Now, live from Bettis Hill in Dravosburg, it's the Tube City Almanac Information Booth ... where the "I-Team" is always on the go, taking action, for you! (Cue your thumping TV news music here.)
Yesterday, Ed from Washington, Pa., asked about a 1960s Mon Valley garage band called "The Oncomers." We sent out feelers to our vast (half-vast?) network of correspondents, and high school classmate Bill Scully, drummer for The Hi-Frequencies, and son of the drummer for The Arondies, responded:
I know the drummer. Jack O'Neill ... he still lives in McKeesport. I'm supposed to contact him again because Get Hip Records wants to release an Oncomers album. The Oncomers & Arondies were close friends ... the Oncomers were their "big brother" band when they were just getting started.
They only released one record, I think ("Every Day Now" b/w "You Let Me Down"), but they recorded about 10 or 11 songs total.
I have just about everything that they did on a cassette tape (a copy of a copy of a copy of a scratchy acetate). I'm a big fan of their work...you can hear similarities between them & The Arondies, though The Arondies were a better band in my opinion. But then I'm a bit biased.
The Arondies played the Cove regularly (every Friday night, I think). I have always hoped that someone taped The Arondies in performance, or possibly filmed them via Super 8, but I haven't found anything yet. News like this keeps me hopeful, though.
When I got out of the U.S. Navy in late 1960, the first thing I bought was a Sony reel-to-reel stereo tape recorder and a cheap Radio Shack electric guitar. The "Twist" was breathing new life into a lot of the old beer joints along Rt. 51, and I was hitting them all, listening to a lot of different bands, drinking beer, and chasing women. "The Cove" in Large became my favorite, and a lot of bands/groups came and went during that time. The Oncomers were head and shoulders above anyone else that ever played there. My love for Chuck Berry style guitar may have clouded my judgement, but I truly loved to listen to them play. I never was a groupie, as such, in that I never knew (or cared) what any of their names were. I loved the music though, and they all knew it. One of the greatest moments in my young life was when the guitar player allowed me to pick up his guitar and play a few chords during break.
One day I asked them if it would be OK if I recorded them while they were playing, and they agreed that it would be fun. The next Friday night I set up right on stage with them. I vividly recall hooking one channel of the recorder directly into the output of the guitarist's amp., without even a mike on that channel. The other channel I hooked to two mikes (with a mixer) for the drummer and bass, which also picked up some of the guitar. That setup was a long way from being "studio quality," but I ended up with what could be the most perfect reproduction of his guitar playing that could possibly be made. The quality of the reproduced sound is just like it was made yesterday, although my mixing ability left a little to be desired.
The tape has a lot of interesting (to me) stuff on it, such as when the guitarist broke a string right after starting, and they had to play an extreme drum and base "Topsy" until he got re-strung. They also do what they refer to as their "Dusty Disk" on the tape, "You Let me Down." There is a rendition of their version of "Bullfight," and "Johnny B. Goode" that still stands my hair on end, along with about 20 or so others.
I used to often listen to the tape, but as time went on I gradually lost interest and put it away where it has been for the last 35 years or so. My 6-year-old grandson is showing great interest in playing guitar, and has already played for his fellow schoolers in the auditorium. His favorite saying is "I want to rock the house." I dug out this tape to show him what really good R&R sounds like, and while I was listening, it ocurred to me that maybe The Oncomers may never have had a chance to save any of their own music, and maybe they might want some of this so they can pass it on to their own grandkids.
Shoot! How did I forget about this?
For the first time, the artistic process of one of the world's foremost artists, McKeesport native Duane Michals, is captured on film. Michals is known for his narrative, sequential photography as well as his commercial work, including the cover art for The Police's Synchronicity album, Life magazine covers, and fashion spreads for Vogue magazine. Mostly self-taught, he’s revered throughout the world of art photography. For this documentary Michals was asked to talk about his memories, his history, his work, his life and philosophy. He enthusiastically agreed. The first interview was recorded in May 2003 and the focus soon centered on a new book, The House I Once Called Home, a work that Michals calls a photographic memoir. The film highlights yet another of the dynamic, creative, and successful talents who was born and nurtured in the Pittsburgh region. (Directed by Stephen Seliy and Joe Seamans; USA; 2004; 64min)
Regent Sq Theater: Thu, Nov 18 - 7:00 (special event ticket required); Thu, Nov 18 - 9:15. Joe Seamans and Duane Michals are scheduled to appear. Michals' photographs and calligraphy are on exhibit from October 29 through December 17 at Melwood Galleries.
The Tube City Almanac Information Booth is open for business once again. Ed in Washington, Pa., writes:
Don't ask me what I was looking for when I found your website, but I stumbled on the info about old nightclubs and bands, and I thought I'd take a shot.
Twenty-five minutes ago I was listening to an old four-track stereo reel-to-reel tape recording that I made live at The Cove nightclub on Route 51 in Large, Pa., in 1961 or '62. The tape was of the "Oncomers", that I'm pretty sure were making the circuit around the Mon Valley (including McKeesport) at that time.
You mentioned this band on your site, and if you have any clue as to how I might reach any surviving member, (I'm sure that lifestyle takes it's toll) I'd greatly appreciate it. I thought that their guitarist was one of the best I ever heard, and listening to this old tape as brought me hours of enjoyment.
My only reason for trying to find one of them is so I might give them back some of this music so they can show their grandchildren, if they want to.
If you can't help, don't bother responding to this. I'm sure you are busy enough with things that matter to someone.
A little Mon Valley anecdote for you, or something like that. I was listening to the Steelers game on the radio, and in the fourth quarter, safety Russell Stuvaints returned a fumble for a touchdown. Bill Hillgrove said "He's running straight up Lysle Boulevard" and I was thinking "Hmm ... why the McKeesport reference, or is there another Lysle Boulevard." Well, it turns out Stuvaints is from McKeesport.
News and notes you may have missed:
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College senior and White Oak native Adam Striegel has secured a piece of immortality. A previously-unknown species of amphibian is going to be named for him.
While on a field trip in the west hills with a geology professor, Striegel spotted an interesting fossil and showed it to the instructor. The rock, which was examined by experts at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, was identified as the skull of a salamander-like animal that probably lived about 300 million years ago.
More in Bill Zlatos' story in the Tribune-Review and in this press release from Pitt. (Standard disclaimer: I do not speak for Pitt, and Pitt does not speak for me.)
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Mark Stroup passes along links to pictures of signs that were photographed during a summer walking tour of Braddock, along with news (via Ann Belser in the Post-Gazette) that a group of buildings dating back to the 19th century are about to be demolished.
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PBS's always-excellent "Frontline" last night revealed that the star in the Wal-Mart logo is apparently a red one, signifying the retailer's increasing reliance on Chinese-made goods, produced by subsidized labor below the world market price. Jon Lehman was a Wal-Mart manager for 17 years; he now works for a union trying to organize Wal-Mart stores:
(Question:) So who's driving the process? ... What does it look like to you? You've been inside Wal-Mart. You've seen it. You've talked to Wal-Mart buyers; you've seen suppliers; you've heard the story. ... You just said these companies are having trouble bargaining... I mean, it's pretty hard to escape the conclusion, isn't it, that Wal-Mart is a factor pushing the jobs to China?
(Answer:) Absolutely. The company's completed (sic) shifted its focus again from the founding principles of Sam Walton, who, by the way, used to really enjoy and take a lot of pride in what's called the "Buy America" program, "Made in America," "Bring it home to the USA." He was all about going to factories in America that were closing, like a flannel-shirt factory. I remember one example of that. They couldn't make flannel shirts in America as cheap[ly] as they could in China, so the factory closed. Three hundred-something jobs went down.
Well, Sam went to that owner of that manufacturer and said: "Look, if you'll make flannel shirts just for Wal-Mart exclusively for the next three years, I'll retool your plant. I'll give you a loan ... get your business up and going, and you just sell them to us." And that's what he was all about.
I recently heard a speech by Lee Scott, the CEO, and in his speech, what was disturbing to me is he said -- somebody questioned him about China: "Why are you doing so much business in China?" And he just kind of resigned himself to it and said: "Well, it's just the way it's got to be. This is a global economy now. We've got to do business with China. We have no other choice."
What happened to Sam Walton's founding principles? What happened to "Buy America," "Bring it home to the USA," good, American, union jobs? What happened to that?
(Question:) Was there something fishy in the competition you saw from China?
(Answer:) This business is a very low-margin business to start with, and we know that. But when we started looking at the competition, and we compared feature levels and screen size, and we know what labor costs are, we know what material costs are, we know all the different shipping costs, we know what that is. So when you started adding all those things together and you said, "OK, Chinese have lower labor; we'll discount it for that labor, but we're going to add shipping costs," and you take all the other costs and add them together, you know there was no way that they could be meeting those price points on a fair playing field.
And I can't explain what was going on, because I don't know what goes on inside of China, but I did know that when you take a tube cost, what it costs to make a cabinet, what it costs for electronics, and you put it all together, you can't sell it for less than you make, and that's what it looked like to us. So that got our attention.
So we got together ... with a law firm and said, "This doesn't look right," and they looked at it, and of course Georgetown Economic Services got involved and looked at it and came back and said: "No, we believe this is a reasonable case. We think that there in fact is dumping going on." ... [...]
(Question:) And where was Wal-Mart in your case? What side did Wal-Mart come down on?
(Answer:) Wal-Mart chose the side of the Chinese. And basically Wal-Mart spent a lot of time and effort at the International Trade Commission hearings testifying against us and our case.
So they're testifying against you. I thought Wal-Mart was a "Buy America" company.
Well, I think that's the old Wal-Mart that we used to know when Sam Walton was alive. I don't think today if you walk in to Wal-Mart and you probably did a count, you wouldn't find a lot of American products in Wal-Mart. I think they've changed that direction over the years.
Produce manager Joe Blimfark went into the store manager's office at the West Elizabeth Pic'n Shop this morning.
"What is it, Blimfark?" asked Mr. Goldshmitz.
"Well, boss, I just wanted you to be the first to know the good news," Blimfark said. "The staff took a vote last night, and we all agreed that we deserve a raise."
"Jeez, I'm sorry, Blimfark," Goldshmitz said, sticking a pinkie finger into his right ear and wiggling it vigorously. "This damned hearing aid must be on the blink again. I could have sworn that you said that yinz voted last night to give yourselves raises."
"No, that's right, boss," Blimfark said. "The vote went 51 percent to 48 percent. I'd say that's a mandate."
"51 and 48 don't add up to 100 percent," Goldshmitz said. "What happened to the other 1 percent?"
"We couldn't read the ballot that Julie from the bakery department sent in," Blimfark said. "It was covered in icing. Anyway, we've earned some political capital, and we intend to spend it."
Goldshmitz took his reading glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And what gave you this half-witted idea?"
"Well, we read in the paper last night ..."
"Who gave you permission to read the paper?" Goldshmitz said, interrupting him. "I'm not paying you to read the paper."
"On our 15-minute break, boss," Blimfark said.
"Fine, but I hope you paid for that paper," Goldshmitz said. "Go on."
"We read that the state legislature is thinking about giving itself a $12,000 pay raise, and we figured, heck, we're worth another $12,000."
"How so?" asked Goldshmitz. "Isn't it enough that I pay you $5.15 an hour, plus all the dented and bulging cans you can carry home?"
"Believe me, boss, we appreciate it," said Blimfark, "even if my little girl did come down with food poisoning from that cherry pie filling. But if the state legislature can vote itself a raise, then we decided we can, too.
"And that's not all," he said.
"What else?" said Goldshmitz, with a sigh.
"We read where the state legislators each get $126 in expense money for every day they spend at work," Blimfark said. "Now, it's probably more expensive to eat in Harrisburg than it is in West Elizabeth, so we figure that we can cut you a break there. How's $100 a day sound?"
"That will buy a lot of hot dogs at the 7-Eleven," Goldshmitz said.
"Also, state legislators each get a free car. Since we can't afford a car on our pay --- and believe me, we're not complaining, boss --- most of us have to take the bus or walk. Now, we're not asking you to buy a car for each of us. If you just want to rent them, that's fine, too. And we don't need Lincoln Town Cars or SUVs like the state legislators get. A nice Chevy will be fine for each of us."
"Gee, that's fair," Goldshmitz said. "Anything else?"
"Well, there's one last thing," Blimfark said. "The Pennsylvania General Assembly takes the entire month of December off. Now, we know how important Christmas is at a grocery store, so we'd like to take a slower month off, instead. Maybe August."
"I really appreciate your consideration," Goldshmitz said.
"So, are you going to grant our requests?" Blimfark said.
"No, but I'll tell you what I will do," Goldshmitz said. "I'll give you until the count of five to get out of my office before I throw you out of that window and into the lottery counter."
"But we took a fair, open vote, just like the legislature is going to do!" Blimfark said, stamping his foot down.
"There's a big difference between you schlubs and the state legislature," Goldshmitz roared. "They spend the tax money, and you jerks just earn it!"
"But ..."
Goldshmitz stood up and rolled back his sleeves, counting: "Five ... four ... three ... " Blimfark quickly made his retreat back onto the sales floor.
Sharon, the lottery clerk, was waiting for him. "Well? How'd it go?"
"We scored a few important victories," Blimfark said, "but in the end, the decision turned on moral issues."
Hit 'n run thoughts, and things I learned from the Internet while I was looking for other things:
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Bentleyville's Maple Creek Mining, which announced last week that was laying off several hundred people in response to a state Department of Environmental Protection order, has a Website. And a pretty good one, too, though the press releases don't seem to be particularly up to date.
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All of the Sears, Roebuck & Co. nostalgia you can stand and more is available at the Sears Archives. For instance, did you realize that Arthur Crudup and Muddy Waters got their start playing Sears Silvertone guitars? (We had a Sears Silvertone TV when I was growing up, and I still have a Silvertone tape recorder.)
Or, did you realize that creepy actor Vincent Price once marketed his own collection of fine art through Sears stores? He didn't sell wax mannequins, unfortunately, but the portraits of Dorian Gray were very popular.
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Appropos of nothing: How does a terrible show like "Crossing Jordan" keep getting back on the air? I mean, I think Jill Hennessy is as cute as a bug, but this has got to be one of the most contrived, over-the-top dramas ever to air on network television --- outside of daytime soap operas, of course. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.
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I wish Alan Dershowitz would tell everyone what he really thinks:
The world made a terrible mistake by not treating Arafat as a criminal. He should have been indicted for ordering the murder of American diplomats, Israeli athletes, and international travelers instead of being praised for his "courage." It takes no courage to kill the helpless and much courage to risk one's own life in pursuit of peace. It was such courage that Arafat lacked.
The Nobel Peace Prize was cheapened by being awarded to this hater of peace. The Vatican was tarnished by its frequent welcoming of a man who violated every teaching of the Church. The United Nations was trivialized by its lionization of this coward. And terrorism was encouraged by the rewards Arafat received for his murders.
CMU, which didn't have a starter taller than 6-foot-6, held a 45-43 halftime lead, led 53-46 early in the second half and trailed by only five points until Pitt's late surge.
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