At the Boulevard Beauty Shop at Minnetonka Blvd. and Dakota Ave. in St. Louis Park, one could get an “Elvis Presley Haircut” for a mere $1.50. Described as “carefree, short, and brief – just like you. See it in Life Magazine.”

 

Johnny Cash was in town on April 20, 1957, for a “Private Function,” according to people who keep track of that sort of thing.

 

Decca recording artist and pianist Horace Henderson (brother of Fletcher Henderson) and His Rock ‘n’ Roll Combo began an extended appearance as the house band at the Key Club in March 1957.  “Big Floor Show.. With Plenty of Sock.”  Other entertainers appearing at this time included comedy team Butterbeans and Susie (a/k/a Jodie and Susie Edwards).  Henderson would appear at the Key Club off and on until 1960.

 

The Minneapolis NAACP Youth Council Dress Up Dance was held at the Calhoun Beach Hotel on May 29.  Entertainment was by the Big “M” Sextet and the Squires.  Wonder if this is the group that became known as the Big M’s and made some recordings at Gaity Records in 1959.  They were a black group with a white guitarist.

 

Pat Boone, the Four Lads, and the Fontaine Sisters were in town in June 1957.

 

On June 2, 1957, the Will Mastin Trio, starring Sammy Davis, Jr., appeared at the Lyceum Theater.  Six other performers were on the bill.

 

Bermuda shorts were still all the rage for guys, advertised at Fantle Bros./Cook’s at Miracle Mile in St. Louis Park in June 1957 for $7.95.

 

From June to August 1957 the headliner at the Key Club was Rose Mary Gaiters, a singer “Second only to Ruth Brown,” with the Duke Groner Combo and a rotation of exotic dancers (one billed as a “variety girl.”)

 

Deane Wenger of 1409 Kentucky Ave. in St. Louis Park was a WLOL Lucky Car Call Winner in July 1957 for listening to WLOL in his car.

 

National act Jay McShann, “The Band that Jumps the Blues,” appeared at the Key Club in August 1957 with the Rhythm Kings Trio (dance, song, comedy) and Princess Lola De Conge, popular exotic dancer.

 

In August 1957 Jimmy Binkley and his Popular Combo, the Dutch and Dutchy comedy team, and Lottie the Body were the featured performers at the Key Club.

 

Roy Milton and His Solid Senders appeared at the Key Club in September 1957 with Johnny “Guitar Jr.” Rogers and Tequila, Tempest of Dance.

 

The WLOL Big 5 disk jockeys hosted the Royal Crown Cola Teen Roller Party at the Pastime Arena in St. Louis Park, Sundays from 2-5 pm, according to October and November 1957 music surveys.

 

Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra appeared at the Marigold Ballroom on November 6, 1957.

 

WDGY DJ Stanley Mack was the first disk jockey ever to appear at a St. Louis Park High School dance, announced the Echo on November 6, 1957.  The Charity Ball was sponsored by tenth grade homeroom 332 in the gym, with proceeds earmarked to the Hennepin County Tuberculosis Association.  “This record dance is more dressy than a sock hop, but less than a semiformal,” chairman Carol Gross explained.  “Mr. Mack will bring 50 free records to the dance which he will give away, using his ‘magic spot method,'” said entertainment chairman Myra Shiff.

 

A Dance and Fur Show was held at the Leamington Hotel, featuring Evelyn (The Voice) Twine, Rook Ganz, Percy Hughes, Oscar Frazier, Mel Carter, Ira Pettiford, and others.  Minks were provided by Earle of Beverly Hills and modeled by Gwen Bartlett of Kansas City.

 

Bullmoose Jackson and His Buffalo Bearcats performed at the Key Club in November 1957.  Also on the bill was “the very popular singer and dancing star Vi Kemp – A Daring Performer..  a touch of genius.”

 

Mercury Recording Star Sil Austin appeared at the Key Club in December 1957 with Olivette Miller, the World’s Greatest Swing Harpist, and Bert Gibson, Sensational Tap Dancer.

 

The Key Club’s 1957 New Year’s Eve show featured the Rhythm Kings (dance, song, comedy), Ira Pettiford and His Orchestra, Wild Bill Boone, Mel Carter, and exotic dancer Lady Ducongue.

 

Polka doesn’t show up on this page very often, but here’s the “Minneapolis Polka” by Whoopie John.  The flip side was the “St. Paul Waltz.”  Wunnerful, wunnerful.  Here are the labels from a 78 posted on Facebook by Caleb Spooner.

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