Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The Basement - Orange Circle

An anonymous OCThen reader asks if anyone remembers The Basement, a dance club in the Orange Circle...

Does anyone remember a dance/disco place called The Basement? It was located in the Orange Circle? I can remember my sisters getting dressed up in either their satin pants or chemin de fer jeans and satin jackets and going down there. Hilarious!

40 comments:

  1. I wonder if that is the same place that we used to dance at around 83-85? I thought it was called 'The Circle' I remember having the best times there as a 16 year old.

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    1. In 1973 we found a great club called "The Basement". It had opened up by the Orange Circle and was the buzz of the community since it was owned by the same owner of "The Basement" in Santa Monica. Many famous acts had made the Santa Monica club popular. Our gang heard the "Roto Rooter Good Times Christmas Band" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uD4SOmQElE would be at the Orange Club and we had to attend. They were always on the Dr. Demento radio show. They were great but I was especially impressed with Larry Beezer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67LAFPXWeC4 a young new comedian who later appeared on the Johnny Carson Show. He had an array of sound effects that were unbelievable. After his act I approached his table and sat with him. He was really cool. I shared some of my own unusual sound effects. He was impressed and very friendly.
      I told all my friends who had not made it that night that they had to go the Basement and see Larry Beezer! He was amazing and my friend. After quite a bit of partying a group of friends agreed to go so I called the Basement to make sure Larry would be performing. The manager said he was sorry but Larry had moved on and would not be back anytime soon. I was a little tipsy and told the manager that I was really disappointed because Larry was a friend and very talented. The manager agreed and said it was hard to find good comedians. Without skipping a beat I said I was a comedian too. He reconfirmed my earlier statement, "You are Larry's friend?". "You bet!" I answered enthusiastically. "Great! We are having an audition night next Saturday and I will schedule you on the roster. What is your name?" "Emmanuel Chen!" I answered and couldn't wait to hang up. I got off the phone and told everyone how I had BS'd the manager about being a comedian and was scheduled to audition Saturday night. I thought that would be the end of the prank. No way. Some one got the bright idea that I should go on stage and fake like I really was a comedian. Then someone else said, "Yeah! We will all go and laugh at you!". The more I refused the more adamant they became. "We will pack the place with our friends and all laugh at you so everyone will believe you are funny! It will be the best prank ever! Come on who cares what people think? All your friends will be there supporting you! I guess I was just stupid and insecure enough to want to please everyone...also loaded. OK!
      Everyone told everybody....all the party people from the local high schools. I even plugged my upcoming appearance at the Basement at a dance party over a PA system on Chapman Avenue. I asked everyone to come and laugh at me even if I wasn't funny. I got a lot of laughs just from the announcement. That Saturday night was a blur. I was drinking to get courage but trying to think of some material. What could I say that would be guaranteed laughter. I remembered a story a friend had told me about someone talking to people not knowing they had a buggar hanging off their nose. They continued talking and scratching their nose wiping the buggar onto their hand and almost immediately wiping their forehead, unknowingly wiping the buggar onto their forehead. Pretty funny but I didn't think everyone would be able to see the buggar in the dimly lit night club. I kept drinking, trying to get smart and come up with some material. When we got to the basement I felt some pressure as the cover charge was $2.50.

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    2. The basement continued-I guess that would be about $15 today. I looked around the club and sure enough at least half the crowd was my friends. (My recollection...just guessing...John Thatcher, Pam Turnbull, Richard Serrato, George Torres, Jim Crawford, Jim Ekenstedt, Mike Hill, Bill Hart, Ed Gover, Susan Gover, Lee Ann Stancik, Manuel Crepes, Jim Roberts, Paula Phillips, Alica Frost, Dorise Gorin, Cindy Lamm) I recognized lots of people there that were my friends but I did not know their names...just from the party circuit. I had it made! The people that didn't know me would just feel stupid because they didn't catch the humor!
      There were quite a few acts...mostly music. Before I knew it my name was being announced on the PA system. I was high as a kite and felt great! I stepped on the stage and went directly to the piano. I had taken lessons for years while my mom lived with us. I played for about ten seconds then said "NA". I stood up and walked to the microphone in the middle of the stage. My voice billowed, "I want to thank you all for welcoming me to Orange!". Everyone started cheering! "I just got done doing stints in Vegas, Sunset Blvd. and the Golden Bear but Orange is the BEST!!!" More cheering!
      "You know I usually tour with a group and our signature skit is The Dating Game! People love it and it is hilarious! Oh Heck...It is so good I will do it for you by myself! "From Hollywood California please let's give a warm welcome to our dating miss" Then I proceeded to take the mic and ask questions to a non existent person. I listened intently to the non existent answers laughing and enjoying her charm, humor and especially her sexiness. The crowd loved it. I continued as I laughed my ass off at the witty answers of the non existant bachelors and warned them not to say such and such on TV. I was a crazy man enjoying the heck out of nobody! Pretty crazy but it worked.
      I then told the sad story about the boy who had just happened to come up with the funniest joke in the world. You see he had no idea it would be this funny. It was so funny that after he wrote it he died laughing in his upstairs bedroom. His parents kept calling him to come down for dinner. Finally they went upstairs only to discover their dead son. I acted out the parents reading the apparent suicide note. Of course they also died laughing. This continued with the neighbors, the police and neighboring communities until the government finally got a hold of the joke. It was translated into other languages and used as a weapon...guess you had to be there...I mentioned the buggar act but just narrated it with out using props. After I told the crowd it ended up on the forehead some drunk from the back blurted out "And then what?" Without skipping a beat I swiped my forehead onto my hair and made everyone groan! Yes I was in complete control and it felt great! I knew what I wanted to do for a living!

      At the end of my bit the manager came over and shook my hand enthusiastically. He asked me to come back next Saturday because the owner would be there. Just do the same bit you did tonight and you will be hired! I attended a party that week where someone recognized me as the super funny comedian!

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    3. the basement final chapter-I told my dad I was going to be a comedian. He said good. The next Saturday came and only a handful of friends showed up. I was sitting next to John Thatcher and we had smoked quite a bit before we got there. We were emulating the same successful formula as the week before. One snag. When I ordered drinks this time they carded me. Uh oh... no alcohol. That was a major part of last week's successful equation. We listened to act after act that went on for at least 90 minutes....guess they were saving the best for last. Unfortunately I actually fell asleep while waiting to perform. When my name was finally announced I was groggy and stood up heading for the piano. Some crazy drunk jumped on the stage and started pounding on the piano, Everyone knew he wasn't part of the act but instead of holding off and letting the management remove the drunk my primal instincts kicked in and I tossed him off the stage. Did I mention that I was a minority in California? Here was a group of people watching me throw one of their kind off the stage. Don't try this at home. I have learned that no matter how funny you are, if people don't like you they will not laugh at you. I proceeded as the manager had requested to do the same bit as last week. Absolute silence. Everyone enjoyed watching me squirm. They knew I wanted them to laugh and they loved keeping quiet. I had alienated the crowd and could not for the life of me get them back. It was probably the worst feeling I could ever remember. I was bombing in front of a group of people that relished my failure. What a contrast from the week before. I finally walked off the stage to total silence. I went back to my seat next to John Thatcher. Everyone looked at me as if I should have just left the building. John quietly sat there looking straight ahead without even acknowleging that he knew me. I didn't blame him....but I will never let him forget it. John was a past president of the Hawaii Association of Charter Schools. He is my friend who talked me into moving to Hawaii.


      find me on facebook..."Lagoon Waikiki"

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  2. I remember that it was called Circle City! It was on the second floor, so definitely not the basement. We also used to go to Cloud Nine & Studio K at Knotts Berry Farm and Nightscape, a club where Main Place is now.

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  3. You are RIGHT Circle city AND it was on the 2nd floor, just seemed like a basement.

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  4. I had the best times at Circle City. I also remember Nightscape. Dang that was a long time ago. What about Club Post Nuclear in Laguna Beach? The building still stands, I think it is a restaurant now?

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  5. I so remember the basement - saw Martha Davis (Motels) there...wish it was still there so others could enjoy.

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  6. Yes, I remember "The Basement"! I remember always seeing the sign down at the Orange Circle. Wasn't the sign in black with red letters? I never did go there.

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  7. Every Friday & Saturday night was spent at Circle City from 1980-82. Also, does anyone remember Ichabods in Fullerton, or Noah's Ark in Long Beach. A great club for the under 21 crowd. I also went to Cloud Nine at Knotts Berry Farm. I met my husband there and we've now been married 25 years.(Boy, now I feel old.)

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  8. Yes! Another Circle City, Nightscape, Cloud 9/Fiesta Village, The Kingdom alumni member here... Then when we turned 21 it was off to L.A & Hollywood clubs; Ariel, Dirtbox, Alice's House, Scream, Ground Zero...

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  9. Circle City rocked... there were the mods, the Teds (rockabilly) and the New Romantics.. It was the coolest all ages club in OC. We also went to "The Kingdon" in Buena Park and would go up for some LA fun at the 321 Club, Florentine Gardens... fun times

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  10. 1982/84 I used to clean Circle City during the day for free cokes,free admission and a say on what the DJ played. Although the owner nixed my Social Distortion single affter one spin.

    Anybody remeber Circle City's 500pound flashlight wielding bouncer from N.Carolina = Larry Boswell I think.

    How about when the 3'oclck played there?

    As I remember Circle City changed it's name to Nightscape moved to a club that used to be called American Bandstand in Fashion Square thats now Main Place.

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    1. My friend Marc Wood use to clean up that place as well.

      Lost touch with him.

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  11. I remember both the Basement and Circle City Disco well - I was a co-owner of both in 1977 through July of 1999. I was in my early 20s then and it was a great time. I still recall the names of many of our teenage employees.
    Jim

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  12. i remember walking up the stairs up the side of the building, there was only 3 rooms ( i think), a drinking room, smoking room and the dance floor, pretty minimal. Always had a good time sneaking boone's farm in and smoking djarums. Does anyone remember angie, a little punk girl with a mohawk?

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  13. The Circle City Disco was in the circle..One of the coolest places in the OC! It was owned by a guy named John Schroeder and his wife..It later move near Santa Ana and was then called Nightscape..Then the owner was again moved the club and changed the name..It was then called Sensations,Zzapp and Kaliediscope. I was the dj for Zzapp and Kaliedascope!

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  14. Someone mentiond Noahs Ark in Long Beach WOW that place was a blast it was my first DJ job 1977.
    Then i moved on to the LA nightclub scene.
    I also danced the night away at Knotts "Cloud 9" 1976-1978

    DjRick

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  15. Hi I danced the nights and weekends away in "the Basement" and Disneyland , Knotts 3 dance floors Cloud nine, The airfield eatery and fiesta village, I was a regular from 76-79 , Wow what fun ! anyone wanting to get in touch from those days e-mail me @ mrmrszero@comcast.net

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  16. Wow!!! Noah's Ark a used to live right down the street,it was my hangout when I was a teenager. Anybody remember me as a big Afro and light skined? I was there every freaking week.LOL

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  17. 20+ years later I still love rockabilly, the music, the dancing and the styles...Circle City will forever be a fun memory.

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  18. I remember going to Ichabod's in Fullerton back in the mid 70's and I distinctly remember going there to watch dance contests (before punk) and Louis who is on Dancing with the Stars would dance fabulously and win the contest quite often. He was cute and he danced so well. Funny, his bio these days says that he is 37, but I don't think so! I saw him all the time back then,he was a regular at Ichabods. State College & Chapman.

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  19. So...do you think Louie is 50??? He doesn't look it at all! Perhaps it was a look alike!! Sounds like fun times!!

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  20. Does anyone remember a dance place called The Teen Canteen on Chapman near Harbor? Live bands like The Johnson Brothers from Santiago High and The California Sun's. Both bands I think had at least one almost hit on the radio. Am of course!

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  21. We would get a group from college to go to "The Basement" every Thursday night during the '77-'78 school year. There were non-alcoholic drinks and Quadraphonic Sound. It was far out!

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  22. I remember Angie...I think I have a formal picture of her with a guy named Tony I dated. Anyone remember Danny Martinez? I wonder where he is now...Circle City was the best! Cloud 9 was nice during the summer. I remember gathering change out front to get enough money to get in! ahhh the memories!

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    1. I remember Tony he lived next to Cherise.

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  23. Yeah I remember good ol Circle. Those were the days. I was one of the Bouncers. Used to sit at the back door. I do believe it was 81/82 or 82/83. In my time there was Chad and Jeff the DJ. Then there was Janet who used to twitch that thang. LOL Margie, Ann (My 1st wife) :-) Yeah those we're some nice times. If you think you might know me from circle, feel free to drop a email: Danny@DannyBetancourt.com

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  24. Jamie Yerger, chuck and Aldo.

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  25. Circle City, Nightscape,Sensations,Zzappand Kaliedascope all were owned by John and Stephanie Schroeder..

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  26. OMG you guys have brought back some great mem.s I was a bouncer, cook, ast. manager at Ichabods Fullerton back in the 70's. Met my wife there and some great friends. Where are they now???

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  27. And don't forget JAGG in Lake Forest!! Now Captain Creams.. I went to Circle City, Nightscape, Night Shift and then Jagg.. I was a Hopeless New Romantic. There was a guy at Circle City who used to call me Saltina, and I never knew why.. God! I miss those days of Aqua Net Extra Super hold in the pink and white can, L'Oreal Le Grand Kohl eyeliner, dyeing my hair blue-black and all time it took getting ready.. I even miss my little red scooter!! Ah! The 80's!! I'm almost 45 now, and miss every minute of it!! Loves and kiss, kiss Bang, Bang to all the 80's kids!! Love, Susan!

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    1. Jagg was great! So was the pink can. I remember dancing in front of the mirror at NS. Good times

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  28. Wow, were old! I remember Noahs Ark! We were there every Fri & Sat doing our 'steps'. Does anyone remember a pop lockin gruop called 'playground' from circle city? When we got 'older' LOL we moved on to Oasis on Pacific Coast Highway. Later days 'Live Bait' (great name) ha ha ha ...

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  29. For the first time since we (John & Stephanie Schroeder) got out of the teen nightclub business in 1990, I Googled my past nightclubs. I found this blog and saw one post (11/07/08) that had to come from Tony Stewart. He was our only DJ who worked all three clubs, Sensations, ZzapP and Kalidascope. I can set the record straight on a few things.

    The Basement was prior to Circle City Club, but was located around the corner from us. They were never owned by the same operators. It went out of business in the late 1970s. Circle City opened in 1979 and I bought it with a partner in late 1981. The partner (Eric Alvarez) left to pursue other interests in 1983. The lease was up in 1984 and we moved it to Santa Ana where a long-standing alcohol nightclub had lost their liquor license and closed their doors. We opened there in October 1984 as Nightscape. The city bought the property under Eminent Domain and leveled the shopping center to make way for the Santa Ana Main Place mall.
    In 1985, I convinced Anaheim's city council to let us open Sensations in Anaheim. That did well until Videopolis and the $99 annual pass at Disneyland came to be in 1987. We re-opened as ZzapP in 1988 and started the television show under the same name that same year. A gang shooting in July 1989 caused us to change the name again to throw off the reputation of being a dangerous place. I sold out in early 1990 and the place did not stay open for long after that.
    I never looked back and never had a desire to open another location. Going 9 years without a weekend off is no fun at all. (smiles)
    Someone mentioned Larry Boswell (head bouncer) at Circle City Club. I'd like Larry to contact me if anyone knows him. You can look up ZzapP on Facebook as I posted some pictures and videos there for the folks that care to see them and remember.

    Just last September we took a vacation and met up with Chazz (Keith Gaither) in Nice, France. Anyone who remembers him ( aka: Mr. K at ZzapP?) will want to see him at 41 years old in our latest pictures on Facebook. He is doing great, still with a beautiful lady (Britta) he met at ZzapP, and is quite a successful businessman in Germany these days.

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  30. i was the 2nd dj at the basement in june 77 and i turned it from a funk teen club that kids came from countys away for its underage dancing to a raging giorgio moroder discotheque sweating out studio 54 in new york which we took as a serious rival in at least musicand mixing if not for revealing some of the latest trends such as the annie hall look. i was lucky enough to be the youngest member at18 of the southern ca disco djs association where after auditioning with a tape was selected as i of 100 djs to recieve special extended remixes which i featured was also a regular on american bandstand also clint

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  31. Was Circle City above Watsons? What is there now?

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  32. I Soooo Remember The Basement... It actually was in a Basement under the old Antique stores just Off the Circle....it was for kids 18 and under..Spent many weekends there Dancing my Butt off !!
    Good Times !!!!

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  33. I just went to Facebook and couldn't find ZzapP. Reading John's post made me so excited. I was a featured dancer and production on ZzapP..my purse got stolen the night that the gang activity happened..remember it soo well. Lost touch with Keith and Tony but would love to reconnect. Going to keep searching for them. Had a lot of screen time. This is Sheri Elliott hung out with Yolanda and Tracy all the time. MUCH LOVE to the Knotts crew & ZzapP. GREAAT TIMES! Thanks John!!

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  34. Yep the Basement...went there the first time in January of 1977...met a girl and ended up married to her in 1978...and yes, we are still going strong...

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