, cursing, swearing, cheering, laffing and enjoying 20 of the greatest athletes ever to lace up a pair of boots compete in the squared circle of the Spectrum. The juke box likely blared from time to time over the announcers although the commentary was often worth the price of admission. Immediately after the show was over Kenny would be expected to jump up from a couch and jam quarters into the juke box; however this time he likely got up and approached the TV and switched the channel to the newest of cable offerings which had debuted only hours before – Music Television or M-TV.
You see, August 1 was not just the Wrestling Extravaganza but also the day the music was born. For at midnight August 1, 1981 a new channel appeared on cable boxes all across the country. It featured nothing but music, music videos played by – not dee jays – vee jays. WE remember them well, Martha, Mark, JJ and others. It was wall to wall music with videos, often packed with scantily clad sexy vixens and outrageous behavior and spoofs. I ordered my MTV jacket. Kenny’s movement to the front of the room to the television rather than to the rear and the mighty 340 Club juke box was more than symbolic. It portended the end of a brief era. The first song that was played on MTV earlier that day was a ditty called “Video Killed the Radio Star (by The Buggles)”. It also killed the 340 juke.
For the two weeks prior to MTV’s debut the juke box netted $54.65. Over the two weeks following the debut, only $20.20 was found in the box. This despite the fact that the weekend of August 14-15 scored $9.95. The fortnight included an unheard of 5 shutouts and four other one coin days.
Oh there were still big nites – Sunday, August 23 earned $10.55 and August 30th, another Sunday, immortalized as “Boycott” made $12.40; however the trend could not have been starker. From August 1 through the end of the year saw only $170.96 in revenues or $1.12 per day. This was 72% less per day then in the time proceeding August 1.
It was morning in Amerika; it was midnight for the mighty juke
You see, August 1 was not just the Wrestling Extravaganza but also the day the music was born. For at midnight August 1, 1981 a new channel appeared on cable boxes all across the country. It featured nothing but music, music videos played by – not dee jays – vee jays. WE remember them well, Martha, Mark, JJ and others. It was wall to wall music with videos, often packed with scantily clad sexy vixens and outrageous behavior and spoofs. I ordered my MTV jacket. Kenny’s movement to the front of the room to the television rather than to the rear and the mighty 340 Club juke box was more than symbolic. It portended the end of a brief era. The first song that was played on MTV earlier that day was a ditty called “Video Killed the Radio Star (by The Buggles)”. It also killed the 340 juke.
For the two weeks prior to MTV’s debut the juke box netted $54.65. Over the two weeks following the debut, only $20.20 was found in the box. This despite the fact that the weekend of August 14-15 scored $9.95. The fortnight included an unheard of 5 shutouts and four other one coin days.
Oh there were still big nites – Sunday, August 23 earned $10.55 and August 30th, another Sunday, immortalized as “Boycott” made $12.40; however the trend could not have been starker. From August 1 through the end of the year saw only $170.96 in revenues or $1.12 per day. This was 72% less per day then in the time proceeding August 1.
It was morning in Amerika; it was midnight for the mighty juke
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
What ta fuck?
I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.
Oh-a oh
They took the credit for your second symphony.
Rewritten by machine and new technology,
and now I understand the problems you can see.
Oh-a oh
I met your children
Oh-a oh
What did you tell them?
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Pictures came and broke your heart.
Oh-a-a-a oh
And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
And you remember the jingles used to go.
Oh-a oh
You were the first one.
Oh-a oh
You were the last one.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far
Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far.
Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.
You are a radio star.
You are a radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star. (You are a radio star.)
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.
Oh-a oh
They took the credit for your second symphony.
Rewritten by machine and new technology,
and now I understand the problems you can see.
Oh-a oh
I met your children
Oh-a oh
What did you tell them?
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Pictures came and broke your heart.
Oh-a-a-a oh
And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
And you remember the jingles used to go.
Oh-a oh
You were the first one.
Oh-a oh
You were the last one.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far
Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far.
Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.
You are a radio star.
You are a radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star. (You are a radio star.)
Home Sweet Home
I delivered 50 340 Club cards to Phil this afternoon. Please order yours tomorrow or soon. They cost $20, make a nice souvenir in their own right, serve as your all-access pass to the June 7th reunion, entitle you to a souvenir 340 Club button, plus all the beer you care to drink, a munchies buffet, ability to see the 340 Club artifacts, view the PowerPoint, purchase additional (variety) buttons And tee shirts. See Phil and soon. We need the seed funds. It is a $1500+ affair.
My trip to Lancaster was a blast!
First stop the beer distributor of course. I stopped at Kirchner’s Beer Distributor to discuss a renewal of the policy of honoring the 340 Club cards for a $1.00 discount on a case of Pabst. Young Matt and his brother Keith, Andy’s sons, informed me that such policy ran afoul of PLCB laws now and then (i.e. in ’81). However, Matt promised to work with us and perhaps they will figure something out or perhaps become the first business to purchase a $25 ad in the reunion program. Davy Gabriel was working hard and gave me a friendly wave and somewhere in the bowels of their new, sprawling distribution building Mike Kendig was hard at work. It was a nice stop that despite Andy stating that 27 years was beyond his ability to remember made me feel right at home and setup the rest of the visit.
Next up was the Captain himself. As I approached the door I heard Cisco, Phil’s sentinel dog, begin the alert with his deep German Shepherd bark. I gave my knock – tap, pause, tap, tap, tap, tap – that certainly let Phil know who was knocking. It was a nice brief visit that culminated with the dog shoeing me out but lovingly. In between I signed the remaining 340 Club cards as a trustee and one, #1, as a member. I had left a sample card behind at Kirchner’s so I left Phil with 48 to sell. As I alluded to earlier please buy them quickly. Only 150 can be sold per Knights of Columbus capacity.
After Phil it was off to the APBA Game Company but passing through Quaker Hills saw me finding Mr. Kindbom at his mailbox. I grew up with his kids, Kathy, Jack and mostly Larry. In fact it was Larry who introduced me to Ajax Baseball (turned out to be APBA but you know 10 year olds). At APBA I was greeted by Veryl Lincoln, who coincidentally coached Larry in youth baseball, who has worked at the game company for over 40 years. I purchased two card sets (2007 and Set 3 ATOP) for $84 (which woulda cost me about $20 when Larry & I first played) and had a nice brief visit. The game company is only about a half mile from Kirchner’s so I completed my loop driving past the distributorship and back to Harrisburg. It is possible to go home and hope to do it a few more times (after all there are 100 more cards to sell) before the June 7th reunion.
My trip to Lancaster was a blast!
First stop the beer distributor of course. I stopped at Kirchner’s Beer Distributor to discuss a renewal of the policy of honoring the 340 Club cards for a $1.00 discount on a case of Pabst. Young Matt and his brother Keith, Andy’s sons, informed me that such policy ran afoul of PLCB laws now and then (i.e. in ’81). However, Matt promised to work with us and perhaps they will figure something out or perhaps become the first business to purchase a $25 ad in the reunion program. Davy Gabriel was working hard and gave me a friendly wave and somewhere in the bowels of their new, sprawling distribution building Mike Kendig was hard at work. It was a nice stop that despite Andy stating that 27 years was beyond his ability to remember made me feel right at home and setup the rest of the visit.
Next up was the Captain himself. As I approached the door I heard Cisco, Phil’s sentinel dog, begin the alert with his deep German Shepherd bark. I gave my knock – tap, pause, tap, tap, tap, tap – that certainly let Phil know who was knocking. It was a nice brief visit that culminated with the dog shoeing me out but lovingly. In between I signed the remaining 340 Club cards as a trustee and one, #1, as a member. I had left a sample card behind at Kirchner’s so I left Phil with 48 to sell. As I alluded to earlier please buy them quickly. Only 150 can be sold per Knights of Columbus capacity.
After Phil it was off to the APBA Game Company but passing through Quaker Hills saw me finding Mr. Kindbom at his mailbox. I grew up with his kids, Kathy, Jack and mostly Larry. In fact it was Larry who introduced me to Ajax Baseball (turned out to be APBA but you know 10 year olds). At APBA I was greeted by Veryl Lincoln, who coincidentally coached Larry in youth baseball, who has worked at the game company for over 40 years. I purchased two card sets (2007 and Set 3 ATOP) for $84 (which woulda cost me about $20 when Larry & I first played) and had a nice brief visit. The game company is only about a half mile from Kirchner’s so I completed my loop driving past the distributorship and back to Harrisburg. It is possible to go home and hope to do it a few more times (after all there are 100 more cards to sell) before the June 7th reunion.
From the Poet Laureate
Where by Christopher E. Joyce
If I ever get out of here
wonder where it will be I go
will I remember me as I am now
Or is not that the way that you grow (See Psychology)
If I ever get out of here
wonder where it will be I go
will I remember me as I am now
Or is not that the way that you grow (See Psychology)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Pinnacle, The Apex, The Summit OR It’s all downhill from here
For me, the night of August 1st – symbolically if nothing else – represented the very pinnacle of life at 340 West King Street … it was the night of a pay-per-view event known forever as the WRESTLING EXTRAVAGANZA.
Just a week ago, on the eve of the Fools Day, Floyd Mayweather (39-0), a 150 pound boxer, disposed of The Big Show, a 400 pound professional wrassler in a challenge match as part of Wrestlemania XXIV. Undoubtedly, had the 340 club still been in existence we woulda bought it and had the usual gang of idiots on the couches watching the action. Wrestlemania traces its lineage back to Wrestlemania I in 1985. However, before the WWF hit its stride (and earned a third W) there were other pay-per-view events that were the progenitors of Wrestlemania. One such spectacle took place on August 1, 1981 and the 340 Club promoted it as the Wrestling Extravaganza. For me, the event symbolizes the peak of the Club’s greatness not so much for the event itself but the symbolism of what happened before and after.
The Setup:
The Club was furnished superbly with a raised TV on a table at the far end sitting on another TV. The lower television sometimes didn’t even work and was merely a stand for the other. The top TV was tuned into to Prism or whatever the PPV vehicle at the time presented such spectacles. In front of the TV was a couch, behind the couch was another couch and behind that was a third sofa. So, the 340 living room had stacked TVs vertically and stacked davenports horizontally. Behind the divans was a raised bar with stools and tucked into the corner behind it was the still mighty 340 Club juke box.
The Souvenir Program:
On the cover was a stock wrestling photo under the headline WELCOME TO THE 340 CLUB’s Wrestling EXTRAVAGANZA … Saturday, August 1, 1981 – 8:30 p.m. 340 West King Street – Lancaster, PA
The centerfold consisted of a copy of an ad for the event from the Philadelphia Journal billing the feature match a 20 man battle royale … in which twenty all-star wrestlers enter the ring and go at until there is a last man in the ring and he gets to do battle with the champ – Bob Backlund. The live event took place at the Spectrum in Philly and could be attended for tickets ranging from $5.50 to $7.50. Also depicted in the program were 3 or 4 entries from the Funk & Wagnall such as ex-trav-a-gance, ex-tra, ex-trav-a-gan-za and ex-trav-a-gate complete with pronunciations, definitions and alternate definitions.
The back page had a brief write up on the card and the credits:
Special thanks to: City of Lancaster, Prism, WWWF, Serena Kirchner Beer Distributor, The 340 Club.
Typist: Audrey
A Ted Knorr/Phil Zangari Production
The Card
1-4. Prelims
5. Battle Royale featuring the Rex Moondog, King Moondog, Andre the Giant, Magnificent Murocco, Killer Khan, Pedro Morales, S.D. “Special Delivery” Jones, Curt Henning, Dominic DeNucci, Larry Sharpe, Baron Mikel Sicluna, Strong Kobiashi, Johnny Rodz, Chris Cannon, Bulldog Brower, King Kong Mosca, Rick Martel and Tony Garea.
Intermission
6. Prelim
7. Pat Patterson vs. Sgt. Slaughter in an Alley Match (i.e. no rules, no referee, wear whatever you want, bout ends when one man can no longer continue)
8. Bob Backlund, WWF Champion defends against the winner of the Battle Royale
The Results:
I have no clue
The Aftermath:
I do know this; it was a Saturday in the summer of 1981 and house was packed from 6 till 2 and the juke box take was only $6.55. Why so little? Was it an off night? An aberration? the answer, sadly, was that it was no aberration … it was a new dawn or more accurately – a new midnight.
Check back at the Virtual Club on Thursday for the rest of the story.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Curator's Corner
FRONT ......>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...... BACK
Above is the brand new seen for the first time ever 2008 official 340 Club card prototype. Hopefully, Phil will be able to display a real one tomorrow (or the next day). He will have them available for sale at $20. They entitle you to admission to the June 7th reunion and to receive a souvenir program, commemorative button, free beer and munchies, admission to the 340 museum featuring a PowerPoint presentation plus special guest stars and the music from the mighty 340 juke box.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Trivia: 74-76
There will be some trivia questions posed at the reunion in June. To help you prep for such an event from time to time questions will be posed here in the Blog so you can revive some old memories and rev up your response time. To that end here are a few questions:
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS:
74)What was the name of the first guitarist other than Rudy or Richie to appear with the Bonnie Parker Band in Lancaster ?
75)What famous New York night club in the Bowery did we once take a van load to hear the Bonnie Parker Band ?
76)At the above night club, what classic Punk-Rock group was in the rathskelter, getting high ?
Last Weeks Q & A's
71. What was the phone number of the 340 Club, second coming?
BONUS: What 340 Club irregular was responsible for procuring the unique cubing combination?
Glenn Schneider assisted me in obtaining 397 2228 for the Outpost of Humanity. Later, upon the second coming the number was transferred to the 340 Club. Interestingly, John & Sue Emswiller's current number, that they obtained way back in '84 upon their sucessful evacuation from the 338, contains the combination "222".
72. What food staple, served best by Bobbie, is no longer sold at The Village Nite Club?
Cheeseburgers and they were sorely missed a couple of Saturday's ago.
73. What brand and model is the mighty 340 Club juke?
Rockola GP 160
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS:
74)What was the name of the first guitarist other than Rudy or Richie to appear with the Bonnie Parker Band in Lancaster ?
75)What famous New York night club in the Bowery did we once take a van load to hear the Bonnie Parker Band ?
76)At the above night club, what classic Punk-Rock group was in the rathskelter, getting high ?
Last Weeks Q & A's
71. What was the phone number of the 340 Club, second coming?
BONUS: What 340 Club irregular was responsible for procuring the unique cubing combination?
Glenn Schneider assisted me in obtaining 397 2228 for the Outpost of Humanity. Later, upon the second coming the number was transferred to the 340 Club. Interestingly, John & Sue Emswiller's current number, that they obtained way back in '84 upon their sucessful evacuation from the 338, contains the combination "222".
72. What food staple, served best by Bobbie, is no longer sold at The Village Nite Club?
Cheeseburgers and they were sorely missed a couple of Saturday's ago.
73. What brand and model is the mighty 340 Club juke?
Rockola GP 160
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