This gorgeous tree, on Route 198 near our lane, produces quite the show each spring. The lighting was less than ideal here, but even so its beauty shines through. Speaking of quite the show in less than ideal lighting, I'd like to talk about a place called the Spectrum.
Once upon a time under the bridge at Yorktown there lived a night club called the Spectrum.
The Spectrum was a diminutive establishment by today's standards, but it was the closest dancing spot to Mathews County if you exclude your Ruritan Club, your American Legion Hall or your back yard pig roast. And really, you should exclude those.
As a silly, under-age teenager with not a single logical thought, I was allowed in the Spectrum on the few occasions when either (a) one of my friends knew a member of the band or (b) the fake IDs we purchased from the back of Glamour magazine didn't work, yet we were waved in by the bouncer anyway because really, who cared?
The band known as Slapwater (which is still in existence albeit with a few shifts in personnel) often played at the Spectrum. Anyone of my age bracket (based on the color my hair wants to turn that age is AARP-Eligible) who grew up around these parts might be able to understand why Chesapeake Bay Silly Under-age Teenager risked getting in trouble to see Slapwater play at the Spectrum--on a school night no less. She was in love with the band and one of her friends knew the right people to get her in.
This particular night the silly teenagers were called up on stage to sing Double Dutch Bus, which is the perfect song for silly teenagers who don't get out much (excluding your Ruritan Club, your American Legion Hall and your back yard pig roast, and please do exclude these). Mercifully, that song has very few notes; regrettably, the band played an extended version.
The Spectrum was torn down a long time ago, well before Nicks Seafood Pavilion--another legendary establishment also located "under the bridge at Yorktown." (Those words were from a radio ad, as I recall.)
If you're from around here and have any memories of the Spectrum, I'd love to hear them. If you're not from here, tell me about a place you went as a silly, under-age teenager. Or tell me about a place you go as a silly, over-age adult.
Or, just tell me if a song exists that is sillier than Double Dutch Bus.
24 comments:
Oh that's so funny! You'll have to give an encore performance at the blogfest.
The tree? gorgeous!
firstly:the tree is beautiful
secondly:when we were silly teenagers which is about a decade ago,couple of friends and I went walking about 5kms outside the town after bunking classes,to a small hill.We climbed up,sat there for exactly 5 mins then decided it was way to boring so trekked back home.I now wonder what the hell were we thinking at that time!!
love chaitra
Love that tree..magnificent!
mm..silly teenager...don't remember, wasn't allowed to be one. Very boring. And if you weren't allowed to be a silly teenager then you don't know how to be a silly adult. Well occasionally with the kids and maybe grandkids, but never in public! Very boring again. Sorry!
You just reminded me how much I loved the Gilbert and Sullivan series of operettas...and I was reminded a couple of weekends ago when I drove up to the Coast for a 21 st birthday party...they were playing all the old G&S songs...for me to sing along with...a great trip down memory lane!
A bit off the subject here I know, but thanks for reminding me!
GJ-If Chesapeake Bay Son has Double Dutch Bus on his Wii karaoke, Wee just might have to sing it.
Recipesftl-I had to look "bunking class" up, because I thought it was a class where they taught you to do something, such as bunk. I now understand it means to skip school. Brain is functioning in deficit mode since I've not had my daily allocation of very strong coffee.
Annie-Something tells me you were anything but boring, but if you were, some of the silliest adults I know led rather routine lives as kids, so watch out you may be getting ready to sprout a wild hair.
Happy Thursday. It's cloudy. Again.
I'm never inclined to exclude a pig roast.
Ooooh, the bands. I have such memories of my cousin's band, The Inciters - he was the drummer and I had crushes on the singer and the guitarist because, well, we all had crushes on them. I would've had a crush on my cousin, too, were that not weird and creepy, but I have always loved me a good drummer.
Meg - The last good pig roast I went to was my class reunion a couple years ago - you can't beat a good pig roast, not with a stick. Good eating there.
Much of the allure of Slapwater, aside from the great music, was one particular guitarist, I must confess.
Crushes on cousins might be just a little creepy unless you live in West Virginia, or so I've been told. (With all due respect to West Virginia and any kissing cousins who may be running around there.)
Silly songs? "YMCA" maybe?
But that tree, nothing silly about that.
What, no pictures?
MMM - YMCA was out there, but it sure made you want to get up and do something. Not sure exactly what, but something.
MPM - Thankfully that was in the days before cameras were invented. Heaven help us if there were cell phone cameras in those days. I shudder to think....
Lovely tree ...
That tree is magnificent...I actually remember it.
The Spectrum....ah. I remember one night going with you, using an ID with your name and info, and just sliding a few people behind you in line. The bouncer looked at the ID and said, "Do you have a sister here?"
"Yep," I said smugly with a twinkle in my eye. Then it was Boogie Fever...til the lights came on.
-Middle Sis
WOW!!! What a great tree. It almost looks like a tree during a winter ice storm. I had to look real close. I never went into clubs underage, but the back yard things were awesome as a teenager. I love Yorktown now. My daughter and I make a couple of trips there over the summer and enjoy the beach. Very lovely. Hope all is well with you CBW. Spring Break is in the air for me. One more day. Yippee
Oh my...I haven't thought of the Spectrum in years. I remember using a fake id to get in there one night with my karate instructor...got to drive his firebird home. If you remember anything about my first driving lesson on the middle school road I'm sure you can feel the pain of the passenger on the way home LOL. Ok, I think there was definately a sillier song...."starship trooper" Or even wierd Al's "I got a boogie" I can't believe I even remember those two songs! Oh I feel old now! Thanks a lot CBW ha ha. msseabreeze
I literally gasped when I saw that tree. Viola, indeed.
Oh, I know quite a few silly songs. I may have to share one or seventeen with you at the blog fest. But I don't know Double Dutch Bus, although I AM now craving chocolate, thank you very much.
I had a baby face like no other until my 30s, when I was still being carded, so there was no opportunity for a fake ID. I remember something about cruising down the Esplanade in the back seat of Gubby's car with my cousin and my brother and a wok on my head. No alcohol was involved. Is that silly enough to mention?
Daryl - That tree is gorgeous, although this week all the blooms have turned to leaves. You can see it when you're here in July.
Middle Sis - I recall that night. Those bouncers sure weren't too swift. I wonder if that was the same night as Double Dutch Bus on stage? Were LaRue and Blake with us, if so it's the same night. Anyway, we did have fun, whether we were supposed to be there or not.
IslandGirl - We like Yorktown now, too. The Chesapeake Bay Children & I and Anonymouse Hallieford Resident & her family have been known to convene on the beach there quite a bit in the summertime. They've really made it very nice down there, but I still miss Nicks and the Spectrum. Have a wonderful, relaxing spring break.
Ms. Seabreeze - you have many stories about that karate instructor as I recall....I can't believe that I don't know those other 2 songs, maybe I've just blocked them out. Remember to stop by here one weekend when you have a chance.
Foolery - Viola! You made me laugh yet again, and I really wish i could have seen you with a wok on your head.
What, exactly, is a "Double Dutch affair..."?? Perhaps we can ponder that question at Blog Fest. After you sing the song, of course.
That tree is absolutely beautiful!! I want one!!
Can't wait to hear your version of Double Dutch Bus at Blogfest !
LOVE the tree :) Beautiful picture!
BHE - Gimme a HO if you've got your funky bus fare. ....and how about--I got bad feet, my corns hurt, to top it off, I'm late for work. We will definitely need to reflect upon the mystery that is a double dutch affair at Blog Fest.
momx2 - I'll start practicing this weekend.
And now for anyone who doubts the silliness of Double Dutch Bus, here are the lyrics. Please pay close attention to the part where Frankie shifts into another language, about mid-way through:
There's a double dutch bus comin' down the street
Movin pretty fast
So kinda shuffle your feet
Get on the bus and pay your fare
And tell the driver that you're
Goin' to a Double Dutch Affair
Fe Fi Fo Fum
Well I'll be darn here it comes
The Double Dutch Bus is on the street
You'd better get off the curb
Move your feet
Bus fare trans-pass
That's the way my money lasts
Ain't got no car to get around
When I go to work I've gotta go downtown
Now I've missed my train
That's a darn shame
When I'm running late no sleep's to blame
If you've gotta wife you know I'm right
Gotta special man well I can understand
Uptown, downtown everybody's getting down
Say uptown say downtown
Well I've missed my bus I know I'm late
I've gotta do something I know I hate
I'm gonna walk to work fifteen blocks
I already got a hole in my socks
Go ahead and laugh that's okay
Cause what I really wanna say
I got bad feet my corns hurt
To top it off I'm lost for work
Let me tell you what I say
When I'm dealing with the funky sidewalk
Let me show you how to walk
When I gotta do my funky walk
Let me tell you what I say
When I'm dealing with the funky sidewalk
I say sssssssss-sugar
FRANKIE: Hilzi, gilzirls! Yilzall hilzave t' milzove ilzout the wilzay silzo the gilzuys can plilzay bilzasket-bilzall
(Hey girls! Y'all have to move out the way so the guys can play basketball)
GIRLS: I say wizzat? Nizzo-izzo wizzay!
(Say what? No way!)
FRANKIE: Yizzall bizzetter mizzove!
(Y'all better move!)
GIRLS: I say wizzat? Willze illzain't millzovin'...
(Say what? We ain't movin!)
FRANKIE: Shillzu-gillzar! ....., bilzzaby!
(Sugar! .....baby!)
GIRLS: Willze illzare plizzayin' dizzouble dizzutch!
(We are playin' double dutch)
FRANKIE: Millze cillzan sillzome ....plilzay dilzzouble dilzutch!
(.....play double dutch!)
GIRL: Hilzzoo?
(Who?)
FRANKIE: My gizzirl!
(My girl!)
GIRL: Brillzing her izzin!
(Bring her in!)
FRANKIE: Izzo kizzay!
(OK!)
GIRL: Izzall rizzight...
(All right...)
FRANKIE: Izzo kizzay!
(OK!)
GIRL: Izzall rizzight! Nizzow wizzee wilzzo-izzo-zee!
(All right! Now we will see!)
Bip, bomp, bam alakazam
But only when you're grooving
With the Double Dutch Man
Put on your skates don't forget your rope
Cause I know I'm gonna see you
At my Double Dutch Show
Rebecca, Lolita, Veshawn and Dawn
Everytime you do the Double Dutch you really turn it on '
Bilzarbra, Mitzery, Milzetty, Kilsan
Titzommy, Kitzerrance, Kilzommy that's my man
Come on get on my Double Dutch Bus
(The Double Dutch Bus)
Let me hear you say do that
(Do that)
Let me hear you say Do that again
(Do that again)
Let me hear you say do the do
Let me hear you say do the do the do
Do the do, do do do do do
Unbelievably, I don't know this song - which is crazy because I'm all about the old school stuff. I had to Google it and learned that Raven Symone recently did a remake of it. (Remember? She used to be the cute little girl on The Cosby Show. She done growed up.)
Foolery - I STILL get carded, though I think now my gray hairs belie my baby face.
Meg, I feel reasonably confident that you'd recognize it if you heard it. - very distinct. I'll definitely have a copy of it for your listening pleasure at Blog Fest.
What a great photo CBW - you have a gift. Or you are gifted. Or you are special. Something like that. I don't know that song either which is also troubling to me. I need to catch up on my jump-rope ditties.
Curt, thank you, but the scenery does all the work not me. All I do is press a button.
No matter, on to more pressing things: You and Meg have surely heard this song before, I am convinced. It doesn't seem possible--or probable--that you've not heard it. I'd hardly call it a song, though. There was danceable (very danceable) background music and a guy with a strange voice singing (really saying) silly lyrics. I need to send you and Meg a copy.
I wholeheartedly agree with Grandma J...looking forward to an encore rendition at Blogfest.
And the tree...gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Still waiting for spring to arrive in Maine.
Sorry for posting this THIS LATE but I used to come here while working in West Point Va. Loved this place and they had great bands in 1970s! Can remember seeing The Voltage Brothers there and a band called Church ! I didn’t need any fake ID . Just left Yorktown today and rode the Trolley around past where the Spectrum was . Spectrum was destroyed by fire and Nicks Seafood Pavilion was gone also. Thanks for the memories! TOMHARPER Mechanicsville Virginia
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