So with all love and affection in as much as I really started to hate 80s music LOL I bring you 1981 enjoy there are a lot of side notes 1981--- JAN 2-3,1981 MOSE ALLISON SIPPIE WALLACE All seats - $7.50 JAN 8 - 10,1981 An Evening With HARRY CHAPIN: Celebrating his 2000 career performance Seats $10.00 * The shows on Jan 8 broadcast on WNEW F.M. ** This engagement was very special to HARRY because these shows commemorated over 2000 performances. Little did any us know, at the time, how important this engagement would become to the rest of us. Harry, who was normally very intense and very driven was remarkably calm and relaxed during these three nights. He seemed to really savor every moment. Harry was always very accessible to his fans and really believed that ideas expressed musically could help galvanize social change. Many of us thought that Harry would become even more engaged in politics and eventually seek political office himself. Side Bar: Stanley is a huge fan of Harrys and listened to his records over and over again. He knew every note and nuance of every song. This fact was not lost on Ed Micone and Mike Piranian, the two agents at ICM, the agency that booked HARRY. Piranian felt that although Stanley was a very tough negotiator, even he would be vulnerable negotiating a deal when it came to someone he admired. Micone, who had done a lot more business with Stanley and therefore thought he knew him better was skeptical. Micone, a couple of years Piranians senior, thought that when push came to shove business would overcome personal desire. Piranian disagreed. So they made a wager, and I was the one who got the phone call. Little did I know when Mike Pirenian called that Ed Micone was secretly listening on an extension barely able to control his gleeful anticipation. After the usual exchange of small talk, Piranian casually said,I think I got a real winner for you. He began slowly with a touch of excitement in his voice.Harry Chapin was looking to find a place to do an extended engagement to celebrate his 2000th concert performance, and he was leaning toward doing it at The Bottom Line. To make the deal even sweeter the guarantee for the three days would not be excessive. As Piranian was talking, I was thinking: Harrys 2000th performance- lots of press, great business - probably a sell out for all six shows, reasonable fee for Harry so we stood a chance to make money- whats the catch? I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Piranian shifted his sell and started to subtly dial up the pressure. He began by telling me that there were at least three other places in town that were willing to jump through hoops to close this deal, but because Harry had a relationship with Stanley and myself pre Bottom Line, he would prefer to do it at the club. So we had the edge. He also said that he and Ed knew that Stanley was a huge fan of Harrys which to their thinking meant that date would be personally important to Stanley; therefore, we would do a great job promoting the engagement... There was only one little detail that still had to be settled. If it was resolved to Harrys managers satisfaction the date was ours. He paused dramatically to let everything sink in. What was the small detail? I inquired. Just a minor matter, he said nonchalantly. Harrys manager is willing to take a small guarantee versus 85% of the gross box office receipts whichever was greater. That meant, if Harry sold out we would have the glory of six sold out shows, but only 15% of the box office receipts as opposed to 50%, thereby turning a sure winner into a loser. There was dead silence on the other end of the phone as the implications registered. It was my move. Micone and Piranian could just about contain themselves. I started to say pass but caught myself in mid-breath. It would be unfair of me to make a unilateral decision knowing how much Stanley loved Harry and how important those songs were to him. I put Piranian on hold and turned to face Stanley who sat at a desk a few feet from me. Stan, good news-bad news. Mike Piranians on the phone. Hes offering three nights on Harry Chapin. Stanleys entire body language changed. His face beamed like a beacon. There is just one problem and its not the guarantee. Heres the bad news. They want 85% of the ticket sales if that turns out to be greater than the guarantee. In less than a nanosecond, Stanley went from pure joy to consternation. How could anyone so deviously screw up his perfect moment? From the first days we became involved in the music business, Stanley has always reminded me remember there are two words - music and business. Without one you cant have the other. When art and commerce are at cross purposes, you can never forget the second word. I looked over at him. He was totally conflicted, mentally measuring the upside against the downside. It took him 30 seconds. He was no longer smiling. Pass, he said. Really? Are you sure? This may not come around again. I know how much you love him. How will you feel seeing this someplace else and knowing it could have been here? he hesitated. I picked up the phone and told Mike that I was talking to Stan and I needed another minute. While I was telling him this, Stanley said,No. I am positive. Tell him its a pass. Before I could say anything, there was a burst of laughter. Both agents had heard Stanleys difficult decision. All of a sudden, I heard Micone screaming in my ear, I won! I won! I won the bet! I knew it! I knew it! I was dumbfounded. Luckily, Micone and Piranian were only horsing around when they were negotiating this date and fortunately for all of us Stanley and I never really had to pass on it. Stanley saw all of Harrys shows. He was a very happy camper. Unfortunately, just six months later it was another phone call from Ed Micone that broke the news to Stanley and myself about Harrys untimely tragic accident. Those three nights were recorded and released as a double CD on Bottom Line Records so that some 22 years later we can all still be touched by Harrys music and his humanity. JAN 14-17, 1981 An Evening With TOM SCOTT With Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Hugh McCracken, Ralph McDonald, Marcus Miller, Richard Tee and Dr. John All seats $7.50 JAN 18, 1981 Plays in Progress Series- The second in a series of staged readings of new plays: Slane a drama by Tom Grainger Featuring: Patsy Moss, Zeljko Ivanek, William Cain, Jane Cronin Directed by David Jueire All seats $3.00 JAN 23-24, 1981 STEVE GOODMAN RIDERS IN THE SKY *DAVID AMRAM sits in with STEVE GOODMAN on Jan 24 JAN 29, 1981 UNCLE FLOYDS Eighth Birthday party Show All seats $7.50 JAN 30-31, 1981 An EveningWith McCOY TYNER All seats $7.50 FEB 4, 1981 THE BLACKBIRDS CHARLES EARLAND FEB 5, 1981 SKY CHARLES EARLAND FEB 6-7, 1981 STAN GETZ NAT ADDERLEY QUINTET FEB 9, 1981 SAVOY BROWN SHABOO ALLSTARS Featuring: Matt GuitarMurphy All seats $7.50 FEB 10-11, 1981 McGUINN - HILLMAN BAND BOB GIBSON FEB 12, 1981 The Seventh Annual DAVID BROMBERG Bottom Line Anniversary Celebration An Acoustic Evening With DAVID BROMBERG All seats $8.00 FEB 13, 1981 An Evening of Stand Up featuring the comedy of: Elayne Boosler, Steve Mittlemen, Chris Rush and Mark Schiff All seats $7.50 FEB 14, 1981 THE JAMES COTTON BAND THE PERSUASIONS All seats $7.50 FEB 20-21, 1981 MONTEITH AND RAND TOM PAXTON All seats $8.00 FEB 23,1981 JOHN HALL JUDY CASTELLI FEB 26 - 28, 1981 KATE AND ANNA McGARRIGLE THE SONG PROJECT MARCH 3, 1981 LARRY CORYELL DAN SIEGEL MARCH 6-7,1981 BEAVER BROWN GARY YUDMAN MARCH 10,1981 JOHNNY AVERAGE BAND THE YORKVILLE SAINTS MARCH 11-12,1981 RANDY MEISNER ROSEANN CASH *Randys show on March 12 broadcast on WNEW F.M. MARCH 13-14, 1981 LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III SHIFFMAN AND VANCE MARCH 15,1981 TRACY NELSON ROOMFUL OF BLUES MARCH 16,1981 BLOTTO DOUG AND THE SLUGS MARCH 20-21,1981 JOHN HAMMOND AL KOOPER MARCH 25,1981 The Birdland Series Featuring: The Pepper Adams Quartet The Roy Haynes Ensemble Melba Liston and Company Hosted by: Ed Williams All seats $6.00 MARCH 27-28,1981 RAY, GOODMAN AND BROWN DEFUNCT MARCH 31, 1981 THE GOOD RATS All Seats $7.50 *early show broadcast on WNEW F.M. APRIL 3-4, 1981 THE MINGUS DYNASTY BAND Featuring Randy Brecker, Sir Roland Hanna, Billy Hart Clifford Jordan, Mike Richmond THE ARTHUR BLYTHE QUINTET All sets $7.50 APRIL 5, 1981 ROOMFUL OF BLUES CHRIS RUSH APRIL 6,1981 T.S. MONK CHRIS RUSH APRIL 8, 1981 THE BIRDLAND SERIES Featuring: Walter Bishop Jr.s 4th Cycle with: Gary Bartz, Curtis Fuller, Michael Garvin The Lou Donaldson Quartet The New York Four featuring: Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, Michael Urbaniak, Buster Williams Hosted by Ed Williams All seats $6.00 APRIL 9.1981 SPIRIT CHRIS RUSH All Seats $7.50 APRIL 10-12, 1981 DR JOHN April 10 - Chris Rush April 11-12 - 14 Karat Soul APRIL 13, 1981 CARL WILSON BOB DUNCAN *CARL WILSONS early show broadcast on WNEW F.M. APRIL 14, 1981 ALIVE! NANETTE NATAL APRIL 16, 1981 THE BIRDLAND SERIES Featuring: Al Cohn Quartet David Fathead Newman Quartet with special guest Hank Crawford Dakota Staton and her trio Hosted by Ed Williams All seats $6.00 APRIL 17-18,1981 Bottoms - Up with GENYA RAVAN OTTO AND GEORGE All seats $7.50 APRIL 20-21,1981 An Evening With BILLY COBHAMS GLASS MENAGERIE All seats $10.00 APRIL 23,1981 J.J.CALE APRIL 24,1981 MONTEITH AND RAND GEORGE FISHOFF All seats $8.00 APRIL 25,1981 JOOLS HOLLAND and his MILLIONAIRES DOC PITTMANS INKSPOTS APRIL 26,1981 THE PLIMSOULS THE BLASTERS APRIL 27,1981 CLARK TERRY AND HIS NEW BIG BAND DAKOTA STATON AND HER TRIO APRIL 28,1981 LOUIE BELLSON BIG BAND EXPLOSION SHIFFMAN AND VANCE All seats $8.00 APRIL 29,1981 THE BIRDLAND SERIES Featuring: Slide Hampton Quintet with George Coleman Bill Hardman-Junior Cook Quintet with Walter Bishop, Jr. Joe Morello Quintet Hosted by Ed Williams All seats$ 6.00 APRIL 30,1981 HARRY JAMES AND HIS SWINGIN BAND SHIFFMAN AND VANCE All seats $8.00 MAY 1,1981 An Evening With RALPH TOWNER AND JOHN ABERCROMBIE MAY 2,1981 THE BUDDY RICH BIG BAND RICK OVERTON All seats $8.00 * Many musicians consider BUDDY RICH to be the worlds greatest jazz drummer. He was quite a character. Totally self taught, he was playing drums since he was four years old. He had a mercurial personality and a very biting wit that equaled the speed he exercised behind the drums. If moved he could verbally slash you to bits in seconds. He was quite a formidable and intimidating personality. At the same time he could be very warm, charming, generous and very, very funny. As a player, very few equalled him. Musicians of all ages would travel for miles to sit in awe, as close to the stage as possible, mouth agape, to watch this legend play. Stanley and I had an amiable relationship with Buddy, but at the same time, we kept our distance. He was not somebody you wanted to hang out with if he was having a bad day. Louie Bellson, a friend and contemporary of Buddys, who also was much admired as a drummer, had played the club with his big band a week before Buddy was scheduled to play. At the end of the gig, as Louie was getting ready to leave, he said, I see Buddys coming in next week. Would you give him a message for me. And then he impishly said with a big smile on his face,Tell him I said, Dont bother to unpack, that Ive played it all. We both laughed and he left. I thought about it for exactly five seconds and decided I was too young to die. That would be a message, not even in jest that would ever see the light of day! When Buddy arrived for a sound check a week later, he was in a great mood. This particular tour was doing great. He liked the way this band was sounding, business on the road was good and the band was getting standing ovations on a nightly basis. I was also in a good mood. It was always special when he played the club. There were not only lots of fans who wanted to see him, but many of his contemporaries as well. There was electricity in the air, the box office was busy, the phones were ringing, and it looked as if we would all make a little money. Buddy never remembered my name. If he knew it he never used it. Instead, hes always called me Boss. So when our paths crossed that afternoon, he greeted me very warmly,Hey Boss, How we gonna do tonight? Great, Buddy. Phones are ringing off the hook. Boss, you get the piano tuned? Had it done a couple of hours ago, Buddy. Hows business been last couple of weeks, boss? Pretty good, Buddy. In fact, Louis Bellson was here last week. And before I could stop myself, I heard the following come out of my mouth, He left a message for you. Buddy stopped and the big smile on his face suddenly turned to something I cannot quite describe. What was the message, Boss? My heart stopped. All I could think of was, Does the condemned man have any last words before we put on the blindfold? I smiled weakly. He said, Dont bother to unpack. Hes played it all. And without missing a beat, Buddy shot back,Yeah but now youre gonna see it played right! MAY 5,1981 An Evening With TONY BENNETT All Seats $15.00 MAY 7,1981 JOE ELY BUZZ AND THE FLYERS MAY 8-9,1981 ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS THE HEATH BROTHERS All seats $8.00 MAY 13, 1981 THE BIRDLAND SERIES Featuring: CORNELL DUPREE and THE INSIDERS ROY HAYNES ENSEMBLE MIKE LAWRENCE BAND Hosted by Ed Williams All seats: $6.00 MAY 15-16,1981 CISSY HOUSTON MELBA LISTON AND COMPANY MAY 19,1981 THE BIRDLAND SERIES Featuring: JIMMY McGRIFF QUARTET with special guest WILLIS GATOR TAIL JACKSON LEON THOMAS QUARTET REGGIE WORKMANS TOP SHELF with NEWMAN BAKER, ONAJE GUMBS, HOWARD JOHNSON and ARTHUR RHAMES Hosted by Ed Williams All seats $6.00 MAY 20,1981 THE NEW LIMELIGHTERS BUSKIN AND BATTEAU MAY 21,1981 THE PLASTICS THE NAILS MAY 22-23,1981 THE PHIL WOODS QUARTET with Hal Galper, Steve Gilmore and Bill Goodwin GARY BURTON QUARTET MAY 24,1981 DOC AND MERLE WATSON ERIK FRANDSEN MAY 28,1981 TERUO NAKAMURA and THE RISING SUN BAND JOE LEE WILSON MAY 29-30, 1981 LARRY CORYELL AND FRIENDS Featuring: Joe Beck, Warren Bernhart, Mark Egan, Joe LaBarbara and Dave Liebman ROY HAYNES ENSEMBLE *May 29 - MAURICE WHITE sits in with the very hip ROY HAYNES ENSEMBLE JUNE 5 - 6,1981 ROBERT KRAFT BAND CHRIS RUSH JUNE 7 - 8,1981 An Evening With CAROLE BAYER SAGER AND BURT BACHARACH All seats $12.50 JUNE 9,1981 SYL SYLVAIN AND THE TEARDROPS THE AS JUNE 10-12,1981 An Evening With GATO BARBIERI All seats $9.00 JUNE 13, 1981 An Unusual Evening of Magic,Mystery, Humor and Illusion With ROBINSONS MYSTERIES With JACK ADAMS as Merlin OTTO & GEORGE All seats $7.50 JUNE 17-18, 1981 An Evening With McCOY TYNER JUNE 19-20, 1981 An Evening of Doo Wop Featurng: FRED PARIS and THE FIVE SATINS, THE DEL VIKINGS, FOURTEEN KARAT SOUL and THE LADDINS Hosted by BOBBY JAY JUNE 22-23,1981 An Evening With FLORA PURIM and AIRTO All Seats $8.00 JUNE 24, 1981 THE AKIYOSHI - TABACKIN BIG BAND JUNE 25, 1981 SUKAY Traditional Music of the Andes KEVIN BURKE AND MICHAEL ODONNHNAILL JUNE 26-27,1981 VASSAR CLEMENTS ROCKIN ROB STONER * LEVON HELM sits in with ROCKIN ROB on June 26 JUNE 30, 1981 DAVID LINDLEY ROSIE FLORES *DAVIDS show on 6/30 broadcast live on WNEW F.M. JACKSON BROWNE sits in with DAVID on late show 6/30. JULY 1-2,1981 EARL SCRUGGS THE DILLARDS All seats $8.00 JULY 3-4,1981 DR JOHN July 3 - JOHN HAMMOND * Besides opening the show for the Good Doctor, JOHN HAMMOND joins Mack on stage and jams with him during his set. July 4 -THE NIGHTHAWKS JULY 6,1981 THE LOUNGE LIZARDS DEWEY REDMAN JULY 7-8,1981 JOHN KAY AND STEPENWOLF SILVERADO *JOHN KAY show on July 8 broadcast on WPLJ F.M. JULY 10-11,1981 MONTEITH AND RAND July 10 - JOSH WHITE, JR July 11- MAXENE ANDREWS JULY 14,1981 Lunchtime show and radio broadcast on WNEW F.M.sponsored by Carta Blanca beer DAVID JOHANSEN BAND JULY 14,1981 THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA THE STEINETTES All Seats $8.00 JULY 15-16, 1981 DONALD BYRD CHRIS RUSH JULY 17,1981 An Evening in the Mountains Featuring the comedy of: BETTY WALKER, GENE BAYL0S, and MORTY STORM All seats $8.00 JULY 18,1981 CARL WILSON DAN DALEY *CARL WILSON show broadcast on WNEW F.M. JULY 21-22, 1981 An Evening With JANIS IAN All Seats $7.50 JULY 23,1981 DAVE VALENTIN CISSY HOUSTON JULY 24, 1981 DOC AND MERLE WATSON CHRIS RUSH JULY 25,1981 An Evening With BEAVER BROWN All Seats $ 8.00 JULY 29,1981 TRACY NELSON PAUL CEBAR JULY 31 - AUG 1,1981 An Evening of Doo Wop Featuring: THE FLAMINGOS, THE TEENAGERS, FOURTEEN KARAT SOUL, THE STEINETTES Hosted by BOBBY JAY All seats $8.00 AUG 2,1981 ROY BUCHANAN CHARLIE MIDNIGHT BAND AUG 6,1981 Lunchtime Show and radio broadcast Carta Blanca Concert Series FRANKIE AND THE KNOCKOUTS * Broadcast on WNEWF.M. AUG 6,1981 ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS JOE MORELLO QUARTET AUG 7-8, 1981 EDDIE PALMIERI AND FRIENDS PAQUITO DRIVERA QUINTET AUG 12,1981 An Evening With CLAUDE BOLLING with special guests: RANSOM WILSON on flute ALEXANDER LA GOYA on guitar Featuring Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano and Concerto for Classical Guitar and Jazz Piano All seats $8.00 AUG 13,1981 DE DANANN KEVIN BURKE AND MICHAEL ODONNHNAILL AUG 14-15,1981 An Evening With BILLY COBHAM All Seats $10.00 AUG 20,1981 An Evening With CLAUDE BOLLING Special Guest: RANSOM WILSON, flute Featuring: Suite For Flute and Jazz Piano and Celebration 3 (World Premiere) by Frank Becker A multimedia work for amplified flute, Electronic Tape and Kaleidoplex Images. All seats $8.00 AUG 21 - 23, 1981 An Evening With GIL SCOTT HERON All Seats$ 9.00 AUG 24-25,1981 An Evening With PETER HAMILL All Seats $7.50 AUG 27,1981 BRIAN AUGER AND SEARCH PARTY GEORGIE FAME AUG 28-29,1981 An Evening With McCOY TYNER AUG 30,1981 ROB GRILL AND THE GRASS ROOTS THE METROS AUG 31,1981 An Evening With DE DANANN SEPT 1,1981 CRACK THE SKY ANGELA C. NIGHT All Seats:$ 7.00 SEPT 3,1981 JIM PHOTOGLO CHRISTINE LAVIN SEPT 4,1981 TERUO NAKAMURA AND THE RISING SUN BAND MICHAEL URBANIAK SEPT 5,1981 A Special Evening of Folk Music with: BUSKIN AND BATTEAU MARY McCASLIN AND JIM RINGER THE SONG PROJECT AND DAVE VAN RONK All Seats $8.00 SEPT 6,1981 FLO AND EDDIES Raiders of the Lost Rock Band OTTO AND GEORGE All Seats $8.00 SEPT 9 - 10,1981 An Evening of Standup Philosophy with DR. TIMOTHY LEARY *Sept 10 was canceled due to a Con Ed blackout. SEPT 11-12, 1981 THE JOHN HALL BAND FOURTEEN KARAT SOUL *There was a special lunchtime concert with The JOHN HALL BAND which was part of the Carta Blanca lunchtime concert series that was broadcast on WNEW F.M. SEPT 17,1981 MOSE ALLISON CHRIS RUSH SEPT 18-19,1981 An Evening of Doo Wop Featuring: THE PERSUASIONS, THE IMPALAS, THE STEINETTES WILLIE WINFIELD AND THE HARPTONES Sept 18 only THE CLEFTONES Sept 19 only Hosted by BOBBY JAY All Seats $8.00 SEPT 21,1981 TOOTS THIELEMANS DAVID CHESKY BIG BAND SEPT 22,1981 The New York Songwriting Contest Presented by The New York Music Task Force in association with The American Guild of Authors and Composers and sponsored by Chappell Music Co-Hosts: Jonathan Holtzman, Sammy Cahn and Rupert Holmes New York Song Award presented to John Kander and Fred Ebb SEPT 23,1981 SADAO WATANABE BOBBY BROOM SEPT 25-26,1981 THE ROCHES FRANKLIN MICARE *ROBERT FRIPP comes by and sits in with THE ROCHES on 9/26 OCT 2-3,1981 PHIL WOODS QUARTET JIM HALL TRIO OCT 4, 1981 JOE PASS JOE MORELLO QUINTET OCT 5,1981 THE BUREAU THE METROS OCT 6,1981 MAYNARD FERGUSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA RICK OVERTON All Seats $8.00 OCT 9-10,1981 BETTY CARTER AND HER TRI0 GEORGE COLEMAN QUARTET All Seats $8.00 OCT 11,1981 LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS BIG BAND BASH All Seats $8.00 AUG 16-17,1981 LOUDON WAINWRIGHT lll DAVID ROCHE OCT 20,1981 The Mattell Chess Computer Tournament OCT 21,1981 INTERPLAY SRO *MICHAEL INGRAM sits in and jams with INTERPLAY OCT 23, 1981 An Evening With UNCLE FLOYD All Seats $8.00 * The UNCLE FLOYD shows at THE BOTTOM LINE were a live version of Floyd Vivinos childrens show on N.J. cable. The show was an 80s version of Soupy Sales meets the Muppets, a smart-ass, quick paced show, peppered with corny jokes, old burlesque skits, a puppet named OOGIE and a host of double entendre gags and parodies that went over the heads of his young viewers leaving their parents in fits of hysterical laughter. The cable show quickly built an underground following among local musicians, including The Ramones who actually made a guest appearance on the show. THE UNCLE FLOYD shows at The Bottom Line were always fun. The audience was totally into it and could be as colorful as the performers. One of the best Uncle Floyd stories at The Bottom Line could be titled The Great Potato Stampede. It was a big night at the club. Both Floyd shows were sold out and we were expecting heavy standing room for each show as well. The doors were open for a little more than an hour when Stanley and I were quickly summoned to the kitchen. Our chef, John Hargrove, was in a state of controlled panic. There was an enormous pile of orders that needed to be filled and an equally huge amount of orders that were cooked and ready to be picked up by the waitresses. Whats up? we wondered. John, who had been a chef in the navy where he served thousands of sailors at one sitting as well as also having extensive experience as a short order cook was never, ever one to panic. Whats up? John never stopped what he was doing while he shouted to us over his shoulder, his chefs white jacket soaked in sweat, POTATOES, he answered. Were running out of potatoes. We looked around. We were drowning in a sea of French Fries in different states of preparedness. It became quickly apparent that in a little more than an hour we would run out of a quantity of potatoes that was supposed to last us four days. Stanley and I were flabbergasted. We hadnt even been open for two hours. It seemed that every single individual attending the show wanted their own special order of French Fries. We had close to 300 people in attendance with more streaming in and another 400 tickets already sold for the late show. What in the world was happening? Our potatoes were good, but not that good. Stanley quickly rounded up three members of our staff and sent them to 9th Avenue and 38th Street where there were still produce stores open that could supply a large quantity of potatoes instructing them to buy every potato in sight. At the end of the evening when we had a minute to tell Floyd that we went through a weeks worth of potatoes in one night, he smiled, and enthusiastically said, I guess my records still intact! Stanley and I looked at each other,What record? What are you talking about? Floyd started to laugh. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he started to tell us the following story: One day Floyd found himself booked on the Tom Snyder show. Snyder, a late night televsion show host who was very opionated and cynical, had very definitive likes and dislikes. If he wasnt already a fan he wasnt necessarily gracious and could be very argumentative. Unfortunately, on the night Floyd was booked, Tom was not having a good day and was not particularly cheerful! For starters, Tom hated the hat that Floyd always wore, a type of porkpie hat which is very much a part of the Uncle Floyd persona. Tom insisted that he couldnt wear the hat on the show. So the interview began with Floyd literally hat in hand, which pretty much defined what cables relationship was to network shows in the 80s - how things have changed! Snyder, never one for small talk, was aggressive immediately. What makes your show so special? Nothing new about what youre doing. Why are you any better than Soupy, who actually broke new ground? Floyd, who was a huge fan of Soupy Sales never felt that he was better than anyone else. If anything Floyd felt proud that he was continuing a tradition of old time show business, of humor popular in vaudeville and burlesque and extended on T.V. by Uncle Miltie and of course Soupy Sales. Floyd was not only feeling uncomfortable, he was getting angry. Although he knew Snyder wasnt easy he never expected to get attacked on the show. Floyd, who was holding his own, tried to deal with Snyders questions good naturedly and always with humor. Tom asked him what else he was doing other than the cable show? Floyd, proudly said he had just sold out The Bottom Line and was rebooked for a return engagement. Snyder was not impressed, Why was that special? Lots of acts have sold out The Bottom Line. Floyd, who was now really irritated, immediately shot back, Its special because I set the French fry record. Snyder smiled. He softened, and for the first time during the interview he seemed interested. Who held the previous record? he asked. Floyd, who was making the whole thing up as he went along, started to riff with Snyder, who was taking him seriously. I think Billy Joel held the previous record which he took from Springsteen. But I actually sold the most because after Billy Joel the club started using a much bigger potato. Whatever the reason this moment seemed to turn the interview around. Snyder became relaxed and seemed to enjoy Floyd. It was also a great commercial for Bottom Line fries. Floyds fans never knew that Floyd made the whole thing up. Like Snyder, they thought the incident was real and wanted to make sure that no one else would ever sell more French fries at The Bottom Line than Floyd, and to this day no one has! OCT 24, 1981 DAVID LINDLEY AND EL RAYO X 14 KARAT SOUL All seats $ 8.00 OCT 28,1981 MAX ROMEO JOHN MACANDOE OCT 30,1981 An Evening With TERUO NAKAMURA AND THE RISING SUN BAND All seats $ 7.50 OCT 31,1981 An Evening of Magic, Mystery and Illusion with ROBINSONS MYSTERIES All seats $8.00 NOV 5,1981 DR.JOHN CISSY HOUSTON NOV 6-7,1981 An Evening With SONNY ROLLINS All Seats $9.00 NOV 11,1981 NRBQ DANNY KALB BAND NOV 12,1981 An Evening With CRYSTAL SHIP NOV 13-14,1981 An Evening With RALPH TOWNER AND JOHN ABERCROMBIE NOV 15,1981 BUDDY RICH BIG BAND JOHN MENDOZA All seats $8.00 *Comedian CHARLIE CALLAS sits in on drums showing BUDDY how its done. NOV 16,1981 THE TONY RICE UNIT ERIK FRANDSEN NOV 17,1981 MIKE MANIERI BAND UBX Featuring: LARRY CORYELL & MICHAEL URBANIAK All seats $8.00 NOV 18, 1981 JONATHAN RICHMAN and THE MODERN LOVERS GARY YUDMAN NOV 19,1981 ALABAMA EARL THOMAS CONLEY NOV 20 - 21,1981 LEON REDBONE CHRIS RUSH NOV 23,1981 An Evening With BRUCE COCKBURN NOV 25,1981 KARLA DeVITO RUFF RIDER NOV 27-28,1981 An Evening of Doo Wop Featuring: JIMMY BEAUMONT AND THE SKYLINERS EARL LEWIS AND THE CHANNELS THE SILHOUETTES FOURTEEN KARAT SOUL Hosted by BOBBY JAY All seats $8.00 NOV 29,1981 SVT THE METROS NOV 30,1981 An Evening With GEORGE BENSON and FRIENDS Featuring: KENNY BARRON, TOM BROWN, OMAR HAKIM, RALPH McDONALD, MARCUS MILLER and EARL KLUGH All Seats$12.50 DEC 4-5,1981 ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS DAVE VALENTIN DEC 6,1981 JOHN MAXWELL in a new One Man Show Oh, Mr. Faulkner Do You Write? Based on the life and words of one of Americas greatest literary masters Written by John Maxwell with Tom Dupree Directed by William Partlan 3:00PM show - seats $5.50 8:30PM show -seats $6.50 DEC 9-10,1981 JOHN HARTFORD STAMPFEL AND WEBER DEC 11,1981 DOC AND MERLE WATSON FIDDLE FEVER All Seats $8.00 DEC 12,1981 JOHN HERALD BAND FIDDLE FEVER DEC 16,1981 PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND CHRIS RUSH DEC 17, 1981 ELVIN JONES JON HENDRICKS and CO. DEC 18-19, 1981 JOHN HALL BAND THE SONG PROJECT DEC 20,1981 THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA CAROL SISKIND All Seats $6.00 DEC 21,1981 PHIL WOODS QUARTET JON HENDRICKS and CO. DEC 22,1981 TOM RUSH MONTEITH AND RAND All Seats $8.00 DEC 23,1981 ELVIN JONES AND THE JAZZ MACHINE LARRY CORYELL with Brian Keane DEC 26-27,1981 JONATHAN RICHMAN and THE MODERN LOVERS FOURTEEN KARAT SOUL DEC 28,1981 RONEE BLAKELY BUSKIN AND BATTEAU TOM CHAPIN DEC 29-30,1981 An Evening With McCOY TYNER All Seats $8.00 DEC 31 1981 - JAN 2,1982 FLO AND EDDIE and THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ROCK BAND KARLA DeVITO *LOU CHRISTIE sits in with KARLA on Jan 1-2. New years Eve All Seats $20.00 Includes party hats noise makers, horns and a glass of champagne Early Show 9:30 Late Show 1:30 AM All Seats $20.00 Includes choice of plain or cheese omlet with sausage, French fries, a breakfast roll and a glass of champagne. JAN 1&2 all Seats $10.00
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:28:49 +0000