"...At Samstock: the Teen Canteen Reunion 2009 on Sunday, August 23 at Floore's Country Store-14492 Old Bandera Rd-San Antonio, more than a dozen bands and musicians from its heyday will reunite for fun and to pay tribute to owner-promoter Sam Kinsey. The northside nightclub that catered to teenagers during the 1960s and 70s lay forgotten in the city's musical history…almost..."
AUGUST 6, 2009** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
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TEEN CANTEEN REUNION SET FOR SUN. AUG. 23
"Samstock" Reunites Bands and Musicians from the 60s and 70s
Party Like It's 1969!
(San Antonio, TX) Until a few years ago, San Antonio's Teen Canteen was relegated to "remember when?" status. The northside nightclub that catered to teenagers during the 1960s and 70s lay forgotten in the city's musical history…almost. At Samstock: the Teen Canteen Reunion 2009 on Sunday, August 23 at Floore's Country Store, more than a dozen bands and musicians from its heyday will reunite for fun and to pay tribute to owner-promoter Sam Kinsey.
At the behest of local civic and church groups, Sam Kinsey opened the
first Teen Canteen in 1960, at Jefferson Methodist Church Hall. Kinsey played deejay to the youthful crowds, spinning 45s on a portable record player. This was the format for several years, as the Canteen moved around to several locations, including a ballroom dance studio, until it settled at Wonderland (now Crossroads) Mall in 1963.
In its new, larger location, the Teen Canteen went from records to the real thing. It housed two separate stages so bands could perform at the same time during the regular rounds of Battle of the Bands and entertain the hundreds of teens who flocked there. In 1968, the Canteen moved to its last location on Bitters Road across from Northeast Stadium, the place it would occupy until it closed in 1977, a victim of the lowered drinking age and more generous all-ages policies.
In retrospect, the Teen Canteen was the staging ground for San Antonio's vibrant rock & roll scene before the Beatles until the dawn of punk, and its roster of local and touring bands made it a gem in the crown of Texas music. The Teen Canteen gave many San Antonio and area bands their start, including the Laughing Kind, Homer, the Chayns, the Outcasts, Swiss Movement, Virgil Foxx, the Zilches, Rocksand, Castle, Spook Julius, Mr. Moose, Meadow, Mourning Dove, Stillwater, Excalibur, Nassur Blue, United, and Island.
Those bands and/or members of them will be performing at Samstock. Teen Canteen owner and promoter Sam Kinsey will be in attendance. For website updates and band times, see http://www.mikesban darchive. com/news
Samstock: the Teen Canteen Reunion 2009 takes place at Floore's Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Rd., on Sun. Aug. 23, 4-midnight. Cover is $10, the memories are free.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS
Neka Scarbrough, 210-573-6352
Margaret Moser, 512-292-3005
teencanteensa@ gmail.com
Also from MM:
Sam Kinsey from the Teen Canteen has finally gotten out his memorabilia. He kept all his posters, handbills, flyers, band photos - everything! - from his years with bands, including the Teen Fair '64 where the Stones played their first two and only Texas dates that year.
The Yahoo group is TeenCanteenSA@ yahoogroups. com, if anyone is interested.
I remember going to the Teen Canteen. It was a wonderful place for teenagers. It's too bad teens don't have a place like that now to go to and be just teenagers!
ReplyDeleteWhy weren't the Spidels mentioned? They were local, and played all the same venues as the others in the 60's...but they weren't even mentioned? The band was made up of Sammy Vilnes, Jerry Osborn, Jesse Samudio, Gene Coleman, Terry Patton and a couple others later on. They cut a record, "Black Widow" and they played all over the state...at fairs, rodeos, etc. even out at the Coliseum when the Stones were there.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to this place as a teen and Sam was a complete Jerk. Very rude man and said things about my father that were horriable to tell a 17 yr old child. My father had leased his kitchen when I was under the age 0f 8. My Father owned several restaraunts in town that were very popular in the 50's and 60's.
ReplyDeleteI saw Head East there...back in the late 70's.
ReplyDelete