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 Medford in 1964
After a performance of "Henry VI, Part One" in Ashland one night last
week, a friend and I decided to check out the night life in nearby
Medford.
For about an hour, it looked like a fool's errand, and then on our last stop we made a find. First we went to the Bar of Music in the Medford Hotel. A bored gal at the door claimed a 50-cent cover charge, and we went in. Almost before she had finished her yawn, we were on our way out. The racket from the bandstand was terrible. It was about as soothing as a train wreck and bore about as much resemblance to music. From there, we hied ourselves down to the Wooden Shoe in the Holland Hotel. The action was better there, mainly because of three guys called the Katz Brothers who seemed to have an easy way with the crowd. But after about a half hour of their noisy antics, enough was enough. More inclined to give up than anything, we drove out to the Brave Bull, a restaurant-night club spot on South Riverside Avenue. And there they were--John and Bobbi, as pleasant a pair of entertainers as you'll ever run into. She was keeping rhythm--with a nice touch--on a set of drums, and he was playing the piano. A few couples were dancing; others were sitting and listening. The atmosphere was relaxed. Bobbi displayed a sweet, clear voice on "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You." Then she sang "Yellow Bird," while John did some kooky bird calls in the background. She used an echo mike to good effect on "San Francisco." During a break, they told us that they like their work very much, but regard it as "a means to an end." They have some property up on the McKenzie River, east of Eugene, which they want to pay off and then settle down and be "farmers." Bobbi's a Portland girl, and the two of them met and married in 1953, when John was a student at the University of Oregon. John has played, as part of a group, at Marino's and at the Sagebrush. His last name is Whalley. During their last set, they were particularly good in a duet rendition of "Tonight." Bobbi's "People" was a grabber. The Whalleys don't seem particularly eager for fame and fortune. They're just going along in easy style, enjoying life and having fun. Maybe that's why they're so good. George H. Bell, "Bell's Book & Candle," Oregonian, July 23, 1964, page 24 |
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