Schlockstar aka John Chilson over at Lost Oregon has sent me a time capsule of Chicago's past. Neatly disguised as "Damn they sound like Pink Floyd" is a very interesting You Tube video of Mulqueen's Kiddie A Go Go featuring a performance by that Pink Floyd-esque band New Colony Six. Doing a bit of light digging, I found out Mulqueen's was a Chicago area children's show that aired on WCIU Channel 26 (Ya know, The U! U'z got it!). This ran from sometime in the 1960s until 1970. The Musuem of Classis Chicago Television also boasts another great video of the show with ads for Henry's Hamburgers.
The crowning jewel has to be some more great video clips shown at Chicagoland Radio and Media. No one describes the Kiddie A Go-Go troop better than this site, "In the late 60's, Chicago television had it's own pint-sized version of "American Bandstand" called "Mulqueen's Kiddie-A-Go-Go." Part-rock dance program, part-children's program, part-acid trip, this show entertained audiences with its musical guests, oddly perky host named Pandora and some ultra-low-tech commercials."
So let the acid trip memories begin from those who visit this blog on a regular basis and can provide some interesting comments and/or tidbits. A special thanks goes out to John once again for sharing the video with me. I never even knew this existed.
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22 comments:
Let the "acid trip begin":
Some think the hippie/acid/psychedelic movement in Chicago began in Old Town in '64-65. Pipers Alley was the counter culture epicenter. Of course I don't know first hand, but was told that you could buy illegal narcotics anywhere on Wells Street. The counterculture gradually spread into the neighborhoods and suburbs.
During the 60s Chicago neighborhoods teemed with "garage" rock bands. A few of the most popular were the New Colony Six, The Flock, The Cryan Shames, and the CTA. These great bands played at teen clubs throughout Chicagoland. I can recall three venues-- The Cellar in downtown Arlington Heights, Deborah Boys Club on Kimball Ave in Albany Pk and the Pinque Phinque in Rogers Pk along Sheridan Rd. The clubs sold only non alcoholic drinks and were packed to the doors on weekends to hear local groups play tunes like "Gloria" and "Born in Chicago".
The pictures and backgrounds of the bands and venues may be found on Bob Nasca's facebook links and in a new book authored by local rock musician Dan Milano entitled The Chicago Music Scene:1960s and 1970s.
Anonymous, I do think your post is the ultimate web of knowledge more so than an acid trip. Interesting background of the Chicago rock scene at the time. Thank you for taking the time to write out this great comment.
Just curious, but, do you recall exactly where Deborah Boys Club was on Kimball? That isn't too far from where I work.
We're going back awhile, but Deborah was somewhere around the 4900 block.
Judging by what that area looks like today, I am guessing that structure is long gone.
Wow! I have two "brush with fame" stories related to this post.
First, I remember the Mulqueens as an early UHF offering. Their first incarnation was a kids show called "The Mulqueens". Mulqueen was the real family name of "Pandora" and her husband (who was more a 'behind the scenes' guy, but may have played an on-set role also). At first it was more of a "puppet and cartoon" thing but later morphed into "Kiddie-a-go-go". It may have played on another station before going to UHF. Anyway, we had some cousins who lived a half block away from the entrance to Rosehill Cemetery. We were visiting one Sunday when my then twelve-year-old cousin (I was probably nine or so) asked me and my sister if we'd like to go visit Pandora. We thought she was just playin' around but we followed her anyhow down one street and across an alley to a neighbors yard where - lo and behold - "Pandora" (never caught her real name) was raking up some grass clippings in her yard. She said hello to my cousin who introduced us and some small talk followed. They moved not long after so I never saw her again.
Brush with fame #2: I've lived all my life in the neighborhood bounded by Clark and Broadway, Devon and Peterson. Back in the 60's it came to be known among some older kids (I was born in '58) that Ron Rice of the New Colony Six was living in an apartment building right next to the Granville L station. The sister of a friend went out of her way to get acquainted with him and consequently we got to know him on a "Hi guys - how ya doin?" basis.
Other erstwhile notable persons who lived within the vicinity of the Granville L at one time or another: Johnny Weissmuller of Tarzan fame (I had a great uncle who knew him during the '20's when they boxed in the same gym), and Jim Jordan who was "Fibber McGee" on the radio. (That's all I know about Jordan. I never heard his show).
(While writing this I came up with two more "brush with fame" tales, but they're going to have to wait for another day).
Fascinating back history on the Mulqueen's. I knew people would come through. It must have been a pretty honorable experience to meet Pandora. I can't believe they were so close to where I lived for most of my life in Chicago, Rogers Park. But that side of Rosehill is Edgewater, no?
I'm into lots of 50s/60s/70s music but, strangely, I never even heard of New Colony Six before this video or even knew that they were Chicagoans, so it definately great you got to meet a bandmember. Strange connection between you and the video. What are the odds? I have never had any brushes with fame. I feel so left out. LOL!
Since you mentioned Weissmuller, it made me think of the actor who played the Lone Ranger (his name escapes me), but he grew up in the area as well and attended Senn High School.
You're probably looking for Clayton Moore who went to school on Ridge. Another slightly more recent big name Senn grad is Harold Ramis. He's the actor and producer for the movies Stripes and Ghostbusters starring Bill Murray.
You're probably looking for Clayton Moore who went to school on Ridge. Another slightly more recent big name Senn grad is Harold Ramis. He's the actor and producer for the movies Stripes and Ghostbusters starring Bill Murray.
It was indeed Clayton Moore. Neighborhood lore had it that he lived in a particular house on Glenwood between Thome and Rosemont. This was touted by a family I knew who lived next door to it. It was confirmed for us one day in the late 70's when a bunch of us were playing softball at the Hayt school playground. Clayton Moore was in town for some media event and he came strolling into the park accompanied by some reporters. He intended to visit his old grammar school but it was after school hours so he just dropped by the field house and talked with some of the kids who were around about his fond memories of going to school at Hayt. The Sun-Times ran a story with photo the following day.
I think Senn's most prominent grad was Harvey Koreman (although I have no idea where he lived). Check out these photos of John Phillip Souza at Senn High school conducting their ROTC band in 1927: http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0835/n083527.jpg http://www.lipscomb.edu/windbandhistory/images/n083370.jpg Senn's band won the class A division of the National School Band Contest in both 1929 and 1930.
One more bit of Edgewater celebrity trivia: I was never a big fan of Bob Newhart but on his 1970's sitcom where he played a Chicago psychiatrist, the closing scene of the opening credits features his character's apparent residence at 5901 Sheridan Road. I know the building well as I delivered newspapers in it as a kid. Anyway, Newhart has a sister who is a BVM nun. The BVM's built, owned, and operated Mundelein College just a few blocks north of this building. Sister Joan Newhart lived (lives?) in the large BVM convent just across the street from the College (now a part of Loyola University). Hence, the "Bob" in the show theoretically lived down the street from his sister in the convent.
Now that you all reminded me of this other stuff, I'm going to have to put my other "brush with fame" stories on hold a little longer. (I guess I've had more "brushes" than I thought!).
I do like your site by the way. I sort of bumped into it recently while looking for something else. I'm a big fan of stuff like this so I've had to come back and visit a few times.
Thank you, Anonymous and Mornac for identifying that it was indeed Clayton Moore. I knew Harold Ramis was from Chicago (Ghostbusters ruled!) but I never realized he went to Senn as well. Now Harvey Korman, I never even realized he was from Chicago!
I loved The Bob Newhart Show, especially watching the way the city looked in the opening credits. Interesting that his sister actually lived here as well.
Mornac, thanks again for the compliments and looking forward to more of your great comments.
Oh My Goodness! I had totally forgotten about Kiddie a Go Go! Yes, I even had a pair of the little white go-go boots. What a memory to be dredged up from the cobwebs. And Pandora! HaHa! I do remember her and watching this show on TV.
As far as New Colony Six - Ronny Rice still plays at various venues around the city, especially at the fests, benefits, school functions, etc.
Ah yes, Piper's Alley. I am pretty sure that whatever one wanted drug-related could be bought there. I think that was the first time I had seen rolling papers and roach clips right out in broad view for sale in those little shops off the Alley. We used to ride up and down Rush St back in the 60s to watch the 'floor show' - it was kind of like Halloween - each person was dressed more weirdly than the one before.
CTA (aka Chicago) actually played for one of our HS dances, as did Styx, obviously long before either one became famous.
Beth (using John's acct again)
Happily, I can now exhale as my hazy memories of Old Town and the 60s rock bands have been confirmed. On Sat nights traffic backed up on LSD at the La Salle exit with tourists headed to the freak show on Wells. To my mind the place was Halloween, New Years Eve and a large dose of Woodstock.
When on the street we liked to eat at two popular places - Chances R and the Pickle Barrel. Perhaps other recall those unique eateries.I think both had peanut shells on the floor.
BTW- I saw Ronnie Rice play this past Summer at one of the fests and he appeared to be doing well.
Geeze, the more I check in here the more my memory gets piqued.
Okay, across the street from the aforementioned Clayton Moore residence lives one Corky Siegal of Siegel-Schwall fame. I'm no fan of folk music so I couldn't name anything he's done. Nonetheless, he's lived there since the 1970's and I even did a little work for him a few years back. Now, if I may scrape the bottom of the "I met a celebrity" barrel, there was a pop singer named Rickie Lee Jones who had a hit tune with "Chuck E's in Love" once upon a time. Well, about the time that was moving it's way back down the charts, Miss Jones came to spend some time with her father who, it turned out, lived in the same six flat as a friend of mine at the corner of Thorndale and Glenwood - again, on the doorsteps of Senn High School.
(More to come, but I'm afraid it doesn't get much more exciting than this...)
Beth, sounds like great times that I completely missed out on. Again!I can tell though that is isn't stuff that is easily forgettable and thank goodness for that.
Anonymous, freak show on Wells? I can't say I am suprised. Once again, good times that I missed out on.
Mornac, indeed, it does get more exciting!
Okay, how 'bout this? My dad grew up at 5830 N Clark Street. The building was owned by a man named Hesse. It consisted of his his ACE hardware store on the ground floor and two fair sized apartments above it. Hesse and his wife lived in the lower apartment and my dads family lived on the top. I got to know the place fairly well when I was a kid as we visited my grandparents there often (It was a short walk from where we lived). I don't know if I ever actually met Hesse, but his wife and my grandmother were very neighborly and more than a few times when we called on her she was having tea with Mrs. Hesse (Irene I believe).
Fast forward about thirty years to when ACE had become a household name across the nation. At some gathering, I made a wisecrack about the little dump on Clark Street and how it should be glad that ACE even let it hang a shingle with its name on it. I was abruptly informed (by my dad no less) that Hesse and a couple of partners had actually invented, ACE and that "the little dump on Clark Street" was in fact the original ACE. Skeptical of both the story as well as my old man's wits, I did a little research. I'll be damned if he wasn't right about the whole thing. What I found shocking was that, according to my research, Hesse should have become a millionaire around the time that WWII ended. What he was doing living in a storefront apartment managing a pint sized shop below while his wife was up on the roof hanging laundry and knockin' teacups with my grandma puzzles the hell out of me. When I tried to put it in those terms to my dad, he was equally puzzled as to why I would even be wondering about anything like that. Go figure.
Hesse finally sold his entire co-op in the early 70's. At the same time he sold his "little dump" to a guy named Marx who also bought the warehouse next door and did something that apparently never occurred to Hesse. He moved the shop into the warehouse and started looking like the other ACE hardware stores in the country. If you ever go by there be sure to take note of the sign hanging out front: "The Original ACE"
I lived in the same area for elementary school, until 1970, went to St. Gregory.
Kiddie-A-Go-Go used to make live visits to various places. Pandora would pass out promo records from local bands, 45s. I want to say she made a visit to Sip n Straw on Clark St., what is now either Ann Sather's or the Swedish American museum, because we lived in an apartment above a store on Clark in Andersonville.
A few blocks down was Rainbo Ice Arena, which also housed the original Kinetic Playground. A late friend of mine and I used to get in so much trouble for hanging the alley in back of Rainbo!
Mornac, great story about the little dump! I knew that ACE started in Chicago but it is good to know where the humble begginings lie. fascinating story indeed!
Grandma, great to hear that you do indeed have very fond memories of Kiddie A GoGo and Pandora. I have heard of the Rainbo Rink. It was around until fairly recently, correct?
Rainbo arena was still standing (albeit shuttered) until about two years ago when it was torn down to make way for some modern condo apartment buildings. It was in the news at that time because the wrecking crew stumbled a body buried somewhere in the lower regions. I forget the upshot of the story. I believe Rainbo started life as a dance ballroom but I couldn't tell you when it turned to ice. I knew the place when I was young because my dad used to bring us there sometimes to watch semi-pro hockey. I don't know if you remember a Fr. George Klein from St. Gregory Grandma, but he used to play for one of the teams there. (Incidentally, I attended St. Gregs High School - Class of '76). After its stint as the Kinetic Playground, Rainbo reverted to being an ice arena. I think it closed down for sometime only to re-open as a skateboard park in the 80's and finally a roller rink. The last time I was in there was with my toddlers around 1998. I don't know when it closed for good.
Believe it or not, I can still squeeze out one more "brush with fame" concerning the ACE story. This guy Marx who bought the place had bigger things going on besides ACE. He owned (owns?) New World Van Lines among other things and one of the people in his partnership is Ernie Banks. Ernie lives most of the time in California, but when he came to town on business, he had to pass through the ACE on Clark Street because Marx had offices upstairs. In so doing, he always stopped to say hello to the employees. I know this because the wife of one of my friends (I know - I have a lot of friends. But when I was growing up around here there were thousands of kids and it was impossible not to know at least two or three hundred of them by name!), she worked there and hence, got to know Ernie on casual terms. Now my friend decided to capitalize on this by getting hold of an Ernie Banks baseball card from 1959 and getting Ernie to autograph it 30 years after the fact.
Okay, one more while I'm still in that neck of the woods: On October 26 1947, Hillary Clinton was born at the now defunct Edgewater Hospital. For some reason she doesn't like her Chicago background known and most people think she was born in or around Park Ridge. Apparently that's the way she likes it as I've noticed that it's pretty hard to drudge up any information on her pre-Park Ridge life and times. When I learned of her Edgewater birth a few years ago I started asking around. Most people here are rather surprised by the fact and virtually no one can identify her babyhood home. I've heard one rumor that the family lived somewhere on Winthrop Ave. but the source is only vaguely credible. It seems the Clinton people have successfully scrubbed all sources of any information in this regard. Anyone know anything?
I think Mornac is correct in that Hillary does not discuss her pre Park Ridge life very often. However, Mrs Clinton did have a book signing in Andersonville some years ago. Also, I'm fairly certain that her story appears in one of Neal Samors many books detailing the lives of famous Chicago people.
I believe that the Edgewater Historical Society or the Tribune archives can provide her old address. The Rodham family left Edgewater before Hillary entered grammar school. It seems that Pk Ridge was the place to be in the 50s for upwardly mobile Republicans.
WEll you gotta remeber Hillary was under 5 when she and here family moved to PR. So she probbaly doesn't remember much about where she was originally from.
Mornac, thanks for the background info on Rainbo. I actually didn't know Hilary was born at Edgewater Hospital. I did visit the place once for a family member who was admitted there in the early 90.
Anonymous, thanks for giving us additional info on the Hilary connection.
Mike, I have to agree with you on this. Since she was so young when she moved away from Edgewater, she probably doesn't remember much.
Been awhile.
Mornac, you would've been about my next sister's age. I was the eldest of eventually 7, not that unusual back then. I went to St. Greg's from 1962 through 1970. Yes, all the way through 7th grade. I was bit perturbed that we moved in eighth grade. I used to know Gieses, Teisters, McIlvains and all the families that have been @ St. Greg's since its founding or at least since Monsignor Klasen built the place up.
I knew Fr. Klein and Fr. Brandstrator, also Fr. Doyle and the eminent (and dangerous to ill-behaved children during Mass) Monsignor Terlecke. Were you there when Fr. Schmidt decided one fine morning to have a 5 minutes Mass to the horror of the sisters?
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