DiscoMusic.com

The Sugar Shack was a blast to go to, the DJ Chuckie Starr was great! - - This was also the hangout for the Runaways.

after the Other Side a gay disco burned down in 1975 the owners Chris Cox and Steve Harvey opened the Sugar Shack on Magnolia Blvd in north hollywood. Rodney Bingenheimer and Kim Fowley were frequently there and chuckie starr (dj) would always open and close the night with...there is a little place across the tracks which everybody calls the sugar shack... oh yeah, i worked there as a bartender though we only servednon alcohlic beverages (to the public)..

Oh geeze, the Shack! There are SO many stories to tell... like Shelia finding a deadman next to her car on New Years Eve... I believe 1977 in the parking lot across the street... we could not leave the Shack until 3:30 a.m.!
Or the laughs we had with Sid the coat checker... and Vicki and Danny at the Bar. All those nites of going to Vicki's apartment after the Shack and staying up all hours!@
Dancing with Marie and Cherie... me being too young to realize that women hurt down there too when you kick em.. dancing to "Your Mama Won't Like Me" with Cherie then doing a high kick and slightly kicking Cherie in the crotch... as she bent over she gave me that EVIL CHERIE eye look! Oh the memories.

Mark A. Martinez

WE WERE ALL SO VERY LUCKY TO BE A PART OF THOSE INCREDIBLE DAYS AND OF COURSE NIGHTS! TODAY I AM PUSHING GREENDAY! THEY ARE SO f****** AWESOME.
HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING GREAT JUST IN CALIFORNIA PARTYING FOR A WHILE WITH MY BUDDY RODNEY. HAY CHERIE GREAT MOVIE! I WAS AT BILLIE AYER'S HOUSE IN OIL CITY LA LAST WEEK.
HAY THE 70'S AND 80'S WERE GREAT!
LOVE TO ALL.... CHUCK E STARR

Wow...that's really going back. I worked at The Other Side as a bartendar when it burned down. Immediately, we opened at The Sugar Shack in North Hollywood. I'll never forget the little white shorts they had us wear. :) Yes, and partying with the girls that would a couple years later would become The GoGo's and The Runaways was cool. It's good to hear that some of us are still around!

Today, for fun, my partner and I publish Circuit Noize, a magazine about the Gay party circuit.

www.circuitnoize.com

Such great memories of both The Other Side and Sugar Shack. Remember a group of us dancing, lipsinking and acting out a medley of David Bowie songs. Going to a coffee shop after closing, with a group to listen to Chuckie telling his stories and laughing my a** off. Thanks Vicki and Cherie for coming to American Bandstand with me. Last I heard Vicki moved to San Juan Capistano and I saw Cherie on Rodney documentary, talking about how she refused to eat dog food in a snow for him. As for me, I went on to found the company that makes Wet Lubricants (now available at your favorite pharmacy chain) StaysWETLonger.com. I am now good friends with Gary Steinberg (has another posting here), but we did not really know each other at that time. Happily living in Valencia now with my partner Arturo. Travel a lot on business now. Writing this from Berlin.

Best wishes to all that got to share this great time in our lives.

Michael

This just in......

Sandy West, 47; drummer for the influential all-female rock 'n' roll band the Runaways
From the Associated Press

October 24, 2006

Sandy West, whose ferocious drumming fueled the influential all-female '70s rock band the Runaways, has died. She was 47.

West died Saturday night of lung cancer at a hospice in San Dimas, east of Los Angeles, her manager, Mara Fox, said. West's illness was diagnosed a year ago.

West was only 16 when she co-founded the Runaways in 1975 with singer-guitarist Joan Jett.

Along with band members Lita Ford and Cherie Currie, they had such hits as "Cherry Bomb" and "Born to be Bad."

"We shared the dream of girls playing rock 'n' roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer," Jett said in a statement. "I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her we changed the world."

Born in Long Beach in 1959, West was raised in Huntington Beach and was truly a California girl, splitting her time between surfing and skiing, Currie said.

After West's grandfather bought her a drum kit, she propelled her athleticism into music.

The Runaways headlined shows with such performers as Cheap Trick and Tom Petty as opening acts.

After the band's breakup in 1979, West continued to perform as a singer, guitarist and drummer with the Sandy West Band. She also released a solo album.

"Sandy West loved her fans, her friends and family almost to a fault," Currie said in a statement.

"It will never be the same for me again to step on a stage, because Sandy West was the best, and I will miss her forever."

West completed her memoirs before she died, and Fox said she hoped to get the book published.

West is survived by her mother, Jeri Williams; stepfather, d*** Williams; and six sisters.

A private service for family members is scheduled for Saturday.

A public memorial in Southern California for friends and family is pending, Fox said.

Check out The ChainSaw Chick.....

http://www.chainsawchick.com/


You may just recognize her.

A group of us teen local Students from Grant High School used to go on Wednrsday nights. My parents would come by at midnight if I didnt have a ride and pick me up before midnight. I remember Costume Party one Halloween that my girlfriend at the time Valeree dressed as Chinamen. We had some great times there. There would be lip sinc and dancing to the old Bowie glitter rock and the Time Waqrp from rocky horror show would be done in unison. 1974-1977 were great years. I still cant believe how my parents allowed me to go out on a school night to a disco.
It was a real nice crroud, the baterder was so cool, I firgot her names.
I wil look for the photos to post.
Frank

The shack was the best! A moment in time so great it still resonates today. I remember getting laid in the parking lot with a girl I met a minute before. Dancing the time warp, making out on the couches upstairs. Check E, Starr, you were unforgettable. I remember seeing a girl pass out on the dance floor, I think she died,poor thing. 2manyludes!!Spandex rules!

The Shack was so fun!! I remember shooting pool upstairs with Carrie, Pat Monday, Eddie Bryzowski,Rick Sciacca, Howard Goldmann, and Malcolm Bradshaw.Too bad we had to grow up! What happened to Lisa Glaser and John Deukmajian,(from Grant)I guess now the Shack is a pizza place!

Who else can remember some of the GREAT songs that Chuckie Starr used to play. I remember: "Daddy Cool" by Boney M, "Devil's Gun" by C.J. and Co., "Shut Out - Heaven is a Disco" by Paul Jabara, "Cocomotion" by El Cocco, "African Queens" by Ritichie Family, "Hit and Run" by Loleatta Holloway.

Why am I also thinking Kaleidoscope -- at 12458 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood?

I remember so many beutiful girls.

One time asked one of the Runaways if they wanted to F.

She said F. You! And the bodyguards almost took me out.

I explained it was all about free love. Still at "15ish" I wondered why I couldn't pick up on the "older chicks". I was irresistable! Still, I would have liked to make out. Hell! I wouldn't mind making out with any of them today!

Seriously, as a film maker...it needs to be done!

None the less... I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A REUNION!!!

Whoa...maybe some memories should be forgotten.

Still, I'll bet anyone...the super cute girls back then ARE STILL HOT!
/s/
Not Kevan, the other guy.

Oh my God, I remember the Shack so well....going there with my best friend Terri as many nights as we could manage to sneak out of the house before her dad would confiscate the keys to her Honda Civic, getting ripped to the t*** on Quualudes and dancing the Time Warp and being just 16 years old and having Rodney Bingenheimer hitting on me....remembering it getting shut down because the locals were tired of underage kids creating a public disturbance and because the music was just too damned loud....oh the wonderful escapades of teenagehood!

OH my god this is great! the Sugar Shack
was one of the best times in my life. being so young I had so many great memorys me & my friends dancing the whole nite. Meeting so many guys making lots of friends. I remember I had two groups of friends, Israeli's & spanish.
I remember there was a very short guy,wearing a little t-shirt (no sleves)looking at him self in the mirror & dancing flaminco style and stairing at himself while everyone was dancing.It was hysterical. I always looked forward to friday & saturdays nights meeting my friends there. those were special days for me. I remember the day Sugar Shack burned down. I still remember that day my girl friend stayed the nite at my house and we heard the news. It was such a shock that was the last day we were ever there again. Than we all went to a nite club on ventura blvd. I think it was called "My Uncles, or "the point after" I guess im getting older my memory is going (just joking)its great to know there people still out there that remember these special times.
take Care, B

Hey Chuck E Starr oh yeah this was the spot!! i loved working their also as a DJ along with Rik Sciacca behind the bar upstairs playing pool and making out next to the fire pit so many girls, so much funk, and the parking lot the ludes THE FUN after hours at Dennys Odessey1 my House Hi Vicky Danny Sid oh yeah how about the twins Liz&Jean Sagal the Tighes Leslie&Kelly Bulkin all of the kids it was the best 4 years for me and alot of kids Hey Jerri Van Dyke,Karen Cohen Lisa Segel There really should be a Shack reunion.

More later it was fun

Late Guy A Herman

do i have some stories to tell.
it was me. who told all my circle of friends, about this little club called the sugar shack. and that when we met the rest of the gang. which guy herman mentioned in his late post.... by why did'nt he mention me ? let all get it together for a reunion!
all the best to all the shackers......
chrissy q

Hey Chrissy,

I,m so sorry it was late, i will never forget you ever! you are a very good friend Oh yea the imfamous equestrin inn
where we lived i moved to Spring TX w/ my wifey [Cheryl] and my killer kid Taylor and doggy Smokey email me huh


Love, Guy Guy superguy58@att.net

Hey This is Chuck e Starr How is everyone?? I am alive and well living in the Desert. Drop me a line any time @ Chuckestarr@yahoo.com I will be at the Comedy Store in August I will post the date as soon as I find out. There will be a Sugar Shack/Odyssey One reunion party after. The person in charge of the party her name is Karen. She can be found on the Odyssey One Site. Since I DJ'd for nearly 20 years ant all of Scott's clubs and Rodney Bingenhimers, I played for thousands of kids. I will always Remember all of you as you guys supported the Funk to the Disco to the New wave that all paved the road to the Music of today! Where's Corky Seals? Remember Danny, Lexxi, Roy, Guy Herman (Hey Guy sounds like you got a great family!) But Texas? thanks for the RUM runs buddy! Where's the Ludes...damn poor kids today are snorting rat posion!
Remember when the cops came in and shut us down! Sally had to wet the damn cop car seat while I was sitting next to her my a** burned all the way to the cop shop...but hey I was handcuffed to Sally H. Anyway I am an RN now I work intensive care. Well Love you all! Drop me a line anytime! Love Chuck e. Starr

Wow so many years and so many memories. I went to O.L. with my older and when it became the Shack she was glad to have a place to dump me and my best friend Lisa off. Anything to get us out of her hair. What were our parents thinking?? Our parents would drop us off and pick us up right in front of the door. Didn't they notice hundreds of stoned kids wandering around the parking lot? Did they really believe that we just went inside and dance? Suckers!

I will be at the Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood on Monday Augest 25th at 8 pm therer will be a Sugar Shack/Phases, Odyssey One reunion after party! Get passes to the party at the Comedy Store show! See old friends you thought were dead! And relive the MAGIC! Hope to see you all there!
Love Chuck e. Starr XXOOXX

Chuckie,
You beat me to it. i came here to post your event. It is going to be a blast

The Sugar shack was my home away from home! I would sneak out of the house and hitchhike or walk to meet my friends, we'd dance until all hours of the night...

When my mom noticed that i was missing from my bedroom, she would drive up to the door (blocking the entrance) of the Sugar Shack in her bright blue station wagon and LAY on the horn for me to come out. I remember my porky 12-year old brother yelling my name down the long corridor and my friends finding me on the dance floor telling me that it was time to go...


XOXdd

The shack!! Oh yea, where it all began. The late nights of dancing till you dropped. Doin' the time warp and ch ch ch cherry bomb! I went to Grant and No. Hollywood high and couldn't wait to hit the dance floor every weekend. Craig Pike stole my ludes I had him hold for me(how dumb was I?)I remember Howie Goldman. Rick Scicca, John Dunn, Guy Herman. Skip Buccola, Don and Kenny Shapen and I hung out with my friend Julie Osborne who has since died along with Pat Munday and Malcom Bradshaw. If you Join facebook there is a "I went to the sugar shack in the 70's" group! Thanks for the memories!!!

I remember the Sugar Shack well. I met and then dated my first boyfriend there. His name was Paul Anderson, and he was one of the doormen who worked there in those days. What memories I have. I was still in high school then, (Grant High). God the seventies were so crazy. I still look at old photos from that period, god, some of the get-ups I used to wear, I looked like a total s***......Oh those were the days!! Some other fun discos I used to go to were, The Odyssey on Beverly Blvd., The Paradise Ballroom on Highland Ave. in Hollywood, and GenosII, which was upstairs in a little corner shopping center at Vine St. and Santa Monica Blvd. Does anyone else remember any of these places?? We then used to go to Arthur J's coffee shop after the clubs, and that used to be at the corner of Highland and Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Some of the people I used to hang out with were Paul Anderson, Justin Carpenter, Kathy Elkins, Bob Smith, Chuck Crump, and his brother Johnny Crump, Alan Weiner.....anyone remember any of these people??

SHUT UP!

I was just going down the memory lane of my life and found this post on discomusic.com. Chuck EEEEEEE!!! how are you? do your parents still have that bike shop on Magnolia? Wow! I cant believe this!! The last time I saw you, you had just became a gemologist. What is new in your life? Are you a comedian now?? You certainly always made me and anyone around you laugh out loud! Do you have any pictures from the good old days? Are you in touch with anyone from the Shack? Let's talk soon!!!

Guy Herman!!! Vicky!! Danny!!!! Sid!!! Leslie & Kelly!!! This is gray matter overload! Don't know where to start because I don't remember as much as I should, it's all a big blur! Chuck E! you gave me my start as a DJ and it all went crazy from there! All the parties, pills and dancing. Boy, have things changed. I am so sorry I missed the reunion at the Comedy Store. We have to get in touch to catch-up.

Gotta run, please reply, we really need to talk! Glad to know everyone is alive and well!

Bye for now!

Romie Seals AKA Corky!!!

I remember the Shack well!!!

Doing the Time Warp for the first time and laughing hysterically.

Running to Cherie after she joined The Runaways and asking for her autograph even though I knew her before that...lol

The music, the fashion, and those ludes!!! Such crazy (but fun) behavior!

I am SOOOO settled now! Ah, memories!

Wow, the shack memories live on even though all the ludes fogged a few...
What great times, making out in the parking lot, and upstairs near the fire-pit. Smuggling in Olde English 800's (beers), in my Chemin de fer pant legs. A few tussles out back with other waisted "Shackers". I think John Deukmajian is dead, Rick is a prop maker who I worked with not long ago...
Great memories!!!

LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAINNNNNN!!!!


YOU JUST a JUMP TO YOUR LEFT.YOU BRING YOUR KNEES IN TIGHHHHHHT!!!

Priceless times. Great memories...I am so happy about this site!!! Thanks to the one who created it.

Lots of Love

Hey,

I just read that John Deukmajian is dead! Does anybody know for sure about this? I used to hang out with him in high school, Grant. He was a crazy m=====f===== wasn't he!

The Sugar Shack...Well what can I say.. This is "Where@How" it all started! This place was a blast..Oh Syd!! How you were my buddy..Dear Vicki!! I read names tonite that I haven't heard in sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo000000000000000000
L-------o--------n--------g!!Malcolm Bradshaw! That brought tears to eyes. Remembering back in the day in middle school(Madison High) when he and his sister took a hitchhiking trip across the desert and never made it! Found there bodies..At his funeral they played "Freebird" because that was his favorite song! He was such a great guy!! Pat Monday another name! I can go on@on!!
Sugar Shack had some wild wild times going on...The dancing all in the lines to "Timewarp" and throwing our arms around like a bunch a lunatics doing the 'arm dance" in front of the mirrors!! What the hell! I am sure if you were from that era you know exactly what I am talking about! How Funny
All I can say is "Thanks 70's for some GREAT MEMORIES!! Did anyone go to the "Odyssey" after...?

To my girl...Yvette... You gave me many memories I can look back on and it brings a smile to my face. I do miss you and anytime these old songs come on from "Sugar days" I just "cackle" ha...This Time Baby...WOOOOOOOO...GIRL>>>>>>>>>>

Mari

This has been so great to check in and read all of these great postings!If anyone knows where Howard Goldman/Rick Sciacca or John Deukmajian (Hope he's not dead are, would you please let me know). I hung out with these guys way after the Shack and have totally lost touch with them. Guy Herman, if you are reading this, I'm going to write you too!
Be well everyone! Planetsandy@yahoo.com

OMG....I was a regular at the shack for years...was friends with Vicki & Lexie....knew Rick. I had a red convertable mustang and my friends and I parked at the house of fabrics across the street. I would pick up a fifth of bacardi and we would get cokes and go to the car! I met SOOOO many guys. Where's vernette??? I even lived with Chuckie and Sid for a while...We need a reunion!!!! THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE! I also hung at the Odyessy...and we would go to the french place on Santa Monica.....near Peanuts..The girls were always making out in the bathroom :) If anyone remembers me we should talk. I still love disco! It will always be a part of me.

If I could turn back time.....Good times, glad to see most of us are still alive. Rs I saw an old picture of you on facebook around the time we met. When you had your nova, brought back memories.

Love to all!

xoxo Lisa Glaser

Sugar Shack...WOW!!!! Those were the days. I was in the "disco sucks" crowd.Malcolm Bradshaw,(remember he was always drumming with 2 hairbrushes?)Pat Mundy,Scott Spidell,God rest all thier souls,Sabrina Capello, Eddie Brazouski,(sorry Eddie for the misspelled last name)I could go on and on about all the people I remember back then.Even Craig Pike!!! MY friend!!! Sorry LaDonna!!! You were dumb though. No offense. Good times!!!

O.K. I've now tracked down Lisa Glaser (has a beauty Company called Gussy.up, very nice website and looks as beautiful as ever), Howard Goldman (in Fla.and recently engaged to a lady from the U.K.), John Berliner (nice family and daughter is in the music industry on the talent/beauty side), Rik Sciacca who has an adorable grown son and does prop work).Sadly, the rumor about John Deukmajian was true and he is gone.Now, does anyone know what happened to Pat Munday? I saw him in 1987 at the Roxy working with a band and he seemed really happy??

Mari Rotella????
Is this the same Mari Rotella that I used to give rides home to?

oh my god....I cannot believe I found this website....those days at the Shack were unreal...I remember making out with my gay friend in the parking lot when a police car was coming our way(I was underage)and Sally Herseberger,Dafney Traeback. and Tricia Falk...is she still alive, I heard no....and Lisa Cordero....all the kids from NHollywood High....and Chuck E...where is he?????????????