When I was a teenager on Chicago’s North Shore, dating usually meant going to tried and true venues.
Like Friday and Saturday nights at the Teatro Del Lago movie theater in Wilmette.
Or the Edens theater in Northbrook.
Maybe once in awhile we’d go bowing at Strike ‘n Spare or the Orchard Twin Bowl.
Or we’d play miniature golf at Fun Fair in Skokie.
Food-wise, it was usually Booby’s or Washington Garden’s in Highwood or Peacock’s Dairy Bar or pizza from somewhere like Tonelli’s or The Spot.
And sometimes these dates would end with a drive-by tussle on Forest Way or a make out session in someone’s basement.***
***(I had a curfew and had to be home by midnight. The kissing part never lasted too long.)
The kissing was always accompanied by the soundtrack of Johnny’s Greatest Hits.
And to this day, I can’t hear “Chances Are, “Wonderful, Wonderful,” “When Sunny Gets Blue” or “It’s Not for Me To Say” without being instantly teleported to a certain basement in Glencoe.)
But if a date really wanted to impress me and pull out all the stops, that meant only one thing…
A trip to the big time.
Chicago.
If I was in luck and he was in the chips, this could mean a pizza at Uno’s or Due’s.
Or a rock concert at the Arie Crown Theater or the Auditorium.
Or we could catch a hip jazz or comedy act at Mr. Kelly’s on naughty Rush street.
Or be rich and sophisticated- on Daddy’s money- and go to the Empire Room at the Palmer House.
Or we might take in a movie at the State and Lake.
Or a make a quick trip to Old Town. (A happening place that I was strictly forbidden to go. They sold Zig Zag rolling paper and love beads there! But I threw caution to the winds and went anyway.)
But hippest of all Chicago dating ops was a trip to 6455 North Sheridan Road. A spot near the Loyola campus.
It was called “It’s Here,” and it was the coolest thing going at that time.
“It’s Here” was a coffee house. Because they didn’t serve alcohol, you didn’t have to be twenty-one to get in. I think they served apple cider as well as coffee. Their food menu was limited strictly to pizza.
But what they dished up along with the pizza was folk singers.
The pizza was lousy. The folk singers were great.
The first thing you had to do was check your shoes at the door. I’m not sure why that was their policy but it felt very sharp and beatnik-like.
A “shoe check” girl took your penny loafers and put them in a cubby. (New Trier- my high school- was very preppy. And no one wore designer gym shoes back in the day.)
This was a fairly routine task for the shoe check gal until one memorable Saturday night when yours truly and my boyfriend Bruce showed up after he had broken his foot.
Bruce was on crutches but that didn’t prevent him from having a social life. And as we handed her three shoes, I’ll never forget the look of anxiety/concern/curiosity/terror as she tentatively looked down.
She was afraid to see if Bruce only had one leg.
Once you got past the shoe check, you were ushered into a dimly-lit living room. There were little tables and pillows everywhere.
As I said, I think they only served pizza. So ordering was a snap.
And then came the entertainment.
Time has erased my memories of who I saw there. (If anyone else went to “It’s Here,” help me out, ok?)
UPDATE: One of my readers just informed me that Oscar Brand frequently played here. Bless you, Alan.
I do know, that at that time, the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul and Mary, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan- the poet laureate of folkies- were all HUGE. (Too big for the likes of “It’s Here.”)
But although I don’t remember who played there, I still vividly remember how it felt to be making that scene.
“It’s Here” was like wow, Daddy-O.
Now, sit back, have a cup of joe, focus your audio and enjoy these folk idols.
Later, gator.
Or look at this group.
The girl.
The Greatest.
Although I grew up downstate, I did attend the National High School Institute at Northwestern University and its Medill School of Journalism in the summer of 1965 and I was introduced to many of these places. And a number of others, surprisingly not mentioned —
Jazz meant a trip to the London House on Wacker Drive in Chicago or an evening at Mill Run Theatre in Niles and dinner meant a trip to Hackney’s for burgers on Harms Road in Glenview or maybe Beni Hana of Tokyo on Ohio Street or an after-movie meal at The Magic Pan for crepes.
Folk music meant a trip to the Earl of Old Town or the Old Town School of Folk Music. Popular guitarist Bob Gibson performed there regularly as did singer Phil Ochs.
Those of you growing up on Chicago’s north side or the north shore were very fortunate. My home town had Steak ‘n Shake and two movie theatres.
But lots of memories.
I didn’t mention some of the great places you named checked because I was going strictly on my dating scene. The boys I went out with (bad grammar, I know) weren’t jazz buffs. They mostly liked the Beach Boys, Motown and some – not all- liked the Beatles. You named some terrific places, Jack. Glad to have their additions.
As for Steak ‘n Shake, you were lucky. Back then, “in sight, it must be right.” Gus Belt was an idol of mine. Thanks, pal.
Ellen,
The subject of your post is way outside of my areas of expertise. However, I did listen to all four of the clips at the end, and offer a few random observations:
* Joan Baez and Steve Jobs dated in the early 80’s — do the math
* Robert Zimmerman of Duluth spent some of his formative years hanging out in Dinkytown at the edge of the University of Minnesota campus
* When cluing either TSAR or POPE in a crossword puzzle, one of my favorite clues is “Peter or Paul, but not Mary”
* Your CAPTCHA’s are too easy
I knew you had it in you. And even though you are busy with the 4th Annual Minnesota Puzzle Tournament, you still managed to contribute here. THANKS 6
Don’t forget to “Takhomasak”. My home town had the second or third Steak ‘n Shake ever built, built and opened in the late 1940s. It was an all-white building on East Main Street in Galesburg, IL and looked like a diner out of that great Edward Hopper painting.
Where I grew up, Steak ‘n Shake and Dairy Queen was a great night out!!
I LOVED that place. I could write an entire post dedicated to it, Jack. Sadly when they sold out, it got eh. I still make their chili all the time, though. Thanks for the memories.
Growing up on the South Side, we too had our “locals”.
But yes, ALL those places you mentioned downtown were on our list, too.
What a great time to grow up!!
And boy, no one does it….and STILL does it better than Mathis!! Do you know, he’s still touring? Saw him three times LIVE in the last five years! Once, fourth row center!!
Right on, Ellen!!
Up with South Shore
And down with New Trier.
(Had to throw that in. Kenny and Barry made me.)
I’ll let it go, Bernie. Because I am Wonderful, Wonderful. Thanks, pal. Glad you liked this one.
And, Heavenly………….
It’s not for me to say.
Said with a certain smile……
There’s a song for everything!
There is! JM is the man.
Great story!
Being a late bloomer (the dating scene was not allowed for me until I was ’embedded’ at DePauw university, a long way from home)!
Funny you mention the curfews, we had them at Depauw too. It started in 1968 with no women allowed in the dorms. Yea, I was a GDI! The rule was bent and twisted, as if it were rock n roll, and ended in 1972 with women allowed in the dorms but no overnight stays! And now…….. (whew)!
So no, I can’t relate to the dating scene in high school, but I can tell you that I spent quite a few weekends and summers, escaping from the university campus, to go into Chicago and visit some of those haunts that you mention!
Better late that never!
Michael
“GDI!” I haven’t thought of that expression in a zillion years. Good one, Michael. Thanks for ringing in here today. (Btw, “It’s never too late” is my motto.)
It’s Here was a regular for us in High School (NTW). Only performer I remember was Joel Cory. Lots of fond memories.
Thanks, Rob. Joel Cory. Good one.
This is wonderful! Thank you!
I saw a young, not-yet-famous Jose Feliciano at It’s Here many Friday nights.
Jane Stenson
Old Orchard Junior High
Niles West & North
New Trier equaled Ann Margaret to me
Hi I just found you looking for a musician we used to go to see at Its Here. His name was Joel Corey. He had a lot of humor in his act. I think we started going in about 1967. I am pretty sure we are talking about the same place. Do you remember the bathroom?
It had Avery bright naked bulb that was like a floodlight in the dark. My now wife got up off the floor in the middle of a song. We were in the second or third row, and when she stood up Joel stopped and she froze like a deer in headlights, he said go ahead we will wait. Well he didn’t, he started playing again, but stopped again when she opened the door. She has never gotten up in the middle of entertainment again.
I ran into another person who played there in when I was at SIU in Carbondale,but don,t remember his name.
Best entertainment venue ever, you felt like you were part of it.
Yes, we are talking about the same place. And boy, you really remember it in detail! Do you remember the pizza? I think it was the frozen store-bought kind.
Thanks, Scott. Really enjoyed your recollections of It’s Here.”
Joel Corey was the best! He had a line in one of his songs that went “What do you do if you’re young and white and Jewish and the only chain you’ve got is the one on your bike?” Great times…