Hi, friends!
Dell Rat Tom
back today to share with you two amazing new
pictures I just received that are directly related
to my old alma mater - The Shady Dell.
The first image brings back fond memories
of something my first wife and I did in 1973 -
something I had completely forgotten about
in the years since. My reminder came in
the form of an email from Jim Sieling,
a York resident with close ties to
John Ettline and The Dell.
Jim and his wife Nancy Rae (right),
one of John Ettline's nieces, helped
me launch my first blog, Shady Dell
Music & Memories, back in 2008
by supplying an abundance of
information and anecdotes
about John Ettline.
Over the years, the Sielings
have continued to contribute
facts, stories, pictures and
original artifacts including
the Dell's restaurant menu.
In the email I received the other day, Jim wrote:
Tom – I think I may have come across a 45 record
that you gave to Helen and John Ettline
in 1973. (See the attachment)
My wife, Nancy Sieling, who is a niece of John,
acquired the Seeburg Jukebox and some
45’s from the family.
While going through the 45’s I found
Close Your Eyes which you may have given to him.
If you are ‘the Tom’ I hope it
brings back fond memories. - Jim
I'm astounded, Jim!...
and I thank you and Nancy very much
for this wonderful surprise! Yes indeed,
I am "the Tom" who, along with my
first wife Karen, sent that record to
The Ettlines at The Dell in 1973.
The message on the label is
in Karen's handwriting.
In storybook fashion, Karen and I
met on the Shady Dell dance floor
in June, 1968. Over the next three
years, she and I went to The Dell
on practically all of our dates. In
1971, we moved away from York
and got married. We left our old
hangout behind, but The Dell
and The Ettlines remained on
our minds and in our hearts.
As I now recall, we sent that
record to Helen and John as
a way of thanking them and
showing appreciation for all
the great times we had over
the years as guests in their
house, our home away from
home - The Shady Dell.
Why did we choose to send that particular 45 - "Close Your Eyes"
by The Five Keys? Because it is the Dell song of greatest longevity.
Certain songs resonated with the Dell crowd to such an extent that
they stayed on the jukebox for years. "Close Your Eyes" is the best
example of the phenomenon. The record is ranked #1 on my list of
The 200 Greatest Hits Of The Shady Dell. Written by Chuck Willis,
the tender doo-wop vocal group ballad remained one of the most
popular jukebox selections at The Dell more than a dozen years
after its initial release in 1955. Listen now to that very special
song, the greatest Shady Dell hit of all - "Close Your Eyes."
"Close Your Eyes" - The Five Keys
(Mar./Apr./May 1955, highest chart pos. #5 R&B)
Equally astonishing is the second picture that Jim
and Nancy sent to me. Original Dell rats behold -
the Shady Dell's 1960s Seeburg Jukebox!!!
This is the workhorse that stood in the Dell's "barn" dance hall
and played non-stop, hour after hour, every night, 24-7, year
after year. It's the very same jukebox that prompted couples
to get out on the floor and dance to "Close Your Eyes"
and all the other "Jukebox Giants" - the greatest
hits of The Shady Dell!
For the last 13 years, whenever I have posted about the Dell's
jukebox, I have used a picture that I found online of a
Seeburg that resembled the one at the Dell. I am
absolutely thrilled to be able to display the
actual Shady Dell jukebox from now on!
Thanks a million, Jim & Nancy Sieling, for making
so many great contributions to our Shady Dell blog!
