The Chili Grange Hall - circa 1960's
Lou Gramm (Louie Grammatico), of the group Foreigner, was quoted in an interview about his first gig as a drummer (at the Chili Grange):
"It was a big old place that held about 200 or 300 kids. The acoustics were absolutely horrible" Gramm recalls laughing. 'It was right next to a graveyard. In between band sets, the kids used to go out in the graveyard and neck."
The 'Chili Grange Experience' was about a whole lot more than just necking. You always arrived at the Grange Hall in total anticipation of the excitement that this night might bring. Because there was always something exciting about to happen!
You waited in line to pay, get your hand marked, and finally get into the dark room that housed the band and dance floor. The walls and floors were heavy with wood, so the sound of the local band playing that night reverberated right back at you in a cacophony of sound. It didn't matter. This was 'your place' and everyone that mattered to you was here.
As you entered the room, you wondered who would ask you to dance that night. And you got to see who was 'in love' that week and who was 'out of love'. Of course, you wore your coolest clothes, just to get some nods of attention. Fishnet stockings, short mini-skirts, british walkers, and LOTS of eye makeup. It didn't matter that in 5 minutes you would be sweating from all the body heat and lack of air. At least for those 5 minutes, when you entered, you looked great enough to get 'the nods'.
To cool off (or go to the bathroom) you could go downstairs, but it was musty and too well lit. This is not what you were looking for tonight! Or, if you were brave, you could go outside and roam the cemetary. Pretty dark and scarey, but you could find out who was staying faithful and who was 'messing around'!
My best friends Kathy Mack, Susie Ritchie, Debbie Baccaro, and Lois Cooper will enter the room with me. Kathy will always be first, as the ringleader. They will all head for the dance floor, but tonight is different for me. I will head for the stage because my 'steady boyfriend' is playing in the band tonight. Yes, we had 'steadys' back then. That meant we didn't even look at another guy! So, tonight I would spend sitting on the edge of the stage, listening to the music, and watch my girlfriends fall in love (or out of love).
And, tonight, before we leave, we'll all pack into Barb Mack's little Chevy Corvair. We'll pile in layers of people sitting and lying down. Maybe tonight we'll break the record! Even if we don't, we'll laugh so hard that Kathy will scream that she is going to pee her pants. This is a threat to be taken seriously, especially if you are on the bottom layer!
I will never forget this as the 'best night of my life'! At least, until next Saturday night....................