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Combat Zone, the

The city's "adult entertainment district," located between Downtown Crossing and Chinatown, more or less. The porno places are now entirely gone, and the "combat" these days are mostly between developers and Chinatown residents who don't want to be displaced by expensive condos planned for the area's rundown buildings.

There are now just two strip clubs left, both huddled together on the mostly-an-alley Lagrange Street.

Chris Gassler

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Comments

But it is a lot smaller.

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You're not going to believe this, but one night, in the late 60s, or 70s, a group of friends and I were at the Pilgrim and saw you. I had never seen a stripper before, and I was at once horrified and intrigued. Your act was great, and your gown was beautiful. Ironically, 12 years later, I became a dancer at the 'I' and then, a costume designer. Because of you, maybe?

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Boston Combat Zone Reunite Here on Facebook is something I started for people to share stories and reconnect... Scarlett made the best costumes... I also fondly remember the chain mail costume I bought from Lady Linda LaMae...

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Would love to hear the stories and tell them in a book about he old zone

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For more information on the Combat Zone in the 50s, 60s, and 70s refer to The Passage, authored by Phillip Vitti, a Boston undercover cop.
Published in 2012 and is available online from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, available also as an e-book.

This is a true account of my undercover years on the Boston Police which spanned a decade. It provides an intimate account into the 60s culture from the Combat Zone to social turbulence of the 60s era.

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Dear Panama Red I would love to interview you for research that I am doing while putting together the Screenplays/scripts for the TV show I am writing called the COMBAT ZONE. Would you be willing to talk to me in this regards? please EMAIL me if you can [email protected]

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It was almost 40 yrs ago and I still remember "Midnight"! . she used to dance at the "checkmate" and "Cabaret" lounge's up on Rte.1 in Peabody also. As a teenager She was the hottest dancer I had ever seen. Actually to this day I have not seen another, anywhere, that even compares. Would love to see a video or pics of her from back then.

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I remember Jerold's like It was yesterday, I had a show band called Main Street People and we purchased all our outfits at Jerold's, You probably sold them to us, heheheheh, I knew all the bands and entertainers you mentioned, I also played Guitar with Tito Mambo & the Voodoo men, and with Mason Dixon & the line for awhile, Those were the dayz my friend, I still have a show band today called The Classics and we still do the same material we did back then, The Temptations Ojays, Stylistics, Intruders and all those sweet soul tunes, check out our website,,http://www.theoriginalclassics.com

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DO YOU REMEMBER THE PLASTIC COCK COIN CHANGER ON THE COUNTER AT LIBERTY BOOK STORE AND THE MOP AND BUCKET ALWAYS READY TO GO AT THE PEEP BOOTHS IN THE BACK AND THE HOOKERS DOIN PEOPLE IN THE BOOTHS AND THE MANGER YELLING LETS GO PEOPLE I WANT TO SEE THOSE LIGHTS OFF IN THE BOOTHS IF THE LIGHT WUZ OFF THE BOOTH WUZ IN USE ONLY TWO PEOPLE ALLOWED IN A BOTH NO THREESOME OR 4 SOME ALLOWED DUE TO INSURANCE THATS WHAT THE SIGN SAID NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE PEEEPS STALE SMELL OF BO AND URINE EVERYWHERE

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I was guitar player in Boston from 64 to 71. Mainly with Everett miles and the screamers (skeemers).

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Back In 1967 I played Basin street south backing up Laura lee, she was doing uptight, your a dirty dirty man, those were the dayz,

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yes, i earned my wings also, between mar and july 1969. i was 21 and running on empty. The downtown lounge was my 'hangout'!!! after that -vietnam

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I remember Vanessa (Basque girl, exotic looks with a tough boyfriend). May have seen her in Atlantic city on TV. Remember beautiful Italian girl bartender ("Tonee'). I understand she opened her own place near Corey's. One of the nicer gals had a tatoo of the Iron Cross Mototrcycle Club.
All this about 1975/6.

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Angela lived in Winthrop with her daughter and fell on hard times. cancer caught her and she had to suffer two mastectomies. Unbelievably hard on her.

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ANGELA>>>>> HI HERES ONE 4 YA

KARLSON AND MA MUH KENZENZIE WZLX TICK OFF A TRUCKER HA HA HA HA

OH THOSE 2 WERE TROUBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE STATE POLICE WENT AFTER THEM FOR SHOOTING GOLF BALLS OFF THE PRU!!

BACK IN THE DAY YOU TUBE TICK OFF A TRUCKER WIPEM OUT WENSDAY!!!!!

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She died of cancer..never had a mastectomy..stated in her uterus..I am her daughter..check-out facts..

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I worked at the Rat in Kenmore Square in the late 70s. We were great friends with Curtis & Earl from Jerome's. The after hours parties they had were legendary. If you thought the Combat Zone was ugly at night wait, the place was downright surreal at 7 in the morning.

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Dana Darnell

I worked with Melonie who went on to be penthouse pet of the year and Veronica. I worked for both Venus brothers but mostly Teddy, who actually treated me very well.

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I remember hearing your name.I'm not sure if I ever really looked at your face. I got lost elswhere. Sounds funny but I miss the old zone. Ended when the pimp killed the Harvard kid

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Wow. Do you remember what year it was that the short sleeves thing happened? That's terrible. And in the combat zone, of all places, where women were stripping, and yet a black man's arms were considered offensive! I'd like to find out more about this ban, if possible.

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Ah " Good Time Charlies " I"m trying to remeber were I met " Rochelle " @ " Charlie"s " or the 663 {the 663 now a high end condo the Kensington} What can I say about " Rochelle " to this day nearly 40 plus years later I think of her often and the many'many good times we spent together,was it wasted well thats up to any readers to decide For me it was great and memries are everlasting for me

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Billy Bennett now that's a blast from the past. I also was in Boston in the 70's and 80's my people worked the Slipper as well. Lulu. I recall billy would always give customers back quarters with their change tap the bar and throw them in his jug. Built his home with those quarters. Lol. We lived in the Avery for the first couple of years we were together before moving to Dorchester. I remember moving in and having a phone installed and for a good two months would wait for the operator to come on to place my call. Came from living in the Avery. All the dancers stayed there that worked the circuit as well as the theatre folks. Thanks for the memories

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Hi Michael,
I'm writing a book about the 1976 murder of Andrew Puopolo in the Combat Zone and looking to talk to anyone who knew Naomi Axell (Axel) Aka Naomi Martin, Carol Martin, Naomi Douglas, Cassandra McIntyre, Edward Soares, Richie Allen or Leon Easterling. I am looking for anyone who can to understand and humanize these characters in the upcoming book. If you can help me, please contact me at [email protected]. or through my website www.janbrogan.com Thank you in advance.

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I danced at the Silver Slipper and the early 80s matter fact Billy Bennett son and I dated so if you're reading this and you remember Jody just saying hi

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The Combat Zone is no more. It's since been eliminated by gentrification.

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Panama Red hi do you remember me Simone de Ville? I worked with you. Wow. Had a lot of fun in Boston. Hope you're well! Remember Kelly ?

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I came across this posting while doing research for an oral history of the Combat Zone for Boston.com. So I'm going to rattle the cages and if anyone willing to share stories of this time, please send me an email at [email protected]. Particularly Panama Red! Thanks. - Chris

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Hi: I just have a quick comment. I spent some of my best years in the Combat Zone in Jerome's. I loved that place and the fella who ran it. The bands, The Ferraris of Canada and The Fascinators had some of the nicest
guys who would sit with you, have a beer and just talk. And the sailors were all very nice too. I loved to dance so I was always on the dance floor. So for the past few weeks I've had one of the band members of the Ferraris on my mind so I looked him up today and found that he had passed away this past August in Yarmouth, NS. His name was Edgar Mickey Fevens. I will miss those days but I have those memories. I'm glad I looked up the Combat Zone.

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I was the one who danced at the Naked Eye Cabaret and the Club 66 and wore the Indian Headress . Have so many fond memories of dancing at the Naked Eye from 1979-1985. Remember Mal Horowitz and his brother who owned the club and the head bouncer Jeffrey. Best waitress there was a girl named Lisa who handles the drinks in the back stage The Pussy Galore Stag Bar ! Used to strip there at nights and gallop Thoroughbred Race Horses in the mornings at Suffolk Downs Race Track. Wow the energy I had back then ! Now Train Race Horses and have for years but will never forget my days in the zone. Used to get back stage passes all the time too from owners of the club to see bands perform at Boston Garden. Will never forget meeting Freddie Mercury of Queen and became a regular to see them when they came to Boston. Best experiences of my life !!

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I'd ask that the naked eye and I remember the dancer with a headdress do you remember Paris she taught me how to dance cuz Mel is now is like you're cute and all but you need to dance she taught me how to dance you know I remember so much Mandy work the front and I remember I hated that backstage man I always got on that backstage with someone that paid some freaking weird-ass music on the front stage and I are stuck with it but oh yeah good times with the naked eye by the way I'm Chris I was a little one

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MY MOM WAS ELAINE

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Hi Fern, I never had a chance to go to the I but would have loved to just did not live there at the time. Hey do remember a younger dancer working there called chrystal? probably 18, 19 at the time some girls she knew was, ann, and chocolate, mary. I know (or maybe christal?) very well dating her after she left boston to another state.--------------------thanks

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18 yrs old went in to the old silver dollar lounge,renamed the downtown.the green men where playing.good house band also.drank. Rheingold beer.from then on,I was there most nights.Ozzie otts,novelty lounge,novelty lounge,intermission,trans lux movie house.pilgrim theater move from Scilly square.saw my 1st naked women at the old Howard follies.Olympia billiards.bonds pool hall.

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Moved up from scolly square.the old Howard.was the premier strip club in Boston hung around the 2 o,click lounge.sorry to see it's gone.

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Strange to run across this article so many years later. Played bass in Roger Pace's band the Pacemakers in the late sixties. Had a long music career but never saw a greater entertainer. Gave it all every night. I joined the band after the Simone brothers left. Doug D'Agrosa was my guitar mate. Muzzy player sax, Barry on trumpet and Johnny on drums. Obviously we played other venues but the Intermission was Roger's Boston home. We played 7 nights a week with jam sessions on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Musicians visited to see us on off nights as I did before joining the band. Never to be forgotten are the many nights when Roger picked up his alto and led the other horn players across the street and into Jeromes. All the time playing the Red Rose Tea song and leaving us, the rhythmn section playing on stage. Around the horseshoe bar in Jeromes and back across Washington never missing a lick. They come back into the club with Jeromes patrons following. This pissed off that club owner but the Balleros loved it. Could tell many more stories but time doesn't permit.

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My father was BRUNO BALLIRO, spent many years down at the Intermission Lounge with my DAD. Combat zone was one big happy family.

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I remember you Scott, your brother Bubba, your dad Bruno, your grandad Joe. Manager John D. Bartenders Joey, Michael, Big Jack, Johnnie F. Can't remember his name but he resembled Clint Eastwood.....Christina and Aida our barmaid and dancers Sugar, Bunny, Amber, Tiger, Brittney, Frenchy and Emerald. I remember Carmen. So may more faces I remember but can't put their names out there. Many good people. Crazy times and some sad times.

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Hi Scott!
A lot of good times at the intermission, Sad about Bobby (bartender) where ever the future brought you, I wish all the best for you!
You are a good dude!
Mark.

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Hi . My father was Ronnie Malfy. He worked the intermission up until 80 I believe. He was 5 foot 9 dark complected Italian with a mustache. He was close with all the balliros I remember seeing billy in the old bar on squire road Revere. I hope to hear from you. My email is [email protected].

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My brother (Muzzy) tenor sax player w/ Roger Pace & the Pacemakers was good friends with Joe Balliro & crew back in mid 60’s

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It's 2022 now and it still amazes me that I survived my years dancing in The Zone. Drugs were so prevalent and easy to get. Almost all the dancers used either coke or dope and pills. Most also drank real liquor when mixing at the bar. We worked very closely with our all-male bartenders. They knew exactly what we drank and how much. I remember Vinnie from the Intermission, and Dennis. They were both bartenders during the period from 1979-1982 when I worked in The Zone. I was about 20 years old at the time. I used the stage name Tammy, which didn't really suit me but was bestowed upon me by my agent Roy-Dee. I met so many famous people and had a lot of fun. I made an obscene amount of money! If I was on my game, I could easily make $1,000 a night. Unfortunately I blew most of it on drugs and parties. I worked at a lot of the clubs in the Zone. The Naked i Cabaret, The PussyCat, The Silver Slipper. I also would work out in Saugus. I remember The Golden Banana and the male dancers. Kid Dynamite was a close friend. Working in those dark, dirty, smelly clubs taught me a whole lot about the world. I developed an addiction to drugs that would haunt me off and on for the next 25 years. But I had my looks so I always did well financially. I even danced at The Body Shop in LA. I also applied for a job as a Bunny at the Great Gorge, NJ PlayBoy club. But the Bunny Mother at the time told me that although I was beautiful, I had the legs of a dancer and the New York club was a better fit for me. I never went to the interview because I was to busy doing drugs and by then I had met my future Baby Daddy. He was a wealthy gangster from Southie, who is now deceased. He took me out of that life and I moved back to Plymouth,MA where I had my son. I am now raising my 13 year old Grandson. If the general public knew what really went on in those clubs, they'd be blown away. I had a lot of fun there. Chinatown was where we would go after work to eat and drink more! Also Jacob Wirths restaurant which was right around the corner. They had great food there. I used to stay at the old Essex Hotel when I was between apartments. I loved the history of that place. The red velvet drapes and black piano in the lobby. I can't say I was sad to see The Zone gentrification. A lot of secrets died with that place. Some of the girls I worked with were murdered and I think of them often. What would their lives have been like now? I'm glad mine turned out well and that I'm alive to talk about it.

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Fern, This is a very old thread, but if you are interested in an Eye reunion with some of the people you named contact me! Prior bartender

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Hey Victoria, I remember you, your boyfriend was Desmond, right? One night an Indian customer bought me bottle after bottle of Moët on your station by the runway in the front bar. His English wasn’t great but I do recall him saying “Mrs. Victoria — one more bottle!” Get in touch. Wilhelmina

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Hey Panama,

My name is Jeremy Fraga, a Boston based filmmaker and photographer. Since moving to Boston in 2007 I’ve always had my mind on doing a sort of docuseries on the once notorious zone. With the advancement of radio dramas and podcasts in todays world it only seems right to do this is the style of the Providence centered podcast, Crimetown.

Since you were involved with the Zone so closely, I would really love to hear your tales from that time.

Thanks for reading,
Jeremy Fraga
(508) 951-0485
[email protected]

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WOW, this is a great site. I too danced in the Zone. Stanley truly was a sweet guy and I remember how shocked we were when he died, he was like 38 or something. Also knew John the manager at the Intermission, another wonderful guy. (Joe Balerro (sp) was the owner who was a bit scary. I danced under the name Demian from 74-85. Living Room, Intermission, Picadilly and Pussy Cat. I was I college and then law school. It was a great gig. More later...Today's a work day and yes I am still a practicing atty. would love to hear from anyone who worked there. Anyone remember Suzanne Monterrez? (sp). (Not my forte). [email protected].
Cheers
Dawn

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Hey Panama,
I want to interview you for a podcast on the zone. Please contact me back below

[email protected]

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You must've known my Dad, Dick Delmont. He ran a lot of those places. I was young but, I remember the Caribe was the first place. Nick was a bartender there.

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Hi Richard. My name is Sandi. I was Sandi Anderson back in the 60's.I used to waitress at the Intermission and I was married to Frankie Anderson, lead singer/piano player for the Tamales. We were good friends with Roger Pace for many years. I lost track of Frankie in the early 70's after I remarried. We used to keep in touch periodically, as we have a daughter(who is now almost 55). Then he just seemed to fall off the face of the earth. We've been trying to locate him for decades now. There was also Bernard on drums. Unfortunately,from what Frankie told me many years ago, Butch died in a fall from a hotel window in NYC. I'd really like to find out about Frankie...one way or another. I'll bet he'd like to know that he has grandchildren and great grands.

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If anyone knows where they are I have a jar of quarters for Billy. Fun times. Great years

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Billy Bennett passed in 2004. Nina probably put a few quarters in.

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Sorry to hear Billy passed. Nina was a good pal.

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My name is Chris and I me and my roommate Mandy used to dance at the naked eye and the glass slipper we were Roy these girls in the early 80s wondering if you remember either one of us at the time when Mel and is Zippity Z sneakers on the naked eye what time what times what times

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Holy F**"
I can't believe that name!
I remember him...
I worked for him out of the Naked Eye 1988
Typical sleazeball is right..

I worked Harry's bar for a minute in the late 80's
Was looking on this site reminiscing....

Used to come into town every night

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I worked for Louie Venus and his brother Teddy back in 1967, 1968. Louie Venus Book Store worked front part of his store. Go Go dancer Jeromes and worked as waitress serving drinks to customers. Downtown Lounge worked for Teddy as Goo Go dancer also waitress and bartender. Met my husband combat zone at The time he was bartender

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I tended bar in the late 60's early 70's at Jerome's for Louie V. I worked with Nancy,Pam,Stu and T.T. and Mr Handsome from Needham (can't remember his name). Jack S. got me the job,money was good and some good times. I gotta say Louie was always good to me,probably cuz I didn't steal from him. It was quite the chapter in my life for sure. Miami was on the door..

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I was a Go Go girl at the Down Town Lounge and Jeromes Lounge in the early 70s. I remember Nancy and Pam. I remember Colt 44 who befriended me.
They called me Sweet Mary because I was from the south and when I first started dancing, I ended up getting sick on alcohol because I thought I had to drink every drink bought for me.

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My mom, Patricia Lee, told me that Louie Venus is my godfather and Angel Satin is my godmother. I remember many good times from those days. I was so well protected.

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Wow! This brings back so many memories for me. I moved from Virginia to Boston in 1970 and became a Go Go girl for Louie and Teddy. Louie, we called PaPa was really nice. There was a dancer called Colt 44 that befriended me. I often wonder what happened to her. Coming from a small town in the south, it was called most exciting time my life. I met my son's father at Geromes. I'm back in Virginia, a retired therapist now, but Boston will always be home to me.

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I was a guitar player with Daddy Warbux. I knew you, Acapulco Gold, and Kandy Kane, who I dated. Don't know if you will get this, but I just found out Kandy had my kid in 1972. She never told me, as I left the group to go play in San Francisco. I just heard from my son after 47 years. I am now 71 years old, and have been a Lawyer in Connecticut for many years. I believe you went out with Chuck our bass player. He is still alive, and is 72. If you get this, drop me a line. Kandy contacted me through our son. She put the boy up for adoption. Again, I had no idea until last week, when he contacted me. He maintains contact with her. Jim

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google type in hairy threesome look for x hamster ob you get the idea of 1869 beacon street brookline mass hairy pussy like liberty book stores best quarter peeps and cold tea in the zone
1869 beacon street threesomes five somes pay phones ringing all day all night in the hall way (is ma welfare claim approved yet is my social security claim approved yet) until they were removed ripped out by bell new england no coins the coin box it wuz fuckin nightmare at 1869 beacon st make sure ya have holy water and crucifix if ya pass by their >> fanny fox was hot at pilgrim just couldnt handle the rats and sticky seats and sticky wee wee smell wooden floor and all the pot smoke from people smokin reefer oh my all that reefer smoke and people laughing high and all the drug dealers and hookers going in and out of the isles workin the crowd like an usher at red sox game hey ya wanna blow job 20 bucks for hand job it was crazy and king arthurs oh shit king arthurs same thing smell of piss and old english and old spice it was disgusting durdy but fun kind of smelly durdy rats eatin the spilled pop kern of the floors pilgrim theater was never cleaned j ust like 1869 beacon street was it wuz a pig n poke i seen people take their clothes off in the pilgrim gettin blowjob while smokin reefer and laughin at fritz the kat vomiting all over puddles of piss and piles of shit i always brought a flash light into pilgrim and king arthurs back in the day during 8 somes weed put on fuck movie on vcr fire up a bag of weed in the hookah and have at it yep no more sport fuckin like that bone ape-tit

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TYPE JOHN HOLMES THREESOME IN GOOGLE YOU GET THE IDEA OF 1869 BEACON ST APTS 1 AND 2 BACK IN THE DAY NO SHOWER OR BATHING FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE AND AFTER THE FACT

1869 BEACON STREET BETTER THAN THE PILGRIM AND ARTZ CINEMAS COMBINED FRITZ THE KAT FOR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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she was never the headliner at the 2 o clock and it was the 4 seas in chinatown not 4 seasons, harry mok owned and ran the restaurant and chinatown- someone who was there 25 yrs

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I remember you very well. I worked for Teddy and Louie Venus at the Down Town Lounge and Geromes Lounge in the early 70s as a gogo girl! They called me Sweet Mary because I was very shy coming from the south and being "green" as hell!
I was the high yellow dancer with the hour glass shape and big legs. I always wore fringes on all my costumes. There was also a dancer called Colt 44. I really liked her and wonder what happened to her. It's nice to hear from someone from those career days! Send me an email, I would love to hear from you!

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Do you remember Sandy Beach I’m sure she was very much a stickler about her music sets !!

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Hi there. My mom worked at teddy bear lounge and I’m curious if anyone remembers her. She went by “miss dynamite “. She is still alive and well. She tells stories about her years back in the day. Would just be interesting to hear.

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Hi Red!!

I was head bartender at the Naked i. Took a little trip down memory lane and saw your post here. Thought I’d wave. Hope all is well. Joel

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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. [email protected] is mine. Any more memories about the early bands at Jeromes would be welcome, too.

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THEIR WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER JEROMES!!!!!!!!!! THAT WUZ TRUE OLD SKOOL BAHSTAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MISS THE OLD DAYS THERIPPLE NIGHT TRAIN >>>>> AND MILES DAVIS SONG SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SMEGMA AND THE NUNS FOR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER A GROUP CALLED """" HOT ACOUSTICS""""""" FROM CT

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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

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Tangerine

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apostleship of the sea sf>> rev heaney rusty ol durdy filthy beds just like the ol mariners house back in the day or the dog house in manhattan chicken wire overhead just like the gulf knight.
krappy ol nmu hall on melcher st.

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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

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Interesting article in this month's Boston Magazine about Mayor Menino's wish to do away with the remnants of the Combat Zone among other things.

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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.

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I was guitarist with "Everett Miles and The Screamers" 1964 - 1971. I spent most of that time playing the Boston area/Cape Cod etc and naturally the Combat Zone. I played a couple of nights at the Intermission with Roger Pace. His guitarist and bassist were (the Simone Brothers I believe), brothers and for some reason I was sent to cover the gig for him. This is an unforgetable memory. I would love contact with anyone from that time period and who is a veteran of the combat zone.

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Hi John,

I played with Everett for two weeks before I left Boston, but you probably remember me as Roger's guitarist in '67 and '68. My wife Jeanne passed away in Aug of '69 and I left for the West Coast.
I last spoke to Roger in '99 ot 2000. He wanted to start the Pacemakers again!!!

I hope that you're well and I have a million Roger Pace stories to share.

Best,

Doug

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Hi Doug, i bought a telecaster from you back in Boston.I played at the downtown Lounge (Pussy cat) and with a group called Dino (or Dario)and the Deciples. I also backed up Lady Bo a couple of times as well as a few strippers. I also played a short time at Jeromes and any other gig I could get. On the breaks,the musicians would go over to the Intermisssion to watch you play with Roger. Your playing was so advanced, it blew everyone away. I think I met you again at an Etta James gig in La at the Troubadour in the late Sevanties. Does that sound familiar? I had a terrible flu and only played chords for that gig. I probably wasn't very friendly as i was sick on every break.I think you were hanging around with Buzzy Feiton so i assume you were doing well musically
Anyway, I figured I would eventually come across you on the internet and I couldn't believe it when i saw your blog. Hope you are well and I would be interested to hear what you are up to musically.
You can see my bio at Twocatstv.com I mostly compose and arrange now.
John Rinehimer

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Don't know if you'll remember me (tall, blonde).....I worked at the Fred Petty agency in Boston...and I remember you coming in looking for work, remember thinking what a nice guy you were....and I think we did get work … you were great!! So sorry to hear about your wife....my sympathy goes out to you. this site has really brought back so many memories of the old days.....I'm just amazed at all the names I recognize. reminds me of the saying: "the best thing about the good old days..was I wasn't good and I wasn't old"!! :-) What are you up to now??? I replied to john paiva's post if you want to check it out.

Jeanne

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Hi Jeanne,

The old crowd is coming together again! I've been in touch with several of the musicians and fans through the Roger Pace blog.

You can get in touch with me via e-mail or by calling one of the numbers on my web page: www.harddrivestudio.com It would be great to spend some time reminiscing.

What ever happened to Fred Petty?

Muzzy toured with us when I was with Roger in '67. In '68 we used other horn men sporadically.

I'm in California now.

Doug

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Are you still in Florida?
Reminiscing about Muzzy, Fred, and the Roger Pace band that I was with twice. Once in '67 and again for several months in '68. Jeanne they beautiful blonde at Fred Petty's office.
Best wishes. I hope that you're happy.
Love,
Doug

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Jeanne,
My web guy is switching to a different host, so the page is down. It will be back up in a day or two.

Doug

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Jeanne,

You wrote. I answered. You disappeared. Let's catch up. Call me or write to me.

Doug

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HI Jeanne,
I read your post and saw that you worked at the Fred Petty agency. My grandpa was a Musician who I believe hired Freds agency. I do not know alot about my Grandpa and am just trying to gather some info, Do you happen to remember a Jim Kelly? aKa ShootGun Kelly?

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Hey Jeanne, still in Florida? I have a cousin who lives there. I might move. My recording studio has been a success, but enough is enough.... Call me at 818-588-1817. After Boston, went on the road with Van Morrison, played on and arranged some of the songs on one of his records. In Boston, in addition to Roger, I backed Etta James and Dee Clark, the O'Jays, Chuck Berry and others, some well-known, some not but usually good.
Anyway, how's life in Fla? Love, Doug

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Hey John, I do believe I remember you. I played horn with "Billy Paris, Juri Christie & the Upbeats" '69-'71. Played pretty much the same circuit: Downtown Lounge, Mad Russian, Pal Joey's, Lucifer, Joey's (Reviere), Downtown Lounge, Mad ... And how many times did we all take that front table at The Intermission - after greeting Jesse at the door - and get our dose of Roger Pace??? Remember Bobby Medeiros ... drummer with Albie & the Spellbinders ... blew double base & made it sound like a freight train from two feet away!!! Also around back then ... Mickey, Larry & the Exciters; Mason, Dixon & the Line; Max Mob ...

The Downtown Lounge was my second gig with the band, but I remember the Venus brothers, Larry, and Freddy Milinky on the door. Just down the street was the 'Mines' (basement level pool room), and across the street down a dingy side street was the world reknown Good Time Charlie's !!!

And how about those 2-6 matinees and 7:20-2 weekends at the Downtown ?! Killers, man.

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I started a blog on Roger Pace. I have collected a few photos and I welcome anyone to submit stories or pictures. The blog can be found at http://rogerpace.wordpress.com/

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Noticed on your blog you have a list of musicians who have
passed. i have a date for bill mazzocca (muzzy)....and will send it to you as soon as i can loate it.

Jeanne

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I've known Malinky for over 40 years. His first name was actually Joe and "Malinky" was a nickname, of course and not his real surname.

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EH EH HA HA HA HA >>> DO YOU REMEMBER A CARTOON @ INTERMISSION AT THE PILGRIM AND ARTZ CINEMA CALLED UH UM>>>>FRITZ THE KAT???? WHEN YOU WENT INTO THE PILGRIM THE SMELL OF REEEEFER THE SMELL OF URINE OLD SPICE OLD ENGLISH AND OF COURSE FRITZ THE KAT DORTHY LE MAY DID IT FOR ME IN CHOP STIX AT THE PILGRIM AND OF COURSE ROBER MILLS AND FANNY FOX EH EH HA HA HA HA HA GO WATCH ON YOU TUBE CHELSEA MASS 60 MINUTES WITH MORELY SAFER

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Hey John, it's Sal,you would remember me as Steve.I just punched in Roger Pace & the Pacemaker's & all these great story's started to appear. I hope life has been good to you & that you're happy & healthy. Do you still see Everett? As I recall, you guy's were cousin's. I ran into Muzi about nine year's ago & had a great time talking about the old day's. John, where did the time go? Snap ypur finger, and we're old men. Well I am anyway, you alway's had that baby face. I've never been 63 before,so I'm still trying to feel my way around.I alway's wished I had taken music more seriously, the one thing in life that was better than anything else I ever did was to play those drum's. Glad I found you & take care Steve Siciliano

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Don't know if you'll remember me....Jeanne...worked for Fred Petty agency and went out with Muzzy for a long time. i have a colored photo of Everett and the Skeemers (it says, i thought it was screamers?) you are in it...drummer. It's been quite a trip reading all these posts......sure took me back in time. don't want to repeat myself...so if you want to check out my replies to John Paiva and Doug D'Agrosa.
Jeanne

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I'm Jeanne....was with Muzzy for a long long time. I remember you were with a girl named Kathy (hope that's the right name)....not sure if you were married or just dating....you had a Siamese cat...right?? I think you used to live close by to Muzzy in Medford. I worked for the Fred Petty agency in Boston and we used to book the Intermission Lounge and others in the Combat Zone. I'm so glad I googled the Combat Zone...sure brought back a lot of memories....and I recognize so many of the musicians that have been mentioned...and of course who could forget Roger Pace. I remember he once Fred had booked Roger in Rhode Island, and the guys from the Intermission came up to the office, gave me a box of candy and some flowers and told me to just sit there and be a good girl...they went into Fred's office and really read him the riot act...kind of scary....well, you know that Roger was back at the Intermission the next night!!!!

I met Muzzy when Fred had a group called Tony Conn & Frantics .....he had them booked in troy NY...and the club owner wanted a girl with the group....so Fred asked if I could carry a tune....and off I went with the group for a few months. I guess Tony Conn almost made it at one time ( you can Google him) but he was a little washed up by then. Muzzy was on sax, Al Boudreau on bass, a kid they called 'Specs' on drums.

I went back to Fred Petty's agency after that...in fact Kenny Paulsen played with us once or twice.

checking out some of the posts, etc. it was sad to hear how many of the musicians I knew had passed away. Got a letter from Muzzy's sister a few years back telling me he had passed...wrote back to her but my letter came back..so I found an address for his brother Nicky and wrote there but still no answer. I have so many photos I thought they might want to have. I still have a colored photo of you with Everett.

I checked out your web page, and wow...you are really doing great!!! Hard to believe you're in Germany. You'll have to let me know how that came about.

After Fred's I went into modeling ....then in the middle 70's moved to Florida where my folks had retired. I live on bradenton beach on an island called Anna Maria Island. Really like paradise in the winter...the summer...not so much :-) It's a very narrow island...takes me three minutes to walk from the gulf to the bay. A little scary during hurricane season but so far the past few years we've been lucky...no hurricanes.

I hope you are checking this site and get my reply.

Jeanne

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Hello Jeanne, back in the late 70s I worked in several bands that booked through Fred's agency. In fact, my brothers father-in-law was Fred's CPA. Do you recall The Paris Brothers (Billy and Dickie)? Johnny C (Celemare) Louie Zaparti, they were in the band called Boston Gas and Electric. Mac's Mob? You may not have been with Fred during this time. He booked us into Lucifer, KKK Katys, The Carlton House and The Harbour House. I also did some work in the Combat Zone for the Venus (Venous) brothers.

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Jeanne,

My intuition tells me you are from Manchester where we knew each other years ago. I have often thought of you since then and hoped to someday meet up with you to catch up on old memories. If you read this and want to make contact I would be happy to speak with you. I note from your post you live in the Bradenton area. I sometimes travel there on business and it would be fun if we could share a cup of coffee and rehash life as it was in the past, etc. Bob

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Played there during mid to late 50's. Country bands Jerome's, Novelty67, Palace and the one was on the corner of Washington and I think Stuart. Also moved to Fl and now in Sarasota area. Still playing but acoustic
c

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I am thinking you are Jeanne Vale,saw you in Brighton on Havard Ave.Kenny P was with you guys.He was awsome then very underated guitar player.I remember you sang Tossin and Turnin and sang it just fine.I forget the club name,but I was a regular.Its gone now just like the CZ

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Hope my first msg got thru to you John LOOK ME UP ONLINE>

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I was a big fan of Roger Pace and the Pacemakers. During 1965-67, I went to the Intermission Lounge three or four times a week when Roger was playing. I was in my mid-twenties then.

Roger was an incredible performer. I used to try to get a table near the stage just so I could watch his footwork and his spins. I was in awe of him.

I remember how he perspired so profusely and would leave the stage completely exhausted after one of his 40 minute sets. Along with his high pompadour, tight-fitting jump suit, and wide-open gazing eyes, he looked pale, gaunt and, in a sad way, sickly. I remember always wondering what drugs he was using. Was he using drugs? Was it some kind of amphetamine. I’ll never know.

Despite his voice leaving something to be desired, (it was so raspy and rough from the screaming and strains he put on it night after night), he had so much emotion and soul when he sang that nobody cared about the quality of his voice. My favorite renditions were “Fannie Mae” by Buster Brown…..”Mr. Pitiful” by Otis…..”In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett……”I’ll Go Crazy” by James Brown….and many more. The band seemed to play the pieces better than even on the original commercial recordings. Kudos now, 45 years later to all those musicians that played in his band…….you all were so great.

The Intermission was a fabulous place. I remember a cold bottle of beer was 60 cents (I used to drink 6 or 7 bottles a night).......the “black lights” that would make my white shirt glow........the rocking music..........and how I would sit at the bar and marvel at the “in-crowd” hipsters dance a new step that I had not seen before. They referred to it as the “slop”, but later it got a more appropriate name “The James Brown”. At first, I was not able to get the hang of it, but I made up my mind to learn it, and spent hours at home, hanging on to the back of a chair, while I shuffled my feet alternately from side to side with heel-toe-heel-toe movements. After many weeks of practice, I finally got it down tight. I must say that I eventually became quite proficient with the step and went on to add some steps I copied from Roger (James Brown) like the one-leg slide, spins, etc. The key was to wear shoes with leather soles and the dance floor had to be slippery. The Intermission had a perfect floor.

By the way, that step came in quite handy for me as I used it over all these years and fool people into thinking I was a pretty good dancer.....and in my early sixties, I did a James Brown impression on stage that was the hit of the show at an all-staff reunion of the organization for which I work.

I was saddened to hear that Roger passed away in 2001. I wanted to get to see him perform one more time. I would have even traveled to Baltimore if I had known where he was performing in his later years.

Great times, great place, great musicians,……Roger Pace and the Pacemakers will never be forgotten.

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Roger never used a coffin in his performances, your thinking of that strange cat the walked on sometimes with a huge cross.
As far as the wise guys your talking about I once was late for a matinee at the "Intermish" so I took my motorcycle to the gig (1957 BSA Big Valve Rocket) and drove it right up onto the dance floor.
Joe Balero came up after I dropped the kick stand and said "do you think you could at least park
it over by the service bar?". One time when playing in the Lewis Room in Revere Roger was screwing around with the money again so Jack J. and I walked. (basically his horn section) that night Billy B. came to the club and told the owner he wanted Roger back at the Intermish. The owner didn't give a crap as to who he was talking to and told Billy I've got 2 weeks with an option so take off. You gotta understand that the band had been playing at the Intermish for about 9 weeks straight and that's 7 nights a week union 40 minutes on 20 off with as many as two matinees. Billy goes out and gets his shotgun and blows the windshield off the owners car. The next night Roger came up with the money and told us what happened and even though we
weren't there we all got subpoenas the following monday while in the dressing room at the Intermish from two plain clothes cops. We had to avail ourselves for about a week at the courhouse and you can't imagine what we looked like to the straight world whirling around us.
I personally thought we looked like some kind of fungus as we didn't rarely see daylight. We used to use TAN # 2 pancake on stage.

Roger's family name was Paesch and according to the social security
record he was born Nov. 24, 1944 and died May 29, 2001.

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Phil,

Came across your post by accident. I was serving aboard a Destroyer Escort going through yardwork in North Boston in '69. We had a little trio and played the Playhouse during the time of the race riots. As I recall, the bandstand was up on a raised platform over the heads of the patrons? On breaks we used to run around the block to a little quiet bar that seems like it had a tropic theme and a palm tree on the sign. Also used to buy most of my civilian clothes at The Mod Shop around the corner from the Playhouse. I understand the the whole CZ had been 'cleaned up'.

Bill

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Phil,

I just came about your post of December 4, 2008. I had to reply to it.

I was a big fan of Roger Pace and the Pacemakers. During 1965-67, I went to the Intermission Lounge three or four times a week when Roger was playing. I was in my mid-twenties then.

Roger was an incredible performer. I used to try to get a table near the stage just so I could watch his footwork and his spins. I was in awe of him.

I remember how he perspired so profusely and would leave the stage completely exhausted after one of his 40 minute sets. Along with his high pompadour, tight-fitting jump suit, and wide-open gazing eyes, he looked pale, gaunt and, in a sad way, sickly. I remember always wondering if he was on drugs. Anyway, I guess it was none of my business.

Despite his voice leaving something to be desired, (it was so raspy and rough from the screaming and strains he put on it night after night), he still had so much emotion and soul when he sang that nobody cared about the quality of his voice. My favorite renditions were “Fannie Mae” by Buster Brown…..”Mr. Pitiful” by Otis…..”In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett……”I’ll Go Crazy” by James Brown….and many more. The band seemed to play the pieces better than even on the original commercial recordings. Kudos now, 45 years later to all those musicians that played in his band……...they were so great.

The Intermission was a fabulous place. I remember a cold bottle of beer was 60 cents (I used to drink 6 or 7 bottles a night).......the “black lights” that would make my white shirt glow........the rocking music..........and how I would sit at the bar and marvel at the “in crowd” hipsters dance a new step that I had not seen before. They referred to it as the “slop”, but later it got a more appropriate name “The James Brown”. At first, I was not able to get the hang of it, but I made up my mind to learn it, and spent hours at home, hanging on to the back of a chair, while I shuffled my feet alternately from side to side with heel-toe-heel-toe movements. After many weeks of practice, I finally got it down tight. I must say that I eventually became quite proficient with the step and went on to add some steps I copied from Roger (James Brown) like the one-leg slide, spins, etc. The key was to wear shoes with leather soles and the dance floor had to be slippery. The Intermission had a perfect floor.

By the way, that step came in quite handy for me as I used it over all these years and fool people into thinking I was a pretty good dancer.....and in my early sixties, I did a James Brown impression on stage that was the hit of the show at an all-staff reunion of the organization for which I work.

I was saddened to hear that Roger passed away in 2001. I wanted to get to see him perform one more time. I would have even traveled to Baltimore if I had known where he was performing in his later years.

Great times, great place, great musicians,……the days of Roger Pace and the Pacemakers at the Intermission Lounge will never be forgotten.

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Hi
I used to work at the various clubs and I was Chicago Johns girlfriend at the time, I worked mostly under the name of Cinnamon Blake, and was best friends with Flo Morris the MC, I worked at a lot of different clubs in the combat zone, I think that they were great when the live bands were there, but I never could adjust to the Jukebox or tapes at the time.
I danced for a long time but for a while I had done the DJ at the Naked eye, I was a pretty good mixer in those days.
Now I am 61 and a mom of 3 and a grandma of 6, 3 of my grand kids are grow.
The people were really good people in the Zone, my opinion that destroyed is when that guy got murdered Puaplo or whatever hid name was.
It just seem like not long after that the clubs started falling like domino's.
Anyway if anyone remembers me, you can contact me at [email protected]

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I remember Flo from the Naked i in 1976 or 77. She was a very sweet lady. I was the sax player there for awhile and she gave me a few very nice compliments.

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Hi

I know this is an old thread but worth a shot.
The email address didn't work...

My dad was a vice detective working the zone for alot of years. I remember so many stories about the zone. He retired in early 80's. Shortly thereafter I started my own journey in the zone as a very regular patron and my favorite spot was the naked I.

I have vivid memories of the naked I and can clearly hear the sultry voice of the woman announcing the dancers.

"Dancing in the back, in the pussy galore stag bar, you'll be entertained by Jasmine"...

Was that you announcing them?

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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.

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I studied the Combat Zone intensely for five minutes at a time in the decade or so before I turned 18. When I was a child and we had just moved to town, we went out to see a movie, The Cat from Outer Space. I think it was playing at the Cinema 57 but we never got there. As we walked along the Zone’s periphery on our way to the theater, my father saw something – I don’t know what it was – that prompted him to turn us right around and go back home. I was intrigued.

Later, when my parents got divorced and I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, I would routinely catch a bus out of town from a corner near the Brigham’s at Tremont and Boylston and it would roll down Essex Street past a sprawling neon sex trip toward the highway.

Because the seedy Teddy Bear Arcade was on the outskirts of the Zone rather than at its epicenter, I made the mistake one day of telling my mother about going there after school. I didn’t know that it had once been the seedy Teddy Bear Lounge, but my mother did and as far as she was concerned it remained every bit as evil -- except now I was the entertainment for a new clientele of would-be child molesters. She refused to take me to a comic book store nearby and her instincts were later proven right when I went in myself one day and spotted a stack of gay porn videos at the cash register. The top one was called “The Cocksman.”

To hear it told now, the Zone was in decline even then. Andrew Puopolo got killed in 1976 and I didn’t even start coming through until ’82 or so. The lights were bright and the pants were tight, though, and not even the certain knowledge that three-quarters of the people I saw were eager to rape me and sell me into white slavery was enough to turn me off to its supercharged sex scene. There were posters of women with bare breasts outside the buildings – that was lure enough. A second-floor hotel promised temporary housing if I ever ran away from home. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t.

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I was a bouncer for many of the Venious-"owned" joints in the early to mid eighties,as well as working for Alex Andreou at the saxon coffee shop.My brother in law,Billy Phillips,was the"owner" of the caribe,along with Leo.remember manny the doorman?I used to hang out at Alfies on Tremont street.What a place-half hookers and pimps,half bikers(the red emeralds).Like you,I just stumbled onto the site,but will read it often.

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Hi Bob...
was a long time ago I blew into the Picadilly from Vegas...
Billy Phillips was such a good friend to me..I shall never forget
I wish you, Billy and Leo all well and hope your all still living to see this

XXX
Georgie

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Don't know if I ever met you back then but you must know by now that Billy Phillips and Leo have passed on. Billy in 1986 and then Leo not long after, maybe a few years later. It really was a fast life for some.

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Would love to hear about Billy ~ I’m good friends with his boy.

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I went to Billy's funeral in August 1986. I miss the Caribe. When it first became "Subway", I went inside and saw that the stage mirror still ran along the wall. I commented to the teenage boy working behind the counter, "Hey, did you know naked girls used to dance up there, once?" After chuckling at the shocked expression on his young face, I walked out. As I passed the door that used to be the payphone booth and that had led downstairs to the old dressing room, I wondered if it still smelled the same down there. I bet there will always be the faint smell of booze, perfume and smoke that permeated every strip joint in the Zone. I miss that smell. I would have paid money to go down there one more time just for old time's sake.

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Billy’s son was always a good friend ~ never met Billy. Tell me about him! His son said he was a one of a kind guy.

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Hi Bob,
I'm writing a book about the 1976 murder of Andrew Puopolo in the Combat Zone and looking to more thoroughly understand the defendants in the story. Do you know or know anyone who did know Richie Allen, Edward Soares or Leon Easterling. Allen and Soares might have been around when you were there. Thanks for considering my email is [email protected] if you have any memories you want to share.

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I'm writing a book about the Andrew Puopolo murder and eager to talk to anyone who might have know Leon Easterling, Richie Allen, Edward Soares, Naomi Axell (aka Naomi Martin aka Carol Martin) and Cassie McIntryle AKA Sandy McIntrye.

If you have any knowledge or memories of them, I'd be grateful,

I can be contacted at [email protected]

thanks

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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

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In 1969, as an eighteen-year-old college freshman, I managed a six-story flophouse inside the Combat Zone, renting rooms by the week to the local dancers, hookers, musicians, drug dealers and street scammers. I recently published a book formed from that experience, Lovers, Muggers & Thieves – a Boston Memoir. Although this is a work of nonfiction, most of the names and other identifying characteristics of the persons and places included in this memoir have been altered to protect identities. The experiences detailed are all true and have been portrayed as I remember them, to the best of my ability, but I would be dishonest if I did not confess to slight distortions of the finer points which lay beyond the clouds of reminiscence. Some details, drawn with lines through decades of memory, may be inaccurate. I also have taken some liberties and romanticized the musical entertainment inside the strip clubs, substituting juke-box rock for the ubiquitous honky-tonk crap; although the snare drum and organ do make an appearance in a few venues. Conversations throughout the text may not always be word-for-word transcriptions of actual dialogue, but rather are meant to bring the emotional entanglements of this time to life. To be sure, Lovers, Muggers & Thieves is not meant as a story about the Combat Zone; it just happens to take place there. This is more of a coming-of-age tale about a boy coping in a man’s world. When I moved into the building I was a virginal, innocent, wide-eyed kid; within six months I was carrying on an affair with a popular stripper, ten-years my senior, joining her and her friends for enjoyable diversions from the daily grind of my classroom existence. My story brings to life a convergence of extraordinary events inside the city’s most infamous neighborhood. It’s an entertaining journey of friendship flirting with the dark side. To my friends and neighbors of the Combat Zone who shared with me a brief moment in time and forever changed my life, this memoir is dedicated to you.

jonathan Tudan

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Any readings in local bookstores?

Your book is not (yet?) in either the Minuteman Library Network or the BPL catalog.

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Ron...
My book was recently published. I don't know why it is not available at BPL; I am not familiar with Minuteman. LM&T is available in several Boston outlets: the COOP at MIT, South Station, Trident Booksellers on Newbury, Emerson College, BU, Northeastern, Barnes & Noble South Shore Plaza. It can also be found on Amazon and B&N's websites. I have spoken with BU and MIT's COOP about a signing in the fall after the students return. I will be in Boston the end of this month for an interview with Mike Marotta, the Arts & Entertainment editor for the Herald.

jonathan Tudan

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is the union catalog of almost all local libraries *except* the Boston Public Library: Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Brookline, Newton, etc. So if your book isn't in that catalog, none of those libraries have yet bought it.

http://mln.lib.ma.us/

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The book's web site is: www.loversmuggersandthieves.com

jonathan Tudan

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Hello Jonathan

I've posted a few times here as I was a secretary for a booking agency that booked many many musicians at clubs in the combat zone.
Wondering if you could tell me how and why the big change in the zone from all rock and roll clubs in the sixties.. to all
strip clubs, etc.??

Jeanne

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jeanne i worked in the teddy bear lounge in park sq as a bar tender while in school.i was there from 1971 to 1973.did you also book the dancers?i like to locate a few of my old pals .do you know of any way to locate dancers from that era ,they would probably be in their 60s today,,max

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Jeanne,
I'm sure the change was all about M-O-N-E-Y. When I lived there in 1969 I knew of only one club that rocked out good R&B, the Downtown Lounge, but perhaps there were more. Little Joe Cook played there often. I knew Little Joe... Did you book his group?

Jonathan

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In the late 1950’s Scollay Square and the “red light district” behind it, were leveled to make way for the new Government Center development; a deal was made between the folks who ran the prostitution and nude clubs in Boston and the City Government.

The deal was that, instead of having this illegal activity being all over the city with Scollay Square as the focus; the Lower Washington Street area was given over to the folks who ran the prostitution and nude clubs. In return that area enjoyed an easement of the local obscenity and liquor laws; as long as the “Combat Zone” ran smoothly and “safely.”

City realtors could move towards gentrifying the neighborhoods that no longer had “seedy” clubs in them and business boomed in the new “burlesque” theater district. (Win-win.)

The “Combat Zone” was so named later by newspaper articles. (Catchy.)

I spent a lot of time in the Combat Zone in the mid-1970’s; I felt “looked after” by the folks that owned the clubs. Good times.

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Jonathan,
I bought your book on Amazon and read it! I'm writing a book about the 1976 Murder of Andrew Puopolo and was wondering if you knew or knew anyone who knew any of the defendants. Leon Easterling, Richie Allen or Edward Soares.

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Jonathan,
I bought your book on Amazon and read it! I'm writing a book about the 1976 Murder of Andrew Puopolo and was wondering if you knew or knew anyone who knew any of the defendants. Leon Easterling, Richie Allen or Edward Soares.

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"When I moved into the building I was a virginal, innocent, wide-eyed kid"

Huh, ain't that the truth.

Hello Jon. Your book arrived yesterday and I've nearly finished it. Hell of a read that's brought back a lot of fond memories of our misspent youth. I've sent you an email through the book's site and hope to hear from you soon.

Hi Doug. I'm not sure you'll remember me. I used to visit you and Jeanne at your digs on Gloucester St. I remember you had a friend, Jorge N. visiting from Mexico at the time. Glad to hear you're still alive and kickin'.

Hello Phil Kava. If you happen to hear from Little Al, please tell him that his old friend Tink remembers him with much affection and speaks of him whenever we chat about our days in the Zone. Is Jackie J (sax player and close friend of Al's) still around too?

Hi John Paiva. I'm wondering if you know whatever happened to Muzzi, Everett's sax player? Big bear of a guy that everyone loved. I heard he passed away some time ago, but don't know if that's true.

Very sad news that Roger has passed. He was a truly lovely man and without a doubt one of the best frontmen ever.

For those that are interested, I have an 8x10 black and white photo of Roger and the Pacemakers. Roger's on the far left, then Arnie Barrie, Jimmy Gregory, Jimmy Cady and Denny Ward kneeling in front. It's tattered, stained and ripped, but still easily photocopied. If you contact me at liviatrivia at yahoo, I'm willing to make copies and send them to you, but if I get a lot of crap mail at that account, it will be closed. So please, serious requests only and first consideration to those who knew him. Or, as an alternative, if anyone has the expertise to instruct me, perhaps there's a way to recreate it electronically and post it on someone's website? Either way, I'm willing to share.

Thanks everyone, for sharing your memories of life in the Zone. It's been a pleasure to read.

Sam

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I've been talking to Doug a lot because we're both out here on the coast.
Jack Joyce was a fisherman down' P town for a while thought I have had contact
with him since the early nineties. I didn't know Muzzie was gone (Billy Mazocca).
A sax player/repairman Bob Drinkwater out in Wakefield heard from him once in
a while.
Jimmy Keady was seen playing and singing at an open mike night in Quincy.
Phil Kawa is available from Kawamusic.com
Doug has a recording studio in N. Hollywood called Hard Drive.
Denny Ward (Haddad) is gone. As are (I believe) both Simone brothers.
If you can get more info to me please. I don't remember your name and I can't remember Tinks
real name either.

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I just got the book from Ebay.......very reasonable price.It's definitely a great read.Thanks for the memories.

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Thanks for picking up my book form ebay. It's nice knowing you enjoyed it.

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i understand you wrote a book about the combat zone, what's it called?

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The title of my book is, Lovers, Muggers & Thieves - A Boston Memoir.

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Hi Jonathon,
I read your book because I was in the middle of all the crap when the zone exploded. The zone really didn't take off until a little later that when you wrote about. The only police name I recognized was my good friend Eddie McNelley. The problem is that he didn't show up in the combat zone until 1972 or so. He went on to become commander of the vice squad but that wasn't until about 1975, long after you apparently left. The building in which you lived I believe was 224 Tremont St. It became a real nest of vermin during the mid 70's. I had many occasions to enter it and made many arrests there. Anyway just wanted to say hi.
Billy Dwyer
([email protected])

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Hi Billy,
First, that you kindly for reading my book; I hope you found it a fun read. I tried to keep it as pure and truthful as possible. While I do not dispute your contention about Eddie, I want to state for the record, my research runs counter to your statement. I sent you a personal e-mail that illustrates a bit of the research behind the events I portray in Lovers, Muggers & Thieves.

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HEY BILLY DID YOU KNOW MY PARENTS..... JOE COSTA AND MY MOTHER WAS ELAINE SHE OWNED THE FOUR CORNERS LOUNGE AND BOTH MY PARENTS OWNED CHRIS LIQUORS INC. AND MY GODFATHER WAS JOE TOBAGGI

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I just came across your posting I too am interested in writing a memior of the Zone proably in the years covering 1974 to about 1982 or 1983.. PS where can I get a application to that new condo where the 663 once stood HO HO HO reply [email protected]

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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?

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First, that street where the Moire was is called Warrenton and the club is now a parking lot for the Edison Co. Yes, Tempo was really something--sexy, hot dancer, friendly and danced to a live music. One of the popular combos was "The Ben Anthony Trio" and they also played at the old Teddy Bear in Park Square.
Next, I do remember Dee who had a place in Charles River Park--really enthusiastic but don't know what happened to her--would like to though!
Speaking of that subject, there was an older sporting girl named Terri from Beacon near Dartmouth. I heard she still works and must be almost 80! Any detes? A friend also told me about an exotic, tall busty, blonde German girl named Annie or Anya or something like that. Worked out of Charlies but also hung around Jasons and Club Max. She had(maybe still does)a place in Brighton and she was able to introduce you to some of the strippers, too. Very wild in the sack and I think she's still active. Any info on her would be great to hear. The CZ is not yet over and done with!

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1970: while working for the Venis Bros. during college, I was dating an older stripper. One night at the Hotel Avery, she threatened to jump out a 7th floor window if I didn't quit school and go on tour with her. (Anyone remember Nicollette?) Scared the daylights out of me.
1978: By now married,I lived in Scituate, buried in snow during The Great Blizzard. Trapped out of town working, I took a train to Boston and holed up at the Park Plaza Hotel in Park Sq.until the travel ban could be lifted. No phone service to my house, hadn't spoken to my wife in a week. Went to one of the 1st ATM's, corner Stuart/Washington to get cash.After a week of cabin fever, I went to one of the few local pubs still open, a place partially owned by Bruin Derek Sanderson that opened on both Park Sq. and Boylston St.Shortly thereafter, the Teddy Bear Lounge next door finally ran out of liquor and had to close. Now the afternoon strippers, unable to work and bored, filed into my lunchspot and started jumping on guys' laps.After bumping into a friend, (whose lap was also crowded), we spent the next 2 hours getting lubricated. Just as I was wondering if my luck was about to improve, into the darkened bar bursts a huge floodlight, blinding everyone at the bar. "Chet Curtis with the Channel 5 minicam, let's see how people are weathering the storm!" Yes, my wife found out I was alive on the 6 o'clock news, while I was surrounded by, er, flamboyant women. God bless her, we're still together.

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Hi Phil,
I remember her well. I met her when she was dancing at the Hotel LaSalle on Warrenton St around 1968 or 69. Her real name was Dina. She was having a torrid affair with a guy who was a guitarist in a band playing next door at the "Improper Bostonian." I last saw her in about 1980 when she was working at a place in Saugus, can't remember the name. She was indeed lovely. She used to dance to "La Bamba" all the time. Whenever I hear it I think of her.
Billy Dwyer

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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

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

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I lived next door to the TAM in 1969. I stood by one late afternoon in March when Officer Johnson was taken out the door feet first. Officer Johnson was shot, along with two other people, by a drifter who came in to rob the place. The TAM was not a crazy place, per say; poor Officer Johnson, who died that day, just happened to be there at the wrong time. I also remember being kept up at night into the early morning hours by the sounds of the organ music drifting out the door, along with the smell of beer. Real honky-tonk shit.

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Mr Tudan,it seems that we had a building in common.You lived in the Saxon,224 tremont,right?I had an apartment there in the mid 80s.The Tam(I always thought it was "Clam" when I first saw it,because of the gothic script sign) was right next door to it.I thought that was the picture I saw of you behind a 6 story building---The good(?)old Saxon.Was a Whorehouse in your time,wasn't it? I had only heard stories.I am very intersted in your book so I can get an idea of what went on before my time in the Zone.
Does anyone remember Richie Allen,or Tony,the counterman from the Saxon?How about big Dave Guthrie?

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As I stated in a previous post,I worked for The Venious brothers,as well as Joe Balliro and Joe Tecce,and some other guys I'd rather not mention, as a bouncer at most of the clubs on Washington Street.I arrived in the Zone in the early 80s after a hitch in the Marine Corps,and was educated by the inner city life that the Zone had to offer.When I got tired of fighting for a living,figuratively as well as literally,I started working for a friend of Teddy's named Alex Andreou,who owned the Saxon Coffee Shop at 224 Tremont St.,and I got an apartment in the building upstairs on the top floor.The Saxon was a refuge for many CZ denizens looking for decent food at cheap prices.In the daytime,the counter was manned by two Greek guys named John and Costa,as well as Alex,and at night it was Tony and me.We had our share of trouble there,and had to put more than a few people down for the count.At that time,there was a steady traffic in stolen goods in and out of the place,practically to order.If you told someone that you wanted gold,you would have boosters coming from everywhere with rings,necklaces,anything you wanted.I told a guy once that I wanted a guitar,and he promptly went up to Boston Music and stole one,case and all,which he sold to me for $100.It was a $1000 guitar,an Ovation balladeer,as I recall.The cast of characters was amazing.I remember how the hookers would pay Good Time Charlies to let them dance a set so they could pick up tricks afterward.I met Robin Benedict there on LaGrange St.,about 3 months before Professor Douglas killed her.Richie Allen was a constant fixture there,a former pro boxer and ex con who would turn your lights out at a moment's notice.Quite an education for a young guy from Pittsburgh who had never seen such goings on.If anyone reading this was around in those days,please respond.

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A few weeks ago someone asked about an "entertainer" named Terri who lived on Beacon near Dartmouth. RIP--she died a few months ago and it is understood she had been working until shortly before she died at age 91--believe it or not!
Eddie

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Hey, all you Zoners! I was there , too. I remember the orignal Jamaican Tangerine (who we called Tangerama), and also some of the great mixers, like Christina of the Picadilly and Pussycat, who never went with guys, but who drank well and was a great talker. How about the friendly big guy who was a bartender at the Caribe? Those were some of the best years of my life, lots of fun, and great friends. Does anyone remmeber Albert at the Picadilly/Pussycat, and his mom, Peggy, who worked along side him there?

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This has to be the Tangerine I knew in the early 1970.s. I saw her dance at the Picadilly and she used to spend a lot of time at the Hotel Holly in Lewiston,Maine. She was Jamaican and had long legs and was well put together. Whatever happened to her

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I read some of your comments posted here. You must be the Tangerine my wife Rita & I used to go and see at the Intermission and the Pic. clubs.You were the most beautiful redhead in Boston!Such a classy dancer, very smooth, graceful and ladylike.Just like the song say's ,"Tangerine she is all they claim"!You can reach us :)Antsymoore@yahoo

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