I wonder if you remember the Freezer Theater or the
Monsterslayers?
Freddie Ginns and Jesse Nowells were original musicians in the
Monsterslayers who formed about the same time as the Layabouts.
We played a lot of the anti-Republican conventionstuff.
Ishmael Ahmed organized a lot of ROck against Racism for us back
then.
Syvia Inwood was part of the Monsterslayers as well. Mel Krugel was
the
original singer and principle songwriter. Definitely in the Fourth
Street
Tribe and the alternative school tribe (Ralph Renaldi would know).
Also, I'd done plenty of poetry readings with Jim Wanless, Glenn
Mannito,
Jim Ackinson (orginal Retro singer), Dennis Teichmann (married to
Deb King)
and George Tysh.
Jere Stormer
Yeah - I remember the Freezer Theater very well. I saw a LOT of
really good plays, bands during its existence. Consequently, I've
placed this tribe on the site. Please - any information, photos,
flyers, histories are welcome!
SG
I spent most of my 20's and 30's in the Cass
Corridor and was involved with the Freezer theatre.
Pat Haley and John Sase were driving forces behind the Freezer, and the original
theatre was located on 2nd or 3rd Street (my memory fails me) next
to a liquor store.
The first theatre was a small dank, dark place that had once been
used as a freezer for the store (thus the name). At some point, the
theatre moved onto Cass Ave. Pat Haley wrote most of the plays, but
other talented people contributed plays and scripts. Unfortunately,
I can't remember any names, except Bob and Mary (Dryovage) Carasik
who, last I heard, were still living here in San Francisco. Probably
the most famous production was a satire on the Jonestown mass
suicide (when Jim Jones and cult members committed suicide - or were
forced to kill themselves- by drinking poisoned kool aid). At the
end of the play, we offered kool aid to the audience, but few
availed themselves of the free refreshment. Another great piece was
the one in which Pat led the audience through the alleys of the
corridor, with actors popping out up from behind trees and trash
bins.
The Freezer was presaged by the Easy Space Theatre, another loosely
knit group who put on political satires in a Southwest Detroit
storefront. Judy Coletti, Richard Ades and Gordon Barry were
instrumental in that group.
Again, a lot of talented people involved but the only names I can
remember are Angela DiSante and a man named Hughthir White.
A lot of good theatre was also happening at the HoHo Inn, the old
Chinese restaurant that became the Grinning Duck Club - a
performance space for music and political theatre. The Club put on a
great show when the Republican convention was held in Detroit. The
club eventually moved to the old Willis Show Bar. I think Alan and
Ralph Franklin were instrumental in organizing the Grinning Duck
Club. Working with theatre groups in the Corridor was great.
It was political, creative and fun - what more
could a gal ask for? Diane Polish
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