They could have walked or at least "hitch hiked" down to Toledo, hehehehehehe......
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They could have walked or at least "hitch hiked" down to Toledo, hehehehehehe......
Talking about "Hitch Hiking" .........
Marvin Gaye was doing it on this DC show in early 63 ......
Attachment 631
Marv,
.... you don't have copies of any 60's ads / posters for other Toledo area shows that featured Motown acts do you ??
MORE related bits on the MotorTown Revue shows ......
.... OFF THE NET ....... "My name is Charles J. Dorkins. I am a film maker, operating as C.J. Dorkins Productions, headquartered in New York City. I had earned some fame as a skilled film technician. I was good. I had been invited to be the first black member of the Screen [[Film) Directors Guild, headquartered in Hollywood. I declined. I was working professionally in all phases of movie production.
On June 1, 1963, I signed a deal to film the Motown Apollo show, playing at the Apollo. On June 4, 1963, I filmed the Motown show on the stage of the Apollo. For many years I had been seeking to film the fabulous live shows which appeared. My goal was to repeat the Apollo shows at theaters throughout the U.S. I had a letter of permission [[from Bobby Schiffman, manager of the Apollo - January 13, 1953) to film the shows. I could not find the funding. If I could have filmed even one of those spectacular shows, I would be wealthy today. Then, the touring Motown show appeared at the Apollo, for a week's engagement. Motown probably discovered me through Bobby Schiffman. With a hurried contract and a small cash contribution, I swung into action. I had days [[less than a week) to accomplish the feat. I set up the sound recording with my buddy, Lenny Lencina. To surely capture the photography, I hired the top guys of Local 644, the cameraman's union. I placed president of the union on the master-shot camera [[His camera was slightly tilted). I placed a very experienced guy down front to capture close-ups of the performers [[He spent half of the show focusing his camera). I placed the third camera in the upper box seats. I assigned this camera to the only black member of the crew. [[We were filming in Harlem.) He was the least experienced member of the crew. But surprisingly he did the best job. The filming was not fabulous. With my concept of a concert film, I did not wish to show the audience. I was ready to roll! Except: at the last moment Local 52 [[the soundmen's union) made me replace my friend Lenny with a black soundman of their choice. I edited the shooting into a one hour concert film. I made a deal with a distributor.”
Motortown Revue: 40th Anniversary Collection included the various artists Motown releases ...........
Motortown Revue, Vol. 1 Recorded Live at the Apollo [[1963),
Motortown Revue Vol. 2 [[recorded at Detroit's Fox Theatre in 1964),
Motortown Revue in Paris [[recorded at the Olympia Theatre in 1965),
Motortown Revue Live! [[recorded at the Fox Theatre in 1969).
What were the actual dates of the last 3 shows above ??
Over 1000 views for this thread now ......
.... .... guess its a popular one !!!!!
jsmith
I am not sure. I will look around though and let ya know. Thanks
:D
Some of these shows are just amazing. What I'd give for a time machine!
Wow-that show with Linda Jones-HOT!!
Between the 10th & 11th October, the Miracles + Martha & Vandellas replaced Stevie Wonder as top of the bill ....
..... guess that was because Stevie was needed back in the Detroit studios ....
his 45 had been hot on the charts -- but after 6 weeks at #1, "Heatwave" had replaced it in mid September
... but by the time the show hit Toledo a month after Baltimore, all three acts were on the bill .....
Attachment 691
The Miracles had also topped the bill at the Howard [[see above post & #12) back in late February 63 ...
...... but they had been the only Motown act on that earlier show ............
Attachment 694
......... History tells us that ............
Oct 26 1962: The First Motor Town Revue took to the road ...... BUT ....
Attachment 713
Why wasn't this October 1961 tour classed as a Motor Town Review ???
After all, all the acts were Motown artists [[including the backing band) .....
... ..... ..... so why hasn't this since been credited as the 1st Motor Town Revue ??
.... OBVIOUSLY the 1st one to actually be labeled a MTR was the 1962 tour as that was when the 'name' was concocted, but looked at retrospectively this revue also had to qualify.
A Baltimore club date for the Temptations in 1967 ...
Attachment 715
By all accounts the promoter was thought to be mad to commit so much money to book the top soul group of the time, but he seems to have done OK judging by this report ...
Attachment 716
He must have done better than David Ruffin, going by this 2nd newspaper piece ....
Attachment 717
The Temptations were due to play Atlantic City's famed Steel Pier in early July 67 [[see above)
... AND ... if you are curious as to what Atlantic City's Steel Pier venue looked like ....
....... go to post #55 of the My Motown Pictures thread [[Motown Forum).
Annette has debunked the story that her husband wanted her to leave the group--Martha wanted her out.
High everybody. Wow! Great posters! My first theater engagement was at the famous Howard Theater, on an all-Motown[[except me) show. Temptations headlined, Eddie, David, Melvin, Paul and Otis [["I'm losing you" was their current hit) with that amazing five headed microphone. Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" was a hit), Contours with Dennis Edwards as lead singer, The fabulous Velvelettes, and me, replacing Brenda Holloway who was sick. My manager, George Treadwell, who handled the Drifters got me on the show. I was so starstruck, to be around all those Motown stars! Sure wish I had a poster of that show.
Never forget how sweet and kind Tammi Terrell and Dennis Edwards were to me. She'd hang out in my dressing room and chat with me and my mom. Pictures do not do her justice! And Dennis was kind enough to take us to lunch. Sweet memories.
HEY, SUSAYE, will this do ???
So who was in the Velvelettes for the above show [[Cal + ???).
... and either Susaye or John L can answer the question.
I was at that show it was the last[motown review]show that i saw,and of course the temps tore it up!!
MOTORTOWN REVUE 1962
Oct 26 Washington DC - Howard Theater [[Friday)
Nov 2 Boston - Franklin Theater [[Friday)
Nov 3 New Haven,CT - New Haven Arena
Nov 4 Buffalo, NY - Memorial Auditorium
Nov 5 Raleigh, NC - Raleigh City Auditorium
Nov 6 Charleston, SC - County Hall
Nov 7 Augusta, GA - Country Club
Nov 8 Savannah, GA - Bamboo Ranch Club
Nov 9 Birmingham, AL - National Guard Armoury [[Friday)
Nov 10 Columbus, GA - City Auditorium
Nov 11 Atlanta, GA - Magnolia Ballroom
Nov 12 Mobile, AL - Fort Whiting Auditorium
Nov 13 New Orleans, LA - State Fair Grounds
Nov 14 Jackson, MS - College Park Auditorium
Nov 15 Spartanburg, SC - Memorial Auditorium
Nov 16 Durham, NC - City Armoury [[Fri)
Nov 17 Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium
Nov 18 Washington, DC - Capitol Arena
Nov 19 DAY OFF
Nov 20 Greenville, SC - Civic Auditorium
Nov 21 Tampa, FL - Palladium
Bradenton, FL - The Palms
Nov 22 Jacksonville, FL - The Armoury
Nov 23 Macon, GA - Auditorium [[Fri)
Nov 24 Daytona Beach, FL - National Guard Armoury
Nov 25 Miami, FL - Harlem Square
Nov 26 Orlando, FL - skating rink
Nov 27 Tallahassee, FL - Field House
Nov 28 Cheraw, SC
Nov 29 Charlotte, NC - Long High School
Nov 30 Louisville, KY - New Park Center [[Fri)
Dec 1 Memphis, TN - Memorial Auditorium
Dec 2 Nashville, TN - City Auditorium
Dec 3 Pensacola, FL - Fairground Coliseum
Dec 4 [ DAY OFF ]
Dec 5 Richmond, VA - Mosque Auditorium
Dec 6 [ DAY OFF ]
Dec 7 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 8 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 9 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 10 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 11 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 12 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 13 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 14 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 15 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 16 New York - Apollo Theater
Dec 17 Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks for that Davie.
I'm suprised to see that the 1962 tour didn't play a Cleveland venue or anywhere on the west coast.
Yes, it surprised me too. Other noticeable omissions are Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and St. Louis. - no Texan dates either.
The Nov 28 appearance in Cheraw, SC is another puzzler, I had to look up my trusty Rand McNally atlas to see where it was as I'd never heard of the town
which had a population of 5524 in 2000. My home town, which I've always thought of as small, has a population nearly four times that - and we have an Apollo in
Blantyre [[it's a pub)
Oh my goodness, are you serious?! I can't believe you had that. Thanks so much for sharing! Made me laugh; Nov. 15, 1966. Five months out of high school. ;o) And Willie Tyler and Lester! What a classy guy. He was so great! I'm scraping my poor Sunday morning brain about the Velvelettes. Trying to see their cute faces, but I can't remember for sure. But the Tempts wore those white suits, and killed all the ladies! By the way Dennis Edwards was tearing it up with the Contours; a fact missed by No One! I was positive later that those very performances were what made the Tempts select him later for the group.
Susaye,
.... why was Tammi Terrell at that show [[she wasn't performing).
Was she there with David Ruffin ??
BTW, if you want a decent quality jpeg of that Howard bill ad, drop me an e-mail to jsoulsmith@aol.com
.......... and I'll send it along to you. JOHN; UK
Yes, John, she was with David. She spent a lot of time with me and my mom. She did a lot of waiting around, like ladies do when waiting for their famous boyfriends. LOL! She gave me a lot of advice, helped me with my hair and kept me giggling. I'll never forget her kindness to me. She was such a fun, talented and gracious lady. I was the only non-Motown act, so I was an outsider. I was George Treadwell's last act before he passed; he was a very well connected manager, which I suppose is why I was on this roster. The first night, I came on just before the Temptations, which in retrospect was quite something. I would love to hear any stories arrr&bee, about your remembrances of that show!
About 6 months after that mid November 1966 show at the Howard, Tammi Terrell would be back in Philly where she would have to enter hospital for a number of extensive brain operations .........
[[see Ebony article [[P.95) .... ..........
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Z...errell&f=false .....)
I guess she was accompanying David Ruffin on that package tour up until around December 1966; so her 'problems' must have developed over that time period.
As its 'BACK TO SCHOOL' for all the kids in England over the next week, thought I'd post this show ad from almost 63 years ago [[after all it featured 1 Motown act + 1 'soon to be' Motown act & Reffa) ..........
Attachment 869
Bottom of the bill on the above show were Baltimore 'blue-eyed' soul group And The Echoes .........
Attachment 870
By this time, the outfit had recruited a black lead singer and they secured a record deal locally ......
..... BUT what I'd really like to establish is ............
if they had a connection with .........
.... another local 'blue-eyed' soul group in 1967 --- Tommy Vann & the Professionals ...
..... see act supporting Fifth Dimension ............
Attachment 871
Earlier Tommy Vann had led the group Tommy Vann And The Echoes .........
... were the 1967 group "And The Echoes' the guys that had previously been Tommy Vann's group ??
Tommy Vann And The Echoes 45 ...........
Attachment 872
While googling I just found this old thread on Curtis Woodson's book : http://www.soulfuldetroit.com/archiv...tml?1097487256
I wonder if this fantastic book is still available ?
Phil
Check the old SDF archives....there's lots about it. It was hard to get at the time
John, I got it when it was available, signed by Mr Curtis Woodson.
So do you get any more facts on the tour from the book [[in addition to what must be many great photos) ??
...... A Motown show in New York [[1965) ...........
Attachment 880
... with thanks to John & his contact.
..... Moving on to 1966 & back down to Baltimore ....
Attachment 881
By now Gladys & the Pips were also Motown artists,
..... so that made 3 in all from the bill of 10 main acts.
[[mind you "Just Walk In My Shoes" doesn't even get a mention !)
.... Wilson Pickett was just dropping off #1 in the charts ... whilst ...
the 4 Tops & Eddie Floyd were heading upwards to take that #1 spot
J J Jackson's track was heading for the Top 10 of the chart
[[though not long afterwards he would head off across to the UK)
but Lorraine Ellison's deep soul anthem would stall at #11.
Arthur Conley would hit with "Sweet Soul Music" about 6 months later
.... [[Reffa keeping him from the #1 position on the chart) ........
ALL IN ALL THOUGH, I guess I'd have paid my $2.50 to see them.
JS, I reread the book yesterday, and here are a few words from Curtis Woodson :
"It has been published in both print and internet media that the Temptations and Stevie Wonder left on the trip withe troup. That is not correct."
"The trailway bus we were given for the tour was terrible. The doors didn't close properly and it didn't have a bathroom."
"The Contours were, like me, in their early 20's and were having a lot of fun. They weren't overly concerned about the amount ofmoney they were "not" making, they were just interested in having fun and chasing and being chased by all the women who followed them. "
Marv Johnson was like a "ghost" during the few weeks of the tour. I never saw him at rehearsals, during lunch or dinner brakes, or at our hotel and since he travelled in his private car, I never saw him on the road.Bill Murry would say "ladies and gentlemen it's my pleasure to introduce "Marvelous" Marv Johnson, he would appear on stage and sing a few of his hits and disappear. Maybe because he was already an establishee star he didn't feel he should be too close to the rest of the troop."
"Being new to the music scene, the Supremes didn't get the kind of reactios generated by the Marvelettes and Diana Ross didn't like it.It didn't take long for her to start calling back to Detroit to receive some attention and solace from the Hitsville management.
At the end of one of Marvelettes'performanc, the audience wa cheering for the Marvelettes to return for an encore. THe road manager sent the Supremes out on stage and the audience booed...demanding the return of the Marvelettes.
http://soulfuldetroit.com/attachment...5&d=1281438819
Thanks for that Phil.
Both Mary Wilson and Smokey mention details on the 1962 tour in their books also.
Mary lists most of the guys who were in Choker's orchestra plus she says there were 45 people on the bus [[including roadies & assistants), with 3 cars & 2 station wagons making up the entire convoy. Cheap hotels, sleepless nights on the road, irregular & bad meals, tour romances, problems down south, segregated venues, etc. Bullets flew at the Birmingham show and other confrontations were a regular happening with rednecks tring to provoke fights. The Contours station wagon [[with Eddie McFarland & Beans Bowles in as well) was involved in a crash on the way to Miami [[Eddie was driving, fell asleep at the wheel & was killed in the accident. Beans was in a coma).
Smokey mentions that he had a fever whilst playing the Howard in DC [[at the end of October). He struggled on for a couple of days whilst making daily visits to the local hospital. When the tour moved on, Smokey was left behind and so headed back to Detroit to recuperate. Claudette had to stay as Pete was in the army & there had to be at least 3 ‘Miracles’ up on the stage each night. Smokey would call her on a regular basis but it was Berry who told him that when Claudette was singing lead [[in his place), the crowd were cheering her on thinking she was ‘Smokey’. On November 11th, Smokey got a call from Mary Wells who was sharing a room with Claudette. Mary told him that Claudette was pregnant & couldn’t cope with the strains of touring. But Claudette was determined to see the tour out and she lasted right up through the week long Apollo gig in mid December.
Sounds like a film should be made, based around the 1962 tour & all the things that befell it !!!
There are more facts on the tour in the 'Where Did Our Love Go' book ..........
.... Beans Bowles was the tour road manager. He was tasked with collecting the fees [[up to $15,000 a night), booking & paying all the hotel bills plus gas, food & incidental bills. He also paid the musicians & handed out 'pocket money' to the acts, reported back to Berry plus kept the artists happy & in-line.
When he was hurt in the car crash, he had about $15,000 on him & he had to hand his over [[for safe keeping) to a local southern cop. Beans ended up in a Florida hospital and Esther Edwards had to fly down to take over from him.
The tour had been set up by Supersonic Attraction's Henry Wynne and in lots of cities it was a hard sell to get venues to take the whole 'Motown' package instead of just say the Contours, Miracles or Mary Wells [[mixing them with other non-Motown artists).
I guess that's why the Motor Town Revue 1962 didn't play a show in some major centres, whilst some shows that did take place were in 'backwoods' towns.
I love that Apollo poster you feature on #114. What a line up. Were all shows at the Apollo of this quality? I should have been there.....