Good Times: The Legion, Two Bands and a Gun Raffle

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9

We went to the Fox Lake (Illinois) American Legion on US-12, right on Nippersink Lake for their annual Sons of the American Legion Gun Raffle, a major money-maker for the organization.  The place was packed, because along with the raffle and instant raffles, they had entertainment.

We saw the same group we had seen there last week, Tony & the Effects who always bring along a considerable crowd of their followers.  They play only 50s and 60s music and do it quite well.  I've never heard another local band do many of the songs they have in their repertoire (I had to look up how to spell this word).

They finished playing in the bar area at 6 and then a group named the Loony Tunes played 60s and 70s classic rock in the banquet room.

We met friends Glen and Barb there, whom we had had a fish fry with yesterday at the Diamond Deli in Fox Lake.

Any day with two good bands is a pretty good day.

As usual, I didn't win a gun.  I don't know what I would do with one if I did.

Afterwards, we went over to Stucky's.

Oh, Well.  --RoadDog

Charles and Irene Custer's Photographs on Route 66 News Site: A Real Slice in Time

The last two posts here have been about a truly wonderful group of pictures of what Route 66 looked like in the early 1950s, even though we don't know for sure they were taken on 66.

The place I directed you to had about 20 pictures, but you can go to the Route 66 News  blog site and see all of the pictures (and click to make them larger).

I highly recommend you check it out.  It is on the April 27 entry.

--RoadDog

Charles and Irene Custer's 1950 Trip Across America

From yesterday's blog entry.

The pictures were developed again after some 70 years after they were taken.  They took the pictures with an Agfa box camera which gave a whole lot of detail.  The pictures were taken on a working honeymoon trip in 1950.

Noted Route 66 personality Michael Wallis compares Custer's pictures with those of Great Depression photographers like Dorothea Lange.

There, unfortunately, are no captions or identifying information and it is hoped people looking at them can help identify.  It appears the batch shown in the Sun-Times was from Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Well Worth Checking These Pictures Out.  --RoadDog

Here's Some Good Listening Music for You Roadies

For this week, Fessan Hook is featuring the Beach Music Top 40 for the year 1954, before there was a rock and roll with people like Jimmy Liggins, Louis Jordan, Drifters, Robins, Clovers and others.  It's only for a week so you'd best get to it soon.

Great listening.  http://cashboxmagazine.com. Click on radio, scroll down to radio countdowns.

You can also hear the current Beach Music Top 40 and the Saturday Fish Fry Blues and Boogie Show.  Worth a listen.

Also, for those of you who remember the Summer of 1972, Bob Stroud is doing the fourth and final part of his annual trip back forty years ago this Sunday on Chicago's WDRV from 7 to 10 AM CST.  www.wdrv.com.

I just found out that Wendy Rice, on her Saturday Morning Flashback Show on Chicago's WXRT is going to feature 1967 for four full hours tomorrow from 8 to noon, CST.  It streams at www.wxrt.com. Lots of music and things going on that year.

Enjoying It Right Now.  --RoadDog

It Was Definitely a Retro Night

Yesterday, August 5th, Liz and I had what could definitely be termed as a retro night.

After boating, (still no wake on the Chain of Lakes due to flooding, but the waters are slowly going down), we drove over to nearby Ingleside, about a mile away, and ate at the Dog 'N Suds. Miller's Dog 'N Suds has been owned by the same family since it opened in 1967.

Every Saturday they have a classic car show and once a month during the summer they have live bands. Thursdays the special is Charcoburgers for 99 cents. This is one of the best burgers I've ever had. Then, there is all that great root beer to wash it down with. We always order the 16 ounce small root beer as it comes in frosted mug. Usually, i always order the biggest size, but root beer really has to be served in a glass mug.


IT'S THURSDAY

Then, we drove to Antioch, Illinois, about ten miles away, where they were having their weekly It's Thursday party. Every Thursday, they have a band playing out at their band shell. Tonight, the band was the Fairlanes who played two hours straight of 50s and 60s music.

In addition, they had about 150 old classic cars parked all over the place. All were neat, but I was especially impressed with the 1967 red Firebird convertible. I used to have a 1967 blue convertible Firebird, but i found that I like driving them but definitely not working on them.

On the way home, we stopped at McDonald's for a chocolate sundae. You sure can't beat these for a buck. Of course, the first McDonald's opened in nearby Des Plaines in 1955.

All in All, Quite a Trip Back to the 50s and 60s. --RoadDog