'Tune In Turn On and Drop Out'
Teenagers, with a similar interest and varying perspectives in music, art, poetry and politics, week-end 'drop-ins' who scurried home to their comfortable abodes on the North Shore; university students, office workers, surfers, runaways, political activists, musicians, artists, pot smokers, drug dabblers, petty thieves and the mentally deranged. Most were altruistic. We were were lumped together and described by the 'straights' as longhairs, druggies or misfits - referred to as 'hippies' or 'drop-outs', an underground sub-culture emerged.
The inner city area of Darlinghurst, Paddington and King's Cross were my stomping grounds in the 60s. We had blues, folk and jug bands on tap ... Foreday Riders, Original Battersea Heroes, Starving Wild Dogs, Sons of Agamemnon, Id, Missing Links, Python Lee Jackson. Not to mention jazz, classical, rock and pop all within 10 minutes walk, we were never with stimuli. 'Tripping out' to 'light shows' at the Cell Block Theatre bedazzled by the visual effects of strobe lighting, awash in smoke while being further stimulated audibly by the pulsating throb of Tully (?). Forever seeking a world away from the mainstream who were consumed with creating wars, we indulged in further audio and visual pleasures at The Mandala Theatre which featured underground movies, of particular note, Felix the Cat, Fellini's Juliet of the Spirits and Decameron.
On Sundays one ventured to through the Botanic Gardens, brushing past The Art Gallery of NSW en route to the Domain, where lively banter was enjoyed. Orators such as Webster and Raven prevailed.
While rummaging through an old Arnotts biscuit tin looking for some corresponding photos to upload, I came across a negative, which I promptly dropped in to be developed For the sum of two dollars, I was literally blown away. It was a black and white snap of Wally Mudd and me taken by my husband at our terrace in Batman Lane in 1973. To think I had carried this around with me all those years and was unaware of its content.
Afterwards, a stroll through The Rocks to view various displays of artistry, or onto the Windsor Castle Hotel, where a variety of jazz artists portrayed their skills. The Windsor, which is nestled among the terrace houses in Paddington. was my plan for our next Reunion, is no longer with us.
The old Wintergarden Theatre in Rose Bay featured poets and eager young musicians lulling us with folk, classical and flamenco renditions. or others preferred The Wayside Chapel with Black Allan and Bob Hudson .
There were venues on hand for poetry reading, jazz, folk, rock, jug and pop music, there were resident bands in almost every pub and surf club in Sydney.
On Sundays one ventured to through the Botanic Gardens, brushing past The Art Gallery of NSW en route to the Domain, where lively banter was enjoyed. Orators such as Webster and Raven prevailed.
While rummaging through an old Arnotts biscuit tin looking for some corresponding photos to upload, I came across a negative, which I promptly dropped in to be developed For the sum of two dollars, I was literally blown away. It was a black and white snap of Wally Mudd and me taken by my husband at our terrace in Batman Lane in 1973. To think I had carried this around with me all those years and was unaware of its content.
Afterwards, a stroll through The Rocks to view various displays of artistry, or onto the Windsor Castle Hotel, where a variety of jazz artists portrayed their skills. The Windsor, which is nestled among the terrace houses in Paddington. was my plan for our next Reunion, is no longer with us.
The old Wintergarden Theatre in Rose Bay featured poets and eager young musicians lulling us with folk, classical and flamenco renditions. or others preferred The Wayside Chapel with Black Allan and Bob Hudson .
There were venues on hand for poetry reading, jazz, folk, rock, jug and pop music, there were resident bands in almost every pub and surf club in Sydney.
Avalon Stomp, Adams Apple, Albury Hotel, Arts Factory, Beatle Village, Beach City, Beach House, Beethovens, Beauchamp Hotel, Bonapartes, Bondi Lifesavers, Cellar, Cheetah Room, Chequers, Chevron, Chez Ivy, Cask, Diamond Horseshoe, El Rocco, Electric Circus, French's, Folk Attick, Gas Lash, Jonathan's, John Huie's, Joseph's Coat, Louis Tavern, Last Straw, Manzil, Mandala, Metro, Martin's Bar, Martinz Place, Pact Folk, Parramatta Sound Lounge, Rex, Rhubarbs, Roxy, Texas Tavern, Trolley Car Bar, Surf City, Sound Lounge, Sweethearts, Whiskey A Go Go, Whitty's, Windsor Castle, Wintergarten Theatre
DIAMOND HORSESHOE
FOLK ATTICK
MANDELA - Cnr Oxford & Sth Dowling Sts., Darlinghurst
HOTEL MANSIONS - Cnr. Kellett Street and Bayswater Road, Kings Cross
MANZIL ROOM - Springfield Avenue, Potts Point
METRO - Orwell Street, Potts Point
OCEANIC HOTEL - Coogee
OXFORD TAVERN Cnr Oxford and Burke St., Darlinghurst
PACT FOLK - 173 Sussex Street, Cnr. Market Street
PADDINGTON TOWN HALL
RHUBARBS - Douglass Lane, off Liverpool Street, City
ROUNDHOUSE UNI. NSW
ROYAL GEORGE HOTEL - Sussex Street, City
THE SCREW - Brian Wakefield SCREW (Society for the Cultivation of Rebellion EveryWhere) was an unofficial Saturday night music venue behind the Third World Bookshop in Goulburn St. My first band the Electric Acid Plant had a residency there and when we scored better paid gigs Black Alan and the Original Battersea Heroes (but not together) would del for us.
THE SHACK - Narrabeen
SHOWGROUNDS MANUFACTURERS' AUDITION
SURF CITY -Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross
SWEETHEARTS - 45 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross
TABOU - 24 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross
TEXAS TAVERN - Macleay Street, Potts Point
SYDNEY TOWN HALL - George Street, City
VIBES
WHITTYS - Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
WINDSOR HOTEL - Paddington
YELLOW HOUSE - Macleay Street, Potts Point