Mike is very clearly referring to the thing that the long-closed Martoni's restaurant is most famous for - among '60s music fans, anyway.

A bit of background - for years, until it closed (supposedly because some things got knocked around in the 1994 LA earthquake, but it'd been running out of steam for awhile) Martoni's was the leading showbiz hangout where Italian eateries in LA were concerned. Part of this had to do with the rumor that Frank Sinatra (and some unnamed gentlemen of his acquaintance) co-owned the place.  

The crowd at Martoni's leaned a bit toward old-school showbiz, but rockers were tolerated - up to a point.

One evening, apparently in late June or early July 1965, Sonny Bono was thrown out of Martoni's. Two versions of why have been most often circulated. Rodney Bingenheimer has said for years that he went to the eatery with Sonny and the latter was kicked out because Ciro Marino, the head chef, thought Son's hair and bobcat vest presented sanitary issues. (Or maybe some bobcat in the corner was complaining.)

The other version is that Sonny was in there with Cher and some minor hoods from out of town were discussing her attire in uncomplimentary terms in tones so loud Sonny came over and started duking it out, which resulted in him and Cher being ejected.

Either way, Sonny promptly wrote a song about what had happened, went right to the studio, and recorded it. Within weeks, his one solo 45 to be a hit, "Laugh At Me," was racing up the charts.  I still think it's the greatest thing Sonny ever did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=berHdguUts0

Sonny's intro and verse of the song is what Mike's doing a takeoff on with "The Artist."

Thanks for the link - hadn't heard Laugh at Me in years, but I remember this angry "protest song" well. Back then there was no way I woulda guessed that Sonny Bono would end up as mayor of Palm Springs then a Republican congressman from California.

There is a rock connection to Martoni's that hasn't been mentioned. Guys like Sonny and Rodney wouldn't be going there to hang out with Armee Archerd. Martoni's was nearby to several LA rock radio stations in the 60's. In between shifts and after their shifts, the rock DJ's were known to drop in to Martoni's for drinks. The program directors and other staff would be there too. According to quite a few accounts, there could be a lot of booze flowing depending on who was there.

A guy like Sonny worked as a promotions man, a record plugger. He had to "sell" various interests into playing whatever record he was given to plug, or even to get shops to stock it and promote it. If the major rock DJ's and program directors from the rock stations were known to hang out at Martoni's, those trying to get a record played on the air could have access to them, and not only access, but once the booze started flowing you could develop fast friendships which would turn into a DJ or PD being receptive to playing a new record on their show or station.

Real Don Steele from KHJ was one of the personalities known to frequent Martoni's, especially since his shift was drive-time, 3-6 PM. It was a hangout for KHJ staff. Steele was the one who first played "I Got You Babe" - Sonny took an acetate copy of the song to Steele (just as Brian Wilson had also personally delivered various new singles 'hot off the press' to the station), and Steele played it on the air first time anywhere, and the song got a huge reception from the listeners. It went on to be one of the most popular singles of the 60's. But - The reason why Sonny took it to Steele was Ahmet Ertegun and Sonny were arguing about what should be the "A Side" of the next S&C single. Sonny wanted Babe, Ahmet wanted the flip side to be the lead. Sonny proved his point when Steele played it on KHJ.

So that access where some of the people who could make or break a record on LA radio and TV could come all in one location at Martoni's if you knew how to play the game.

Funny story, unrelated but related. Steele would have a habit of getting pretty blitzed, and stories of him getting bounced exist as legend - It wasn't just Sonny. This from Ben Fong-Torres, paraphrasing by memory here: One night the KHJ team was in Martoni's, and Steele had been drinking and was tipsy, to put it mildly. That same night, Frank Sinatra had come in to Martoni's with a group, and they were given a private room. Steele had to use the bathroom, and on his way back he was a little too loaded to walk straight, and ended up stumbling into Sinatra's private room, and landing on Sinatra's table, where the food was also laid out.

Sinatra's bodyguards jumped up and were going to "eject" Steele, but instead Steele began singing Witchcraft at the top of his lungs. Sinatra laughed and told the bodyguards to let Steele go, he can stay, and they had a good time and laugh over the whole thing.

Just a few points to add and mention how Martoni's was at least in the mid-60's a pretty important music-biz hangout where rock musicians could have the fate of their records decided by radio and TV people over a lot of booze.

Thanks for the great background info, GF. I love it when you post stuff like this.

I have mixed feelings about Martoni’s,” Love tells the Austin Chronicle. “I think there was some great food on his new menu, some incredible dishes. But at that point in time, there were so many drugs being taken by Tony and other members of the kitchen staff, and there was a lot of collaborating with people other than myself. I had literally nothing to do on anything on the expanded menu, so naturally I was a little upset.”

“I collaborated with Tony on so many dishes (pizza, meatballs and spaghetti, lasagna), but I wasn’t under the influence of anything during the cooking of that stuff,” he adds. “There was such weirdness going on at the time. I’m not trying to poo-poo it, but it was just a little too weird for my taste. Then Tony shelved the menu, and whenever you have an unfinished creation it takes on mythological proportions. I do think there’s some beautiful dishes, like ‘Trippa’ and ‘Coda alla vaccinara,’ but there’s a negative side to it too.”

Great one!

Juice Brohnston, Ghosty TMRS, guitarfool2002, no disrespect intended to the various points you are discussing, but would you mind discussing them here:
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,23872.msg577656/topicseen.html#msg577656

This thread has me pulling my hair out and screaming in frustration.

I vote for Emily becoming a moderator. I have no idea if you are interested in such a role, Emily, but you are a calm voice of reason around here, while the non-stop tit for tat posts are pulling the discussion off topic and do noting but serve to derail the thread. I can't imagine why someone new to the board would want to wade through such childish nonsense, not to mention those of us who are long time members.

In my opinion I'd think any fair historical assessment would include both Bruce and David as official Rock Hall inductees, with Bruce being the band's second longest serving member who significantly contributed to their artistic peak, and David being involved in the genesis of the group's creation and their initial rise to fame.

Totally agree. But has the R&R HoF ever officially added any members after a group's induction ceremony? If not, Bruce and David would be a good place to start.

Thanks, everyone, for the photos, personal reviews, and links to reviews.

The only bad news is that I've been made aware of a smear campaign about this tour appearing on the "usual suspect" Board, that normally attacks Brian. The campaign thread was made up nearly completely of people who "talked to friends" who were at Birmingham saying that Brian is clearly uncomfortable and should hang it up.  That is such a lie that it disgusts me.  Brian was clearly relaxed and he's doing what he enjoys, and my comments aren't hearsay crap.  It couldn't be more blatant what is going on there.  Everyone in he audience was thrilled that I talked to, aside from one woman.  She was complaining about "missing Foskett" and about Matt's vocals.  It was explained to me later that she has lost her band member who got her backstage passes and access to Brian in the past, so clearly she had an agenda, given who the band member was.  I hope she enjoys Klub Kokomo along with the others on that ugly thread.

The roar of the crowd at both these concerts speaks far louder than anything I can say.  

Debbie, what is the "usual suspect" board, that normally attacks Brian?

Proud boy is Mr Dean

Brian signed Holland first UPSIDE DOWN, so I got Al (who found it funny) and Blondie to follow suit 

[

Well, as far as the photo on the album cover is concerned, Brian signed it right-side-up. So you actually have a cool collectible that makes sense from the perspective of the album cover photo.

OK-here is the San Diego Union article from the Sunday May 13 1966 newspaper-in Frank Rhodes column:  "The Beach Boys, American counterpart of Britain's Beatles gave the San Diego Zoo a very bad time.  The six millionaire-musicians (including one fill-in) came down from Hollywood to take a cover picture for their forth-coming album 'Our Freaky Friends.' Before they left, said zoo public relations director Bill Seaton, the caged animals were 'about to crack up.' Zoo officials were not keen about having their beloved beasts connected with the title of the album, but gave in when the Beach Boys explained that animals are an 'in' thing with teenagers. And that the Beach Boys were rushing to beat the rock and roll group called The Animals.  The Beach Boys 'two with long Beatles hair and all wearing funny boots' arrived with an art director, a cameraman and four girls, Seaton said. After posing with a baby elephant and a baby gorilla, the boys went on a tour of the zoo.  'First off' Seaton said 'one of them bounced a carrot off the head of one of our tigers. Another tried to stick the head of an antelope through some iron bars.  Then they went around handling puppies and baby chicks, putting them down in the open and walking off. A few young girls who saw the Beach Boys acting like this were certainly disillusioned.  The cameraman and the art director were awfully nice guys, but things just got out of hand and they couldn't control the situation.' The zoo superintendent John Muth, an ex marine sergeant major, said the Beach Boys are not welcome back and never will be.

Sounds to me like a clash of generations.  I have a feeling the writer and the people at the zoo weren't rock fans.  I also think Brian and the other guys recognized this and were putting on some squares-with their remarks about the animals, etc

So who were the ne'er-do-wells bouncing a carrot off a tiger's head, trying to stick an antelope through some iron bars, and leaving baby chicks in open spaces?

Dennis would come to mind and the most logical culprit, but who's next, a disgruntled Bruce Johnston, upon realizing that as a "fill in" he was going to be left off the album cover?

'The zoo superintendent John Muth, an ex marine sergeant major, said the Beach Boys are not welcome back and never will be.'

 

Yeah, pretty funny when you consider the the BBs Pet Sounds cover photo is easily the most widely circulated and most famous photo ever taken at the San Diego Zoo.

If you are going to order from INA-FR make damn sure you can speak French and DO NOT order until you have created an account. I ordered this and filled out all the automated account creation sections during the order process, and discovered my order is not in my account despite getting a confirmation email. Not something you like when your french is cursory.

For those curious, I got the same results as above. I even went ahead and started an account *first*, and then placed the order. "It's only about $4.50 US, how can I lose?" Between my rusty French and Google translator, the checkout process and everything seemed normal and totally made sense. It's just that after you place the order, your order simply doesn't appear where it should (or anywhere else) to download.

I've put in an email to them, we'll see what happens. I would advise other folks against purchasing until they iron this issue out. Hopefully the tech support people can fix the issue. I'm sure it's a super easy fix for them, it's just a matter of whether they can process my English e-mail and whether their tech folks actually respond to issues like this in any sort of timely manner.

Mooger and HeyJude, I initially had the same frustrating experience. Using Google Chrome's web page translation I created an account and made the purchase. A subsequent screen as well as an email they sent advised me that I could now download my purchase, but after a few attempts no actual order showed up which could be clicked to download. Around an hour or two later I tried logging in again, clicked on My Orders, and voila, my order number and a download icon suddenly appeared. Not sure if this site typically experiences a delay in the order showing up on a person's account, or if logging out and logging back in again did the trick.

Anyway, glad it finally worked out for you, Mooger, and HeyJude, try logging in again and see if that does the trick.

What a great concert! Thank you, Stephen, for posting your mixer's notes.

Also, thanks to Rocky Raccoon for the link to the French National Audiovisual Institute's site - it's easily worth 3.99 Euros for the download of the entire non-stop concert, including Good Vibes and Johnny B. Goode, not to mention the somewhat better video quality.

Stephen, you mentioned that this concert used all 16 JBL speakers. Were these speakers actually transported from gig to gig? What models? Do you, (or anyone else reading this) know when Mike started and subsequently stopped wearing the "guru" robe outfit? Did he completely give up on his white suit, making this his typical concert attire during this period?

Great photos and review, Emily. Thanks!

When a person is permanently banned, can a person still at least see and read the board without being able to post, or is all access to the homepage blocked?

The latter.

Interesting. I had assumed a banned member simply couldn't log in, but could easily view the board as a guest. But you are saying that a ban also entails denying access from the banned person's IP address? That still would not prevent a banned member from viewing the board from an different IP address or using proxy site or VPN software to hide or change their IP location.

... every word of every mod discussion is archived and available. ...

Glad to hear that the mod discussions of bans are archived and available, as I'm still quite confused about the specifics of what led to AGD's ban.

Where do I find the archived mod discussion info?

...  the sum total of what AGD's given this board in the past adds up to more than most of us could ever hope to contribute and I share the hope that a probationary return might be contemplated in time, as the board is already lessened by his - and now Lee's - absence.

Very well stated. This thread is a prime example of why, despite his flaws, AGD, with his background knowledge and continuing research, is an essential component of the SS board. Hope he will be given a probationary return and that we'll see Lee Dempsey posting again as well.

I'm totally bummed to hear that AGD has received a lifetime ban.

Mods, was he given a chance to respond to the allegations?

And it's way too early to consider locking this thread. It's only been going on for a couple of days so far. I just found out about the ban and haven't even had the chance to read most of the posts.

Gotta love it:

"The record (probably) has stock labels" and "Guaranteed original beige United Artists label with brown logo".

and,

"The album in guaranteed to come with its original insert/lyrics sheet" but superimposed on a picture of the original insert/lyrics sheet, "This is the insert we believe you will find inside".

Yeah, first row main floor for $5.50 versus $2.00 for balcony doesn't raise any alarms for me.  Think $140 for an orchestra seat versus $50 for a balcony seat today -- same ratio.

BTW I have a ticket for the 12/19 Tulsa show.  Section C, Row G, ticket price $3.50.

Lee

I agree concerning the ticket price ratios. Today's concerts are far more elaborate productions than those of 1964, but I find it interesting to note that adjusted for inflation those $5.50 to $2.00 tickets of 52 years ago translate to $42.25 and $15.35 in today's dollars, prices which you'd never see these days for an act as popular as the BB's were in December 1964.

Yes that is true but we just don't know if the show was played December 22 or 26.

Apologies if this was previously discussed, but I had thought the Dec. 26 date was set in stone, but apparently not, so where did the Dec. 26 date come from?

I tuned in to a Jackson radio station that was sponsoring the show when the guys were supposed to be in town, hoping to hear an interview. Instead, they said the show had been cancelled because Brian had been hospitalized and even gave an address to send him get-well cards.

More interesting info. Thanks, mdh!

(PS - Did you send Brian a get-well card?)

FWIW my December 22 1964 ticket is a stub, so much for the ol' gray cells.  

Hopefully not the same as Jim's.

Thanks for posting that ticket stub, Cam.

Man, it's nice to have this thread back on track. Hope it stays that way.

... What is it, exactly that you people want?

Well, speaking for myself, I'm here to discuss my favorite band in a calm and respectful manner. The music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys has brought me unparalleled joy, and an accurate recounting of their history, which includes info such as concert dates, set lists, release dates of singles and albums, etc, is especially interesting to me.

The sentiments expressed in Jim Murphy's post below sum up my feelings perfectly.

I've read this thread with great interest because, after spending eight years writing Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961-1963, I imagine I am one of those who believes historical accuracy matters. In fact, it was the maddening lack of a cohesive narrative of their early history that prompted me to begin researching and writing the book. My Dad used to say, "If something was worth doing, it was worth doing right." History is like that. Now, grant it, this level of attention to detail in the pursuit of accuracy, may not be for everyone. It doesn't have to be. I've had friends and family, after reading my book, tell me, "Good Gawd, did I have to know about matrix and delta numbers, and dead wax?" Probably not. But they do play a role in the story.

But the main reason I have followed this thread is because I enjoy Ian's and Andrew's research and analytical discussion of new information. Although my book ended in 1963, my interest does not. The scope of their research is so vast, essentially the band's entire ongoing career, and I enjoy reading about their discovery of new facts shedding light on old myths. Especially the pivotal moment in the band's career being discussed presently. There is a real value in setting the record straight while these events are only fifty odd years in the past. And, long after the band, and those who documented their history, have danced off this Earth, the books will be all that is left for future generations to study as they enjoy the incredible musical catalog of the band we had the honor and privilege to see and hear in our lifetimes.

The guys themselves have said so many things over the years that invite gossipy speculation. So, if someone is intrigued by one of these juicy tidbits, so be it. Personally, I have no interest in their private lives. My life intersected with the Beach Boys through their music, which has brought me an inordinate amount of joy and happiness. I look at it like this -- They have their lives and I have mine. I wish them all the best, of course, and lives of happiness and fulfillment. Certainly they deserve that in exchange for all they have given the world. And whether they make new music or release archival material, I know and care so much about their history, and their body of work, that I will always enjoy hearing each new release.  

To borrow one of Dennis's song titles, the Beach Boys music has been my constant companion. And, for me, that's enough.  

are you surprised that three people recall an incident differently or don't recall it all?? Very common!!!  My friends have forgotten many nights that I recall with crystal clarity and I've forgotten a few that they always bring up. And I'm not as old as the BBs.  1964 was now 52 years ago!!

Well, considering the way in which Brian's breakdown on the plane is described, I find it surprising that Mike stated that he has no recollection of it. Even if he was in another area of the plane, you'd think the other guys would have made a big deal about it when he returned. Such an occurrence, assuming it's described accurately, is not a run-of-the-mill event that you would assume would likely be forgotten.

As far as the dj and Al having different recollections as to whether or not Brian played the Houston concert, yeah, that's not all that surprising, but I still find the discrepancy fascinating in that it adds to the confusion of establishing an accurate historical timeline.

Not sure how helpful but there is a concert eye witness, Ron Foster:

http://www.houstonpress.com/music/shored-up-6564082

Fascinating that Mike Love states he has no recollection of Brian having a breakdown on the plane:

Five minutes into the flight to Houston, Wilson started crying and making shrieking noises. He screamed into a pillow, spun out of his seat and sobbed on the cabin floor. Beach Boys Carl Wilson and Al Jardine tried to comfort him, but couldn't. "We were really scared for him," says Jardine. "[We were] concerned for him because he was so upset. He obviously had a breakdown. None of us had ever witnessed something like that." (Curiously, Love doesn't recall the incident. "I don't know if it was because I wasn't there or some other reason," he says. " might have been in another part of the plane. I think his brothers were closer to that than I was at the time.")

And then dj Ron Foster says Brian performed in Houston, while Al Jardine says he didn't:

Foster witnessed the concert, which he says Wilson played and performed in, from backstage and says it seemed like "just a regular Beach Boys concert." It was hard to hear the band over all the screaming teenagers, anyway. Yet Beach Boy Jardine is of the minority that says Wilson did not perform. "He just stayed in his room and went home."

Need your help people. As is well known, Brian cracked up on a plane from LA to Houston on 12/23/64, played the gig that night then flew home, being replaced by Glen for the Dallas gig on the 26th.

However, two recent discoveries have cast some doubt on this long-held supposition. One, The tireless Ian Rusten uncovered a cancelled show in Little Rock AK on the 20th, while the equally redoubtable Jim Murphy found a ticket stub (note, a stub) for a 12/22 Dallas show. Now, there certainly was a Dallas show on 12/26 - Glen's first - so unless they played two shows at the same venue within five days, and the ticket was certainly used, the locical assumption is that it was honored for the rearranged date. Put this together with the cancelled gig on the 20th and it's looking possible that the Tulsa show on the 19th wasn't originally a one-off but the first of a short tour of the southwest. Thus:

19 - Assembly Center Arena, Tulsa, OK
20 - Little Rock Auditorium, Little Rock AR* [cancelled]
22 - Memorial Auditorium, Dallas TX* [postponed to the 26th ?]
23 - Music Hall, Houston TX
26 - Memorial Auditorium, Dallas TX

So, just shooting the breeze... were those shows cancelled because Brian was showing signs of strain ? Was the flight from Tulsa to Houston, not from LA ?  Did the band indeed fly back to LA from Tulsa, then on to Houston ? And does it really matter ? 

I obviously don't know what exactly transpired, but yes, it does matter, because it's BB history, and I love this kind of research! Thanks to Mr. Rustin, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Doe.

So I'm wondering, do we know for sure that BW actually appeared at the 12/23 show, or that it took place? For these various appearances, what specifically do the newspaper ads/reviews and radio station surveys (if available) indicate? And congrats to Jim Murphy for somehow coming across a ticket stub to a 12/22 show in Dallas!

And yes, this does look like a short tour of the southwest, which makes a whole lot more sense than a one-off in Tulsa, Oklahoma.