The Jabberwock (club)

The Jabberwock was an American folk music club and coffeehouse active from 1961 to 1967, and located in Berkeley, California. It became among the most popular venues in the area's folk movement thanks to Bill "Jolly Blue" Ehlert. It stood at the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Russell Street, and featured several notable artists. The club was particularly frequented by pre-groups formed by future members of Country Joe and the Fish. The building was demolished two years after the business's closing.

History

The Jabberwock was previously a

On March 23, 1965, Randell and Strauder sold the Jabberwock to Bill "Jolly Blue" Ehlert.[6] Around this time, it was regularly the venue for performances by future Country Joe and the Fish members Country Joe McDonald and Barry "The Fish" Melton in the Instant Jug Band and Bruce Barthol. Following Country Joe and the Fish's success with Electric Music for the Mind and Body, the group still returned to the Jabberwock, but with an emphasis on psychedelia.^[7] The Jabberwock reached the peak of its popularity in 1966 as many musical artists began converting to psychedelic music, the club still hosted folk musicians. In the same year, Ehlert hired Jesse Cahn, who had been a guest drummer for the Chambers Brothers, to co-manage the Jabberwock while he ran the Matrix in San Francisco.^[3]

After several unsuccessful co-management partners, Sally Henderson took the helm for the club's final few months. In 1967, Health and Building Departments reclassified the building as hazardous due to an increased occupancy load. A complete renovation was required that was not financially viable, forcing the Jabberwock to close on July 7, 1967. Two years after its closure, the Jabberwock was demolished. A garden was grown on the vacant lot where the building had stood.^[3]

References