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Michael Roper remembers:
Michael Roper, 2001
In 1971 I had a friend going to Montieth College
at Wayne who told me to check out what was going on in the corridor.
I soon discovered Alvin's and started coming down on Sundays to here
music, bringing wood for the fireplace as my admission. Often the
wood came from the "riot fences "on the other side of the
Lodge. Once I drove through the gate at a Wayne lot and brought it
as my firewood contribution. When I turned 18 in January of 72 I
started to visit to bars, including Our Place, Cobbs, Del Rio, The
Bronx, Decanter, Vernes, The Song Shop and others. A bit later I
moved into the "sunshine mural building" on 3rd and
Antionette. There was a great diner on 3rd called Volcov's Bulkan
run by Sofie Volcov and her son. There, the Majestic, Georges on Seldon, Alvins
and a bit further a field Radio Lunch on Chene were my mainstays for
local eats. I got a job at The Traffic Jam. Then I got a job at
Cobbs about a year later. Worked with George Rupert, Donna
Saffiotti, Charlie McCord, Patti Radisco,John Thompson, and others.
Dave Opatic, Bobby McDonald, George Korinak, Bill Hodgeson, Cindy
Laverty ( what ever happened to that talented woman?), Pete
Zangaras, Rod Hicks and Frank Isola were some of the musicians
playing there at the time. I loved Thursday nights when Bobby played
with Shadowfax and afterwards a bunch of us would go over to his
place and drink and sing "hillbilly weepers". I also
worked at the Bronx and The Belcrest Hotel Bar. In 1976 George
Rupert ,who was working at the Ponchetrain asked if I would be
interested in going in on purchasing Ken lounge at 3130 Cass. I did
and learning of its glory days in the 40s and 50s as the Miami
Lounge I suggested calling it The New
Miami. We opened In February
of 1977 I believe. Much of the old Cobbs scene moved down the
street. I have a million stories from the first couple of years at
the Miami and had a great time. However we didn't run the tightest
ship and some of our free pouring habits followed us from Cobbs. So
I got a job nights at Chevrolet Detroit Gear and Axel on Holbrook.
During my year and a half there I sort of vanished from the face of
the earth. I was living in a house on the east side with Carole
Sobocinski and not to involved in the bar. In December of 80 I got laid
off at Chevy and in February The Miami was firebombed. We tried to
revive it but ran out of money. I took My piano out and that was it.
About a year later at Alvins one night George K had me go back to
his office and gave me two Miami Bar mirrors that I thought had been
destroyed. He had snuck them out one night when Shadowfax played
intending to fix and frame them as a surprise gift for the bars
upcoming anniversary. I still have them. In 1982 I moved to Chicago.
My wife Louise and I own a little neighborhood tavern on the north
side. I have a few old Miami customers as regulars. George Rupert, Dave
Opatic, Peter Werbe, Barney Surowitz, Mike Mikolowski and Frank
Mannarino have stopped in over the years also. John VanAmerongen ex
of the 3rd and Canfield glass blowing shop and foundry helped build
our bar. A very handy fellow! I'd love to hear from or about folks
from the Corridor. I'm back in Detroit often. My E mail address
is:
Hopleaf@mindspring.com. My bar is the Hopleaf Bar 5148 N. Clark
Chicago 60640. The beautiful sign out front is by friend and ex
Corridor singer and guitar picker, Dave Opatic. Stop by. |
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