Coffeehouse Extempore
The Coffeehouse Extempore has had many lives and locations. Please Contact Me for additions, corrections, or stories about the Extemp.
SMILEY’S POINT – 2200 RIVERSIDE
The Extemp, as it was known as, opened in April 1965 at 2200 Riverside Ave., on the West Bank by the U of M. It was an old apartment with seven rooms, on the second floor over the Smiley’s Point Variety Store/Restaurant. The property is now vacant land owned by Fairview Hospital.
An article by Allen Holbert in the Minneapolis Tribune dated July 3, 1966, stated that it “was founded by a group of friends who wanted a place where people from various backgrounds, age groups, occupations and religions could meet informally for conversation and companionship in a relaxed atmosphere.” Another source says that it was opened and run by a group of laymen and clergymen. It included a small snack bar, a chess room, rooms for conversation, a room for listening to records, a library, and a gallery. The gallery space, initially an art gallery, quickly became the place for musical performances. Holbert wrote, “The Extempore is affiliated with the Coffeehouse Association, which includes some 40 other similar organizations throughout the United States.” A 1969 article in the Tribune said, “Later the hippies moved in and in the fall of 1967 the cafe closed after acquiring a reputation as a center of drug traffic on the West Bank.”
Later in 1967 it reopened under the auspices of youth workers from the American Lutheran Church. The hippies were not drawn to it.
Photo courtesy Hennepin County Library
623 CEDAR AVE.
In May 1968 it moved to the basement of a three-story building at 623 Cedar Ave.
In January 1969 the Cafe was taken over by the West Bank Campus Ministry (WBCM), a loosely organized group of campus religious organization “to give a unified thrust to work with the hippie community.” Members were the Lutheran Campus Ministry, Newman Center, Episcopal Foundation, United Campus Christian Fellowship, Methodist Campus Ministry, University Baptist Church, University Lutheran Chapel (Missouri Synod), Covenant Campus Ministry and Assembly of God Campus Ministry. The Cafe was run by Rev. Gordon Dahl, head of the Lutheran Campus Ministry. The WBCM was also opening other services for the growing runaway and dropout population.
The music spaces in all locations was always called “The Gallery.” Live folk and rock was featured nightly from 8 pm to 2 am with light refreshments offered. The cafe also hosted discussion sessions, club and community meetings, experimental religious services, and courses for the Free University, a self-education program run by university professors and students. Courses included Nihilism Now, Philosophy of Sex, and Existential Christianity.
The feeling and character of the Extemp in 1969 can be no better expressed than by Dakota Dave Hull, who came to Minneapolis from Fargo at the age of 19. Please take the time to read his story Here.
On January 7, 1970, fire destroyed the building at 623 Cedar. It started at 4 am in weather that was -14 with a -48 wind chill. The result was a building that had turned into a solid block of ice. Gas service had to be turned off in the neighborhood, forcing people to find shelter for several days.
JIM’S BAR – 623 CEDAR AVE.
On the same night of the fire at 623 Cedar, the Extemp reopened at the abandoned Jim’s Bar at 1500 So. 6th Street. There doesn’t seem to be a photo of this location, other than the photo below Extemp sign hanging on the tile wall. Steve Dobbelman notes that “the wooden Extempore sign was still hanging iced over in the arched doorway of the burned-out building. It was saved and moved to each location.” It’s not known who made the sign or what happened to it.
325 CEDAR AVE.
In July 1970 the Extemp moved to 325 Cedar Ave.
Photo courtesy Hennepin County Library
The building had nine rooms on two floors; confusing enough that a map was included in the monthly calendar!
In 1971 Young Adult Centers, Inc. was incorporated to run the Extemp. Created as a non-profit organization, the Extemp was designed to be a place where young artists could perform prose, poetry and music to develop their talents. Run by volunteers and a part-time staff, the Coffeehouse became a well-known spot where musicians and others on the coffee house circuit could perform. Financial problems forced changes to professionalize management in order to attract investors.
In April 1973 a fire necessitated the closing of the entire second floor. After two months of volunteer repairs, all but two of the nine rooms were open.
Becky Thompson’s Extemp T-Shirt
LIVE AT THE EXTEMP
In 1975 Steve Dobbelman produced an album of songs, all recorded at 325 Cedar. This LP is a must for any local music collection and might cost a bit.
Tracks:
Sean Blackburn and David Hughes:
- Tribute to a Drifter
- Follow Your Own Heart
Lonnie Knight:
- Next Best Thing to Being There
- Little Town
Barbara With:
- Coke Cans and Bottled Beer
- The River
Becky Riemer
- Cowboy
- Baby Lover
Jerry Rau:
- Lonesome Picker
- Streamline Cannonball
Dakota Dave Hull and Peter Ostroushko:
- My Name is Death
- Nine Year Waltz
Dakota Dave Hull and Peter Ostrushko – undated photo
In 1982 the City of Minneapolis granted $33,205 to purchase and renovate the building at 325 Cedar. With further fundraising, the building was closed for the summer of 1986 for major renovations, it was announced.
CEDAR THEATER
But fall came and the building wasn’t purchased and the Coffeehouse Extempore as it was conceived was no more. A one-sentence notice by Jon Bream on September 19, 1986, reported that the Coffeehouse Extempore would relocate to the Cedar Theater (416 Cedar Ave.) the following weekend. The next listings were for “Extempore Concerts” at the theater. And on December 5, 1986, Bream reported that the theater had recently been transformed into the “Extempore night club.” Ouch.
THE END OF THE EXTEMP
Facing a crushing $176,0000 in debt, unrelenting overhead, and a changing demographic, on August 26, 1987, the 14-member Board of the Extemp voted to close its doors. The final performance was held by Gordon Bok on Thursday, September 3, 1987. Concert scheduled by Maria Muldaur for September 12 and 13 were moved to the Blues Saloon in St. Paul.
The Coffeehouse Extempore existed in five different locations on the West Bank over the years, providing folk music, comedy, and the companionship not available in a cell phone of today.
Thank you to Steve Dobbelman and Dakota Dave Hull for their assistance and information, and see the Extempore Coffeehouse Facebook page!