You really should update the desription. The Combat zone doesn't really exist anymore as it has been cleaned up quite a bit over the years.

Being an ol' Tennessee boy, after my discharge from four years as a USAF medical corpsman, I returned home to Chattanooga in late '70 to discover, "you can't go home." After a year's floundering about, I took a job as a traveling children's promotional photographer. I immediately picked up where I'd left off, partying my brains out, all over the nation. Living out of a suitcase, traveling on the road is an education. By the time I hit Boston, (New England) area, summer of '72, I was indoctrinated to the travel'in life. The old "combat zone", re:Washington St., was an education. Actually sweet youthful lustfulness! I was shacking up with a stripper tagged, "Tia Del Rio", traveled up from the Baltimore Burlesque at a hotel that skirted the commons, frequented by these ladies. Tia was a "high yellow" hispanic/negro mix, and the star of the show at the "Two O'Clock Club!" After, she returned to Baltimore, I had a escapade with her English friend for a couple of weeks. We'd cruise down to the Four Seasons, Chinese resturant after the clubs closing. Fun, sweet memories of a misspent youth!! In those days, as long as you knew the score, minded your own business, and watched your ass, you were in no danger. Someday I'll revisit the town,.. never forgotten it.

In the late '60s, a nightclub musician in the Boston area was said to have earned his wings when he had played a gig at least once, in each of these four Washington Street venues: The Downtown, Jerome's, The Intermission, and The Pink Pussycat. They are probably all gone now, as I have heard that the Combat Zone itself no longer exists. And Yes, I earned my wings.

The real estate folks have now renamed it "The Ladder District" after the shape of the streets (a bunch of one-block streets between longer Washington and Tremont).

Boston's old combat zone evokes many a fond memory of a place when one could get lost in the seediness of the "Red Light District". Unlike the fictional" Cheers" most of the bars along lower Washington St were places where nobody wanted to know your name.If you bought a washed-out stripper an eight dollar glass of tea, and expected to find romance you just joined the suckers club.Any attempt at a cheap feel would result in a quick trip out the door,with or without your wallet. The "King of Pizza" at the corner of Washington and Boylston was my idea of haute cuisine. I spent some of my finest hours at the Pilgrim Theater sneaking in cans of Schlitz and drooling over the strippers when the act took to the blanket for the last performance of the set. Lower Washington Street you may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

now the Combat Zone is the place you go to buy a gun, wait a minute that part never really changed.

I was a headliner stripper at the 2'oclock club in the early 70's I worked for the Venus brothers, also the Pilgrim Theatre and Jeromes The Intermission and the Pink Pussycat. I have some amazing stories that many people don't know about those Venus brothers, I was pretty well known. I had long red hair I was 18yrs old I was also known as Panama Red. I dated some of the Allman Brothers band, Cat Stevens, Mick Fleetwood just to name a few who came to my shows when they were in town. I would love to hear from someone that was around then. I am now 53yrs old, I am a student finishing my degree in Behavorial Science.I had some loyal fans...Love, Panama

During the early 1970,s, myself and a friend used to travel from Lewiston, Maine to hang out in the combat zone. Many dancers from Boston used to dance at the Hotel Holly in Lewiston. "BE JOLLY AT THE HOLLY" I look back nostalgically at these years. Panama, did you ever dance at the Holly and whatever happened to Lady Tangerine??

this is a note to Panama Red: I was a waitress at the Two O'clock, 1969-1973. (It was still the Downtown Lounge, not a strip club, in the first part of those years.) (I actually was a go-go dancer for a couple of months at the old Garden of Eden across the street, early summer 1969, the place downstairs, next to the King of Pizza; they had go-go dancers between strip shows -- that was before the stripping was all nude, and then they changed the club?s name. By then I was waitressing at the Downtown.) I do remember you, in the roster of strippers at the club, though we didn't know each other, rarely spoke. (It surprises me now, in recollection, that we never did get high together ? ah! in the Ladies Room, that safe repose. So many of us ? waitresses and strippers ? got high there every night; it transformed the nature of the job.) Do you remember some of the other strippers -- Sequin, Kelly Collins, Lee Miles? The manager Larry? I?d love to hear your stories about the Venus brothers. An image of Teddy is crystal clear in my mind, to this day ... You probably don't remember the waitresses; we were our own little group -- working with the strippers, of course, to help you sell champagne, so you'd get commission and we'd get tips ... That time in my life still remains pivotal for me, in a non-linear-time sort of way -- though I long left it far behind and have moved through many other territories since ... I'm 55 now, work at a center for homeless women, on the West Coast ... Congratulations on getting your degree! ... I'd love to be in touch to talk more ... You can write me initially at: . I use that address only occasionally, can cancel it if I start to get unwanted mail ... To anyone else reading this who remembers the CZ in those days: interesting, isn?t it, to think about how many different worlds there were, there, how many different realities, depending who we were, what part we played ...

My dad was the manager of the Intermission Lounge forever. It's nice to see others appreciative when reflecting back on the good ol'days.Despite all the stuff you've read and heard - during it's heyday, the Combat Zone was no more dangerous than it is now. When it really became dangerous is in the late 80s when the city pushed the busineeses out. Then the city was left with blocks of boarded up desolated blocks of nothing. This is when the crackheads and prositiutes became a mjor problem. The city could have doen a lot more to patrol it and clean it up, but they didn't. Blame the city.The people that worked in and owned the strip joints, bars, book stores, and other places were mostly all hard working individuals trying to make a living. We paid our taxes and contributed to society. Employees of the adult entertainment industry were always looked at oddly or with many preconceptions.This puritanical backwards city of Boston will always be a minor league city. No adult entertainment, no convention business = fact.

I began dancing at the Mousetrap & then for some reason went to the Intermission but ended back at the Mousetrap for 4 years. That chapter of my life began around 1974. I was 21 - I had a few different names - Hedy Jo Star called me Foxy & that stayed for awhile until I changed it to Julie Jordan was also known as Miss Bicentennial- I wish I had kept a diary back then - still I have quite a story to tell. I was a nice Jewish girl from Brookline. Daughter of a deli owner. Just trying everything. Prior to becoming a dancer I was actually living on the top of a mountain in Colorado in an Indian tipi I had built with my boyfiend. In fact I hadn't shaved my legs in a year when I began dancing. I actually went on stage my 1st night unshaven because I figured I'd never take the dancing job - Sharky was the manager - I was close friends with Onyx (transvestite), Anne Marie, Vanessa & others. I still own my Hedy Jo Starr Bicentennial costume!I've lived many chapters since then. I am 53 years old & would love to connect with anyone from those days!

I am a novelist in Boston. I have published one novel. A second will be published in January 2007. (There is some information about me at www.williamlanday.com.)I am now working on a novel set in the Combat Zone in the early 1970s, and I would like to learn as much as humanly possible about the Zone.I would like to speak with anyone who worked or hung around in the Combat Zone in the 1960s or 1970s, or who knows about the Zone for any other reason (cops, visitors, etc.).If you have stories to tell about the old Combat Zone, please e-mail me at -- I would love to hear from anyone who can educate me about this lost place. No detail is too small to be of interest to me.Thank you.Bill

I'm writing a crime novel that takes place primarily in Providence, ca. 1972. One scene, though, takes place in Boston at the Pink Pussy Cat. I need a description of what the exterior and the interior of the building looked like around 1972. Also, the name of a few other places nearby. Thanks.

I was one of the house organists 7 nights-a-week (and 7 days-a-week) starting out at the Picadilly with drummer Lenny Nelson and next worked at the World Famous 2 O'Clock for the Venus Brothers. "Andy" (day-time organ player) had me sit in and then split and didn't come back. That's how I came to inherit that gig. Eventually I played at The Mouse Trap and Teddy Bear and was the last organist at The Caribbe on Tremont before they switched to jukebox only.After-hours I often went to Devon's restaurant on Washington (can't remember the name of it at the moment)..The Villa that was it! which was like a Fellini Movie every night.A Big Hello to all my old Combat Zone colleagues and friends from the old Living Room, Intermission, Jerome's, 2 O'Clock etc.!The last of an Era. I'm surprised there is not more written about the Combat Zone scene. I had one of those giant bottles of horrible Champagne for a hat-stand for years that somebody probably paid about 400 bucks for.It was another world and it's finished now but I can say that it was for me a good place to get my music chops real strong and play danceable music which serves me well today.If the Strippers didn't like a tune they would let you know about it right away, usually by coming over to the organ and saying "I can't dance to that!" I saw everything from behind the organ and nothing at all.Now I am a radio broadcaster with my own daily AM radio show during drive-time in Northern California.A lot of women took their clothes off to my music, some for their first time and others were veteran Strippers. When the shows were smokin' and we had a good night there was a lot of inter-action between the the Musicians and Dancers/Strippers. Definitely an "Art Form" and atmosphere that doesn't exist anywhere anymore.Eventually the club owners decided to fire the musicians, even though there were usually only 2 onstage (Hammond Organ and Drums...at the 2 O'Clock we had Tenor Sax and sometimes Trumpet nights)...we were replaced by Jukeboxes and then that was the beginning of the end.The shows were never the same without the live musicians. Those of you who worked in the Zone know what I'm talking about I'm sure. We all used to come down there and have a drink or two after they let us go for a while but the dancers pretty much just walked after the bands exited. Mixing was a big part of the scene there. Some of my friends who were the best mixers could drink 50 or 60 drinks a night.I'm sure Teddy of the Venus Brothers and Arthur and all those guys are long dead and gone for a long time, it was over 30 years ago. I'll say one thing for those old guys, they always paid me on Friday and I never had to count the dough.Jon Hammond"The FINGERS...are the SINGERS!"

It was a more innocent time. I learned a lot of good things and met many good people. Uh Panama Red... I cannot recall Cat Stevens ever mentioning you!

In the early seventies I worked in or around the zone. For a summer I had the part time job of running the light on/in the main large room.. Later I worked the overhead light in the 2nd room. The over light was set up just off the upstairs dressing room.The girls would ask for a certain color gel blue red or pink tones. It was all important to some. There was one older stripper who insisted on blue which made her look like an old Marlene Detrich. She seemed to live in that character.I was working a batch of shit jobs to make ends meet..most of the girls were nice some were headcase cokeheads with baggageThere was a MC a little Vegas type.He called the houseband the firehouse five minus two or something similar to that..He would announce the girls as the came and went off stage. One I remember was"Direct from Revere Please Welcome Miss Sandy Beach"...Some head liners were Melaine..Jeri Deen.I think most of those there were just passing through.

Wow! I just found this site and boy did it bring back memories. I traveled with a stripper whose agent, Sol Goodman, out of baltimore booked her in a different city every week. When we got to Boston I told her Since I couldn't get a job when we were in a different city every week we were going to stay in Boston.Her first gig in the combat Zone was at the Pilgrim theater. I got a job tending bar at Jerome's. After working there for a few weeks I told the owner, Louie Venus, that I needed to go back to Chicago for a week. Before returning to Boston I called Louie to confirm that I still had my job. He said "OK 'Chicago John'" and the nickname "Chicago John" stayed with me for the next several years that I worked in the Combat Zone. Most of the people in the Zone never knew my full name. I was just known as Chicago John.In addition to Jerome's, I also worked at the 2:00 Oclock club, the Mouse Trap and the Silver Dollar. My girfirnd, at that time, worked in all of the clubs I did in addition to working the Intermission, the Teddy Bear, and the Picadilly. The dancers changed clubs more often then then the bartenders.I have many fond memories of my time working in the Combat Zone. For the most part, the people I worked with were good people contrary to the impression many people had of us."Chicago John"john@johnfinktravel.com

circi 1970-1972I was a prepie stuck in mass. and would take the bus on saturday mornings going to Boston. I remember walking through the combat zone early on those mornings.Being fron Nebraska that area had a strange,dangerous,but fascinating feel to it.I would walk it for hours and could not fully participate as I was 15 years old.I remember the hookers, pimps,and drug dealers. Some people were spacey and some definitely had a city type rudeness that I never forgot. But thats what probably gave that district its name.Its nice and interesting reading about the dancers stories.I wish I could have been older to meet you. Thanks for the memories.

I used to visit the Combat Zone frequently in the early '70s and I remember Panama Red, Princess Cheyenne, and many other girls well, though most of their names escape me now. Many of them were sultry and beautiful!I even remember seeing Congressman Wilbur C. Mills being fondled by the Argentine Firecracker at the Pilgrim Theater... Those were really the days!

In late 1963, at 17, I began working at Jerold's Mens Shop on Washington St. across the street from Raymond's Dept Store and a couple of blocks from the Intermission, Jerome's etc. -the gateway to the Combat Zone - where I remained until 1967.During that time I became one with the area - it was my home - it's inhabitants were my customers, my friends, my confidants. The transvestites, the hookers, the musicians, the cops, the business owners, the strippers.Jerold's was where the musicians came to buy there "band uniforms" brocade bolero jackets, shiny high waisted pants and purple ruffled shirts and I was the guy they came to - being a musician myself i "understood" their stage requirements and outfitted some of the best - Roger Pace and the Pacemakers, The Hot Tamales, Dario and the Rainbows Steve Colt and the 45s, the 7 Epics...the list goes on.To this day the greatest entertainer I have ever seen was Roger Pace and the best band I ever heard was the Hot Tamales - the Tamales were an all black group that played primarily at Izzy Ort's Golden Nugget - a place where a shooting was just part of the evenings festivities.I spent many an evening there listening to the Tamales do Impressions songs and they all harmonized and played their instruments Butch on bass, Frenchie on Trumpet - These men were all pimps as well...that's they way it was - good guys with good women who were all forced to live that way - Butch's wife was a hooker - these were good people who society had forced into that way of making a living - I saw it first hand.For instance-Jerold's had just received a shipment of short sleeved matching bright electric blue jackets and pants that I knew would be perfect for the Tamales - I called Butch, who was their leader, and asked him to come in to see them, he did and loved them. Unfortunately he told me that colored (that's what they were then) groups were not allowed to wear short sleeves in the clubs (and that was at the Nugget) as it showed to much of their black skin. It opened up the beginning of my understanding of their racial plight.Several years later, when I had moved to New York,I saw the Tamales perform in Harlem at Small's Paradise. Does anyone know what happened to them?Roger Pace- the white James Brown- packed the Intermission every night for years - leaving occasionally to go back to play a club in Baltimore. Roger who stormed the stage like an atom bomb and continued exploding for 40 minutes 5 or six times a night. I Feel Good - Jesus we all felt good when Roger was on stage with his skeleton of a bass player Jimmy Gregory, his great guitar player Bobby Simone, the soulful tenor of Arnie Barry and the fattest fat back you ever heard played by Denny Ward - what a group - stepping and dancing as Roger spun and split grabbed his sax and played along sat in on drums, danced though the Intermission out the door the band following him as the continued singing and playing crossing Washington st storming Jeromes or one of other other clubs and coming back to the Intermission with new customers following and dancing - what a time!I fell in love with an Intermission waitress named Mary Scott - we had some time together- wow.

I remember the Combat Zone in the early 80s when I was 16-17. I was from a small town in southeastern Mass., and had never been to the zone, but I had heard stories from classmates about their adventures there.My first trip there was with 2 friends, and we were in search of fake IDs. We got scammed by a guy we met in front of an x-rated bookstore; he asked us if we needed IDs (I guess he could smell us a mile away). He walked us around the neon-lit streets and explained in detail how we'd get our "real registry" IDs (he had a friend who worked for the registry, so we'd get the real IDs) He brought us into the back room of the Naked I through a side door, asked for $20 from each of us small-town boys, and said he'd be back in a minute to take us to get our pictures taken. Of course he never returned - ah, valuable life lessons learned in the zone.We continued strolling the zone admiring the seediness of the streets, the porn shops and the prostitutes, undaunted by the scam. I felt like a "made" city-guy after that evening.We were lucky enough to get into the Naked I about 2 months later without IDs via a $20 bribe to the doorman, this was my first time in a strip club, and I remember the absolutely beautiful dancer, I think it was Princess Cheyenne (I remember the Indian headdress, and long legs), what a great dancer.I lived and worked in Manhattan from 88-95 while working for Bear Stearns, and I've travelled a lot to many cities over the past 20 years, and have never seen a place with the same character and unique characteristics as the Combat Zone. I work for a big bank now in Boston, and live in Quincy, and sometimes I'll stroll through the area of the "old zone" and remember the "good 'ol days" with my friends in the early 80's. Nothing is left at all of old zone, nothing.Theree is something about the Combat Zone that can never be captured again and is lost forever.

Hi, I too used to frequent the Combat Zone in the early 1960's as a college student. I didn't get into the drugs or strip joint scene but did visit Jerome's, I think before they had strippers there? I remember a group/band on stage there who were attired in combat fatigues as a joke, you know, the combat zone. The area was fascinating, and I actually met some interesting folks there. I am trying to capture the area there from the 60's. Does anyone remember an arcade across the street from Jerome's? The Intermission and the King of Pizza were around and there was a smaller pizza joint next to Jerome's. That is about what I remember but am trying to remember in greater detail.Tina

Wow michelle you remember me on the roster. Kelly , AKA Machine Gun Kelly Collins was a high school buddy I got into the biz... she is very well off and married to an attorney,I have some interesting stories when Iwould hang out with the Venus brothers, Teddy fat brother I forgot name did some pretty slippery stuff.Hedi Jo Starr. Paul JOrdan was my agent.I was in the show Bring back Burlesque, with Silky Silvers my name was Deirdre St. George and I was offered to dance in a show called Good News with Alice Faye and Stubby Kaye, had nice write up in the Globe about my dancing and apparently there is a book about the combat zone of which I am mentioned.Love Panama

Aw...the ZONE.I have many fine memories.The one woman that I would love to see again is an evening lady who went by the name of Rice.A very friendly and mellow Japanese woman.

Just checked out this blog for the first time in a while. I am still wondering if anybody knows what became of "Lady Tangerine". She used to dance at the Piccadilly Lounge among other places. She used to dance at the Hotel Holly in Lewiston,Maine also. Several years ago the building that housed the Holly blew up in a natural gas explosion. I have a copy of Roswell Angier's "Conversations in The Combat Zone" with photos of Panama Red. Those were the days of many many fond memories.

PEOPLE I REMEMBER FROM THE ZONE!1) The guy that kept tabs on the cash at the Naked Eye. (He looked like the actor Richard Deacon from Dick Van Dyke)2) The waitress at the Naked Eye with big black eighties hair that looked like Suzanna Hoffs)3) Princess Cheyanne (of course)4)The drunk Gino who was on the street every night and looked like he just got punched in the face.5)The Dancer from the Naked Eye named Dorrie Dixie.The Zone!

The Combat Zone's prime was a short one. It came into its own after colorful Scollay Square was raised to make room for the truly hideous Government Center — which, sadly, is still standing to uglify Boston. And The Zone was mostly gone in a decade and a half if that.But I loved it. The pizza place on the corner of Boylston and Washington and several smaller store front stands provided cheap, tasty food to make up for the overpriced drinks in the joints.Roger Pace and his band played the Intermission Lounge, and they were really great. He was around as recently as the early nineties playing alto with a band called The Fantastic Cutters, but sadly, I read that he’s since passed away. I had also read that he was always in hot water with the Boston wiseguys during the sixties. Back then he had teased platinum hair and looked like Wayne Cochrane in need of a good meal. What a showman, though.And if you took the old elevated Orange Line a stop or two south, there were Basin Street South and Louie’s Showcase Lounge where some big name r&b stars occasionally came.By the time my daughter went to college in Boston, none of the places where I hung out at college age were still around. In fact, entire neighborhoods were gone. I found it sad.

I remember strolling the stip in the zone in the early 80's. I recall going to one of the peep shows with a very cheap friend of mine. As it worked you'd put your coin in and the window covering would lift up. There was a small hole located between booths and the dancer would ask you to roll up your bills and slide it through the hole so she'd keep dancing. My friend would keep putting coins in and not bills. Everytime the window would open the dancer would be against the glass giving him the finger. Finally the manager would chase us out. Very funny times. Used drive by LaGrange Street picking up hookers. Great times.

Hi All,Just happened upon this blog.. late one evening, a while back . I am going to respond to most people here. Seems I had worked with at one time.. or met most of you . I worked the zone from 1975-1990.Hi Gary I borrowed the book from the library , just last week. "A kind of life". Just wished it had been a lot more consisive. Good book ,but.. not enough history.Saw several people in there that I had known . Beautiful pic's of Panama Red. I also read Naked is the best disguise. That was some many years ago the author was a good friend of my late cousins wife, of which.. Steven Spielburgh's dreamworks production has aquired sole rights to the script about his lifes story which will be adapted from the book, "State Boy's Rebellion".I have so much to write about my experience with the zone. I am just testing the waters for now. I'll be back with more tales from the city. Life there all evolved around nine degrees of seperation!High energy and good old fashioned raw talent.Thanks for reading . Tangerine

The Tangerine I knew was a tall leggy black girl from Jamaica and was dancing prior to 1975. Most of the dancers who worked at the Hotel Holly in Lewiston, Maine came up from Boston. Are there any of you still out there?

Hi Gary,No I am not that Tangerine.But.. I did work off and on with her for years. By the time I entered into the bussiness, The original Tangerine had retired from dancing. But we did work together she was working the floor as a mixer at the time.I remember when I first met her was at the Piccadily lounge around 1978. the manager there at the time was Stanly. He was a very big gentle guy.And was one of the nicest Manager's around.He died of an apparent heart attack as his house was invaded by would be robbers,sometime in the late 1980's or early 90's. I recall the first time I met Tangerine she came up to me and said in her pretty Jamaican accent ..you stole my name. I told her ok I'll change it to Red Fox. She replied no you keep the name Tangerine it goes well with your color hair.(we got along ok) She was a mysterious woman of sorts very pretty and always conducted herself like a lady. I remember her always dressed in true carribean style. Maybe you knew my cousin Ana Gail? She had been working the zone for some years prior to me.I started my dancing career on the North Shore. The Surf, Jaws, Squires, Golden Banana, Checkmate lounge.I danced lots of various clubs in between , I traveled to Montreal and Quebec,I worked both sides of Niagra Falls.and Toronto also various suburbs of New york as well.I vowed never to work the zone it scared me at the time, My first gig there was at the Pussy cat lounge late 1975 (which some years later the Piccadilly club relocated thier bussiness to) The place scared me, my first night there. By the second night.. just as I was coming through the door for my second evening shift , I looked up on the stage and there was my cousin Ana Gail .I yelled out to her above the loud music,Heh cous!Now! I had some back up.I remember the manager at the time, Carol was'nt too pleased with me as I sat frozen with one customer all night as I nursed one drink. I was so green when it came to mixing, (Short term for hustling drinks)I did put on a good show and the audience really liked me. All I wanted to do was dance, which was a passion of mine. Having said all that.. getting back to the manager Carol . She yelled at me at the end of the night and said what do you think your going to do ? Dance your way to the Waldorf Historia? I replied, YES! five years later, I was partying with the likes of Cher, Michelle Lee.Leslie Uggums,Robert Preston, I shared a dinner table with, Tony Randelle, and Jason Robarbs. Most of these stars are deceased.The late Ann White,& Tommy Tune. I had my picture taken with them all. This was at a Tony awards party at the Waldorf Historia. There were various others, too many to mention.(That was some pretty clever dancing!)I had met a handful of famous people working the zone as well, notorious and otherwise. I was for the most part the headliner every club I worked.I did a scene with John Travolta in the Movie A Cival Action some ten years ago with Robert Duvall in the scene as well.But dont rush out and rent the movie ,it ended up on the cutting room floor. As the production company decided to go back and do an ariel shot of Fenway park.(Lets get back to the Zone.)my first visit there was in 1967.I was all but 14 years old I had accompanied one of my older sisters to the Two O'clock Lounge. She was seeking employment as a go go dancer. She was interviewed by the youngest of the Venus brothers, Teddy.As I sat at the bar and drank a coke.A year later, I was dating a Sax player at the time, I was 15 he was 22. I went with some friends of mine to go and watch his show at the Intermission lounge. I dont recall the name of the band but they did a mean rendition of all the hit songs from the band Blood Sweat & Tears.his name was Kenny Hoar. we made the rounds to a few bars in the Zone that night, Jeromes ,Two O'clock. ending the evening with a night cap and some great chinese food in Chinatown. The Four Seas seemed to be everyones favorite.I'll be back with more tales from the Naked city. Tangerine

I was in Boston in the 70's going to music school. I went down there with a trumpet player named Mac (I saw him on Saturday night live a few years ago) and sat and watched him play with an organist and a drummer. I can't remember if they let me sit in, but I remember watching the ladies dance to the music in front of the curtain. What a scene!

I used to go to the Naked Eye all the time. I still remember the first time someone brought me there in the late 70's. It was a shocking, joyous feeling to walk in off the street and see two naked women at opposite ends of the long bar.I wish I had been around to see the old 2 o'clock, because I heard so many stories.I was devastated when the Naked Eye closed, then they literally tore it down and put up a parking lot. I totally agree with the previous posters that they destroyed a unique moment in time.ck

During the late seventies whenever visiting Boston with my Dad I would always have him drive us through what I called "Chinatown." ;-) As a young boy of 12 or 13 I thought Chinatown was pretty cool, however, the driving force behind my request was witnessing the grittiness of the Combat Zone. Later, in my early twenties I was fortunate enough to venture into the Zone a few times but it had lost all of it's character.Throughout my life I happened upon photos of the Zone from the early seventies and couldn't believe how cool it looked. What a stellar place- I would have been there every weekend if I was old enough. Now, I can't find one single photo anywhere of the old Zone. If anyone has any type of photos of the Combat Zone from the seventies through the mid eighties PLEASE send them along to me. I also welcome any stories, I find all of them fascinating.I've been infatuated by seventies culture my whole life and would really appreciate seeing any photos. (This isn't for a book or anything, just for me to check out.)My address:jaggsmusic-seventies@yahoo.com

we played music at 2 of these locations. does anyone remember a chubby drummer who played at Jeromes for a while. As I remember, his 2 front teeth were missing and they called him Porkchop.

I was a dancer at the Naked I Cabaret during the early-mid 80's. My first shift, a Wednesday in mid-March, ended at 7:00 PM, when Princess Cheyenne came out on stage and danced her way through a set of Genesis, Kim Carnes, and Cat Stevens. Watching her twirl in a long, flowing blue cape under the black lights, to the song, "She's Got Betty Davis Eyes", I knew that I wanted to reach her level of skill, if not status. She alone was the key influence on my dancing and I credit her with my success during those days. I later left the business when tastes changed from big show style costumes (Hedy Jo!!) and thoughtful themes to Rock Video Chick in a lycra dress, a style that didn't require much thought at all, just nerve enough to lay down on the dance floor and open your legs. Not a bad thing, just a progression of being nude and learning to get as much money as possible while you were on stage. I was delighted when I saw several burlesque troops bringing back the older form of exotic dancing, and wish that I had the body and youth to put myself back up on stage again.Names from back then:Dorie DixonLovely AliciaKendra WildeLolaSkylerChristieSamanthaMisty TropiqueSweet SativaJessica La SavageLinda LamiaBritneyCherelleSue the waitressTony the bartenderRicky the managerTara the djMel, the "owner"and so many more...

I was a Northeastern University student from 1969 to 1973, and made a number of trips to the Zone with friends. For most of that time, we were underage, but managed to get in and have a few beers anyway. We were fascinated with the overall class and allure of the dancers, and while my memory is hazy on a lot of the details, I DO remember Princess Cheyenne. I also remember Gino, a bartender at the Intermission Lounge, as well as a dancer named Midnight Star who danced there. I also remember a dancer named Kat who was from southern New Hampshire and danced at the Naked I if I recall correctly. The ambience of the whole Comabt Zone on a Friday or Saturday night was electrifying to a young kid having his first experience in such an area. I still travel back to Boston from time to time, and it really is sad to see all that life gone out of the area. I wish I had clearer memories of that time; at least the ones I do have will keep The Zone alive for me. I'll have to check to see if I have any pix from back then, which is doubtful. Long live the Combat Zone!!

I frequented the old zone quite often in the 70's and spent a fair amount of time in the old living room lounge as well as the four corners lounge, I became quite friendly with the owners of the living room who now own the squire in revere. I remember an okder mixer in the 4 corners named Angela who had huge tits, all natural I may add that I also had a friendship with. I remember sherry dee as the daytime bartender at the 4 corners, rocky was the evening bartender and elaine was the manager. I still see Joe fiumara at the squire occasionally and norma is still around, peter passed a couple of years ago. I am sure i will remember more as I think about it. i do remember princess cheyene before she took that name, I think she was just starting out then. LaGrange Street was a hoot with all the streetwalkers and pimps strutting their stuff the decked out autos ah it was a good time. Also the small hot dog stand on the corner of lagrange and washington best dog in the city. I'll try and recall some more tidbits.

Note to "Matt" I worked with Gino the bartender at the Piccadilly lounge he was going steady with a dancer by the name of Andrea. 30 years later they are still together . I also worked with her sister Elaine. Although I never worked with Princess Cheyanne. I do believe that she started working the zone in the late 70's -early 80's note to.. "John",I worked with Angela the mixer at the Intermisssion in the early 80"s she was short with black curly hair and wore glasses. She was a nice person. I worked the squire for one show and walked out as I did'nt like Norma at all!! That was late seventies. I worked with Dorie Dixon at the Caribe for quite some time she was best friends with Cathy the waitress there. Dorie was of greek heritage with a heavy Southern accent she hailed from Georgia.She had light curly brown hair and she was more on the tall side.She left the Caribe to work at the Naked I.I worked with Britney at the Piccadilly in "78" then years later at the Pussy cat lounge.There were quite a few dancers, to this day that have left quite a lasting impression in my mind and to whom I give praise to for thier fine tuned unique style and form and thus as an artist allowing me the opportunity to further cultivate my craft by way of choreographing some of thier best moves into my own routine.Some of the best I have had the pleasure to work with are Susan Monterey, Tequela, Donna Lee, Diane Lewis,Little Miss Mickey Martin,Electra 2000,(Charly.. from the Caribe),Julie Jordon ...(Mousetrap,Mid 1970's )Lovie.. Surf in Revere,1975)Miss Reddy Sloan (Golden Banana 1976)There were so many others, they will come to mind at a later time.I'll be back with more "Tails" from the Naked city.Tangerine

I was 19 in 1963, stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, we used to make the trip to Boston when ever we could. The first time the guys took me there, I was a naive kid from Southern New Jersey, small town, three streets. We hit all the clubs on Washington Street. At the Pic-a-Dilly Lounge a young lady approached me, she seemed real nice and friendly, she wanted me to buy her a drink, this never happened to me before and the guys told me to buy her a drink. I bought her a drink, it was nine dollars, the bartender took my twenty, put my change on the bar and she picked up my five and gave it to the bartender as a tip, saying here is something for you , Eddie. I said what the hell was that, with that she said if you are going to use that kind of language I am not drinking with you and she walked way, and Eddie poured out her drink, making a comment, Gotcha. It never happened again, Country boy learned his lesson, but it was worth it.I came back for a visit in the mid 70's with a girl I was dating, just to show he around, she was amazed.I would love to go back againg, but its not the same.

Julie Jordan here. Gee Tangerine you mention that you remember me & I'm sorry I can't picture you! I'm surprised that nobody here has mentioned Flo The MC from the Mousetrap,a petite older Jewish woman. How about Anne Marie, Vanessa (AKA Gypsy who went with Doorman Larry, Jeanie Brooks & what about Onyx, the African American transgendered? Oh what a colorful juicy time, if only I had kept a diary. Would love to hear from any of you!Julie Jordan/Miss

since i first got online a few years ago,i have looked for a "combat zone where are they now?" sort of page and this is the closest i've found so far.late 70's-early eighties was my time in the cz.like so many other dancers, i initially bounced around from one club to another..cz,rte 1,canada til settling in the mousetrap for a while(until i got tired of the supposedly narcoleptic louie venus being asleep whenever pay was due...) then i worked at the silver slipper for quite a long time.anyone remember bernadette,the bartender?tangerine, i think i know you...did you ever live in dorchester? you met me when i was calling myself vicky.if anyone knows marlo or barbara,dancers at the silver slipper,in my time, i would love to talk to them again.btw, don't lapdances make pasties and gstrings seem almost quaint?i loved pasties and false eyelashes.

if you worked in the cz in the late 70's and early eighties, you must remember roy dee...talent agent/super sticky sleazeball.three minutes and a google search after i remembered that name, i found this...http://www.roydeeagency.com/he's still in the business.he'd have to be kind of cryptkeeperesque in 2008.after looking at his webpage i'm bewildered."attention dancers..are you tired of paying clubs to work?"..direct quote.wtf,i'm glad i retired from the line of work.Reginap.s. tangerine, did you cousin drive a little red two seat convertible sports car?

Hi, Tangerine: Thanks for the update on Gino. He seemed like a good guy. I'm glad to hear he's still with the same dancer; that bodes well for both of them.Also, I seem to remember going down either Essex St. or Beach St. from Washington St. in the early 1970s, and there was a small storefront window on the right side where girls (prostitutes) would be sitting in the windows and tapping on the glass with quarters to attract passersby. We never took them up on their offers, so I don't know anymore about it. Does anyone else remember the same or similar thing in the CZ area?

Hi Regina,Tangerine here..Yes I'm (OFD)originally from Dorchester born and raised. I left there after 50 years, some time ago.Also.. yes Ana Gail drove a small red two seater sportcar.That was in the early to mid seventies.I worked the Silver Slipper on Boylston street off and on in the mid seventies. I worked there the same time Billy Bennett was bartending also Donna Lee,Bernadette,Christine.I'm sorry I dont remember you. Could you rattle my brain with some instances or a conversation we might have had? I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank's .Tangerine

What about Good Time Charlies

so long ago, tangerine, remembering's not easy. i think i first met you at a place in boston outside the cz named something like cantaloni's. the place was trying out a topless format.wore pastie's though. kind of modest by the standards of today.if i remember correctly we were both new to the biz.ran into you off and on..the squire (it was sandy shore,funny lady stripper at the squire, not sandy beach as someone else posted earlier.sandy was ofd too), silver slipper (though i think you worked nights),walking from field's corner station towards dix street.you always called me vicky even though i had used the name for only a few months when i first started dancing. in fact when i met you, you were not yet calling yourself tangerine though i'm not positive what name you were using. i do have a few maybes bouncing aroung my head though.remember alan a bartender at the silver slipper...dark curly hair, big '70's mustache, cute smile? or maryanne at the mousetrap,tended back bar,little redhead,wore a cap, pigtails and hotpants and was a sweatheart. that's something that i wouldn't say about many of the bartenders around back then.so any bells ringing?hope to ttyl,Reginaa p. s. to jeff.....was gtc's on lagrange street?

Hi Regina,Caltonis! The stage was flush with the floor , there was a little old Italian lady who would serve us food through a little window from the kitchen. The place was Stripbar/Italian restraunt. There was a customer that looked just like the Indian on the back of an old nickel. He would always give me presents of Indian artifact. I still have a tiny moccassin he gave me.Surprised to know Sandy Shore was from Dorchester. My cousin AnaGail took me to see her show at the Squires. She was great!! The crowd loved her.Very funny and very high energy.I lived on the corner of Adams & Dix streets for years. I think we used to by pass each other around the old niehborhood from time to time. But I still can't place you.So much was going on back then. Not like a 9-5 were you see the same people all the time.If it helps any.. I look a lot like Susan Sarandon.Talk with you again! Tangy

Oh! Regina ,one other thing .I forgot, to add.My first stage name was Red Fox then I chose the name Tangerine later on from the disco song Tangerine.

I was a throw away teen, now sixty, writing my memories of that time in my life. I was a young teen, but quite tall, dressed up as a little dude. Unpararaelled...I used to go dancing at the Nugget, whew! and Jeromes, what can I say? Later on, my love, Susan, danced at the Pussy Cat. She was Princess somebody or the other, I can't remember what she called herself. She was Irish and Armenian, but looked like a full blooded Navaho lady. She was great! Great dancer, and had a sense of humor about the whole thing. Does Mr. Richard Kennedy have an e-mail address he would care to share with me? I would love to cyber chat with him. is mine. Any more memories about the early bands at Jeromes would be welcome, too.

Hi Julie Jordan,

When I worked the mousetrap mid 70's.. I remember Flo the mc . She had short c red hair.She and the band were replaced by way of the jukebox. The light with the bare bulb hanging over the stage, that came on when the vice were approaching! I also remember at the end of the night shift lining up at the office door waiting for our pay and there was Louie asleep at the desk with Arthur sitting next to him. Arthur would roar like a lion when he awoke, yelling at everyone.But he was pretty harmless.He and Arthur did seem to favor redheads.I wanted to respond a lot sooner ,but.. my responses would not go through.Random images and memories of that time so long ago come back to me in collective pieces. So whenever a new one comes to surface I will post it.

Tangerine

Tangerine

I believe it was The Parker House in Boston April 1978.Angel was there and her then boyfriend Michael. Michael ordered a hamburger.. Angel and I had the lobster dinner.Was'nt your (promoter),Marty there as well? He was from Atlanta Georgia.

Tangerine

Sometime in the early 60's I played guitar with a few groups in the zone. My first gigs were at Edwards Western Playhouse, The Novelty the Hillbilly Ranch. I remember a guitarist by the name of George Moody who was an awesome finger picker and wonder where is is today.

Later on I took interest in R & B music and appeared with several bands including Roger Pace, Dario & the Rainbows and Buddy DiVincent's "Soul Generation" in the Downtown Lounge to name a few and I agree a musician earns his wings in the zone.
I eventually met and married a go-go girl ,who later became a stripper who called herself Sandy Shore. She was quite an act and that marriage didn't last too long but I did hear from her about a year ago.

I still play a little guitar and have taken an interest in ballroom music and sometimes do a little open mike or karaoke but I won't quit the day gig (again).

I'm in touch with a few of the musicians of that era including "Little Al" the trumpet/bass player.
I often wondered what became of the great showman Roger Pace and did some searching and came across this e-mail on the web which I posted below.

If anyone has photos or any memorabilia of the Zone in those days I would like you to send it to me so I can put together a web page.
Thanks and read the following article about Roger

R.I.P. saxophonist Roger Pace
From: Kendra Holt
Date: 09 Jun 2001
Time: 08:31:09
Remote Name: 209.110.93.2

Comments
One of Baltimore's' finest saxophonists,Roger Pace passed away in the last month from complications from emphysema.A fine player in many idioms,especially blues and jazz he played with many local and national artists incuding the late Mary Pat Hughs,Kendra Holt and Trudy Morgul.

Roger Pace
Bow your head! Pace was a revered performer, an ultimate showman, and a veteran of years of Combat Zone bars. Owners came and went; patrons came and went; the tireless Pace signed on for another tour. R&B veterans sit and sip between band sets, and when the dressing room conversation goes the way it goes, it's usually peppered with comments and conversations like "Who's the best you ever saw," ".worked with," ".sat in with," etc., Roger's name invariably pops up. A legend in the 60's, he was still wowing `em in the eighties.

The boys may not tell you about the time some wise-guys hung Roger upside down (over and into) a toilet bowl, or the time he was nailed into his stage prop coffin at show time, but.you get the drift.

I started working the Zone in the early 80's when I was 17. I started in the Liberty Book Store peep booths and made the rounds in the clubs. I danced the Carib, Intermission, club 66, Boston Bunnies and others but the names escape me. Truly amazing days back then, learned many lessons which molded who I am today. I'm a fortunate one I know this but its nice to read others made it out to live normal lives too.....This is great!
I got out too when many women, won't name group came in and just took everything off on the first song and got down right dirty. Got hard to make money after that. I was a pretty good mixer however. Wow, those were the days. I just found this site but will be reading often.

ah the memories
caribe silver slipper club 66 good time charlies and of course the naked i and others.
late 70s 80s good times
well all but one at club 66 where a girl picked her nose and then ate it all cause i wouldnt buy her a drink.
one time i saw stan stassik and the grand wizard walking thru

Does anyone have any information on a gorgeous and classy stripper named Tempo Raye from about 1970. She was about 30, brunette, great body. Worked at Peter and Harry's, a little joint on Avery Street that connected to The New Normandy Lounge, which faced Washington Street. Both small and seedy but lots of fun. She also danced at The Moire, located on a small street perpendicular to Stuart and across from the old Living Room, not far from the old Nick's Steak House. Anyway, she was really hot. Also, there was a cute hooker named Dee Peterson who worked out of Good Time Charlies and the 663 on Washington. Any info on her?

If you go to youtube and search on the above title, you'll find a series of eight short interviews with Roland Shaughnessy, former drummer with Mac's Mob, the Rainbow's (Dario's maybe?), the Platters, and a few other groups. He talks about how he got into the business, life on the road, the Boston club scene in the 60s, his time at Berkelee, his decision to leave the business and what he's doing today.

Sam

Was the Tam around back then? I've heard it's been for a while. Any good stories, or at least shocking ones?

Does anyone remember Sonny Stanton and his band playing The Palace? 1959-62. He had a very good singer with the band: Moondog

Going back to the fifties, there was a piano bar in the alley way up Washington Street before Avery -- part of the Avery Hotel. I think it was above a restaurant named Dinty Moore. I saw Keith Jarrett there in the late fifties. He played there regularly.

When I first moved into the zone in 83 or so,the place on Tremont Street was Alfies -- amazing place;half Bikers(Red Emeralds),half hookers and pimps.I was there one night when Dominick(who was only part owner at the time) threw a guy through the front window.JB the bartender was the man if you wanted virtually any controlled substance.I worked in the clubs for a few years,then I worked for Alex at the Saxon with Tony and Big Dave Guthrie.That place was almost as rough as the clubs that I had worked in.To the anon who posted on Sept.16,do you remember Brenda ? She had a place above the Saxon,too.She,um,worked at home.She also was a fixture dancing in the 70s,but retired because hooking paid better(her words).How about Richie Allen?Maybe we knew a lot of the same people.Ah nostalgia......

Does anyone remember the cast of characters at the Naked I in the mid-seventies. I think a guy named Ray C? ran the club. There was a supposed FBI agent called Earl. One of the bartenders was Tony and the day manager was Billy. Some of the dancers were Suzanne, Jasmine, Lynda. The band was terrific, but then - as with the other clubs - they were replaced with a jukebox. For a while there was a black woman MC - but I can't remember her name.

I'd love to hear if anyone knows what happened to these folks.

does anyone remember the mouse trap lounge