THE DERBY memories

[Marc Chevalier]

Back in the late '90s, those of us living around L.A. experienced a sort of mini Golden Era; its ground zero was a nightclub called THE DERBY. Would any of you like to share some memories of that time and place? I remember:

-- Bumping into Artie Shaw and Tex Beneke in the audience, watching Dean Mora and his Modern Rhythmists play.

-- Seeing Heather Sweet (aka "Dita Von Teese") there, with her perfectly coiffed, raven black hair and impeccable hats.

-- Spotting Hugh Hefner there with his three blonde "girlfriends", a couple of guys right out of the movie Casino, and some gargantuan bodyguards. Hef was a teenager in the '40s, and I think he just missed out on the original Lindy Hop craze. In any case, Mr. Playboy was a fan of Dean Mora's and would drag his girlfriends in to shuffle around the dance floor with him. You could practically see these gals rolling their eyes and stifling a yawn.

-- Getting banned from THE DERBY for three long months, due to my defending a lady friend from an obnoxious, drunk old lecher who turned out (according to the club's co-owner, Tony Gower) to be a "retired" Mafia bigwig from Vegas. "For your own good," said Tony, "disappear for a while." Probably a load of hooey, but it makes for a good anecdote.

 

[resortes805]

I was underage during the hey day of the Derby, but I remember hearing alot of buzz about the scene. It is still a great venue. Save the Derby!

 

[Lauren]

Still never been there. My one thing I wanted to do on my 21st birthday was go to the Derby. That was 4 years ago and I still haven't been.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Still never been there. My one thing I wanted to do on my 21st birthday was go to the Derby. That was 4 years ago and I still haven't been.

So you should go! Maybe when you come up here for the Race Day thing?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That's a smashing idea.

I know for a fact that Wildroot and Matt Deckard are Derbyites. Any anecdotes, fellas?

 

[jpdesign]

there used to be a place in Fort Worth called "Caravan of Dreams". They played JAzz, some "Mini" Bigband, Rockabillie, and anything else from the 20's through the 50's, depending on when you went. I used to go see a guy named Jonnie Reno swing. Would hear the derailers play Texas swing. was a great place until it closed down and got turned into a Restraunt. great place to eat, but I liked it better before, although they left the rooftop bar in a similar setup which is nice.

Jimmy

 

[PrettyBigGuy]

Oh where to begin? I used to dance at the Derby once or twice a week back in '98 and I continued to go often through 2002. Having just moved to LA in '97, not knowing many people and not having the "look" or the cash to impress the "ladies" at the Hollywood nightclubs I decided to look into the whole Swing revival that I'd been hearing about. It was love at first sight! Friendly people, great atmosphere, incredible music and, best of all, gorgeous gals who were looking for guys who knew there way around the dance floor.
There was a different swing band there every night of the week then, not to mention all levels of dance lessons, from beginning East Coast to Lindy Hop. I was lucky enough to get to dance to the song stylings of bands like: The Royal Crown Revue, Mora's Modern Rhythmists, Red and the Red Hotts, Lee Press-on & the Nails, The Swinging Deacons and my personal favorite, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, who flew down from Frisco every Wednesday to perform!
I was working the graveyard shift in those days so I didn't have to be at work on Monday morning. the band Jumpin' Jimes was usually there on Sunday and it was to their music that I learned to dance. I remember entering packed back-room before the lessons started and how freezing cold it was. By the time the band hit the stage though, the room was like a blast furnace from all the body heat! I met my last few girlfriends there, including the one that made an honest man out of me! I'll always remember the late hours, not long before closing, when all the beginners had gone home and some of the really good couples had room to practice some of their arials and throw-outs. Amazing stuff.
As the years went on things began to change. A lot of the dancers, who would get pretty hot & sweaty were not buying drinks, so the big pitcher of ice-water and paper cups disappeared from the back bar and was replaced with $2 bottles of water. The swing scene started to peter-out as well and only the really hard-core dancers still came out. more and more rock bands began showing up on the bill and eventually the swing nights were only on 1 or 2 weeknights. These days the backroom, where I spent most of my time cuttin' a rug, is a lounge full of tables and sofas. All the dancing was now to be done on the postage stamp-sized dance floor in front of the stage. Because of this my last few outings to the place were pretty disappointing. My wife and I are now living in the midwest, but we still have a lot of fond memories of the Derby and I'm happy to say that I was a regular back in '90s hey-day.
PBG

 

[MissQueenie]

I, too, was underage during the glory days in the 90s. I remember being elated when I first heard about the Derby, and then crushed when I realized that at 15 I would never, ever be able to sneak in (At 20, I once had a police officer try to prevent me from driving my own car because he thought I looked too young to have a license!).

The saddest thing is, I'm staring down the barrel at 23 and I still have yet to set foot in the place. I really like Neecerie's suggestion that we go after the races.

If nothing else, I'll go with you some Sunday, Lauren. Name the date!

 

[Lauren]

So you should go! Maybe when you come up here for the Race Day thing?

That's a good idea! Is it still only 21 and up? If we have some underage loungers they may not be able to accompany us, and that would be sad.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The problem is that nothing particulary interesting is going on at The Derby that day (Sat., Jan. 28).

Instead, may I suggest that we make an outing to The Derby on Sunday, February 5?


Mora's Modern Rhythmists (the full, eleven-member band!) will be returning to the Derby for the first time since 2004. The band starts at 8:30 PM.


If you want a taste of The Derby in its heyday, circa 1998 -- come on Sunday, Feb. 5.

 

[fifi]

I was a regular at the Derby from its opening until around 2000 or so. We'd go when Royal Crown Revue was the "house" band, then when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was the Wednesday night band. In fact, it was on a BBVD night that I met my husband in 1996. He's also in the Derby scene of Swingers, because they couldn't afford to buy out the club so they filmed on a regular night and plied my husband and his friends with drinks to get them to move out of the way. I met Jon Favreau there on another night; my friend said he liked me...

Unfortunately (or maybe I'm just a snob), the club lost its luster for me when it became overrun with the sweatpants and jeans crowd who took over the joint. They'd only drink water, and they carried their special dance shoes because they couldn't wear them on the street. Bah. I preferred it when it was full of the people who really enjoyed the vintage lifestyle, not just those who caught onto a craze. Oh well, I only go there now on rare occasions when a really great band plays. I made some good memories there, so it makes me a little sad to think it'll probably go away.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

How many of you remember these Derby regulars ('97-'98 Monday "Mora" nights)?



-- Erik Robison and Sylvia Skylar

-- Hilary Alexander

-- Peter Loggins and Lisa Ferguson

-- Dita Von Teese and Jeff Thielman

-- Jerry Jordan and a bevy of partners

-- Rusty Frank

-- our own Wild Root

-- and even tiny Jeff Beauregard.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Hey, Wild Root! How come you haven't shared any memories yet?

 

[PrettyBigGuy]

Unfortunately (or maybe I'm just a snob), the club lost its luster for me when it became overrun with the sweatpants and jeans crowd who took over the joint. They'd only drink water, and they carried their special dance shoes because they couldn't wear them on the street.

I'm with you Fifi! I've seen many dancers dressed in blue jeans and t-shirts @ The Derby over the years, They may be the best dancers, but their attire just lacks the class that a club like that deserved. If you don't want to get dolled up, stay @ home and dance in your living room!
In my opinion, the only set who could pull off the blue jeans look and still look appropriate were the Rockabilly folks. I tended to dress more in that style when I was still dancing there because I would overheat way too fast dancing with a jacket and tie! I always wore slacks with a collared shirt though.
As for those of you who are planning to go for the first time, don't expect to be able to bust it loose on the dance floor. Since they converted the back room to a lounge, all the dancing has to be done on the "dance floor" in front of the stage. While it's nice to dance in front of the band, there is no room at all on that floor for more than an under arm turn if there are more than 8 couples dancing on it. Be sure to check the schedule too. Theses days swing bands aren't around too often and almost never on Friday and Staurday nights.
PBG

 

[Dr. Shocker]

I love the derby there were so many memorable nights there but my favorites will always be nights LPN played.......always an entertaining evening......

 

[resortes805]

They've started reconverting the back room into a dance space on Sundays. According to some food network program the Cobb salad was invented there.

 

[kools]

It's sad to hear what has happened. Over the years I got to see how the scene changed...and it was not for the better, as far as I'm concerned.

I've performed jump blues since about '91 and had a band with a bit of a following throughout the '90s. When we started there was no "scene" to speak of. People simply enjoyed the music & trying to dance. We always dressed well as a matter of philosophy, not to fit in with public expectations. The philosophy was, there is a time and place for casual attire & a time and a place for dressing up. A night out on the town, or for us, a night of entertaining people who are having a night out on the town is certainly an occassion for dressing up.

Soon people interested in the sound and the look and the style began popping out the woodwork and creating a scene. The sense of this initial scene was more of it as an outlet for everyone who already dug the style, as opposed to a place for those looking to taste what the country's next fad would be. Clubs loved us for a few reasons. First, a lot of people came. Second, the people handled themselves with class. Sure they dressed the part and loved to dance, but they also conducted themselves with respect. People seemed to use better than average manners and were always polite & considerate. Thirdly, and most importantly for the clubs, the people drank like fish!

By the late '90s as the "scene" grew it was taken over by the dance nazis...the ones with the sweats & dance shoes. Class seemed disappear. The dancers considered a band's performance time as their practice time. They really didn't pay attention to the music as long as it gave 'em a dance tempo...it might as well be a record. And they certainly didn't drink!

Dancing is great, and I always loved the initial dancers we had. But man, did the 2nd phase dancers change everyhing. I'm hoping the Derby sees days like that again!

 

[Matt Deckard]

How many of you remember these Derby regulars ('97-'98 Monday "Mora" nights)?



-- Erik Robison and Sylvia Skylar

-- Hilary Alexander

-- Peter Loggins and Lisa Ferguson

-- Dita Von Teese and Jeff Thielman

-- Jerry Jordan and a bevy of partners

-- Rusty Frank

-- our own Wild Root

-- and even tiny Jeff Beauregard.

I came in a bit later in the game, though all those guys (except for Beauregard and Dita) still go out now and again, here and there.

Don't forget

Tip
Holly
Peter
Denise
John Cooper
(Sailor) Mike
(shakey) Jake
and many many more.

I hung out at Memories in Anaheim more than I hung out at the Derby, though I think we all ended up at Astro Burger or House of Pies or Fred's after a long night of dancing when at the Derby.

Root went there more often than I.

That was back in the days when Dean Mora could pack the house and Lee Press On and Royal Crown Revue were continually booked.

By the By, if you haven't already, you should.
sign the petition.
http://www.savethederby.com/home.html

 

[ITG]

Just signed. There are over 5,000 signatures!

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

This thread isn't as old as some, but the Derby was really part of why I came here. I first time I went to The Derby was early last year, when I began an interest in the Brown Derbys and started to do a lot of research on The Brown Derby restaurants. I then found out that one was still in existance, and that's when I came across their website. It was right after it was saved from demolition and so that was disappointing. I did sign the petition, though. It's still active. The first time I actually went was on my own. I just had started to take public transportation everywhere and got the bus lines on how to get there. I dressed up in one of my first double breasted suits, a fedora and went out on a journey I hadn't even experimented yet.

Dean Mora was playing and when I arrived, the festivities had already begun. I sat down in one of the lounge chairs and just watched them go. It was great. I had no idea so many people were into this type of scene until that trip. The place had a good crowd and I stayed there for two hours, but soon had to leave, since the train doesn't run past 1am. I got back on the bus and went home. I started trying to return there every Sunday, which is their only swing night. I saw Stompy Jones and a couple others. I bought a book about the Brown Derbys called "The Brown Derby: A Hollywood Legend". I got word from here a week before about a Brown Derby tribute that was to be held early morning on a Saturday. I grabbed my book, my video camera, and a smile, and hurried to the bus to make it there. I met a few people, in particular my first meeting with Mr. Deckard, which was indeed a pleasure.

I had the author of this book, who was a speaker, sign his signature, as well as some of the other guests there. I also met the woman who was the frontwoman in saving the Derby. It was great fun, and I left feeling good, and I caught most of the morning on tape.

Since then, I have met a few loungers there, like Mr. Chevalier, Mr. Demille, Queenie, Wildroot, among others. The night I met Mr. Chevalier was the night I went to see the Royal Crown Revue play live. I stayed there longer then I had before, and had to hurry back before I missed the last train home. I haven't been back there for quite some time, but always willing to go if I have the chance. Every band playing there is great, and you need not dance to enjoy yourself. Just sit at the bar, grab a $3 bottle of water, and enjoy yourself.