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JOHNNY GOODWIN ALMOST A PERMANENT FIXTURE AT THE WABASH LOUNGE

Lakeland Ledger, Thursday, February 3, 1977

by

Jeff Calder

The Wabash Lounge in Lakeland might be renamed “The House that Goodwin Built.” Johnny Goodwin’s name has been on the flashing sign out front for 32 weeks, and it will probably be there for 32 more, who can say? The name of Johnny’s band is The Showmens. The Showmens are ordinarily a trio, but sometimes Johnny’s brother, who prefers to go by the name Efil (pronounced ee-file), gets up, strums an electric guitar and sings.

Johnny is held in awe at the Wabash, a place where a lot of people look over their shoulders at the rather large men and women ducking in the exit door. Don’t bother dressing up to go to the Wabash unless you want a dressing-down. Double-knit profusion has passed this place by. Tight jeans and work-boots stream to the floor for Johnny’s dance sets. Later on, the crowds line up, as they have for the last 32 weeks, to watch Johnny’s “Guitar Show.” Johnny plays the guitar with his teeth, behind his back, on his back, between his legs, and while standing on his head. And, his brother confides, Johnny is working on playing it with his toes.

“It’ll take about a year to master it,” Efil says, “if he can do it at all. And he will do it.”

No, sir, Johnny Goodwin is not the kind of guy to give up. He likes to describe himself as a poor boy trying to make it the hard way, constantly being rebuffed by industry bigshots like radio dee-jays. And, no question, Johnny Goodwin has had his share of bad breaks. Johnny had just finished paying off $6,500 worth of equipment last year when some fool went out and blew up the Jungle Bottle Club, where the equipment sat.

“My bassplayer kept telling me it was the work of the Devil, but no way did I want to hear that,” says Johnny. But that was before something happened to renew Johnny Goodwin’s faith in the Lord, and he wears two gold crosses around his neck today.

“Do you believe in demons?” Johnny asks. “Well, about six months ago I saw this girl floating in the air, being dragged around like a rag-mop with no one dragging her, and her hair stood straight out. I touched her and it knocked me back across the room.” Goodwin is quick to point out he does not drink liquor nor take dope. He says there were 27 witness to this occurrence. After a week the demon left the girl when she accepted the Lord. The incident did make Johnny consider giving up playing bars.

The two full-size pool tables at the Wabash also stay busy. The waitresses look barely above age, and they like to hear it. Efil is “life” spelled backwards, but don’t tell him where you read it.

BOB ART COMBO AT CHRISTY’S SUNDOWN

Lakeland Ledger/Friday, February 25, 1977

First there was Pop Art. Then there was Op Art. Now, are you ready for Bob Art?

The Bob Art Combo is a subdued collection of men who play a subdued collection of songs for a subdued collection of people. There are tourists who are down for the winter months, Boston Red Sox managers and an advance team from the Mike Douglas Show. The Douglas boys assure one Christy’s customer, a retired colonel, that he has a co-host spot anytime he wants it. All seem pleased when the Bob Art Combo cuts loose with the foxtrots.

JIMMY PAPES & THE AMERICAN WAY: LOTS OF DANCE MUSIC

Lakeland Ledger/Friday, December 10, 1976

Jimmy Papes and The American Way are playing at the Winter Haven Holiday Inn. The lounge has red votive candles burning at each table for the “Vatican Look” that arbiters say is coming back. Waitresses file between the chairs in scanty black habits. Framed ancient maps on the wall included the Demarcation of 1514.

All this being apropos because Jimmy is a very ecumenical, that is to say “righteous” cat. He and his band of piping Pape-ists wear linen suits framed by parochial cuffs. Their opener is naturally, “Swear To God” by Frankie Vallie. The more astute bar-goer casts an inquisitory glance. At breaktime, Jimmy makes the sacramental suggestion, “Remember, booze is the only answer.” What a host, indeed!

FRIENDS AND COMPANY AT THE FOXFIRE

This is a trained outfit. Four of the Friends have degrees in music. Two taught school before becoming full-time entertainers. It takes them about four weeks of playing one song before they think they’ve got it down. Speaking of getting down, Bill is married to Elaine and Joel is married to Tracy.

“Thank God, I’m a Country Boy” has some interesting nasalized jews-harp vocal harmonies and a wide variety of farm animal noises. Appropriately, the crowd perks up.

VALERIE LYNN EXPLOSION AT PLANT CITY HOLIDAY INN

Valerie Lynn blows into the Plant City Holiday Inn for the next two weeks. The name of her band is the Valerie Lynn Explosion. With that shapely figure, you hope and pray she doesn’t go off.

“If mama saw me in this outfit,” says Valerie, “she’d kill me…because it’s hers!”

Valerie’s manager writes the comedy routines. If the manager doesn’t write good jokes, Val doesn’t work. If Val doesn’t work, no one tells his jokes. It’s all part of the terrifying crunch known as “The Music Industry.”

MISSING LINKS HAVE FOUND LAKELAND’S EASTGATE LIQUORS

Eastgate Liquors comes under the heading a true experience. Something is happening there every minute. Nothing bad, just a lot of action.

“Take the cotton out of your navel, put it in your billfold and call the durn law!” That hollering is just an example of the something always happening at the Eastgate. During the surf song, “Wipe Out,” a 6 foot, 8 inch giant wheels his arm around as fast as he can. No one on the dance floor seems to mind. “I liked that one,” he yells. “Whip off another!”

***

April 1, 1977

FROM: THE LEDGER

TO: JEFF CALDER

Dear Jeff,

In an attempt to consolidate our news gathering force we are discontinuing our current extensive use of stringers, correspondents and local columnists.

We are hiring full-time employes [Sic] to perform the jobs formerly handled by stringers and correspondents. Effective April 15 we will no longer accept your contributions to The Ledger.

I thank you for your service to the newspaper and urge you to maintain your contacts with the newspaper.

Sincerely,

Tim J. McGuire

Managing Editor