The Rock and Roll Dances at Hanson's

The Starfires & Joe Nardone and the All Stars

The McCoys were from Union City, New Jersey, but had a “mod” British look when they appeared with the Starfires on August 16, 1966.  Their No. 1 Billboard hit was “Hang On Sloppy.”  The McCoys were created by brothers Ricky Zehringer (guitar) and Randy Zehringer (drums).  They later were members of Johnny Winter’s band.

During this time Joe Nardone’s All Stars were also covering name artists at Sans Souci like Dion and The Wonderers on July 16, 1966; B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs on September 5, 1966; and the Strong Loves on September 10, 1966.

In 1967 Eddie Day formed the group The Night Timers with appearances at Sandy Beach beginning on Friday nights on May 26, 1967.  The Starfires band opened at Hanson’s earlier in May on Friday and Saturday evenings with a new lead singer Julie Downey.  Admission at both venues was now 75 cents for 3 hour programs running from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm.  Eddie Day’s Night Timers occasionally joined Joe Nardone’s All Stars at Sans Souci Park.  Eddie Day and the Night Timers also released a 45 R.P.M. record “Summers Gone” with the flipside “For My Girl” on the Onyx record label.

Hanson’s Park also hosted other bands in 1967 including Prince Charles and the Royal Tones in late July and early August.
In 1968 Eddie Day’s band was reformed as the Eddie Day Group.  At Sandy Beach Eddie Day played on the second floor dance hall above the first floor swim locker room.  The Starfires band continued to play various venues in the region including the Paramount Theatre, Wilkes-Barre, on August 3, 1968, with added singers Wayne Bevan and Linda Donte.

In 1967 and 1968 Sans Souci still continued successful stage and dance shows with Joe Nardone and national artists.  On August 6, 1967, Neil Diamond was at Sans Souci.  The following August 10, 1968, Gary Puckett and The Union Gap was at Sans Souci.  The admission fee was $2.50.  At the time Puckett had the nation’s No. 1 hit “Lady Will Power.”

However, the Lake’s popular dance venues were waning in the late 1960s.  The Eddie Day Group appeared again at Sandy Beach in 1969 while Hanson’s featured the country-western group Tex Valen and the Rhythm Ramblers.
For a number of years after Eddie day left the Starfires Richard Grumbravich retained the Starfires brand with various vocalists including Mike Varletta and Toni Metzger and other talented musicians.  With Grumbravich as drummer the Starfires played at numerous Northeastern Pennsylvania venues and the Pocono Resorts.  They were the house band for the Host Hotel with evolving musical styles including Big Band era music.

In 1970 Eddie Day and TNT resumed Sandy Beach appearances on June 5, 1970.  Eddie Day also produced two summer theatre plays at the Beach, Neil Simon’s “Star Spangled Girl” in June 1970 and “The Fantasticks” in early August 1970.
In 197-1972 Eddie Day operated the Sand Bar in the Sandy Beach pavilion with nightly entertainment.  In 1973 Sandy Beach was closed and the band was regularly at the CYC, Wilkes-Barre.  Day left active performing in 1982.  During his years of performing he was also on the faculty of Nanticoke Area High School as music teacher and choral director.  Eddie Day would return to performing with the R.P.M. Old Stars and his All Stars at revived Hanson Dances in 1988-91.  In 2005, Eddie Day Pashinski was elected State Representative from the Wilkes-Barre Area.

While Nardone’s All Stars played for 12 years at Sans Souci, the band also played on occasion at the Lake at both Hanson’s and Sandy Beach and at the Stardust Ballroom, later named the Naked Grape, on East Market Street near Public Square.  Joe Nardone and the All Stars disbanded in 1974.  He founded a successful chain of music stores in 1960 and later was a local concert promoter for stars like Barry Manilow, Kiss, Billy Joel and Chicago.  In the late 1980s Nardone and the All Stars regrouped for area concerts and with the All Stars performs annually at the Irem Temple Country Club.

The Starfires reunited after an inspired visit by band founder Rev. Rodger Griffith to Hanson’s in 2002 and they continue to draw a dedicated following at performances in the Valley and Back Mountain. 

Additional information about the Starfires and Joe Nardone may be found on their websites.