On this day in 1976 - 9 July

The Smokestack was a club in Redondo Beach, not on, but near the pier. It later changed its name to the Fleetwood for a few years, before it was torn down and paved over. It was weird suddenly having a venue for bands in my neighborhood; it wasn't really within walking distance but still was close - usually we would have to drive half an hour or more to get to Hollywood. And yes, there were outlets for bar bands, but those were all bars - 21 and over only. However the clientele at the Smokestack, mainly surfers, were not as interesting and accepting as those in the Hollywood clubs and could get downright hostile when anyone "unusual" played, eg, The Ramones and Patti Smith. (They both played there that summer.) My friend Brent Williams got a DJing job there and at least improved the ambience!

Robert Marlow was my ex-boyfriend from the end of 1975. He was Scottish and well, kind of cheap. (Apologies to all my Scottish friends; it was just a coincedence!) 

I'm not sure who I went to the Smokestack with and who then would have also driven to Mandy's (McIntyre) house in Hawthorne; I was not driving yet, nor were most of my friends and it couldn't have been Brent. My best guess would be Robert. I guess we'll never know!

Being the eldest, I was always getting in trouble for staying out too late.

July 9, 1976

For some dumb, unexplained reason, I went to the Smokestack. It's sooooo lame; all the guys are geeks!

The first band, Holy Smoke, was so bad I could not imagine how the second band could be any worse. But they were!!!!

Robert Marlow was trying to get in free and we were laughing at him, and then dumb me goes and tells Brent. [I guess Brent got him in.]

That was funny - I dressed in glitter - as a martian; when Brent first saw me he went, "Duh!" He loved the Brenton Wood record. [I think I had found it in a thrift shop and gave it to him for his birthday. We used to call him "Brent Wouldn't"!]

Anyway, I was talking to Robert a little and some really drunk geek comes up and asks Robert, "Is she with you?" So I kick Robert, hoping he would lie, and he goes, "No ..." I gave Robert the dirtiest look and kicked him again but the jerk who came up wouldn't leave me alone! He was telling me about how his girlfriend was at a shower. He was from San Pedro (remind me never to go there!) and he told me he was gonna go to jail for 30 days for assaulting a policeman. Really my type!!

I lied and said I'd dance with him later and he said he might forget about me by then. (What a shame!) He finally left and I cussed out Robert. He found it quite amusing and told Mandy about it later. I kept running away from that guy the rest of the time I was there.

Then we left and went to Mandy's; she and Teresa were in their pajamas watching Who's Minding the Store. Home at 1:15 and Mom was mad!!!

This photo was taken the previous Halloween; I would not have worn the foil things or silver makeup to the Smokestack. But I think I would have had on the rest of the outfit, including the skullcap with attennae.