tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post6944589118127281230..comments2024-03-28T17:58:29.293-07:00Comments on Rock Archaeology 101: 1048 University Avenue, Berkeley-Mandrake'sCorry342http://www.blogger.com/profile/08049035074121231425noreply@blogger.comBlogger528125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-49320949446864954082022-01-15T13:43:12.503-08:002022-01-15T13:43:12.503-08:00Hello Barbara. Michael Hall here. I worked at Mand...Hello Barbara. Michael Hall here. I worked at Mandrakes for a good part of 1969. Don't remember the exact dates, but came over from Steppenwolf's with the Magic Theatre, where I was the first stage manager. We may have been there at the same time. Part of my job (alternating behind the bar and at the door) was creating signs to hang outside announcing the current acts.<br /><br />Thank you for this wonder trove of stories. Please let me know if the documenting of the Mandrakes history is still in progress. I would love to share with you some of my stories. michaelhall1946@gmail.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00281370921830843513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-156462536215115612020-10-28T21:14:31.659-07:002020-10-28T21:14:31.659-07:00Find Airport taxi Service in California. We have t...<br />Find <a href="https://www.berkeleytaxicabs.com/" rel="nofollow">Airport taxi Service</a> in California. We have the most reliable airport transportation in Berkeley California. Get taxi flat rates b/w Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Alameda, Castro Valley.Lain Labhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10781943262240567392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-74387428354063252882017-10-09T07:50:33.629-07:002017-10-09T07:50:33.629-07:00Hi Barbara,
I'm a BBC radio producer making a...Hi Barbara,<br /><br />I'm a BBC radio producer making a feature about Richard Pryor in Berkeley. It would be wonderful if we could speak more about your memories of the club.. please do drop me an email!<br /><br />victoria[a]justradio.ltd.ukAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18034556506115620033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-19698255767896587432017-10-09T07:49:05.446-07:002017-10-09T07:49:05.446-07:00Hi there, I'm a BBC radio producer making a fe...Hi there, I'm a BBC radio producer making a feature about Richard Pryor in Berkeley. I wonder if I might be able to interview you about the club and seeing Pryor play?<br /><br />victoria {at } justradio.ltd.ukAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18034556506115620033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-30562710031633549782016-05-20T11:31:49.848-07:002016-05-20T11:31:49.848-07:00Creeper here. Just ran across this blog. First off...Creeper here. Just ran across this blog. First off, the picture is from Ann Arbor not Berkeley. I only played stand up bass a couple of times and never in California. steve davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12501298137992212343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-39274555735607427872015-03-15T02:36:51.985-07:002015-03-15T02:36:51.985-07:00Regarding the date for the Rolling Stones at Mandr...Regarding the date for the Rolling Stones at Mandrake's, I am proposing Monday November 2, 1969 but it would mean that the RS travelled to the West Coast a week before the tour started on November 7 in Colorado. It makes sense that they did, as Corry suggests, take time to rehearse as they had not performed live since the July 5 show in Hyde Park. I am hoping to find someone who has a more detailed schedule for this period.The Yellow Sharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17001772238662274893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-32277738926186786392013-12-03T12:47:07.238-08:002013-12-03T12:47:07.238-08:00Thanks to Stephen Erlewine for lately bringing thi...Thanks to Stephen Erlewine for lately bringing this Magic Sam rarity back into the world. Here's another disc recorded at Mandrake's (July 1969): http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/2012/07/magic-sam-live-in-berkeley-in-1969.htmlbarbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-10157629940360949332013-11-30T09:39:39.982-08:002013-11-30T09:39:39.982-08:00Mandrake's listed on the bright orange label, ...Mandrake's listed on the bright orange label, and Brother Jack's thumping grooves on the hammond described as deeply "funky" to this very day! http://funky16corners.com/?p=2636barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-69306435340644771022013-11-30T09:30:30.049-08:002013-11-30T09:30:30.049-08:001972 brother jack mcduff recorded his album "...1972 brother jack mcduff recorded his album "Check It Out" at Mandrake's, complete with wikipedia entry<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check_This_Outbarbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-61801080751163125252013-11-28T16:33:40.182-08:002013-11-28T16:33:40.182-08:00where the haps were around san pablo ave in the gl...where the haps were around san pablo ave in the glory years: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?gl=US&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112534912606593367192.0004514e58496151e8da9barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-77758162097789674272013-11-28T16:11:31.419-08:002013-11-28T16:11:31.419-08:00Bill Kirchen (of Commander Cody) recalls a bit of ...Bill Kirchen (of Commander Cody) recalls a bit of Mandrake's from 1969 (Sept 2013 interview):<br /><br />http://www.dirtyimpound.com/2013/09/page/2/barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-39350928204560880482013-11-28T16:05:51.257-08:002013-11-28T16:05:51.257-08:00Muddy Waters returned to play Mandrake's in 19...Muddy Waters returned to play Mandrake's in 1973, or so his artist timeline asserts. Dates uncertain. http://www.keeponliving.at/artist/muddy_waters.htmlbarbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-86265908166857785362013-11-28T15:57:01.419-08:002013-11-28T15:57:01.419-08:00Not on roster of past performances, but according ...Not on roster of past performances, but according to his timeline, Vince Guaraldi played Mandrake's Feb 11, 1971 (sidemen not listed). AND also appeared Feb 9 & 10, 1973. AND (here's the Mandrake's ad for this appearance opposite Ornette Coleman at Mandrake's): <br /><br />October 16-18, 1970<br /><br />Mandrake's, Berkeley, with Vince Denham, sax and flute; Koji Kataoka, bass; and Mike Clark, drums.<br /><br />Guaraldi's quartet is billed opposite Ornette Coleman<br /><br />http://fivecentsplease.org/dpb/VinceGuaralditimeline.htmlbarbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-76863395454233039842013-11-28T15:46:01.246-08:002013-11-28T15:46:01.246-08:00Ornette Coleman's Sept 1970 run at Mandrake...Ornette Coleman's Sept 1970 run at Mandrake's reviewed in Downbeat:<br /><br />Sammy Mitchell: Caught in the Act. Ornette Coleman, Mandrake's, Berkeley, Calif., in: Down Beat, 37/22<br />(12.Nov.1970), p. 34 (C)barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-48328309790549141392013-11-13T07:54:13.388-08:002013-11-13T07:54:13.388-08:00An episode in Jane Stillwell's car trip mentio...An episode in Jane Stillwell's car trip mentions Mandrake's, too, flashing back to the day <br /><br />http://www.berkeleyside.com/tag/madrakes-nightclub/barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-77824184151823290232013-11-10T10:10:58.858-08:002013-11-10T10:10:58.858-08:00Mandrake's had more "micks" than an ...Mandrake's had more "micks" than an Irish pub. Oh, wait a minute ... it was an Irish pub (but only in that way).barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-52653157940555023082013-11-08T06:32:52.783-08:002013-11-08T06:32:52.783-08:00Another book on Richard Pryor in Berkeley club) I&...Another book on Richard Pryor in Berkeley club) I'm guessing Mandrake's .... (who's that "mick"? he's talking about onstage?) <br /><br />Furious Cool (by David Henry. Joe Henry. Algonquin Press, Chapel Hill, 2013<br /><br />http://www.popmatters.com/feature/175694-furious-cool-richard-pryor-and-the-world-that-made-him/barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-29831314291872915932013-11-05T11:54:17.831-08:002013-11-05T11:54:17.831-08:00I resisted mentioning this here, but my conscience...I resisted mentioning this here, but my conscience forces me to. Robin Williams came up to Berkeley to catch Richard Pryor at Mandrake's. Sometime in 1971 perhaps. I can tell you how he even heard about Mandrake's and Richard Pryor, but that involves going on about a sandwich in a phony sidewalk cafe in a town where he was going to college and performing comedic skits onstage there, and you all might not so readily believe me. barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-52459306080457593602013-10-27T10:18:44.111-07:002013-10-27T10:18:44.111-07:00Monday nights were audition nights, but sometimes ...Monday nights were audition nights, but sometimes really good acts came in, famous people who were trying something new. Sandy Bull (who lived close by on 5th Street) dragged over his pedal steel for a short set. He SANG in public (for the first time I ever knew of) and previewed a song he had written:<br /><br />"Berkeley, California<br />It was 1965<br />Between Viet Nam and Acid<br />I wondered how we would survive"<br /><br />(The first opening lines, and I was sitting at a table with some friends, and Gloria Denson just erupted in laughter!)barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-6163085820848125942013-09-17T14:31:02.155-07:002013-09-17T14:31:02.155-07:00I fined another couple for the exact same offense ...I fined another couple for the exact same offense and within a short time, I might add. Berkeley being what it was, then ... He'd asked her to dance, so I followed them to the dance floor, and when they were dancing I tapped the guy on the shoulder like cops did to get someone's attention, and he thought I wanted to cut in and dance with her and gave me this weird look. No! I explained they'd broken the Sadie Hawkins Day rules, and now they'd have to dance according to my instructions, "You're gonna have to dance, pahd'ner" (like cowboys when they would pull a gun and shoot around a person's feet in the movies). So I invented a dance, on the spur of the moment, and it was the Leap Year Dance. I also worked in another major holiday (Daylight Savings Time) ... and taught them the steps on the dance floor while the music was playing. Stand still, side by side. Toes on the line ... get ready ... hop forward! ("Spring forward!") pause Toes on the line ... get ready ... hop back ("Fall back") Get ready for the big one now .... big leap forward ... ("Leap Year!") And it's true, I would entertain people in the club that way and Mary didn't mind at all. That time, a guy at a table watching the whole thing close by threw a joint at me! barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-64639777821642378442013-09-16T22:38:51.309-07:002013-09-16T22:38:51.309-07:00That cartoon poster on the Berkeley Music Group fo...That cartoon poster on the Berkeley Music Group for Commander Cody (Feb 28, 1971) is likely the same one Dave Greer owns. I still would be called in to work at Mandrake's, though I was not on a regular slot any longer. So at that show I was waitressing, and this event was billed as a Sadie Hawkins Dance in honor of hillbilly roots and women's lib. Well, as to the Leap Year, either they'd forgotten to celebrate the one in 1968 (which was such a horrid year, I suspect a small thing like leap year passed by everyone's attention except that of determined calendar makers and the Farmer's Almanac, or they were anticipating the Leap Coming ... in 1972. Who knows why they did that! But the Sadie Hawkins thing I could get behind, as we actually celebrated Sadie Hawkins Day in the small town I came from (and that is in November, the first week of November) but I guess it was in the spirit of Sadie Hawkins. So because Berkeley hippies really did not know really what Sadie Hawkins was about, I mean I saw a guy ask a girl to dance, for instance. That's breaking one of the basic rules! And even at the door, guys would be bringing girls in and you could just tell it was the guy's idea to take the girl out that night, and that's breaking the primary most essential rule of Sadie Hawkins celebrations even if they're held on completely the wrong day of the year, you see. <br /><br />So I had to go to Buddy's for coffee after the first act, and Mr. Buddy mistakenly left one of the restaurant order pads on the counter with his pen. He would never waste a slip on a coffee order you know, and this pad was in easy reach of me and very tempting. So I borrowed it, and went back to the club with the idea of issuing Sadie Hawkins Day violation citations to people. And I actually gave a ticket to a couple of people after inquiring whether they were fully aware of the law as it concerned Sadie Hawkins Day. Ignorance of the law is no excuse for a violation of any law, as any jurist or judge or policeman can tell you. With one couple, as I hovered near the table to take their order, I pleasantly engaged them while I ferreted out the truth. I turned my attention to the woman as she seemed likeliest to break and asked her a sudden direct question: "Did he ask you to come here this evening?" And she said yes, he had. I explained the rules of Sadie Hawkins and advised them I was issuing a citation, in this case to the young woman because she was IGNORANT of the law and had not asked him to the dance. I levied a fine, and wrote out the ticket: "One beer." And I handed the ticket to her, and she laughed and handed it back to me, and I turned it in to Lee as I placed the order. I didn't issue many actual tickets, but I would give verbal warnings to offenders, "Oh! You're supposed to wait until SHE asks YOU to dance" or things of that nature. And yes the order pad went back to Mr. Buddy's at the end of the show. I just can't help myself sometimes. barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-13509147819565265122013-09-14T22:17:19.847-07:002013-09-14T22:17:19.847-07:00(But that Earl Hooker ... surfin' Earl! lead-i...(But that Earl Hooker ... surfin' Earl! lead-in)<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqYHbuustugbarbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-63392463149276852892013-09-11T11:43:19.059-07:002013-09-11T11:43:19.059-07:00When Ann and Samuel Charters came in to see Willie...When Ann and Samuel Charters came in to see Willie Dixon All-Stars, it was like the pinnacle of blues experiences! Royalty, true royalty was in the club now. If you don't believe me, just revisit "Chicago: The Blues: Today!" Any of the volumes from one to three. So when Ann and Samuel Charters came back into the club for the second set, and moved through the front door and paused while their eyes adjusted to dim lighting so they could find their previous seating, I stepped back in awe, and with my back to the wall, announced, "Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Ladies and Gentlemen! The Duke and Duchess of the South Side" (and as I knew those moves from theatrical offerings, I played a fairly convincing courtier announcing the arrival of yet more royalty to the court, the room already filled with nobility from the blues kingdom to watch entertainment fit for a king.)barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-71890771838716850292013-09-09T19:38:34.139-07:002013-09-09T19:38:34.139-07:00You remember that hippie guy in the 60s in Berkele...You remember that hippie guy in the 60s in Berkeley who started out a project to show that everyone in the world would actually know each other and be connected in some way? He started out drawing big charts from a center point, I think he was the starting point, and the chart kept amassing more volume as all the networks and people started growing and spreading out. He apparently kept on with that project for years, and years, and the chart grew huge! He even enlisted the help of others who would mail him their charts to show social connectivity. Is that long enough a lead-in? That's what this place feels like, sometimes. barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015290367489085356.post-5521510897024166642013-09-09T19:30:42.351-07:002013-09-09T19:30:42.351-07:00Oh, yes, I remember now. I'd helped with the h...Oh, yes, I remember now. I'd helped with the handbill for Notes From the Underground .... we had several flyers. That dark printing on the link jump above (in blue) "Weekly Bookings". That's my printing for Notes From the Underground. It was Dec 31 1968 .... Tod lived on 5th street near Sandy Bull's place, and I lived on 5th street. I was the "friend" he went with to Mandrake's in February, as he kind of took me out for a drink to keep celebrating my birthday (I'd officially turned 21 at the Albatross, with a glass of wine with some friends.) And the party continued on ... so Tod and I snuck off to Mandrake's as I had a jealous boyfriend who wouldn't approve ... and I saw the Chinese scholar waitress, who was wearing great shoes ... and I had first met her in Berkeley in summer of 1964 when she was going to school and working part time at an audiophile store on Shattuck, where she would let me come in and play some records I had bought on the Avenue ... Mozart, I might add ... and I would go there every now and again just to play that record, and pretend to be interested in the sound system and buying one if her boss happened to come in ... Anyway, that's MY printing on that handbill. She and I made bigger versions in fuschia and green and handed them out on Telegraph. That's when I teased her about the book (her being a waitress in a jazz club). Memories are funny, the way they are all tangled together sometimes. You need a fine toothed comb to separate the wheat from the chaff.barbara flaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117004332062687461noreply@blogger.com