Uncle Sams (Minneapolis, MN)

Actually, the 7th Street Entry is a small side room to the main club formerly known as Uncle Sam's, then just "Sam's" and now (for over 20 years) First Avenue.

photo here: http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/2445

Uncle Sam's in Des Moines opened around February 1975; if memory serves, it was the first true disco in Des Moines (the Joker was probably the most popular, but Uncle Sam's was not far behind). Not too far east of the Drake University campus, in a building that used to be a Katz drugstore, it always attracted a very young crowd, and the truth is, a LOT of us were underage. I went there several times in late summer/early fall 1978. I turned 18 around that time, my boyfriend, who looked 21 because he was 6'4" and 220 lbs., was only 15.

I vividly remember a "TGIF" dance contest with couples dancing to music from the movie. To this day, whenever I hear "Hey....put a smile on your face...", I picture that night, sitting in the booth with my boyfriend drinking a Firecracker. It was still open in 1979 when I left Des Moines, but the neighborhood where Uncle Sam's was located was deteriorating badly, and of course, there was the backlash. It was gone when I returned to Des Moines in early 1981. I miss the feeling discos had; the dance clubs now just don't have that "take you away to another place and time" feeling.

I worked at an Uncle Sam's from 1975 to 1980. Disco was king, faded and then punk came in. Just an outstanding era

My husband and I met ther 30 years ago and celebrate our 25th Wedding anniversary this week. They dont make clubs like Uncle Sams anymore. We have soo many memories and TONS of photos. I went there recently and it a welfare office now. I walked through and there is not a trace of the good ol' days.
DISCO "that where the happy people go" As Pete Wilson the DJ would play!!

Detroit's Uncle Sams Nightclub opened around 1972 in Redford,on corner of Telegraph and Schoolcraft. This place was HUGE! It had been a "chain" grocery store.I started going with friends in 73, when "legal" was 18...My favorite was Tequila Night. All Tequila drinks were 25 cents! We had cups stacked halfway to the ceiling. I went numerous times during the week:Wednesdays,Thursdays,Fridays, Saturdays,and Sundays, too! The dance floor was plexi, with flashing lights, disco balls, smoke, a huge TV scenes that flashed slides of customers having a Fun time. Dj played spun records all night, with a drummer to give us the beat. I think Uncle Sams closed around 1977...I had a lot of fun going back in the day. Anybody remember Diane, Barb, Marlene, Connie, or "the Kevins"?

I went to the Redford Uncle Sam's at 17 and ten months years old as part of high school graduation celebrations with some acquaintances I had met at Senior HS Trip in Nassau. Mom wasnt too happy about it G-d rest her soul b/c I was "running around underage!" but then even when 65 one is underage to one's mother (plus "youll cross the double yellow line from too many firecrackers an DIE!! the bullies will get you (probably) the predatory homos will get you youll get into bar fights over chicks!" will let you guess on the ethnicity...ANYHOO...had just seen Saturday Night Fever "date" with mom while Dad did taxes. They said "you pick up girls like crazy!" had a firecracker no dances for me got in using friends older brothers ID left and then couldnt get in again.

Parents wouldnt let me go again until 24 1/2 socially retarded med student back from hostile foreign country MEXICO!! and I made a stink about wanting a life which I STILL DO NOT HAVE!!

Did NOT know they were so OLD and a chain! rumors they encouraged drugs etc.

Redford Uncle Sam's became "Nitros" then something else then a store again.

La Chambre topless still next door after all these years...AROOoooo!!

the Detroit hood next door is not good.

Starting in 1978 when I was 19 years old, my friends and I would go to the Uncle Sam’s located at 14060 Telegraph Road in Redford, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. If anyone has a photo of this Uncle Sam's, interior or exterior, please post it or send it to me! It was located in a strip mall on the north-east corner of Telegraph and the I-96 freeway; i.e. Schoolcraft Road. In the timeframe between 1978 and 1980 I took and met a lot of girls to Uncle Sam’s. The last time I was there was in 1980. They changed the name to “Nitro’s” some time after that. Uncle Sam’s had a raised, plastic dance floor with a square pattern on it. Each square would light up a different color and the lights would go on and off. Sometimes it was a little difficult to walk or dance on because of the blinking lights and at times you had no depth perception as to where the floor in relation to your feet, especially since we were wearing our platform shoes! I remember they also had an area where you could play pinball if you didn’t feel like dancing. After the movie "Saturday Night Fever" came out in December 1977, Uncle Sam’s played mostly (if not all) disco music I can distinctly remember dancing to songs like “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by Taste of Honey and the Bee Gee’s “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever”. Sometimes I’d go with my buddies and if we struck out at Uncle Sam’s we would leave and go next door to “La Chambre”, a topless bar that, amazingly enough, is still open as of 2007. The old Uncle Sam’s is now a night club called “Mister Nik’s Dance Club”. I’ve attached a photo of Mister Nik’s in the shopping mall where Uncle Sam’s once stood 27 years ago. What memories that brings back of the some great times we all had there, especially in the Summer of ’78! I'll be turning 50 next year and I can say that those where some of the best times of my life!

I went to the Uncle Sam's in Davenport, Iowa just about every night. It was THE place to go in this area. I recently was going through some old boxes and found 17 Firecracker glasses! What memories that brought back. I remember all the dance contests(I was in some). There just are not any places like that anymore. There is a group called "The Travolta's" that plays in this area about 3 times a year. They play all the disco music. It's just like being at Uncle Sam's!!

While reading these, and Christopher L. talked about Uncle Sams changing hands I remembered ours in Des Moines changed to "The Lite". They tried to keep things the same but, "The Joker" in Des Moines took over. They had a genre of rooms. One room was LIVE ROCK AND ROLL, One was a Movie theater and the BEST was the Disco Room it had of course "The Lighted Dance floor" and all! This place was HUGE!! I like when dance floor are in the middle of a room so all can sit around and enjoy. Boy, they dont make them like that anymore. Of course they dont make music like that anymore. It was such a big deal of what to wear, and we ran in herds and not just with one friend. And there were always "After Bar Parties" A friend of our named Mark always opened his house to us all. I feel for the kids today and the pressures they have to fit in. But the big difference is, everyone we ran with worked everyday and kept a job, the trend I am seeing is job hopping and everybody complains they are broke. I guess we all have and HAD priorities. And it didnt seem people were as easy back then, I think the term meat market came AFTER Disco. But Disco is not as lost as Uncle Sams, it was just fine tuned to the word "dance music" And Line dances are now done by country dancers but not with the flare in the 70's and 80's

dance dance dance.......

Bernie! Thanks Disco Lives!!

1973 to 1976 Uncle Sam's and Barney Googles was the greatest place to dance, listen to rock music via great sound systems and to witness superb light shows in the dance floor and above. All controled by D.J.'s . What a great era and to be in college! Anyone that enjoyed Uncle Sam's in Knoxville email me. I am looking for photos taken of the interior.

My friends and I loved taking the bus downtown a few times a week to Uncle Sams in Minneapolis -- a great place to dance and party for poor students! My favorite memory was one night we were a little bummed because we wanted to hear our favorite band, "Jesse Brady", and instead they had a DJ -- but the "hurricanes" flowed and we started dancing. Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" came on, and of course we're all singing along, and when it comes to the famous part (where it changes from "opera" to "rock".....so you think you can stone me and spit in my eye.....) all of a sudden in a flashpot of lights, the Jesse Brady band takes over to belt it out! we were oblivious to them setting up on stage and they just blew us away!!! still have the goose bumps.......

My Life best times were spent whats spent...but yet like dancing i cant find a dance anymore...its evolution? i sure hope that dancing music gets going in the US and the World again Bubbs...Burns...been awhile for sure...life is strange...Jim Morrison was right...Gosh i miss dancin...i drink to remember nowadays...the search well lets say its gone as theirs no disco in the House.

Wow Mary! you were years ahead of me! i can remember thou "jesse Brady" why dang..that was 20 years ago they came in after disco...its cool thou...gosh i miss most of all my Friends..not the club..really but yet it was common ground..very cool...i'm drinkin alot tonight to Celebrate..Music..sure wish i could jam out a tune....Thanks

The uncle Sam's night club in Des Moines,Ia in the 70's and early 80's had a drink call "The Firecraker" does anyone remember what was in the drink?

yes, you are correct catusblue, on the corner of 19th and Carpenter. I hung out there from 1977 to to about 1980. I was friends with alot of people (mainly women) and danced till they closed at night. The only night I was not there was Sunday, and they weren't open. A good friend of mine bought off of eBay a Firecraker drink glass for my birthday last week, and we were trying to remember what liquids made up the drink. I miss the fun times there.

well, Chris, my senility is setting in....either that, or I'm just getting my nightclub specialty drinks mixed up!! It for sure was a "Firecracker" that Uncle Sam's served up in an "hourglass" shaped stemmed glass -- "hurricanes" also come in that style, esp. in New Orleans. But I'll be danged if I can remember what was in them, they were a reddish color, fruity taste, and when we had the dough, we would try to make one last most of the night. My roommate still has her glass, too! (from 1976 -- yes!!)

mary, great memory, thats what I thought, about the shape of the glass, and i'm thinking Tequila and vodko, with a red mix of somesort. Does your roomate want to sell one of her glasses? I miss Uncle Sam's Des Moines, If I could only turn back time. A reunion of sorts. I have only one picture of the outside Uncle Sam's sign, and one picture of me in my Disco suit.(John Travolta) eat your heart out.

Chris,
I tended bar in 1976-77 at the US in Dewitt near Syracuse. I recall the fire cracker to be mostly OJ, lemon mixer and a swirl of grenadine with a shot of vodka maybe some rum, . If there was more than two OZ of EtOH in there I would be surprised. We used to chuckle at friends who would lose their dance legs after one of those. At best it would fill people up so they would not feel like eating breakfast at the Eggplant after last call.
Now.. the long island iced tea w/2oz smirnoff100proof, 2 shots Bacardi151proof and 1 shot of tanqueray gin and the restof the mixers, now that would melt your face off.
Cheers to the good old days.

Uncle Sams in Minneapolis was where we went to dance and get tanked! We'd hop on the bus from the U of M west bank campus, but sometimes we'd miss the last bus home from downtown and end up walking back to the dorm!

THE FIRECRACKER HAD VODKA, GIN, TEQUILA, RUM, 7 UP, SOUR MIX AND GRENADINE. I MADE THEM FOR 2 YEARS AT THE DSM CLUB

yes, we missed many a bus from downtown Uncle Sam's in Minneapolis, too, and danced all the way back up to the 2400 block of Nicollet Avenue -- oh, to be young again!!!! The firecrackers were great fuel, huh?!?!?

Downtown Minneapolis was a lot different then, especially Hennepin Avenue. A lot of University students went to Sam's to have fun. I had a collection of Firecracker glasses (along with others from Bullwinkles, Oscar B Lykes, and other fondly remembered establishments!) but probably unloaded all of them at a rummage sale years ago. I should have saved my disco-era polyester shirts, they'll be in style again some day.

yeah, right?!?! can you believe it's the 30th anniversary of skinny-minny John Travolta in Sat. Night Fever????

Met the chick, who became a wife, and had three kids with her. I STILL have a Firecracker glass. The legal age for drinking in Nebraska when was 19 for beer and liquor. What a wonderful time, after Vietnam and before aids.

I loved going to Uncle Sam's at Telegraph and Schoolcraft back in 1975 to 1980. I had a friend that bartended there - Al K., that told me about the place. It was huge and had the massive lighted dance floor. The sound system and light show was great. I have several firecracker glasses packed away. There were lines outside waiting for it to open on weekends. I remember LaChambre's too. Would go there while waiting for Uncle Sam's to open (except when I was with a date). In Uncle Sam's there was a glass windowed section that you could sit that shielded the music if you wanted to talk without shouting. I used to order a drink called a "stinger" that was a shot with part "southern comfort" that you lit on fire before drinking. Songs that will always remind me of the place - "Get Down Tonight" KC & Sunshine Band, "Ballroom Blitz" Sweet, Rock & Roll All Night, Kiss, "Disco Inferno" Trammps, "Grooveline" Heatwave, "Fanny" Bee Gees. The waiters and waitresses would ramdomly give out cards for free drinks on future nights. Wild times for all who attended.

Do you know how I would get a hold of Bruce V or anyone who may have spun records or did the projections work with photo,s at uncle sames back in 1978-1980 I thought there was a kevin that worked there as well. I am referring to the uncle sams in minneapolis. I am on a quest to find photo's etc... Please help me find the right people. email me back

Bob, you're thinking of Kevin Cole. I believe he's in Seattle these days.

Have you inquired with the club about photos? There are some general historic photos on the First Ave web site.

What great memories Uncle Sam's brings back for me!!!!! From Sept of 1975 until 1979 the Davenport, Iowa club was my party of choice. I remember to this day the first time I walked in to party.

The music and the people truly mad the place great!!!

I remember Uncle Sam's Disco on East Kimberly Road in Davenport, Iowa. The guys were hot and the drink prices were, well, unlike the drink prices we see today! The dance floor was SO spacious and all we could was drink, dance and socialize. I remember the free glasses you would get, when you purchased the drink, "Firecracker". Then, a new era evolved and Uncle Sam's closed. I miss those free spirited days!

Hey Woody: What part/s; VODKA, GIN, TEQUILA, RUM, 7 UP, SOUR MIX AND GRENADINE for a firecracker? I'll make one up im my Firecracker glass.

Used to hang out at the Davenport Sam's. we have been thinking about doing firecraker party. We have the glasses but need to know what goes in. Does anyone still have the recipe.

I can't believe I found this site! I used to be a DJ at Uncle Sam's in Detroit from 1977-1980. I left when it became NITRO. I have a few pictures I'll have to scan and post. The best times of my life were in that club. I still have all the music and even some old tapes of entire nights live at US. I've got stories for days! I hope to find some old friends,

kevin- Do you still have any of the pre mixed medlies that were layed at the US clubs? If I rmemeber correctly...there was a county medely (John Denver/Charlie daniels) a disco Tex set and a couple of others. Also iI remember the inclub preproduced ads for the Firecracker, Ladies night etc. I believe they were produced my a NY DJ pete Lancellotti

Anyways worked at Uncle Sams Mpls 76-77 Can't find anyone else that worked their. Bruce V here are Ya..

Them were the days..Living in Florida only cowboy bars and empty dancefloors...can't wait until the usa gets a hipper president....one that "can dance" a bit.....Earth Wind and Fire!...Disco Party!...Thanks Bernie For this Site!...Love Live Disco!...

Sorry, Tim. I don't have the NY promos. I have a few we made in house. Show openers and such. We made a few firecracker ads ouselves. We even had a drink called the TANK for a short while. I'll check with Rob (another former US DJ) to see if he has any of them.

Kevin- Thanks for the info. Is there anyway to get copies of some of your US stuff? BTW...Do you remember a couple of US DJ's from the Davenport club? One was Jim Chapman, later went on to be a big contributor for Disco Beats servce, the other was Disco Doug can't remember his last name.

Some of you may know mw or have met me. I worked at Uncle Sams before it was uncle sams! It started with The Scene in Syracuse in the late 60's. I have worked at just about every US in the country and opened up most of them as their entertainment director. Opening light and sound shows and even exploding flash boxes. I have many photos and will try to post some.

Pete

Nwvwe had the pleasure of meeying you but enjoyed alot of the stuff you originally did for the chain. Some og the openings were Fantastic!!!!! BTW....does the "YA YA Song" still exist?

Tim

Let me try reposting that again. Nver had the pleasure of meeting you but enjoyed the great openings and song medleys you created. The original in-club ads wer excellent also. BTW ...does the "Ya Ya Song" or any of the medleys still exist?

Tim

Uncle Sam's now that was THE place to party during those college days like no other. Remember drink and drown Wednesdays? $2.50 get in with penny beers and nickel mixed drinks. Met lots of good people there. Glad I went there when I did (frequently.) I knew back then a place like that was too good to last forever.

I was the dj at Uncle Sams Buffalo from 1975-1978. Met my current wife there. Unbelievable! I think it closed in 1981. I was the first dj there when we introduced disco. 1500+ on oldies night with 25 cent drinks. I remember all those crazy specials. Still have a Firecracker glass. I use to do the commercials for it "over 4 shots, 22oz of TNT and glass is yours to keep. Only $3.50, Uncle Sams Firecracker"! HA! What a deal! But that was alot of money back then when you're only 18. I remember drink and drown vividly on wed. penny beers and 10 cent mixed drinks. I was up for corporate music director and worked the detroit club for a week in 1976. I was at Syracuse, Davenport, Boston..which was the last one built.
Our teen night was over 1000 kids. What a great time it was. They'll never be anything like it again. 18 and drinking! BTW..the yayayaya song, John Valby whose from Buffalo. He use to pack them in on Thursday night. John's about 60 now and still plays piano locally.

Pete!!
I can't believe it! Remember me? You trained me. You came into buffalo, cleaned house and made me the dj! I owe alot to you. Showed me how to run contests, mix the music. We used your name as a code when fights broke out. "Pete Lancelotti to the front door please" lmao! You're the best. When I left Sams in 78, I got a job at a better club, as Sams was kind of dying. They called me back a year later to Dj again but I refused. I'm a doctor now in Buffalo. Thanks again!! Never could have done it without you!

Pete,
it would be great if you had photos. I hvae only a couple from those days in buffalo. I remember Jim Tupper from detroit. we switched places for a week. Check me out at http://worldssmallestdisco.com/_wsn/page3.html
This was a fundraiser I hadn't spun tunes in over 25 years and they wanted the dj from Uncle sams, so they called me and a few others from different clubs. Sure brought back memories. I remember when I was up there my first night and you told "you got them by the ****S and they'll do anything you want, it's your show." That stuck in my head to this day because I do alot of lecturing and when I'm up there it's stillmy show. Thanks again Pete.

Its Fantastic to see Great Posts To Music esp..Disco..era..the best thing about disco to me was it made me feel like i was part of it..Alot of People came to Dance!..Cause disco Music made Alot of People Dance, Forget about sweating the the big stuff just sweat the body and mind...maybe find a Chick to spend the night or life together. I wish i had pictures their in my mind..i moved so many times in life...they got lost but my mind hopefully will keep them pics intack as long as the alcohol donsn't distroy it. Sure Miss them Times...Thanks Everyone...Don't now of Anyone from the Sams In Mpls, But Steve a former Bartender has been the Manager for like 25+ Yrs now...when i get back up their i plan a visit..wonder if he will remember me..I still stick with Music but just soundtracks to much of a profectionist when it comes to disco...Forget Me Knots...I'm Missin an Angel...Peace Ya All!...Your Bartender and Projectionist Chuck

Chuck, you won't find Steve there anymore.

Steve McClellan hasn't been with First Ave (formerly "Sam's," "Uncle Sam's" and "The Depot") for over two years. He had ownership in the business and left after a bitter, drawn-out episode with one of the other owners.

Very sad, because he was, along with other staff, the person who made First Ave the landmark it became. But this is a disco forum and the club was disco before it morphed into First Avenue, so I'll return you now, dear reader, to your regular "disco-ssion"...

I was a cocktail waitress at the Davenport, Ia Uncle Sam. Does anyone remember that we would dance on the speakers when they played the employee song? Good times!

Looking for Kevin who posted on Feb 19 2008. Hey, if you still have photos of Uncle Sam's in Redford, Michigan please send me some copies at CorpBuyers@aol.com Can't believe you stil have the music. Read my post on May 8 2007. Thanks. Christopher L.

Some of you have asked what am I doing now.. still in Knoxville (30 years now).
My web site is AirTraffic.com. I will be uploading numerous photos from many Uncle Sams clubs in the very near future.

Thanks Pete! Unfortunately, I missed an Uncle sams reunion here last year. they had one about 20 yrs ago. Someone has got all the slides, but apparently they didn't have them at the reunion. it would be nice to see some pics.
John

Just found, photos and copies of all the Ladies Night and Horney Passes we used to give out at Uncle Sam's Detroit!!! If I can figure out how I will scan and post! And John...i remember Jim Tupper!

Does anyone know how to view e-mail from someone who responded to my post on this site? Can't figure it out. Also, where do we view photos submitted by members? Appreciate the help.

I forgot about the horny passes! I remember deejaying in Detroit in 1976 for a week. I never saw so many fights in my life! lol Jim Tupper would definitely remember me. He loved working in buffalo when we traded places. Can't say the same for the motor city though.

I worked at Uncle sams in des moines for tony grecko the GM and Rich Emery. Does anyone know whatt ever happend to them ? By the way Uncle samsd wasthe first Disco to bring drink specials into Des Moines other then two for ones.

Wow, memories of a great time gone by. The Des Moines club gave birth to a band of guys named the "Boogie Boys," anyone recall any of those guys? They were "regulars" at Uncle Sam's in DM. All of them were waterskiiers and one of them had a boat called the Boogie Boat. If you were a girl lucky enough to ride in the Boogie boat, you were a primadonna! The only club I would ever consider to be a national treasure. There was a magic about Uncle Sam's that no bar/nightclub could ever match. I would love to have a Des Moines reunion.

I remember the Uncle Sams club in Lincoln, NE. It was located about 25th and O, and was THE place in Lincoln for about three years. Then PO Pears opened, the disco craze died, and it became several other things until now, where I think it is a place for childrens needs or something.
Good times!

I've been to the Uncle Sam's in Syracuse several times. When I was there, they never played a strictly disco format, but incorporated rock music like the Stones "Brown Sugar" into their sets.

The last time I was there the name had changed to Oliver's and it's changed hands since then.

I was searching on Google and found that The Police played there in early '79 before they were famous.

If anyone has a photo of the exterior of the Uncle Sam's in Syracuse, please put one up.

Don't ask me how I remember, but 30 years ago this evening, on Saturday, July 15, 1978, I took a girl to the Uncle Sam's in Redford, Michigan. I remember dancing with her to "Boogie Oogie Oogie" which had just made it to the Detroit charts. We shared a great summer that year before she went back to college in the fall. I ran into her 27 years later in 2005 and all of those memories of Uncle Sam's came rushing back. What a great place to go! Thanks for the site, Bernie!

Oh man, Uncle Sams in Des Moines from the mid to late seventies was definitely the place to be and be seen. I remember Rich Emery, most of the staff and the members of Des Moines finest, including Lt. Moody that worked the door. I recall your group of guys too Gary and a wild man named Mikilo or something like that that ran with your crowd. You weren't one of the dudes they called Starsky or Hutch were you? You guys were always talking to the best looking women in the place and all of the hotties in Des Moines were at Uncle Sams on ladies night (Tue). As someone else posted, I recollect Wed was was penny beer and nickle drink night and I want to say Firecrackers were a quarter. Does anyone remember what the cover charge was? Seems like a great deal now. Anyway, thanks to all for the great memories. Would love to go back in time and do the bump and see everybody from those days again. Funny, how we thought they would never end.

To all of you who have posted, thanks for taking me back to a great place and time in my life. Uncle Sam's was the perfect club for the last several years of a decadent decade. Me and all of my buddies were there every Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat night. We would party until close and then go to breakfast - if we didn't get lucky that is. Sorry Double J, I do not remember what the cover was on Wed for penny beer night but it seemed like a bargain even in those days. Did we actually give the bartenders pennies and nickles? Still remember the urinals overflowing in the guys bathroom, especially on that night. Here is a question for everyone across the country - did all of the clubs have a disco side and a quiet bar? Would love to see some more photos here if anyone has any.

Double J-

The cover on drink and drown nite was $2.50

the buffalo club had a large bar and quiet one..barney googles.

Double J, are you a gal or a guy? Yes, I'm Starsky and my best friend was Hutch. Thanks for recollecting us and in a favorable light! Yes, Mikilo was an institution all of his own. He tamed down quite a bit and now lives in Las Vegas, NV. He's quite the family man now... happens to the best of us. See him at the Iowa State Fair on the first Friday (reunion night) sometimes. Would love to correspond with others who remember the "gool ol times!" I recalled the cover for Wednesday at $3 to get in, penny beer and 25 cents for a mixed drink.

One last thing. Did any of you ever go to Mikilo's Labor Day parties??? He had the best and biggest bashes every Labor Day weekend. Plenty of beer flowing, gobs of people (best looking women in Des Moines), and donated all the money (I think we all paid $5 to attend) to the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Remember some hellacious volleyball games, great company and tunes, a few wet T-shirt contests, and ALWAYS a great time!

I think Tim is correct about the cover being $2.50 for drink and drown night because I used to pay my cover with quarters. I would always raid my change jar on Wed. nights and sometimes even had some left to put back at the end of the night...

I know Tue was Ladies Night and the weekends had their own theme but does anyone remember what they called Monday and Thursday nights?

Hey Gary, if you ever get around to putting together an Uncle Sams reunion in Des Moines, let me know. I can think of many people from those days that would love to attend.

Again, it has been great reminiscing with everyone here. Keep the memories alive, because we will never see a club like Uncle Sams again.

In buffalo, monday was oldies night and thursdays was student appreciation. .

I bumped into this site and saw some references to the club I used to work at, the Uncle Sam's in Davenport. It was a happening place at the time. I worked the door, bartended and DJ'd. (In fact, I had the club record for Firecracker Sales If I remember right Vodka Gin Rum Sweet and Sour, Seven Up and Sloe Gin (or maybe Grenadine)at the top) Terry Tilka (I believe Terry still owns a bar or two in the Quad Cities)and Rick Koprucki were two of my friends who worked there. There were two waitresses with blond hair that were a lot of fun and for the life of me I can't remember their names. Managers included Bill Wallace, John Lyons and Tony ??? (It's a shame I can't remember his name because he was a great guy.) The place was really close. We'd work till 2 or 3 in the morning, then play pool in the back until it was time to race through the parking lot to the Denny's where they always had a room waiting for us and we often took our own orders.

We played alot of non-disco oldies and rock and roll at that club and I found this while looking for one of the discs I used to play The Great Timber Rush by Timberline. They had a cut called Someday that we played a couple of times a night and I just found it again on line. Nice coincidence to see this here as well.

Kevin-

I worked as a bartender/beer bar operator of and on in Davenport back from Sep 75 til Mar 77 and had some great times!!! Our original MGR was Dan Lynch from the Lincoln club, along with Bill Wallace, Gary Sacker and Jonesey. The DJ's at the time were Wayne Czichas, Rory Griggs (looked alot like GREG Brady on the Brady Bunch) and Jim Chapman who also did some drumming. I believe Jim was the first jock in Davenport to beat mix.

The music was always great. As you said a mixture of Rock and Disco with oldies, country thrown in here and there. The young adults now don't know what they are missing.

I was the drummer at the Buffalo, NY 2525 Walden ave location from 1971 - 75'ish.... What a great place. Anyone have pictures from back then? I still have a firecracker glass also.... howie

howie,
there was an Uncle sams reunion last night at Nickle Street Cafe in west seneca. they will have it again next sept. I was the dj from 75-78. I don't remember you but i remember d*** Lido and Bill. (don't remember his last name)
john

How could I forget Bruce McFadden!
john

Thanks John Z... i hired D** Lido when i was leaving to be in full time bands. Was he at the reunion?

The dj was originally b** bailey and then big Mike W*** took over... i replaced the original drummer (can't remember his name)... In 1971-72.

d*** L was not there. There was one guy from 71 and a waitress named donna from 74. It was a very poor showing, probably because of labor day weekend. next year they will advertise more. last year they had a good crowd. I remember bill b. he filled in occasionally for me.

Hey! Great site...I worked at Uncle Sam's on Telegraph (Detroit) in 1974 thru about middle 1975. I ran the slide and movie projectors and took pictures of the customers. Still think that's a great idea...what a great way to get people to come back -- to see if their picture made the screen!!! I remember Jimmy Tupper, Scotty (assistant Mgr), Charlie the manager (I think he originally worked in Buffalo)and Debbie and Patty the waitresses and I were roommates for a while. Mindy took my place when I finally had to get a "real job". I know she had a stack of the slides from way back then...I wonder if she's still around!? We had a reunion a while back...maybe 10-15 years ago...almost everyone showed up.
We were so lucky to have a place like this to hang!

Was a bartender at Sam's on Walden Ave, Buffalo in 77/78. Worked #2 at the big bar most nights. Mike Zarbo, Steve Carmina, the Germaine brothers, Duke, ... What a great time.

Guys, there are separate entries for the Detroit, Long Island and Des Moines locations of the chain.

Detroit:
http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/13827_0_6_375_C/

Des Moines:
http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/10234_0_6_375_C/

L.I.:
http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/6824_0_6_375_C/

visited uncle sam's in Dewitt on many a friday night back in '73-''75. Was in the air force and stationed at Hancock Field in Syr. Great club (pre-disco era). Used to play everything from "Chicago" to the "Doobie Brothers." The drummer was great! He never missed a beat to any of the songs. Loved the elevated and lighted dance floor, and the women were fantastic! Was back there 10-15 years ago, and I think it's a country and western bar now.....Bummed!
From reading all the posts, I have a feeling I missed the disco thing in NY, but I lived it in Boston later

There was an Uncle Sam's in Pasadena, Tx (Houston area) also. My friends and I would stake out a table close to the Ladies room knowing that we would be able to see, and be seen by, every girl in the place.
We'd order a Firecracker, then a Tank, and eventually a 151 and coke. After that we didn't care about the women. LMAO.
My Army friend, Donna Tobin, frequented the Uncle Sam's in Des Moines.

I too had the pleasure of going to Uncle Sam's in Redford MI. I grew up in that bar. It was the late 70's early 80's. What a great time, what a great bunch of people. (regulars) We even used to all meet up at Hines park for BBQ's. Here are some of the gang. Me,(Karen) my husband George (we dated on and off thru the Uncle Sam's days) There was Bob, Bruno, Joel, Sandy, Gloria, Wayne, Sally, Rick, Tom, Karen Vella, many more that I can't remember this second. Also can't forget the Canadian's. Darrell, Switt, Joe Vella, Ken Sawchuck, Rick.

Would love to talk to people that remember these people and these days. What a good time we all had.
Contact me at kmmichel222@yahoo.com

My girlfriends and I went to Uncle Sams in Minneapolis often. We'd get our $100.00 pay check on Friday. Go to Ridgedale to buy an outfit for $80.00 and have enough left over for the cover charge and drinks for Friday and Sat. night. Although who needed drink money when a smile would get you drinks for free. I guess those days are gone - women's lib put a stop to that -- or maybe cheap men. The line to get in was often 2 blocks long (unless you knew the manager/owner -- which we did). A lot of good memories. I have a dozen pictures of my girlfriends and I in the women's bathroom. The wall paper was terrific for a backdrop. Remember the cry room?

regarding john zilliox from buffalo ny,i remember you working there as a dj,i had the biggest crush on you,my brother dennis emerson,was older than me,knew you,i started out on teen night,then had fun there once i turned 18 ,i use to bug you all the time,hope to get to the next reunion!!

Great Posts except most of mine i admit i drank to many firecrackers in honor of some groovy times. I rem Dayton back in 74 was one of the first "Streakers" at Sams. He was a bartender their and went across the street to order a pizza without plain clothes really!..it appeared in the newspaper. Thats how i got my job their was just to mention his Name...hired. Nowadays one would not get a job that way!..times have changed they sure have. I know one thing alot of dance floors are empty. I got fired from Sams for asking to take a night off Pete said no i said yes i want to dance, to have fun been working 7 days a week make jack a dull boy. Pete fired me and the rest is history. I had way more fun as a customer then a bartender/projectionist...but now heck i would take it all back just to see the people having fun and the Music. Know i make Ambient/Down Tempo Soundtracks but i do it alone. Keep Postin awaiting the rebirth of Disco again!!!...

OK so lets face it, if you were a part of the Uncle Sam's scene in Des Moines in the late 70's then you're 50-something now or had a fake ID! Accepting that we all probably remember things differently it's in that light that I share what memories that A. are correct given the amount of booze consumed at the time, and B. are accurate accounts of things as best I can remember after 30 years....
First there was the Joker on E. 14th and Euclid. that bar blew away anything that came before. Just its unbeleivable size and all the things going on from the gameroom /deli to the live band and dance bar to the theater and the DJ dance floor seemed huge with bars at both ends. When Uncle Sam's first opened it struggled competing with the Joker. There was an Uncles Sam's in Boston that was the number one money maker of the 6 at that time. It was run by a manager named Mario and they brought him to Des Moines to turn things around. He started advertising and held ladies nights on Tuesdays and Saturdays where the girls got in free and drank free all night and it wasn't long before things turned around. I still remember the DJ playing Karn-Evil #9 by Emerson Lake and Plamer at 9:00, turned on the lighted walls and dance floor and cranked up that amazing JBL sound system and if that didn't get you fired-up then you didn't have a soul!
If you haven't heard that song in a awhile then listen to it again and see if it doesn't take you back to 1978!!
Do you remember the sofa areas on each side of the DJ above the dancefloor? We were sitting there one night when the manager asked us to give up our sofa so Wolfman Jack could do a DJ set. I feel so fortunate to have lived in that era! I get upset when my kids call it "disco". I tell them that it wasn't even disco music that we danced too at first, Head East "Never been any reason" Commodores' "Brick house" several Earth Wind and Fire songs "September" the Doobie Brothers; "Long Train Runnin and China Grove" Boston's; "Longtime" the list goes on and on! I still remember in the Spring of 1979 when The Sugarhills gang produced "Rappers Delight". I'm not much of a rap fan but that was a cool song. I still have some firecracker glasses in a box in the garage! Weren't they $3.00? That was a lot of money for a drink then. All good stuff. I'm sure I got some of this wrong but I hope that my memories (wrong or not)bring back some more good memories for you! Mike

Hey Mike,thanks for the memories! I was part of the Uncle Sam's scene in the mid to late 70's and yes, I am now in my mid 50's. Doesn't seem possible that it was over 30 years ago that we were blown away by Karn-Evil #9 as the DJ cranked things up for what always promised to be a great night! Funny, I too think of that whenever I hear that tune to this day. Music can take you back like that as I am sure you know. I always preferred Uncle Sam's to the Joker and for some reason remember it being there first. I know that everyone I knew would be at Sam's and some nights we would check out both clubs. I think there was a Joker in Council Bluffs too. I moved from Dead Moines around 1980 so was not there for the demise of Uncle Sam's. I am glad about that because I always want to remember it like it was in the glory days. We probably crossed paths back then and appreciate the reconnect all these years later. Enjoyed reminiscing with you!

Hi sandy!
Yes, I remember you! you weren't the only one with a crush on the DJ ! LOL! I also remember the first teen night with 8 kids. half of them were my sisters! it grew to over 1500 kids on Sunday night. alot of fun. yes, I will definitely make it to the next reunion. my email is drzhealth@frontiernet.net and I can let you know when it is. I hope to get in touch with others for the reunion this year. I've got some picks from Sams I'd like to post.

hi john!surprised you still remember me,i cant wait for the reunion,please let me know when it is,hope all is well with you,hope to see you at the reunion!

I used to go there starting in 1975 in the fall on Monday nights. Joe Siragusa from my high school was the drummer. Mainly went there to see concerts later. Saw U2 in 1980. Talas did their reunion concert there in 1979. Too many to remember. Great times back in Buffalo.

marty, trying to remember your friend joe. I was the dj on monday night from 75-78. Only drummers I knew were d***, bill and bruce. did he have short black hair and skinny kid?(weren't we all back then? lol)It's coming back to me now! lol had to be in 77. they got rid of the drummers in the fall of 77 when they remodeled. You're right..great times on monday nights.