Reclaim Alabama

Hey y'all~ I'm really starting to need some reminiscences of THE OLD DUTCH so I can finish my research next week and begin writing my article. Here's the kind of questions I need to be answered:

1) What parts of the exterior and interior of the building showed that the tavern was originally built as a huge two-and-one-half-story cypress log cabin?

2) What do you remember about the huge fireplace?

3) Was the restaurant open and where was the kitchen?

4) How would you describe the stage and where was it located in the building?

5) What was the status of the air conditioning system?

6) Do you have any recollection of Cliff Stiles, the owner, or of Betty Koehler, the manager?

7) Was the club being managed by someone other than Stiles and Koehler?

8) Could you describe the musician's quarters in the rear of the building at the beach level?

9) What are some of the crazy things you saw occur at THE OLD DUTCH INN?

10) Do you remember any unusual curios or a myna bird that could say,"Birds, aren't supposed to talk." ?

11) Do you remember your schedule or any of the band rules imposed by the management?

12) Many of you were only seventeen, eighteen or nineteen years old when you played THE OLD DUTCH. Was this ever a problem?

13) Did you see any trends in the music change over your years of playing at THE OLD DUTCH?

The last advertisement for THE OLD DUTCH during WWII~ November 1943

July 26,1943~ Gas and sugar rationing due to the War may have made it difficult to stay open, even during the summer season.

December 24, 1943~ He'll take colored now. Wanted white back in September.

September 2, 1943

July 5, 1968

End of an era~ 1972

December 27, 1940~This is about the time that a 17-year-old Hank Williams was playing Panama City and Pensacola with Neil McCormick.

That's Ritch Brown on the far left. Wayne "Suga" Johnson on drums, Edward McNeil on guitar, Frankie Davis on bass, and the guy setting down is Lamar Spence AKA "The Shrimp Man".