Jay Landesman was an integral part of the cultural scene in St. Louis for many years, and a big part of my directionless youth. Not that I was a pal of his. I knew who he was, shook hands with him whenever I had the opportunity, but I doubt if he knew my name. That's okay. He was cool. I spent a lot of time in Gaslight Square. Cool jazz at the Dark Side, the Other Side (Spider Burke's place), and Georgie's; dixieland jazz at Smokey Joe's and the Tiger's Den (the swinging two-beat temple of Sammy Gardner and the Mound City Six); hip and hilarious comedy, distinctive bars, and a vibrant street scene. Like a small rendition of The Village.
Mary Lee (my wife of several years) and I used to celebrate TGIF there after we got off work at KMOX-TV (before it was KMOV). Olive and Boyle was a great gathering area, and Jay was largely responsible for inspiring it...thanks to his Crystal Palace. I have clear memories - at least they're clear in my head - of that place, where I saw the Smothers Brothers, Lenny Bruce (it was the first time I ever heard the "f" word on a stage), Jack E. Leonard, a nerdy and nervous Woody Allen, Nichols & May, and others...including a very young and shy Barbra Streisand. When I saw her, as the opening act for the Smothers Brothers, I predicted, "She's not very pretty. She'll never make it." That might have been the same year I bought an Edsel. Thanks to the wonderful comics and satirists and improv geniuses, I developed a love and appreciation for slightly off-center humor. Okay, more than "slightly." 
Jay had a full-time piano player in the bar named Tommy Wolf, who wrote songs with Jay's wife, Fran. Strange: the more I'm writing about Gaslight, the more I remember. Some other time, maybe.
Yes, St. Louis had a Golden Age once, and its name was Jay Landesman.
Thanks, Jay. Whenever I think of "cool," "hip," and an inspiration, I think of you.
Such great memories, a trip back in time.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you were to have seen all that! I only heard of Gaslight as a legend.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to sneak me in those bars when I was in Jr. high. I remember one darkly lit club in particular, with a drummer who'd wail away on solos with these neon-red glowing drumsticks. Talk about a visual that sticks with a kid! After Gaslight closed (and I know we were there till the end), we'd go to the oldest riverboat on the waterfront and see some of the same musicians -- Lige Shaw, Trebor Tichenor and the annual Ragtime and Dixieland Festivals. As such, I employed the most authentic band I could find in KC for my dad's memorial service. And of course, they all knew my dad.
ReplyDeleteThose are some wonderful names you've brought up. Unfortunately I never witnessed the "glowing drumsticks." But I did spend a lot of nights on the river at the Ragtime Festival. I think my favorite band was The Salty Dogs, from Chicago. Don't know if you remember them. Sounds as though you paid a fine tribute to your dad.
ReplyDeleteMy older sister worked and performed there when I was a teenager. As a result, my parents and I got to see a lot of free shows, including Brother Theodore, Phyllis Diller, and Del Close. I was so attracted to the place that I once rode my bike there. Luckily, the piano player (a great musician), Jimmy Williams, gave me (and my bike) a ride home.
ReplyDeleteMike Fleischmann
Gerry, I used to go to the Ragtime Festival too, and remember the Salty Dogs, the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, and Turk Murphy (from SF). Another memorable performer was Bucky Pizzarelli, who, I believe, is still performing. His son, John, is also a great guitarist and vocalist.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about Barbara Streisand. I have a friend who met Bob Dylan in an apartment in New York and told her friends, "Poor guy. With looks and a voice like that, he doesn't have a chance."
ReplyDeleteWow, you all have come up with some magic names. First of all, Del Close. He was a giant among improv artists, virtually invented much of the art. I never saw him in person there. And I knew Jimmy Williams, Mike. Used to follow his gigs around town. What a nice guy. I don't know whatever happened to him, but at least he did you a good turn with your bike. And Bucky Pizzarelli. I used to see him play at the St. Regis Hotel in NYC when I went up there on business. He did a duo thing with George Barnes, also on guitar. Thanks for stirring up more memories.
ReplyDelete