THE ANNUAL WINTER DANCE PARTY

AT THE SURF BALLROOM IN CLEAR LAKE, IOWA

PHOTOS FROM THE 2000 EVENT

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Another memorable concert to end yet another memorable weekend of memories. It's just my humble opinion, but each of the 22 concerts – starting with no. 1 in 1979 – has been the best one in its own way. Some things that stand out:

  • The Return of the Hatter with his "Welcome to the greatest show on earth!"
  • Rockin' Robyn's band of seasoned professionals – the sax and trumpet players especially having the Larry Knechtel/Mike Botts look about them.
  • The Fantastic Convertibles – a knockout band so full of great music and musicianship it also had its own show on Thursday night.
  • The Tokens – able to do "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" better than the original version. Their flawless take of the Turban's classic "Diamonds and Pearls" also stands out in my memory.
  • Gary Lewis and the Playboys did some of the big hits from the sixties, of course, but who can forget the fervent, pounding and clanging (and epic, overall) version of "Temptation Eyes" – or the band making public their anguish over the endless, agonizing rehearsals their hard taskmaster puts them through. (But practice makes perfect!)
  • The Dixie Cups with their own hits, their moving and tearful tribute to Doris Jackson, and a few pleasant surprises such as "New Orleans Ladies" – a truly beautiful song originally made a hit in Louisiana by LeRoux.
  • And the re-creations by J. P. Richardson Jr. of his dad's classics, driving home a major reason we were all there in the first place.


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 1 – The marquee on the Surf.

2 – This pair was among the top 3 in the couples' costume competition at the Friday night sock hop.

3 – The Hatter returns as MC of the Saturday night concert and is seen here with Randy Chesterman, the perennial MC of the Friday night sock hop.

4 – Most of the members of the Fantastic Convertibles.

5 – Gary Lewis, still looking like a kid.

6 – Three members of Rockin' Robyn. Various members of this band backed up the Tokens, the Dixie-Cups and Bopper Jr.

7 and 8 – The Tokens with original member Jay Siegal (at left on photo 7).

9 – The Hatter, about to strip off his outer garment and send it sailing into the crowd.

10 – The Dixie-Cups.

11 and 12 – J. P. Richardson, Jr. (aka Big Bopper Jr.), joined by The Tokens in photo 12.

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 Go to Main Page, 1979, 1999, 2001, 2002.

Page put on web 2/16/00 and last
modified on 1/14/02 at 6:45 PM, CST.
John Lindquist: homepage&e-mail,
complete site outline.