Ron Stultz
In
the mid-1960s there as a night club, honky-tonk, music venue, located in the
West Virginia woods near Winchester, Virginia. I say West
Virginia woods because I can remember having to take a dark, dirt, county road
to get The Ponderosa and it was in a woods all by itself,
but today, now, I have no idea exactly where it was and an Internet search
reveals nothing about The Ponderosa. So to document for historys sake, my sake, here is what I remember about
The Ponderosa Night Club: - As I
said above, it was near Winchester Virginia but one drive to West Virginia first
and then take a country, dirt, road a long ways through woods to get to the
venue. I remember the road being a single lane or close to a single lane but not
sure now. There also might have been signs nailed to trees now and again
directing to The Ponderosa. Once on the right road, not that hard to find but
drunk, leaving, was another matter all together. - The
venue, the place, was all on one floor and it sat up off the ground on pilings
and was clapboard or other wood exterior. I do not remember there being a
Ponderosa sign on the building. - Inside
The Ponderosa there was a stage with stage lighting, a dance area in front of
the stage and tables and chairs. I also remember a bar along one wall. Because I
was under 21 every time I was there, the bar might have served mixed drinks but
not sure. - Was
never there except on a Saturday night but every time I was there, The Ponderosa
had live music on the stage. - The
Ponderosa could accommodate maybe 100-200?? Was never there when I could not get
a table and do not ever remember it being extremely crowded. - In the
mid-1960s racial integration was just beginning and so never saw a black person
there, except for James Brown, the performer. -
The
crowd at the Ponderosa was mostly 20-30 year olds with a few late teens. - Never
went to The Ponderosa without a date and remember it being a couples place
rather than a singles bar scene. - Was not
a cowboy bar or the crowd did not wear cowboy attire. - 18 year
olds could buy and drink 3.2% beer (only kind available in West Virginia at the
time?) in the mid-1960s so those of us in Virginia, where the drinking age of
21 years, would ride over to The Ponderosa for beers. - Drinking
alcohol and smoking cigarettes went hand-in-hand in those days, so The Ponderosa
was filled with cigarette smoke, always. -
I do not
remember waitresses but there must have been someone cleaning empty beer bottles
off tables, just do not remember. -
There was a doorman/bouncer. - James Brown. Saw and
heard James Brown at The Ponderosa. Not sure I went that night to
specifically hear James Brown as not sure I had ever heard of James Brown
but sure remember his "show" and "Poppa's Got a Brand New Bag". Also strange
that a black entertainer would be at The Ponderosa in the mid-1960's.
James Brown is the only band name I remember. Author of Trifocals. One Man's View If you liked this memory reflection, short story, muse, poem, you might want to
check out my published book.The Ponderosa Night Club - WVA - 1960s
Ron Stultz