Hanson's Dances

Photo Copyright 2008 FCP Collection

The McCoys performing at Hanson's Ballroom, 1966

Part I: The 1960s

In the 1960s the dance nights at the Lake were owned by Eddie Day and the Starfires.  The group was originally formed by junior high school friends Richard Grumbravich (drummer) and Rodger Griffith (bassist).  The Back Mountain team was later joined by other young musicians including Bob Gardner (saxophone); Howard Dymond (piano); Freddie Kirkendall (guitar); and Charlie McCuen (vocalist).  In their college years Eddie Day Pashinski joined as vocalist and John Hall replaced Kirkendall (later Richard Rodieger replaced Hall).

The Starfires played throughout the Wyoming Valley including the Spinning Wheel (which closed December 24, 2007); the Starfire Ballroom (once the old Grant Market, South Main St., Wilkes-Barre), and, of course at Hanson’s.  At Hanson’s the Starfires joined rising musical stars of the 1960s in special nights which never quite left the 60s generation and would emerge again in the 1980s.  National talents like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bobby Goldsboro, Gary Bonds, Freddie Cannon, Patti and the Emblems and the British group, the McCoys, appeared at the park. 

Bobby Goldsboro originally played guitar for Roy Orbison.  He began his solo career in 1964 with 9 Top 40 hits in the 1960s.  He appeared at Hanson’s on June 12, 1964, four years before “Honey,” a No. 1 hit in 1968.  He later hosted his own TV variety series in 1973-75, moved into country music in the 1980s, and currently he produces children’s entertainment.

Photo courtesy of Shirley Hanson

Chubby Checker performing with the Starfires at Hanson's Ballroom, 1966

Chubby Checker appeared with the Starfires on July 15, 1966.  His No. 1 1960 hit The Twist has become an American iconic musical image.  He was paid $1,000., rather  steep at the time for his Hanson’s appearance.  Born Ernest Evans in South Philadelphia his Twist created “dancing apart from the beat” with “The Jerk”, “The Hully Gully”, “The Fly”, “The Pony” and others.  Despite the novelty Checker continues to perform more than 45 years after his initial hit record.  The Starfires appeared with the McCoys on August 17, 1966, who were composed of brothers Rick Zehringer A/K/A Derringer (guitarist) and Randy Zehringer (drums) with Randy Jo Hobbs (bassist); Sean Michaels (saxophone); and Ronnie Brandon (keyboard).  They were best known for the October 1965 No. 1 hit “Hang On Sloopy.”  In the 1970s the Zehringer brothers and Hobbs joined the Johnny Winter rock band.  Hobbs died in 1993.  The McKays made their last album in 2003.

Later in the 1960s Eddie Day formed his own band, the Night Timers, playing at the Kunkle Fire Hall (once a school), but later as the Eddie Day Groop at Sandy Beach.  By 1967 it was Eddie Day and TNT.  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.

Photo Copyright 2008 FCP Collection

Tex Valen

But Hanson’s did not feature exclusively rock dances.  There were other talented musical artists at the park certain evenings or in the bar/dining room.  Tex Valen was a gifted country artist who regularly appeared at the park. 

The dances at the Lake in the 1960s were also identified with Joe Nardone and the All Starts.  Joe Nardone began his music career while still a student at Coughlin High School.  His group was originally called the Four Stars and played at the CYC, Wilkes-Barre.  Graduating from Coughlin in 1955 Nardone attended the Wyoming Seminary Business School.  In 1957 the band was renamed the All Stars.  The area’s earliest “rock and roll” band the All Stars began playing at the CYC, Wilkes-Barre, in 1957 and the city’s Granada Ballroom in 1960, but they were most identified with Sans Souci amusement park and opened for concert tours by Danny and the Juniors, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap – and Neil Diamond in 1966.  Diamond appeared at Sans Souci five times between 1966-69.

While Nardone’s All Stars played for 12 years at Sans Souci, the band also played 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 he continues to perform with the All Stars annually at the Irem Temple Country Club.

Photo Copyright 2008 FCP Collection

Interior of the Hanson's Ballroom in the 1960s

Copyright 2006-2008 F. Charles Petrillo