John Ettline was born 116 years ago
on the 12th day of March, 1906.
I learned from John's family that
he once worked as a music agent
booking bands for York area clubs.
He also managed several local
clubs including the historic
Valencia Ballroom, America’s
first air conditioned dance hall.
For a time John was manager
of Lehmeyer’s, the classy men's
clothing store on North George St.
John himself was a dapper dresser,
a great dancer and a handsome
gentleman, a ladies' man, a man's
man and very much his own man.
booking bands for York area clubs.
He also managed several local
clubs including the historic
Valencia Ballroom, America’s
first air conditioned dance hall.
For a time John was manager
of Lehmeyer’s, the classy men's
clothing store on North George St.
John himself was a dapper dresser,
a great dancer and a handsome
gentleman, a ladies' man, a man's
man and very much his own man.
John loved music and dancing, and it's no stretch to understand
why he was inspired to buy the Shady Dell and turn it into
an ice cream parlor and juke joint for teenagers.
why he was inspired to buy the Shady Dell and turn it into
an ice cream parlor and juke joint for teenagers.
To celebrate John's birthday this year,
I picked three songs I think he'd enjoy.
I picked three songs I think he'd enjoy.
THE JIVE ACES
Let's start John's party with a great cover of a song originally waxed
by Ruth Brown, dubbed The Queen of R&B. At the beginning of 1953,
Ruth released the single "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean."
The song became Ruth's third R&B chart-topper and her first hit
on the pop chart. Now fast-forward to modern times and meet
The Jive Aces. On their YouTube channel, the band is described
as: The UK's No.1 Jive & Swing band bringing you the finest in
hot jazz, smooth swing and rockin' rhythm and blues since 1989!"
Here's vocalist Cassidy Janson, who plays Carole King as star of
the hit West End musical "Beautiful," fronting The Jive Aces on
their version of Ruth's "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean!"
"(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" - Ruth Brown
cover by The Jive Aces feat. Cassidy Janson (Dec. 2018)
JIMMY CLANTON
Louisiana born Jimmy Clanton was known as The Swamp Pop R&B Teenage Idol.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Jimmy in the early and mid 70s when he
worked as a DJ at WHEX radio in Columbia, PA. I used to call in and chat
with Jimmy while he was on the air. He is a heck of a nice guy. I think
John would have liked this song by Jimmy. It's his first hit, a single
that topped the R&B chart and went top 5 pop in the fall of 1958.
Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Jimmy Clanton has the New Orleans
sound down as he sings-- "Just A Dream!"
"Just A Dream" - Jimmy Clanton
(Sept./Oct. 1958, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#4 Hot 100)
SHELLEY FABARES
Again this year on his birthday, I think John will enjoy being
serenaded by America's sweetheart, Miss Shelley Fabares
aka Mary Stone, as she sings her sig song "Johnny Angel"
on her hit TV series, the family friendly Donna Reed Show.
serenaded by America's sweetheart, Miss Shelley Fabares
aka Mary Stone, as she sings her sig song "Johnny Angel"
on her hit TV series, the family friendly Donna Reed Show.
"Johnny Angel" - Shelley Fabares
(Mar./Apr. 1962, highest chart pos.
#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box, scene from
TV series The Donna Reed Show)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!
WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU.
Happy Saturday my friend. I remember watching the Donna Reed show growing up. Of course had a crush on Paul Peterson. I also remember the Jimmy Clanton song but the first one is new to me. March is a good month for a birthday! Hope the rest of your weekend is delightful dear Shady!
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteThanks for coming to John Ettline's birthday party on a Saturday, dear friend! You're the Early Bird, and that's quite admirable considering that you live on the West Coast. I appreciate you stopping by.
I need to look up which series were running on the other networks in the same time slot. I must have been watching something else because I was not a very consistent viewer of The Donna Reed Show. Okay, I just looked it up and found that, in its first season, Donna Reed struggled in the ratings against Milton Berle's popular Texaco Star Theater. My parents watched Berle's show and we only had one TV set, which explains why I missed Donna Reed in season 1. I checked and found nothing that I watched opposite Reed's series in 1960-61 or 1961-62, so that is most likely when I was watching it. Parry Mason came along in the 1962-63 season, and that's what I was watching instead of Donna Reed. In 1963-64, Donna Reed had no competing shows that I watched, and I was probably watching it again that season. In 1964-65, Perry Mason was back in the 8 pm time slot, and I was probably watching that show again instead of Donna Reed. In 1965-66, Gilligan's Island was opposite the Reed show and it is surely the one I was watching that season.
I'm glad you remember this hit single by Jimmy Clanton. When I was in my 20s, I bought an anthology album of Atlantic label R&B hits. Ruth Brown's "Mama" song was one of my favorites on that album. I was thrilled to find such a great cover by English zinger Cassidy and the Jive Aces.
Thank you again for coming early to spread cheer on John's birthday. Take care of yourself and my buddy Benny and enjoy the rest of your weekend, dear friend Janet!
Yes, I would have probably watched Perry Mason instead as well!
DeleteI remember that my mom loved Perry Mason and I watched it with her. Perry Mason moved to the 9 pm time slot for one season, 1963-64, and then back to the 8 pm slot. The Donna Reed Show enjoyed its highest ratings when it was not in competition with Perry Mason.
DeleteThanks for returning to follow-up, dear friend Janet!
So nice of you to always remember your beloved friends/mentors.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThank you very much for being a same day visitor as we celebrate John Ettline's birthday, a tradition that I will carry on as long as I remain in the blogging game. Stay tuned for my special Father's Day post this year. It will contain new, never before published facts and stories about John.
Thanks again for helping me remember John on the anniversary of his birth 116 years ago, a figure that boggles my mind. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, dear friend Kelly!
She looks like a young Carole King but sings like Ruth Brown. She's got it all covered.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for dropping by on your weekend, good buddy!
Cassidy Janson is a remarkable singer and an exciting discovery for me this year. She truly does justice to this old R&B hit by Ruth Brown.
next...
And happy birthday to John.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about something. Did your own parents ever meet John and Helen? I know it would have been uncool or cramped your style when you were in high school, but you've indicated that you knew the Ettlines well into your adult years, into your marriage, in fact. It seems you could have introduced them then. If it's too personal, forget I asked.
Hi again, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for extending birthday wishes to John, good buddy. It blows my mind that John would be 116 now. I need to keep reminding myself that he was six years older than Margaret Schneider. He will always seem younger to me. The last time I saw John he was close to 78. I knew Margaret until she died at the age of 105.
To answer your question, the only time I know of that either of my parents met John or Helen was the day in 1970 that my dad came to the Dell to take me home after I got drunk at a family party and raced up there recklessly in my car. It was in the afternoon and I was the only "customer" at the Dell at that hour. I was down in the barn alone when John came in and told me that my dad was waiting for me out at the entrance and that I needed to go with him. It was a shameful experience, one that I wish I could erase from my timeline. Other than that, typically Dell rats did not "break the fourth wall" by having their parents meet The Ettlines. They belonged to completely different worlds, and we preferred to keep them separate... and private. I did not know or stay in touch with John and Helen after I graduated from college in 1971, moved to a neighboring city and got married. I went to the Dell one time in 1984 to say goodbye before moving south to Florida. Helen was already dead by then and it was the last time I saw John.
Thanks again for checking in and helping me honor John Ettline on his birthday, good buddy Kirk!
Hi Shady and Happy heavenly birthday John! I'm sure he's happy that you're keeping him and his dear wife in your thoughts and tributes so the rest of us can get to know them and admire how they impacted the youth of your youth! I read this post early on Saturday and was going to be the first commenter but something came up and I feel bad that I didn't get the comment in then. I enjoyed learning more about John's life and I can see why he was the perfect fit for starting the Shady Dell. I may be off base here but I get the feeling that you and your life kind of mirrors Mr. Ettline's. Your love of music, your choice of profession in the industry, and perhaps you're a snappy dresser too? Ha! You don't have to answer that! Of course the choice of music here is perfect to honor John and man I do love Shelly Fabares and her voice. I have good memories of the Donna Reed Show even if many were reruns that I watched. Have a wonderful week and thanks for sending some warm air that's do to arrive this week. I know Florida has had some crazy weather and I hope you and Mrs. Shady are OK..take care!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you very much for attending John Ettline's birthday party again this year, dear friend, as you have many times before!
No need to feel badly about coming only one day late. I have learned that, in blogging, all bets are off when you publish on a weekend. John's special day happened to land on a Saturday this year, and that's a day when most people take a break from the blog circuit and do other things.
Thank you for drawing that comparison. While I will never be the great man John was, I agree there are similarities. He and I both love music, love to host parties and entertain friends, show people a good time. Yessum, actually I have always felt more comfortable wearing suits rather than casual clothing. I am not a jeans and T-shirt kind of person. I suppose I learned this from my dad who was also a dapper dresser. Whenever he presented himself to the public, you rarely saw him without a sport coat and tie. He practically wore a tuxedo to mow the lawn.
Yessum, it has become a Shady's Place tradition to let Mary Stone (Shelley Fabares) serenade John on his birthday by singing her signature song "Johnny Angel."
We had a dangerous squall line march through our region yesterday. The rain was flying sideways. Then it turned sharply colder, getting down into the upper 30s last night. I'm sure temps are on the rebound even as I write this. I hope your snow will soon be melting so that you and Annabelle can get outdoors and enjoy the greenery again. Your poor pooch must be totally bewildered by now with your seesawing late winter weather.
Thanks again for being here again this year for John's birthday tribute, dear friend YaYa. Have a wonderful week!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteAnother warm birthday tribute to a special man who meant a lot to you and the other Dell Rats. I'm always intrigued by modern singers that produces a throw back vibe. I'm going to head over to YouTube to sample more of The Jive Aces covers. Do they have any originals? I wasn't familiar with the Jimmy Clanton song but it was a nice introduction. That's super cool that you used to talk to him when he was a DJ in his early days. I noticed that he was born the same year as my Daddy, 1938. Shelley Fabares has the voice of an angel and "Johnny Angel" is fabulous song! I really enjoyed the music. I popped by yesterday and you're not going to believe this but I kept your page open in my browser over night. Yep, I was going to leave a comment but something or someone pulled me away from the computer. lol We survived the cold of the weekend and our forecast is calling for warmer temps this week. I know you won't be happy about that but I'm pretty darn giddy after frigid, snowy weekend. :) Have a boogietastic week, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThank you very much for being here again this year to help me pay tribute to John the week of his birthday!
I'm glad The Jive Aces caught your eye and ear. I have reviewed the videos on their channel and found many worth posting in the future. I was actually only hunting for covers to use, so you will need to let me know if you find some good originals. Cassidy Janson is one of the most exciting singing discoveries I have made in recent years. In her cover performance of "Mama," she sounds a lot like the original artist Ruth Brown. I'm sure she delights West End audiences as Carole King.
Yessum, Jimmy Clanton was a heck of a nice guy, nice as could be. He always took time to chat with me whenever I called his oldies radio request line, and he seemed to genuinely enjoy reminiscing.
"Just A Dream" was his first hit, and it's interesting that Jimmy, a white singer, topped the R&B chart with it. Thanks for sharing that Jimmy and your daddy share the same birth year. They are one year older than my big brother.
It's an honor to know that you visited Shady's Place yesterday and accidentally left my page on your browser overnight. Devoted friends like you are hard to find, Cathy.
Yessum, I think we are all ready for the warm-up that's coming, even those of us in Florida. It was bitterly cold here yesterday morning with the north wind gusting, but this morning it is not as bad.
Thank you again for your kind visit and wonderful comments, dear friend Cathy. Have a super week and I'll see you soon!
Happy Birthday John! If he could have lived to be 116, I'm sure he would still be working at the Dell with you as his assistant!
ReplyDeleteJohn had what I would believe to be an exciting life. I am sure it was plenty hard and trying at times, but he loved the social scene and thrived on keeping up with the music industry. It's no wonder with his background he was inspired to have his own ballroom for teens with the latest tunes and good eats. With Helen he had a teammate joining in with patience and understanding of the needs of the local teens. Helen was always by John's side but as you said, Shady, John was very much his own man.
You picked some great songs for the occasion, and they are all great. Shelley Fabares is a beauty and soft songstress of our time. The Jive Aces are a cool group. "Mama" is a fun song, and this group does a standup job of covering it.
A top favorite of my youth is Jimmy Clanton's "Just a Dream". I was too young
to think of being in love at the time, but I adored him and this song. I would sing it just in walking home from school or goofing around in my yard.
This is a wonderful birthday celebration for John, Shady. He would be grinning now as you play these songs in his honor.
School is out this week for Spring break, and Scootie is still asleep. We probably won't do much, other than rest. Shawn was sick most of last week with sinus infection and I had to get him to the doctor twice, ugh! He is a lot better now but is behind in schoolwork! I hope you and Mrs. Shady are doing well. Take care dear friend, and have a great week!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm delighted that you could stop in, dear friend. Thanks for coming to John's birthday celebration!
Yessum, I think John would still be operating the Dell if he could, even as a centenarian. I don't know if I would be a worthy assistant, but perhaps I could help stock the jukebox with danceworthy boomer oldies.
You're exactly right, Suzanne. I think The Dell was John's version of a ballroom for teenagers. He went all out, having a professional grade dance floor installed down in the barn annex. Colorful holiday twinkle lights remained in place all year long to set a romantic mood, casting a soft, festive glow throughout the dance hall. It was a unique place, one that remains locked in a time period that we will never see again. Yessum, Helen was the kind of person boys or girls felt equally at ease talking to, opening up to, confiding in. She was a great listener. With his loud, booming voice, John seemed less approachable, but he gave good advice when asked, knew a lot about a lot of things and was "Johnny on the spot" whenever a Dell rat needed help getting his stuck vehicle out of the snow or jump started on a frigid night.
"
I'm thrilled that you singled out Jimmy Clanton's "Just a Dream" hit. It was a biggie in my neck of the woods. It's great that you sang the song as you walked home from school. You are one of the few, perhaps the only friend, who remembers that ballad, a single that peaked around Halloween in 1958.
I'm sorry to learn that Scootie was down with a sinus infection last week. I hope he won't need to use his entire spring break to rest and recuperate. I hope he catches up on his homework, too. Mrs. Shady took our six year old grandson to one of our Gulf beaches today and they had lots of fun in the bright sunshine.
Yessum, we are doing well over here. The cold snap is easing and we got some good rain as the cold front and squall line swept through on Saturday. As you know, we always welcome moisture at this time of year because it helps prevent brush and muck fires from erupting in the spring.
Thank you again, very much, for making time for a visit and for your usual marvelous comment, dear friend Suzanne. Please take care of yourself and Scootie and come back again soon!
What a nice tribute to John.
ReplyDeleteAll new songs for me.
Hi, Mary!
DeleteThank you very much for being part of this year's birthday observance for Shady Dell owner John Ettline. If you learned three new songs today, then it's a win - win. The teen pop ballad "Johnny Angel" is one of the biggest and best known hits of the pre-Beatles 60s. It's Shelley Fabares' signature song and by far the most successful single of her recording career.
Thank you again for dropping in and for your kind comment, dear friend Mary!
I love your tribute to such a good man. I feel like I have met him and Helen even though i, obviously, have not. He looked dapper in his uniform and was really there for the kids . Some great song choices with, of course, Shelley.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteWelcome welcome welcome, dear friend! I'm go glad you could attend this year's birthday party for John Ettline - King of the Dell Rats.
Yessum, other friends who have been following me for years have stated that they feel like they know The Ettlines by now. That makes me happy because part of my mission statement when I started blogging in 2008 was to make sure the Shady Dell story is told and to preserve the Ettline legacy. I will continue to bring you these special features paying tribute to key Dell figures (John, Helen and Margaret Schneider) on the dates of their birth, death and on Father's Day and Mother's day. As it turned out, all of those special dates fall within the first half of the calendar year.
I'm glad you enjoyed the Shelley Fabares biggie along with the other songs picked with John in mind. Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend BB!
Happy belated birthday, John! You did a wonderful job with the Dell and shaping an entire generation. These lovely songs are fitting for a great man.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jessica marie!
DeleteYou made it here just in time to help me salute John Ettline this year before the post gets bumped from the front page. Thanks for coming!
I'm glad you think the songs I picked to honor John are a good fit for the occasion. Thanks again for dropping by and expressing kind words about John. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend JM!