Combat Zone, the

But it is a lot smaller.

You're not going to believe this, but one night, in the late 60s, or 70s, a group of friends and I were at the Pilgrim and saw you. I had never seen a stripper before, and I was at once horrified and intrigued. Your act was great, and your gown was beautiful. Ironically, 12 years later, I became a dancer at the 'I' and then, a costume designer. Because of you, maybe?

Would love to hear the stories and tell them in a book about he old zone

For more information on the Combat Zone in the 50s, 60s, and 70s refer to The Passage, authored by Phillip Vitti, a Boston undercover cop.
Published in 2012 and is available online from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, available also as an e-book.

This is a true account of my undercover years on the Boston Police which spanned a decade. It provides an intimate account into the 60s culture from the Combat Zone to social turbulence of the 60s era.

Dear Panama Red I would love to interview you for research that I am doing while putting together the Screenplays/scripts for the TV show I am writing called the COMBAT ZONE. Would you be willing to talk to me in this regards? please EMAIL me if you can [email protected]

It was almost 40 yrs ago and I still remember "Midnight"! . she used to dance at the "checkmate" and "Cabaret" lounge's up on Rte.1 in Peabody also. As a teenager She was the hottest dancer I had ever seen. Actually to this day I have not seen another, anywhere, that even compares. Would love to see a video or pics of her from back then.

I remember Jerold's like It was yesterday, I had a show band called Main Street People and we purchased all our outfits at Jerold's, You probably sold them to us, heheheheh, I knew all the bands and entertainers you mentioned, I also played Guitar with Tito Mambo & the Voodoo men, and with Mason Dixon & the line for awhile, Those were the dayz my friend, I still have a show band today called The Classics and we still do the same material we did back then, The Temptations Ojays, Stylistics, Intruders and all those sweet soul tunes, check out our website,,http://www.theoriginalclassics.com

Back In 1967 I played Basin street south backing up Laura lee, she was doing uptight, your a dirty dirty man, those were the dayz,

yes, i earned my wings also, between mar and july 1969. i was 21 and running on empty. The downtown lounge was my 'hangout'!!! after that -vietnam

I remember Vanessa (Basque girl, exotic looks with a tough boyfriend). May have seen her in Atlantic city on TV. Remember beautiful Italian girl bartender ("Tonee'). I understand she opened her own place near Corey's. One of the nicer gals had a tatoo of the Iron Cross Mototrcycle Club.
All this about 1975/6.

Angela lived in Winthrop with her daughter and fell on hard times. cancer caught her and she had to suffer two mastectomies. Unbelievably hard on her.

I worked at the Rat in Kenmore Square in the late 70s. We were great friends with Curtis & Earl from Jerome's. The after hours parties they had were legendary. If you thought the Combat Zone was ugly at night wait, the place was downright surreal at 7 in the morning.

Dana Darnell

I worked with Melonie who went on to be penthouse pet of the year and Veronica. I worked for both Venus brothers but mostly Teddy, who actually treated me very well.

I remember hearing your name.I'm not sure if I ever really looked at your face. I got lost elswhere. Sounds funny but I miss the old zone. Ended when the pimp killed the Harvard kid

Wow. Do you remember what year it was that the short sleeves thing happened? That's terrible. And in the combat zone, of all places, where women were stripping, and yet a black man's arms were considered offensive! I'd like to find out more about this ban, if possible.

Ah " Good Time Charlies " I"m trying to remeber were I met " Rochelle " @ " Charlie"s " or the 663 {the 663 now a high end condo the Kensington} What can I say about " Rochelle " to this day nearly 40 plus years later I think of her often and the many'many good times we spent together,was it wasted well thats up to any readers to decide For me it was great and memries are everlasting for me

The Combat Zone is no more. It's since been eliminated by gentrification.

Panama Red hi do you remember me Simone de Ville? I worked with you. Wow. Had a lot of fun in Boston. Hope you're well! Remember Kelly ?

I came across this posting while doing research for an oral history of the Combat Zone for Boston.com. So I'm going to rattle the cages and if anyone willing to share stories of this time, please send me an email at [email protected]. Particularly Panama Red! Thanks. - Chris

Hi: I just have a quick comment. I spent some of my best years in the Combat Zone in Jerome's. I loved that place and the fella who ran it. The bands, The Ferraris of Canada and The Fascinators had some of the nicest
guys who would sit with you, have a beer and just talk. And the sailors were all very nice too. I loved to dance so I was always on the dance floor. So for the past few weeks I've had one of the band members of the Ferraris on my mind so I looked him up today and found that he had passed away this past August in Yarmouth, NS. His name was Edgar Mickey Fevens. I will miss those days but I have those memories. I'm glad I looked up the Combat Zone.

I was the one who danced at the Naked Eye Cabaret and the Club 66 and wore the Indian Headress . Have so many fond memories of dancing at the Naked Eye from 1979-1985. Remember Mal Horowitz and his brother who owned the club and the head bouncer Jeffrey. Best waitress there was a girl named Lisa who handles the drinks in the back stage The Pussy Galore Stag Bar ! Used to strip there at nights and gallop Thoroughbred Race Horses in the mornings at Suffolk Downs Race Track. Wow the energy I had back then ! Now Train Race Horses and have for years but will never forget my days in the zone. Used to get back stage passes all the time too from owners of the club to see bands perform at Boston Garden. Will never forget meeting Freddie Mercury of Queen and became a regular to see them when they came to Boston. Best experiences of my life !!

MY MOM WAS ELAINE

Hi Fern, I never had a chance to go to the I but would have loved to just did not live there at the time. Hey do remember a younger dancer working there called chrystal? probably 18, 19 at the time some girls she knew was, ann, and chocolate, mary. I know (or maybe christal?) very well dating her after she left boston to another state.--------------------thanks

18 yrs old went in to the old silver dollar lounge,renamed the downtown.the green men where playing.good house band also.drank. Rheingold beer.from then on,I was there most nights.Ozzie otts,novelty lounge,novelty lounge,intermission,trans lux movie house.pilgrim theater move from Scilly square.saw my 1st naked women at the old Howard follies.Olympia billiards.bonds pool hall.

Moved up from scolly square.the old Howard.was the premier strip club in Boston hung around the 2 o,click lounge.sorry to see it's gone.

Strange to run across this article so many years later. Played bass in Roger Pace's band the Pacemakers in the late sixties. Had a long music career but never saw a greater entertainer. Gave it all every night. I joined the band after the Simone brothers left. Doug D'Agrosa was my guitar mate. Muzzy player sax, Barry on trumpet and Johnny on drums. Obviously we played other venues but the Intermission was Roger's Boston home. We played 7 nights a week with jam sessions on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Musicians visited to see us on off nights as I did before joining the band. Never to be forgotten are the many nights when Roger picked up his alto and led the other horn players across the street and into Jeromes. All the time playing the Red Rose Tea song and leaving us, the rhythmn section playing on stage. Around the horseshoe bar in Jeromes and back across Washington never missing a lick. They come back into the club with Jeromes patrons following. This pissed off that club owner but the Balleros loved it. Could tell many more stories but time doesn't permit.

Fern, This is a very old thread, but if you are interested in an Eye reunion with some of the people you named contact me! Prior bartender

Hey Panama,

My name is Jeremy Fraga, a Boston based filmmaker and photographer. Since moving to Boston in 2007 I’ve always had my mind on doing a sort of docuseries on the once notorious zone. With the advancement of radio dramas and podcasts in todays world it only seems right to do this is the style of the Providence centered podcast, Crimetown.

Since you were involved with the Zone so closely, I would really love to hear your tales from that time.

Thanks for reading,
Jeremy Fraga
(508) 951-0485
[email protected]

WOW, this is a great site. I too danced in the Zone. Stanley truly was a sweet guy and I remember how shocked we were when he died, he was like 38 or something. Also knew John the manager at the Intermission, another wonderful guy. (Joe Balerro (sp) was the owner who was a bit scary. I danced under the name Demian from 74-85. Living Room, Intermission, Picadilly and Pussy Cat. I was I college and then law school. It was a great gig. More later...Today's a work day and yes I am still a practicing atty. would love to hear from anyone who worked there. Anyone remember Suzanne Monterrez? (sp). (Not my forte). [email protected].
Cheers
Dawn

Hey Panama,
I want to interview you for a podcast on the zone. Please contact me back below

[email protected]

You must've known my Dad, Dick Delmont. He ran a lot of those places. I was young but, I remember the Caribe was the first place. Nick was a bartender there.

Hi Richard. My name is Sandi. I was Sandi Anderson back in the 60's.I used to waitress at the Intermission and I was married to Frankie Anderson, lead singer/piano player for the Tamales. We were good friends with Roger Pace for many years. I lost track of Frankie in the early 70's after I remarried. We used to keep in touch periodically, as we have a daughter(who is now almost 55). Then he just seemed to fall off the face of the earth. We've been trying to locate him for decades now. There was also Bernard on drums. Unfortunately,from what Frankie told me many years ago, Butch died in a fall from a hotel window in NYC. I'd really like to find out about Frankie...one way or another. I'll bet he'd like to know that he has grandchildren and great grands.

My name is Chris and I me and my roommate Mandy used to dance at the naked eye and the glass slipper we were Roy these girls in the early 80s wondering if you remember either one of us at the time when Mel and is Zippity Z sneakers on the naked eye what time what times what times

I worked for Louie Venus and his brother Teddy back in 1967, 1968. Louie Venus Book Store worked front part of his store. Go Go dancer Jeromes and worked as waitress serving drinks to customers. Downtown Lounge worked for Teddy as Goo Go dancer also waitress and bartender. Met my husband combat zone at The time he was bartender

I was a guitar player with Daddy Warbux. I knew you, Acapulco Gold, and Kandy Kane, who I dated. Don't know if you will get this, but I just found out Kandy had my kid in 1972. She never told me, as I left the group to go play in San Francisco. I just heard from my son after 47 years. I am now 71 years old, and have been a Lawyer in Connecticut for many years. I believe you went out with Chuck our bass player. He is still alive, and is 72. If you get this, drop me a line. Kandy contacted me through our son. She put the boy up for adoption. Again, I had no idea until last week, when he contacted me. He maintains contact with her. Jim

google type in hairy threesome look for x hamster ob you get the idea of 1869 beacon street brookline mass hairy pussy like liberty book stores best quarter peeps and cold tea in the zone
1869 beacon street threesomes five somes pay phones ringing all day all night in the hall way (is ma welfare claim approved yet is my social security claim approved yet) until they were removed ripped out by bell new england no coins the coin box it wuz fuckin nightmare at 1869 beacon st make sure ya have holy water and crucifix if ya pass by their >> fanny fox was hot at pilgrim just couldnt handle the rats and sticky seats and sticky wee wee smell wooden floor and all the pot smoke from people smokin reefer oh my all that reefer smoke and people laughing high and all the drug dealers and hookers going in and out of the isles workin the crowd like an usher at red sox game hey ya wanna blow job 20 bucks for hand job it was crazy and king arthurs oh shit king arthurs same thing smell of piss and old english and old spice it was disgusting durdy but fun kind of smelly durdy rats eatin the spilled pop kern of the floors pilgrim theater was never cleaned j ust like 1869 beacon street was it wuz a pig n poke i seen people take their clothes off in the pilgrim gettin blowjob while smokin reefer and laughin at fritz the kat vomiting all over puddles of piss and piles of shit i always brought a flash light into pilgrim and king arthurs back in the day during 8 somes weed put on fuck movie on vcr fire up a bag of weed in the hookah and have at it yep no more sport fuckin like that bone ape-tit

TYPE JOHN HOLMES THREESOME IN GOOGLE YOU GET THE IDEA OF 1869 BEACON ST APTS 1 AND 2 BACK IN THE DAY NO SHOWER OR BATHING FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE AND AFTER THE FACT

1869 BEACON STREET BETTER THAN THE PILGRIM AND ARTZ CINEMAS COMBINED FRITZ THE KAT FOR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she was never the headliner at the 2 o clock and it was the 4 seas in chinatown not 4 seasons, harry mok owned and ran the restaurant and chinatown- someone who was there 25 yrs

I remember you very well. I worked for Teddy and Louie Venus at the Down Town Lounge and Geromes Lounge in the early 70s as a gogo girl! They called me Sweet Mary because I was very shy coming from the south and being "green" as hell!
I was the high yellow dancer with the hour glass shape and big legs. I always wore fringes on all my costumes. There was also a dancer called Colt 44. I really liked her and wonder what happened to her. It's nice to hear from someone from those career days! Send me an email, I would love to hear from you!

Do you remember Sandy Beach I’m sure she was very much a stickler about her music sets !!

Hi there. My mom worked at teddy bear lounge and I’m curious if anyone remembers her. She went by “miss dynamite “. She is still alive and well. She tells stories about her years back in the day. Would just be interesting to hear.

Hi Red!!

I was head bartender at the Naked i. Took a little trip down memory lane and saw your post here. Thought I’d wave. Hope all is well. Joel

THEIR WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER JEROMES!!!!!!!!!! THAT WUZ TRUE OLD SKOOL BAHSTAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MISS THE OLD DAYS THERIPPLE NIGHT TRAIN >>>>> AND MILES DAVIS SONG SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SMEGMA AND THE NUNS FOR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DOES ANY ONE REMEMBER A GROUP CALLED """" HOT ACOUSTICS""""""" FROM CT

apostleship of the sea sf>> rev heaney rusty ol durdy filthy beds just like the ol mariners house back in the day or the dog house in manhattan chicken wire overhead just like the gulf knight.
krappy ol nmu hall on melcher st.

Interesting article in this month's Boston Magazine about Mayor Menino's wish to do away with the remnants of the Combat Zone among other things.

I was guitarist with "Everett Miles and The Screamers" 1964 - 1971. I spent most of that time playing the Boston area/Cape Cod etc and naturally the Combat Zone. I played a couple of nights at the Intermission with Roger Pace. His guitarist and bassist were (the Simone Brothers I believe), brothers and for some reason I was sent to cover the gig for him. This is an unforgetable memory. I would love contact with anyone from that time period and who is a veteran of the combat zone.

Roger never used a coffin in his performances, your thinking of that strange cat the walked on sometimes with a huge cross.
As far as the wise guys your talking about I once was late for a matinee at the "Intermish" so I took my motorcycle to the gig (1957 BSA Big Valve Rocket) and drove it right up onto the dance floor.
Joe Balero came up after I dropped the kick stand and said "do you think you could at least park
it over by the service bar?". One time when playing in the Lewis Room in Revere Roger was screwing around with the money again so Jack J. and I walked. (basically his horn section) that night Billy B. came to the club and told the owner he wanted Roger back at the Intermish. The owner didn't give a crap as to who he was talking to and told Billy I've got 2 weeks with an option so take off. You gotta understand that the band had been playing at the Intermish for about 9 weeks straight and that's 7 nights a week union 40 minutes on 20 off with as many as two matinees. Billy goes out and gets his shotgun and blows the windshield off the owners car. The next night Roger came up with the money and told us what happened and even though we
weren't there we all got subpoenas the following monday while in the dressing room at the Intermish from two plain clothes cops. We had to avail ourselves for about a week at the courhouse and you can't imagine what we looked like to the straight world whirling around us.
I personally thought we looked like some kind of fungus as we didn't rarely see daylight. We used to use TAN # 2 pancake on stage.

Roger's family name was Paesch and according to the social security
record he was born Nov. 24, 1944 and died May 29, 2001.

Phil,

Came across your post by accident. I was serving aboard a Destroyer Escort going through yardwork in North Boston in '69. We had a little trio and played the Playhouse during the time of the race riots. As I recall, the bandstand was up on a raised platform over the heads of the patrons? On breaks we used to run around the block to a little quiet bar that seems like it had a tropic theme and a palm tree on the sign. Also used to buy most of my civilian clothes at The Mod Shop around the corner from the Playhouse. I understand the the whole CZ had been 'cleaned up'.

Bill

I studied the Combat Zone intensely for five minutes at a time in the decade or so before I turned 18. When I was a child and we had just moved to town, we went out to see a movie, The Cat from Outer Space. I think it was playing at the Cinema 57 but we never got there. As we walked along the Zone’s periphery on our way to the theater, my father saw something – I don’t know what it was – that prompted him to turn us right around and go back home. I was intrigued.

Later, when my parents got divorced and I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, I would routinely catch a bus out of town from a corner near the Brigham’s at Tremont and Boylston and it would roll down Essex Street past a sprawling neon sex trip toward the highway.

Because the seedy Teddy Bear Arcade was on the outskirts of the Zone rather than at its epicenter, I made the mistake one day of telling my mother about going there after school. I didn’t know that it had once been the seedy Teddy Bear Lounge, but my mother did and as far as she was concerned it remained every bit as evil -- except now I was the entertainment for a new clientele of would-be child molesters. She refused to take me to a comic book store nearby and her instincts were later proven right when I went in myself one day and spotted a stack of gay porn videos at the cash register. The top one was called “The Cocksman.”

To hear it told now, the Zone was in decline even then. Andrew Puopolo got killed in 1976 and I didn’t even start coming through until ’82 or so. The lights were bright and the pants were tight, though, and not even the certain knowledge that three-quarters of the people I saw were eager to rape me and sell me into white slavery was enough to turn me off to its supercharged sex scene. There were posters of women with bare breasts outside the buildings – that was lure enough. A second-floor hotel promised temporary housing if I ever ran away from home. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t.

I was a bouncer for many of the Venious-"owned" joints in the early to mid eighties,as well as working for Alex Andreou at the saxon coffee shop.My brother in law,Billy Phillips,was the"owner" of the caribe,along with Leo.remember manny the doorman?I used to hang out at Alfies on Tremont street.What a place-half hookers and pimps,half bikers(the red emeralds).Like you,I just stumbled onto the site,but will read it often.

First, that street where the Moire was is called Warrenton and the club is now a parking lot for the Edison Co. Yes, Tempo was really something--sexy, hot dancer, friendly and danced to a live music. One of the popular combos was "The Ben Anthony Trio" and they also played at the old Teddy Bear in Park Square.
Next, I do remember Dee who had a place in Charles River Park--really enthusiastic but don't know what happened to her--would like to though!
Speaking of that subject, there was an older sporting girl named Terri from Beacon near Dartmouth. I heard she still works and must be almost 80! Any detes? A friend also told me about an exotic, tall busty, blonde German girl named Annie or Anya or something like that. Worked out of Charlies but also hung around Jasons and Club Max. She had(maybe still does)a place in Brighton and she was able to introduce you to some of the strippers, too. Very wild in the sack and I think she's still active. Any info on her would be great to hear. The CZ is not yet over and done with!

Hi Phil,
I remember her well. I met her when she was dancing at the Hotel LaSalle on Warrenton St around 1968 or 69. Her real name was Dina. She was having a torrid affair with a guy who was a guitarist in a band playing next door at the "Improper Bostonian." I last saw her in about 1980 when she was working at a place in Saugus, can't remember the name. She was indeed lovely. She used to dance to "La Bamba" all the time. Whenever I hear it I think of her.
Billy Dwyer