Before Park Ridge, Illinois, was famous as Hillary Clinton's home town, it was famous for the Deep End Club, one of the few venues that catered to teens in Chicago and the northwest suburbs. I've been thinking recently about some old friends from Chicago's Taft High School and the great times we had at the Deep End.The photo is one I found on Google Images of someone from the Jefferson Ice Company band, which appeared at the Deep End. Between neighborhood bands, some Chicago headliners such as New Colony Six, Ides of March and the American Breed were booked. I believe even bubblegum band The Ohio Express graced the Deep End teen club stage. Yummy, yummy. It was a club where you could participate in a "love in" circle or do the Funky Broadway -- your option.
One landmark night, Deep End owners got on stage and asked the audience which direction they wanted the venue's music to go -- psychedelic or soul? The resounding answer -- soul music! So many of the cover bands hired brought music from Motown that we could dance to. And dance we did!
We managed to get our share of psychedelic music, as well, at the Kinetic Playground (aka Electric Theater) and the Cheetah II (aka Aragon Ballroom). I'd work after school and on Saturday mornings waitressing at Rose Grill at Higgins & Harlem just to spend all my money at the music venues, including Deep End.
Some little known trivia. One of the bouncers at the Deep End was none other than moonlighting Chicago cop Dennis Farina, who later turned Hollywood actor. He talked about wanting to head west even then, and made his dream come true.
If you have memories of the Deep End, let's hear from ya!
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53 comments:
In my hood, we had The Pit in Glenview and The Panther in Deerfield. *Sigh* I remember winning a dance contest doing "the jerk" that was mc'd by Art Roberts and being heartbroken when my "boyfriend" danced with another girl to "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying." Thanks for the memory prompt, Cynthia.
Also remember The Hut in DesPlaines and The Attic in Arlington Heights, where I saw the Shadows of Night and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Everyone wore white at The Attic to show up under the ultraviolet black lights. Former high school coach Vic Giovannini co-owned both Deep End and The Hut.
Sorry to say our parents had to drive us everywhere and public trans was non-existent, so we were never able to go far. How I envied Chicago kids who could ride the el and make-out with their boyfriends on the train, with everyone looking and no one tale-telling.
I played The Deep End many times in the late sixties and early seventies. We opened for The Amboy Dukes, Styx, Arthur Brown, CTA, and even the Who before anybody even knew who they were. Vic Giovannini and Al Hummerding launched many bands and should really compile a history of the Deep End! It was a magical place!
I remember being thrilled to FINALLY be able to go to The Deep End! There was also a place on Oliphant and Northwest Highway, if I remember correctly. I can't think of the name of it and it's making me crazy. lol Thanks for the partial memory!
I believe the club on Oliphant and NW Hwy was the Cave. But I mostly went to the Deep End and the Hut.
The Holiday Ballroom on Milwaukee Ave was also another one for great bands. I also share memories with Cynthia with the Aragon Ballroom and the Kinetic Playground.
A lot of great memories. Thanks everyone!
I went on my first date at Holiday Ballroom at Lawrence & Milwaukee in Jefferson Park, followed by an ice cream sundae at Lockwood Castle, located at Peterson & Central. A tacky strip mall arose after the ballroom was torn down and Starbucks inhabits the old ice cream parlor.
I remember Lockwood Castle too.
One of the soul bands that played at the Deep End was Baby Huey and the Babysitters. I knew them personally.
It is extremely interesting for me to read that blog. Thanx for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.
This blog is great! Thanks for your hard work on it.
Webmaster, I love your site. Thank you sooo much for working on it.
I played at The Deep End with a band called Shy...we were kids but I'll never forget how cool we felt. I'm still playing in a band called Libido Funk Circus!!!
Bob Pucci
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I tottaly agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)
Hello! That's me in your picture. And you are right, that was the Jefferson Ice Company, local Park Ridge band. I remember seeing lots of good music there; The Flock, The Mauds, Shadows of Knight.
I enjoyed the post!
Best Regards,
Alfredo (Al) Jahn
I worked at the Deep End in the late '60's. It was fun and magical. We saw REO, Chicago, Ides of March, Baby Huey, New Colony Six, Ted Nugent and a host of others. I still am in touch with Vic...he was my husband's boss for many years in teaching. Wally passed away but I got to see him before he was unable to speak.
I went to Maine South but made many friends from Taft, St. Pats (boys and girls schools), Holy Cross, Notre Dame. etc
My favorite band at the Deep End, or Papa Joe's, was Weapon's of Peace. Maybe I went one night hoping to see them & bummed that it was Styx or someone else who became famous! Anyone know what happened to them. My school, St. Scholastica, hired them to play at our prom in 1973.
WOW what wonderful memories reading what has been written here...
I practically lived at the Deep End..probably because it was within walking distance. I spent time at the Hut and the Green Gorilla too, though..
I feel sorry for kids not having a place like the Deep End to go go..
Vic Giovannini and Mr. Hummerding were wonderful. I made sure to go to Mr. H's wake, to tell his family what a wonderful thing he'd done for so many of us..
Lynne Harris Kalberg
The music venue in Arlington Heights was caller the Cellar
I remember Lockwood Castle too. All those great clubs we hung out at including the Green Gorilla in Des Plaines. What wonderful memories we have to cherish :)
Thanks for correcting me that the teen club in Arlington Heights was called The Cellar, not The Attic. Guess my mind got off on the wrong floor. Turns out that "The Cellar" even has it's own Wikipedia site. http://bit.ly/aZ85r1
Ah yes the Cellar. Thanks again for a trip down memory lane.
Pretty interesting site you've got here. Thank you for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.
Joan Smith
Yeah, I do remember that place, but in it's later incarnation as 'Papa Joe's". I saw Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, Ides of March, and as that band broke up later to be two groups: 'Ides'. and 'March'. I vaguely recall Styx playing there too. We had some good times there, met a lot of people, and enjoyed the foosball tables while the music played too. - ken
I went to Ridgewood High School in Norridge and we went to the Deep End almost every weekend.
Good memories.
Wasn't around when The Deep End existed but I live in PR and knowing some town history is how I learned of it.
After closing down it became a Toyota dearler and the building was torn down 5 years ago or more.
Seemed like it was in a funny place being so close to the Touhy, Busse & Meachem intersection and along with it being a samll building, I wonder if the noise from the traffic might of had an impact on it.
The PRFD still had a centralize fire station on the same block on Meachem and the C&NW railroad, as it was known before the RTA/Metra takeover operated Dissels that from what I remember as being much louder than the modern day Metra engines.
Of course with amps tured up high it probably downed all that outside noise out but I thought I'd ask anyhow.
Also are there any actually picture of TDE when it actually existed?
Never seen one before.
I too was at 'Papa Joe's" at the corner of Northwest Highway and Touhy if I recall correctly. That's what it was called in the mid-1970s.
I saw several bands there including Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, and Styx (for just $3.00) the summer of 1974. The band's first hit, Lady, had yet to become popular outside of the fan base.
I remember sitting on the floor to watch shows.
I played a couple of times at The Hut with my band, Churchill Moor, once with REO. We played the cellar once, and at an outdoor concert at Northeastern with Siegel-Schwall and Bob Seger System. I still have some pics of us at The Hut. Fun times.
There was also a short-lived venue in Lincoln Park called Elysian Fields. It was a 5-story Masonic Temple converted into a teen club with different entertainment on each floor: a palm reader, movies, house band, etc.
Steve, If you have photos of your group from the Hut, please share them. I remember Elysian Fields, which I think was around in the early 80s? It was the way to throw a party. Tired of the music? Go watch a film. Film over? Look at some art.
Many great memories, thx to all. The internet what a great thing for all to recall days gone by. Two I recall enjoying who hit it big were AURA and Birtha (the all girl band). Thx to my life long friend from Ridgewood (Mr Jaz) the bass man for enlightening me.
Woodchuck
Cynthia, how do I upload a photo from the Hut?
How do I send a photo of the Hut?
I was just looking at a picture of The Mauds at the Deep End in Park Ridge. The wall behind looks just like the one in my pictures of what I've been thinking was The Hut. I'm wondering now if it was the Deep End we were at, not the Hut. Hmm. Memory ain't what it used to be. I do know we were billed with REO Speedwagon, because one of them(can't remember which) asked me if my voice had changed yet(his reaction to my singing of "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring?"
I grew up about a mile from The Deep End in Park Ridge. As a teen, all I looked forward to was going there on Friday and Saturday nights. Remember the little business size cards they used to hand out with the schedule of bands each month? That was my bible! Now I'm a snowbird in Ft. Myers FL and just got tickets to see REO Speedwagon in concert here Friday night. Brought back memories of The Deep End because I was sure they played there. Was amazed at all the blogs about the Deep End when I googled it! Also loved "4 days and a night"!
Ellen
My sister and friends also went to the Deep End. We went to Maine West in Des Plaines. Mr. Giovannini was the Director of the Drivers Ed Dept @ Maine West. We were there just about every weekend for years. Made so many friends! What a great way it was to spend our teen years! Too bad there are/were not places like that for our kids to hang out and dance.
I remember the band schedule cards. Those cards helped me plan on when to get in line. The more popular bands had bigger followers. I wish I had kept a few of them.
Wow, I just went to a Styx reunion concert in Atlanta. I found this site trying to remember where it was that I saw them when they were just starting out. It was Papa Joe's! Thanks for the memories. And of the Cellar too. All we had out in McHenry was October One.
Terry
*smiles* For some reason I dreamed of Papa Joe's, aka The Deep end last night. I was amazed when a search brought me here. I went to Maine East and lived for Friday and Saturday nights. Ted Nuggent and the Amboy Dukes, Styx, local bands, etc. Sitting on the floor just feet from the stacks, dancing when you could, singing when you couldn't. Thanks for the good memories.
Oh how I remember The Deep End and especially The Hut. I went To Maine East and I don't think there was a weekend I was'nt at one of these or The Cellar, The Green Gorilla and the Rolling Stone in I think Glenview. I just happened to stumble upon this site, and I love it!
I worked in the 2nd floor concession area at The Hut for Wally and Vic during my senior year at Maine West (1965). My favorite group was The Untamed. There were many debates as to who were better: The Untamed or The Shadows. I was quite friendly with the guys in The Untamed--Al, drummer Bogy (unfortunately deceased several years now), Bob, Randy and Don. Anybody know of their where abouts? Also does anyone remember Nick, the guy with the white hair (albino?) who was a constant presence at The Hut and Maine West athletic events during those years? Sadly I heard about the death of Wally Hommerding years afterward. I've also heard that Wally Jr. is not a nice person.
I worked at The Hut in Des Plaines in the 2nd floor concession stand during my senior year at Maine West in 1965 and into the fall of that year. Wally Hommerding was my Accounting teacher and hired me to work that first year of The Hut's existance. I have many, many fond memories of the bands that played there and the people I met. At that time the most popular band there (at The Hut) was The Untamed--Al, Boogy,Bob, Don, and Randy. I was "tight" with them for a few years but lost touch over the years. There were many, many debates as to who was better: The Untamed or The Shadows. I know, unfortunately,that Boogy (Reeves) of The Untamed died in 2006.
I'd sure like to touch base with the remaining guys again. Again,unfortunately, I heard years later that Wally had died of ALCS. I sure wish I'd had a chance to say goodbye. Wally was a very positive influence on me.
Does anyone remember "Nick" (I think that was his name) a white haired (Albino?) who was a regular
at The Hut and the unofficial mascot of Maine West sports? I wonder what ever became of him?
Does anyone remember a location in Park Ridge called the "Bat Cave" I'm almost 100% positive of the name. One band I knew well that played there we called the "Dirty Shames" So can someone help me identify this place. I t may have been named that for several months, before changing names? Thanks, Glenn "jrd51" mentioned the "Cave" and that led to my inquiry :) Peace...
Glenn, I remember the name of the place "Bat Cave" and had friends who went there, but I never did. I don't think it lasted too long.
Wow... this is so much fun reading all of these memories. My older sisters went to the Deep End all the time. My place was Holiday Ballroom. I followed a band called Eden Rock and had a ton of pictures. What ever happened to them? They were awesome.
Thanks for the memories.
Glenn: It may have been called the Bat Cave but if memory serves me well, my friends and I called it the Cave.
I went there once but I was more of a Deep End visitor.
For more info on the early chicago pop music scene google electric theater or kenetic playground
I played in a group called the looking glass there,not the brandy song group, we wearer before them. We played with stud and Eden rock and many others. Fun memories.
Hi, anyone interested in a deep end or Papa Joe's reunion somewhere, I went to the clubs between 1970 and 1975 It would be fun. Candi
I went to Maine south class of '70 & lived in park ridge. Used to go to the deep end a lot. It was across from the park ridge inn. I remember it was at the end of a block & you had to go downstairs to the stage.
OK ROCKERS - I'M ON A MAD SEARCH FOR AN EXTERIOR PIC OF "THE DEEP END." I STILL LIVE IN PARK RIDGE AND HAVE EXHAUSTED MY RESOURCES AND NEED BY 03.15.13 (or later if need be) So far, I've contacted PR Historical Society, City of PR, PR Library's PR Advocate microfilm, Maine South, Gillick Realtors, Pickwick's owner, Bredemann Toyota, Summit Retirement (formerly Park Ridge Inn), local rock station 97.1, Dean Milano - the author of "Chicago Music in the 60s and 70s." Vic Giovannini (former Deep End owner), and others . . . below is my "bio" :-)
I am a Maine South Class of 71 grad (female) and frequented The Deep End at every opportunity between 1967 and 1971. My best friend met her husband there and in 2013 will be wed 40 years! Recall the lines of anxious "youngsters" lined up to enter, the punch cards, evenings when I would sit on that filthy floor to listen to my faves, everyone dancing to "My Girl," the "juice bar" upstairs and the smoking of cigarettes ("funny" and not so funny) in the back. At the end of each night, my girlfriends and I would walk to The Pickwick Restaurant, call our parents at the pay phone and those parents would not be too happy about picking us up. Hey - at least we were safe! Ahhh, those fond memories!
Please someone tell me that you captured a photo of that fun club!
Hey Oz, Great comments about Deep End back in the day. I'll try to get more attention to the blog and your comment through a few postings on Twitter and Facebook. BTW, on Facebook there is a great page called "Northwest Side of Chicago" which posts scores of historical photos. Ask if they have the one you're looking for of Deep End.
This is hilarious. I was in the MASS then Stardriver then Trillion then Wild Blue and now back to Trillion. The days of Deep End, The Bat Cave, Beginnings, the Hut, Rush Up Rush Over, on and on. Those were the best clubs to test the musical waters. Trillion is still alive and recording believe it or not and having a good time at it. 3 tunes are posted at www.trillion-music.us with 2 more on the way. They keep getting better.
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