What was the "original" Pipers Alley like? (Chicago: sale, 2014)

[Rweat]

The Man At Ease was a great clothing shop at that time north of north ave on Wells street. I remember seeing Janis Joplin with Big Brother and The Holding Company playing in a storefront club further south on Wells in what must have been 66 or 67 and thinking how wild that woman singer was. Wells street was rally great back then- I remember listening to that jazz pianist Judy Roberts(?) outside a Wells street club and dancing to the music.

[baileyvpotter]

To add regarding "hippies" many went to Foster Beach to hang out (by the rocks) and if you walked on Clark past
Armitage (north) there were several head shops and smaller versions of Bazaar Bazaar.

[Larry Siegel]

I've seen Richie Havens at the Old Town School but not the Earl of Old Town.

[barryofthailand]

I worked at LA Piazza in Pipers Alley in 1969. I have fond memories of Old Town in Chicago

[stillife]

I was born in 1955 and my family lived in Edgewater from 1966-1969. Foster Beach was my local beach but I guess I was too young to hang out with the hippies. I became fascinated with the "hippie" culture and used to go to Old Town in 1967-69. I saw the Bob Dylan documentary "Don't Look Back" (I was a huge Dylan fan) at the movie theater in Piper's Alley, probably in 1968 or 1969. I remember a restaurant in Piper's Alley called Rathskeller's. I used to buy buttons and posters - I remember there was a poster shop on North Avenue but can't remember the name. I got a poster called "Pipe Dreams" there. I got a cloth purse, made in India with embroidery and little mirrors, at a store on Wells.

I got my first pair of bellbottoms - Landlubbers - at a store called SirReal just a bit north of Old Town on Clark Street.

[CatWarmer]

We lived on the 1700 block of Wells in the 70's and this really brings back memories! When friends got married, we would walk down to the original Crate & Barrel Crate & Barrel Store, 1968 - where everything literally was sitting on crates and barrels - to get them a present. But we'd always get something nicer for ourselves! We have a lot of crystal... Also, when we got married, we had our rehearsal dinner at That Steak Joynt.

And that Walgreen's was our drugstore. Scary times.

[baileyvpotter]

Originally Posted by CatWarmer

Also, when we got married, we had our rehearsal dinner at That Steak Joynt.

Loved That Steak Joynt, great food & atmosphere. Didn't realize until recently that some thought
it was haunted. I also had a friend who lived on on the 1700 block of Wells (place must
be worth a fortune now). Wasn't there a Mexican restaurant on the north side of Wells near
there?

Boo!
That Steak Joynt Investigation

[Longford]

A picture says a 1000 words, or so the old saying goes:

[Older'nDirt]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Kinetic Playground, originally the Electric Theater. I saw Led Zeppelin open for the Vanilla Fudge there. Also saw a show with Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Buddy Rich and The Who.

The Aragon was a psychedelic joint for awhile, called the Cheetah. I saw the Moby Grape there, undoubtedly the tightest and hardest rocking of the hippie bands.

Spent MANY a night at "The Theater." It was at 4812 N. Clark, next to a Roller Rink that I don't remember the name of. Remember seeing Led Zeppelin there, the lights went off while they were playing, strobes came on and they started throwing candy wrapped in foil! Drove many of us to near insanity! All those great bands and it only cost us, if I remember correctly, $5.00 - $7.00 to get in.

I have an original Theater Poster hanging on my wall for a Friday and Saturday July 18 -19 show with Led Zeppelin, Savoy Brown, The Litter and special guest Jethro Tull.

The 60s, if you remember them you really weren't there!

[Older'nDirt]

Originally Posted by baileyvpotter

To add regarding "hippies" many went to Foster Beach to hang out (by the rocks) and if you walked on Clark past
Armitage (north) there were several head shops and smaller versions of Bazaar Bazaar.

We'd be down half way to Hollywood by our "tree!" Remember the two motorcycle cops, we used to call them the Bobsy Twins, who use to ride along the grass looking for people drinking? Never did catch any of us, but then again we'd always "bring some extra" just in case we had "unexpected visitors!" Used to be one guy in our bunch who said he'd never get caught, He'd put his quart bottle in his boot and drink it from there. No one would ever guess why he had his boot in his face!

Then there was the black Cuban, Roberto was his name I think, who'd tell you he swam to the U.S. all the way from Cuba. One day we had to go in the water after him when he almost drowned! I he may have been telling stories on how he got here!