(left)Denny Conroy, Jim Pilster and James Fairs. (right) Jim Pilster and James.
(left)Jim Pilster in left photo. (right)Tom Doody and Jim Pilster.
Photos and story by Joanie Crear
Housed in a former converted barn on Illinois Highway 31 two miles north of Algonquin, Il. The New Place was one of the popular Chicago area teen night clubs. It featured groups such as: The Cryan ' Shames, The Flock, The Mauds, The Ides' Of March, Saturday's Children, The New Colony Six, The Huns, and H.P. Lovecraft. It had black lighting and writing on the walls typical of the 1960's teen clubs.
The attendance easily reached 1000 on weekend nights, and despite the large turnout there were very few disturbances. The typical turn outs were because of the few options available to teens in the 1960's. As with Westmont's Blue Village , the average teen crowd was a real mix of hippies, motorcycle types, straight types, and greasers.
Jim Pilster (J.C.Hooke) was given an early birthday cake at this concert as a surprise as his B-Day was only 18 days away on the 28th. Also special was the opening of the newly remodeled New Place that evening. Jimmy decided that since the candles kept relighting (they were the trick ones!) he would put them out by smashing the cake with his hook.
Tom Doody (Toad) also got in on the fun as one of the candles relit later, and he put it out by shoving the microphone into the cake. It was a fun evening!.
The second set of pictures is from their January 26, 1968 concert, also at The New Place.
Sadly, The New Place was destroyed by a fire on December 20, 1968, but, "The memories live on in the minds of those who choose to remember".
(left)Lenny Kerley and Jim Pilster. (right)Isaac Guillory, Jim Pilster and Lenny Kerley.
(left)Lenny Kerley and Jim Pilster. (right) Jim Pilster.
James Fairs
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