Teenbeat Club
{{Short description|Nightclub in Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
The Teenbeat Club was a nightclub in Paradise, Nevada, believed to be the first in the U.S. that catered exclusively to teenagers.Teenbeat Club publicity brochure, published by Miller and Austin in 1964, states the Teenbeat Club at the time was believed to be the only teenage night club in the United States that was designed and built from the ground up specifically for teenagers.
- {{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/planet/retroplaces2/60snightlife.html |title=Lisa's Nostalgia Cafe--60's Nightlife (page 2) |website=Angelfire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023032840/http://www.angelfire.com/planet/retroplaces2/60snightlife.html |archive-date=23 October 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=2013-09-28}} Located at 4416 Paradise Road, it was opened in 1962 by Steve Miller and Keith Austin,{{cite web |url=http://therockfiles.net/about-us |website=The Rock Files |title=About Us |accessdate=2013-09-25 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927022151/http://therockfiles.net/about-us |archive-date=2013-09-27 }} both 19 at the time and Las Vegas High School graduates,1962 Las Vegas High School yearbook, The Echo where they had been members of the 1962 Las Vegas High School Broadcasting Club. The club's marquee was built by a Las Vegas neon sign maker, Bill Gulbranson.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} The Teenbeat Club ceased operation in 1968.{{cite web|url=http://www.stevemiller4lasvegas.com/biog.html |title=Steve Miller behind the headlines |publisher=Steve Miller |accessdate=2013-09-25}} The original building still stands, now as an adult topless cabaret.{{cite web|url=http://www.vegas.com/nightlife/stripclubs/club-paradise/ |title=Club Paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada |website=VEGAS.com |accessdate=2013-09-26}}
Miller was later a Las Vegas City Council member from 1987 to 1991, and was inducted by the Nevada Broadcasters Association into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998. Austin relocated to Santa Barbara, California, where he continues his career in the recording industry as the executive producer and host of the Rock Files.
The Teenbeats
The club grew out of the weekend dance concerts Miller and Austin promoted starting in 1961,{{cite AV media notes |title=Surf Bound |year=1991 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Norton Records |id=ED-220 |location=New York, NY }} featuring live KLAS Radio broadcasts from the Knights of Columbus Hall and the National Guard Armory in Downtown Las Vegas.{{cite journal|editor-last1=Linna |editor-first1=Miriam |editor-link1=Miriam Linna |editor-last2=Miller |editor-first2=Billy |journal=Kicks |issue=7 |publisher=Norton Records |year=1992}} Article on Las Vegas R&R in the 60's, including the Teenbeats. The broadcasts featured the Teenbeats (formerly known as the Checkmates),{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/surf-bound-mw0000984050 |title=Surf Bound - The Teenbeats - Review |website=AllMusic |accessdate=2013-10-01}} a local, surf music-influenced band. When the Teenbeat Club opened the Teenbeats (alternately spelled "Teen Beats" and "Teen-Beats") were the house band, featuring vocalist and rhythm guitarist Don Frassa, lead guitarist Larry Chernoff, bassist Lyle Smith, drummer Gary Karr, and Jim Logue on tenor sax. Elliot Lieb had played drums for the Checkmates and the Teenbeats prior to Gary Karr joining the group.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
In 1961 and 1962, the Teenbeats recorded two 45 RPM records: their first as the "Nevegan's" on the X-P-A-N-D-E-D label (Downey Records), titled "Russian Roulette" b/w "One Armed Bandit" (X-101);{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/x101us |title=The Nevegan's - Russian Roulette / One Armed Bandit - X-P-A-N-D-E-D Sound - USA - X-101 |website=45cat.com |accessdate=2013-10-01}} and their second as "The Teen-Beats" on Chollie Wright's Las Vegas Strip Records (which was located at 416 W. Bonanza, Las Vegas), titled "Live Like a King" (written by Chernoff) b/w "Mystified" (S-102), featuring Don Frassa on vocals and guitar.{{cite web |url=http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/t/teen1500.htm |publisher=Emory Law Library Record Labels Collection |title=Teen-Beats |author=Terry E. Gordon |date=26 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810025235/http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/t/teen1500.htm |archive-date=10 August 2009}} A third record, "Surf Bound" b/w "Mr. Moto",{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/the-teenbeats |title=The Teenbeats - Discography |website=45cat.com |accessdate=2013-10-01}} was recorded as "The Teenbeats" on Teenbeat Records in 1962.
An LP compilation album of the 1962 KLAS Radio broadcasts, Surf Bound, was released on Norton Records in 1991.{{cite web |url=http://nortonrecords.gostorego.com/teenbeats-surf-bound.html |title=Teenbeats - Surf Bound LP (220) |publisher=Norton Records |accessdate=2013-09-29 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002194301/http://nortonrecords.gostorego.com/teenbeats-surf-bound.html |archive-date=2013-10-02 }} The Teenbeats/Teen-Beats/Nevegan's three 45 RPM records' labels are shown on the cover jacket.
Teenbeat Records
Miller and Austin co-produced 45 RPM singles from 1962 to 1966, first pressing them with the "Teenbeat Records" label and in 1966, with the "Teenbeat Club Records" label. In 1962, Teenbeat Records was located at 109 S. 3rd St., Suite 302, Las Vegas.
The first Teenbeat Records single was recorded in 1962 by the Teenbeats, titled "Surf Bound", and written by Larry Chernoff. In 1966, Miller and Austin co-produced two other 45 RPM singles on Teenbeat Club Records: "It's Your Time"Included as track 18 of Pebbles, Volume 1, (BFD-5016) backed with "Little Girl" (TB 1006) (listed as one top 100 rarest 45 RPM singles){{cite web|url=http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/g45/?r=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522084202/http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/g45/?r=0 |archive-date=22 May 2006 |title=The 100 Most Legendary Collectable U.S. 60's Garage 45's |website=Fine Redording Studio |accessdate=2013-09-26 |quote=68 - Weeds - It's Your Time / Little Girl (Teenbeat Club TB-1006)}} by The Weeds, a local Las Vegas band;{{cite web|url=http://home.unet.nl/kesteloo/lollipop.html |title=The Weeds / The Lollipop Shoppe Interview |first=Mike |last=Dugo |accessdate=2013-10-02}} and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Get Off of My Cloud" backed with "Red Roses For A Blue Lady" (TB 1004) featuring Charlie White Eagle, with musical accompaniment and background vocals by The Weeds.Fred Cole, Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story, A Film by Jason Summer and Kate Fix, [http://www.magicumbrella.com/ Magic Umbrella Films, LLC], released on DVD, 2006{{cite web|title=Dead Moon/Fred Cole Discography |url=http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7980/dmcolemine.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027102137/http://geocities.com/SunsetStrip/venue/7980/dmcolemine.htm |archive-date=27 October 2009 |url-status=dead |website=GeoCities |accessdate=2013-09-26}}
In the mid-1960s, three LP albums were recorded live at the Teenbeat Club on La Brea/Sutton Records:Known alternately as La Brea Records and Sutton Records, mfg. by Apex Record Corporation, 1023 North La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, CA The Goldtones, Live! At The Teenbeat Club In Las Vegas! (LS 8011), featuring Randy Seol, Wayne Purvis, Ken Naylor, Al Doss, Mike Peters, Steve Green and Cindy Mac;{{cite web|title=The Goldtones: Live! At the Teenbeat Club in Las Vegas! |url=http://www.groovytunesday.com/descriptions/music/goldtones.html |website=Bongos |accessdate=2013-09-25}}{{cite web|author=monkey man |url=http://mmtapes.blogspot.com/2007/02/goldtones-live-in-las-vegas.html |title=mm tapes: The Goldtones Live at the Teenbeat Club in Las Vegas! (La Brea LP) |publisher=Mmtapes.blogspot.com |date=2007-02-24 |accessdate=2013-02-13}} The Starfires, Teenbeat A Go Go (LS 8018), featuring Chuck Butler, Dave Anderson, Jack Emerick, Freddy Fields and Sonny Lathrop;{{cite web|title=The Starfires Teenbeat A Go Go |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4WxlLGfN0I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/N4WxlLGfN0I |archive-date=2021-12-21 |website=YouTube |date=26 October 2007 |accessdate=2013-09-25}}{{cbignore}} and The Sentinals, Vegas Go Go (SSU 338).
Regular performers
Image:The Weeds and Scatter Blues Together.jpg
The Lords, a local rhythm & blues band featuring Fred Cole sharing lead vocals with electric organist Hans Grebner (Johnny the German) and guitarist John Acquina, played the Teenbeat Club frequently in 1964 and 1965, as did the Coachmen, featuring lead vocalist, pianist and saxophonist Michael Wesley Dean, guitarist Matt Hyde, guitarist Jay Donnellan, bassist Terry Johnson and drummer James Kehn.
Image:Sioux Uprising Publicity Photo 1966.Las Vegas.jpg
The Weeds were frequent performers at the Teenbeat Club from 1965 through 1966, featuring Fred Cole, a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, who later gained success in the Portland-based bands King Bee, Zipper, The Rats, Dead Moon and Pierced Arrows.{{cite web|url=http://www.piercedarrows.com/index2.html |title=Rock and Roll site |publisher=Pierced Arrows |accessdate=2013-02-13}} Other members of The Weeds were lead guitarist Ed Bowen, rhythm guitarists Ron Buzzell and Dennis Wynne, bassist Bob Atkins, and drummer Tim Rockson.{{cite AV media notes |title=It's Your Time |year=1987 |edition=Re-release |type=Insert |publisher=Behemoth Records |id=T-2 |location=Las Vegas NV }} A photograph of The Weeds and Scatter Blues together, identifying band members by name, c. 1966
The years 1966 and 1967 saw a renaissance of local Las Vegas electric rock, folk rock and blues bands in the Las Vegas Valley. Scatter Blues played the Teenbeat Club regularly which featured vocalist and blues harpist Piers Munro, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bill Rosevear, rhythm guitarist Jerry Lyman, bassists Scott Devitte, Brent Alverson and Bob Lucero; and drummer Rich Lowrey.
Other frequently appearing local bands appearing at the Teenbeat Club in the mid-1960s were the Present Tense, featuring vocalist Christopher Michael Hallman, bassist Michael P. Selinsky, lead guitarist Bob Lilley, Jr., rhythm guitarist John McDonnell, electric pianist Dennis Prell, and drummers John Baker and Jim Gannon;{{cite book|title=Las Vegas Through the Generations: A Pictorial Review|year=1995|first1=Allan |last1=Fleming |first2=Christian |last2=Kolberg |first3=Joanne |last3=Downey |publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal |isbn=978-1-932173-15-4|page=94}} Sioux Uprising, featuring lead vocalist and guitarist Gregory Albert Waller,{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} bassist Steve Armstead, guitarist Michael Murray and drummer Scott Wolfe; Nobody's Children featuring Joe Spitale, Enrique Corro, Greg McKenzie, Danny Bolling, Danny Harlow, Charlie Perri and Jay Painter; and Misty Souls Ray Campbell, Barry Bernier, Chris Riecke, Kerry Klein and Frank Faruch were other Las Vegas regulars to play the Teenbeat Club during this time period.
The Little People (featuring Mike Lyman, Steve Harvey, Mike Friedman, Glenn Cooper, and Howie Salstein),Wayback Records, Mondo Mutiny, Vol. 8 London Fog (featuring Bob Lilley Jr., Mike Lyman, Mike Friedman, Mark Leonard, Jessica Kluger Marciel,{{cite web|url=http://jessicamarciel.com/las-vegas-vocal-training/bio/teen-star/las-vegas-rock-reunion-hall-fame/ |title=Las Vegas Rock Reunion Hall of Fame |publisher=Jessica Marciel |accessdate=2013-09-28}} and Georgiann Rock), and the Free Circus (featuring Jessica Kluger Marciel,{{cite web|url=http://jessicamarciel.com/las-vegas-vocal-training/bio/teen-star/ |title=Teen Star |publisher=Jessica Marciel |accessdate=2013-09-28}} Roby Bennett, Danny Barnett, Bob Bjornsen and Larry Gann) performed in the final year of the Teenbeat Club, 1968.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
Other bands
Southern California surf rock bands which played at the Teenbeat Club in the early 1960s{{cite book|last=Dalley |first=Robert J. |title=Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sixties |publisher=Popular Culture Ink |isbn=978-1-56075-042-0 |edition=2nd |year=1996}} included the Marketts, the Lively Ones, the Routers, the Challengers and the Chevells. The Templars appeared in two International Scout advertisements taken in front of the Teenbeat Club marquee.{{cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullRecord.asp?id=8746 |title=Shindig at the Teenbeat Club (1) |date=December 2003 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate=2013-10-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullRecord.asp?id=25644 |title=Shindig at the Teenbeat Club (2) |date=December 2003 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate=2013-10-01}}
Notable Los Angeles bands which played at the Teenbeat Club included Love with Arthur Lee (with Scatter Blues as their opening act, December 31, 1967), the Peanut Butter Conspiracy (December 29-31, 1967),{{cite web|url=http://www.peanutbutterconspiracy.com/pbc_timeline.htm |title=PBC Concert Timeline |website=The Peanut Butter Conspiracy unofficial web site |accessdate=2013-09-28}} and Hamilton Streetcar. The Standells also performed in 1966.Keith Austin Biography
Cleveland band the Outsiders appeared at the club.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} The Bitter Sweets of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, also appeared in the mid-1960s.{{cite web|title=The Bitter Sweets - Vancouver, BC (1966) |url=http://pnwbands.com/bittersweets.html |website=Pacific Northwest Bands |accessdate=2013-09-26}}
Battle of the Bands
The Teenbeat Club sponsored Battles of the Bands in 1966 and 1967. The 1966 Battle featured Scatter Blues, The Weeds, Present Tense and Nobody's Children, and was won by Scatter Blues{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} in audience balloting. The 1967 Battle, between fourteen local bands (The Association of Sound, Blues Print, Calico Blues Band, Curtains of Grey, The Glass Door, Living End, The Moors, Nazz, The Neighborhood Kids, The New Breed, Nobody's Children, The Nomads, The Green Mountain Strawberry Patch, The Loved Ones, and The Wurds)Keith Austin and the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, February 1967{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1299768391659 |title=Teenbeat Club, Las Vegas' second Battle-of-the-Bands|date= February 10, 1967|work=Las Vegas Sun Sunday Supplement|via=Facebook |accessdate=2013-09-26}} was won by the Calico Blues Band, with guitarist Vaughn Thomas Munshower,Vaughn T. Munshower citing Look magazine article, c. 1968 organist Scott Devitte, bass guitarist Mike Badik, vocalist Gary Meridith and drummer Russell King. Munshower and Devitte later won Emmy Awards for Camerawork and Technical Lighting Direction, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0613238/awards |title=Tom Munshower - Awards |website=IMDb |accessdate=2013-09-22}}
- {{cite web|url=http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/24556079.html |title=Oh No They Didn't! - Technical Emmy award winners announced! |website=Community livejournal |date=2008-06-13 |accessdate=2013-02-13 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617220116/http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/24556079.html |archive-date=2008-06-17 }}
Television show
From 1962 to 1966, Miller and Austin hosted the Teen Beat Club television show on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, that included live weekly interviews and dancing, patterned after Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The live broadcasts, held on the Saturday afternoon time-slot, featured such guest artists as Frankie Avalon, the Beach Boys, Dorsey Burnette, Vic Dana, Dick and Dee Dee, Little Richard, Trini Lopez, Wayne Newton, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Shillings,{{cite book|editor-last=Tahsler|editor-first=Bruce G.|title=The San Francisco East Bay Scene: Garage Bands From The 60's Then And Now|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TpmJhh2jTJ8C&pg=PA74|accessdate=2013-09-26|year=2006|publisher=Teens N' Twenties Publications|isbn=978-1-4243-1813-1|page=74}} Keely Smith, Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton and Timi Yuro
Dance concerts
From 1963 through 1968, Miller and Austin also promoted dance concerts held at the Las Vegas Convention Center that featured the Beach Boys, Sonny Charles and The Checkmates, Ltd., Dick and Dee Dee, Jackie DeShannon, Tom Jones, Lou Rawls, Bobby Rydell, Neil Sedaka, the Surfaris, Three Dog Night and Bobby Vinton. They also co-promoted the first Las Vegas appearances of the Grateful Dead and Santana at the Las Vegas Ice Palace on March 29, 1969.{{cite web|title=Grateful Dead Live at Ice Palace on 1969-03-29 |url=https://archive.org/details/gd69-03-29.sbd.vinson.1764.sbeok.shnf |website=Internet Archive |date=29 March 1969 |accessdate=2013-09-26}}
- {{cite news|title=The 25 Most Legendary Rock Concerts in Las Vegas History |url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/archive/2007/may/09/special-music-issue-you-had-to-be-there/ |date=9 May 2007 |last=Patterson |first=Spencer |work=Las Vegas Weekly |quote=5.) Grateful Dead (with Santana), Las Vegas Ice Palace, March 29, 1969 |accessdate=2013-09-26}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://vegasnowandthen.blogspot.com/2010/03/1960s-teen-scene-in-las-vegas.html Sixties Teen-Age Entertainment in Vegas] b;og
- [http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/mar/28/las-vegas-nightspots-through-years/ "Las Vegas nightspots through the years: Those that left an impression and why"], Las Vefas Sub'', March 28, 2012
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