Little Labels--Big Sound: Small Record Companies and the Rise of American Music

Book Description

Little Labels - Big Sound celebrates 10 legendary record labels, their founders and the artists they developed, who created original and enduring music on the tide of social change. From the 1920s through the 1960s, scores of small, independent record companies nurtured distinctly American music: jazz, blues, gospel, country, rhythm and blues, and rock'n'roll. These companies, run on shoestring budgets, were on the fringe of mainstream culture. Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, James Brown, Roy Orbison, and other musicians brought regional American styles to a world audience and won enduring fame for themselves. But often forgotten are the colorful owners of small record labels who first recorded these musicians and helped to popularize their sound before the dominant, more bureaucratic competitors knew what had happened.

Customer Reviews:

Little Labels, Big Impact.......2005-10-21

I bought this book after buying Mr. McNutt's "Too Hot to Handle," a thoroughly researched and fascinating book designed like a fanzine for we small-time studio fanatics. "Little Labels" did not disappoint. Like his other book, this one has many, many interviews with the label owners, engineers, and musicians. Very few writers today take the time to go to the scene and interview the people who were involved. I appreciate this book so much because Mr. McNutt and Mr. Kennedy do take the time to find the people who made the sounds. I didn't grow up on this music, but I have learned to love it. Give it five stars!

Little labels played a huge role in the evolution of Amercian popular music.......2005-07-07

O how the landscape has changed! Fifty years ago there were literally hundreds of independent record labels operating in cities and towns all across the USA. Many of these companies were fly by night operations that lasted for only a short period of time. Some managed to stick around long enough to have a hit record or two before disappearing from the scene forever. But, a fair number of these independent labels were quite successful and would leave an indelible mark on American popular music. This is what "Little Labels-Big Sound" is all about.
Whether you are a fan of the blues, rock and roll, R & B, group harmony or jazz, there is little doubt that these "little labels" made a significant contribution to the development of your kind of music. Authors Rick Kennedy and Randy McNutt have focused on 10 of these important independent labels. It is a very readable and highly entertaining book that both record collectors and history buffs are sure to enjoy.
Hoagy Carmicheal and Louis Armstrong spent their formative years in the 1920's at Gennett Records, a small indie based in Richmond, In. When a young and dynamic James Brown audtioned for King Records in the mid 1950's, label owner Syd Nathan remarked "Nobody wants to hear that noise." History would indeed prove him wrong. Most critics agree that jazz legend Charlie Parker made his finest recordings at Ross Russell's Dial records. "Little Labels-Big Sound" tells the story of how Charlie Parker wound up at Dial. There are also chapters devoted to seven other notable indies including Sun, Riverside, Monument and Duke-Peacock. I enjoyed reading about them all.
Today, a few major conglomerates dominate the music business. There is little for most of us to get excited about. "Little Labels-Big Sound" fondly recalls that time in America when small record labels flourished and creativity thrived. It is worth remembering. Recommended.

Good Book.......2002-11-27

Great insight into the workings of old independent labels. I enjoyed the book thoroughly. I hope the publisher will bring out a Vol. 2. Next time, the writers could do some even smaller ones!

Those Were the Real Record Days.......2002-11-25

The interview with Fred Foster, the Monument Records man, is worth the price of this book alone. Some good reporting and analysis and a book worthy of owning. I learned a lot about a label in my backyard, Gennett Records in Richmond.

Loved this book!.......2001-10-29

Reading this book has given me a new appreciation of the struggles of independent record company owners over the years. The chapter on King Records is worth the price of the book. The writers have carefully researched some important labels, picking their favorites--Gennett is very fascinating to me personally. I hope that a record company will release some old material based on this book. I hope the writers will consider a sequel.

Think Big, Act Small: How America's Best Performing Companies Keep the Start-up Spirit Alive

Average customer rating:

Great Book!
10 successful companies explain what makes them great.
Stories of Business Practices, Culture, & Philosophy of Nine Successful Companies
Great
Model Organizations, Outstanding Leadership

Think Big, Act Small: How America's Best Performing Companies Keep the Start-up Spirit Alive
Jason Jennings
Manufacturer: Portfolio Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Strategy & Competition | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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It's Not the Big That Eat the Small...It's the Fast That Eat the Slow: How to Use Speed as a Competitive Tool in Business
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It's Not What You Say...It's What You Do: How Following Through At Every Level Can Make Or Break Your Company

ASIN: 1591840767
Release Date: 2005-05-09

Book Description

Is it possible for a company to grow its revenues and profits by 10 percent or more for at least ten consecutive years, not counting acquisitions? That's an incredibly high bar for growth and profitability, one that 99.99 percent of American companies can't meet— including the famous ones that routinely land on magazine covers.

Management expert Jason Jennings screened 100,000 companies to identify nine little- known firms that have delivered stellar performance for a full decade or more, despite the ups and downs of the economy. And, as he reveals in his new book, these superstars have a lot in common despite their wide range of industries, which includes software, food services, medical supplies, and sporting goods.

It turns out that the best long-term performers all combine the strengths of a big organization with the hunger of a start-up. They build excellent relationships with their customers, suppliers, workers, and shareholders. They groom future leaders at all levels. They balance their short-term goals with their long-term visions. And they teach their managers to get their hands dirty.

Jennings did extensive interviews at his nine featured companies to find out exactly how they consistently increase revenue and profits without using manipulation or gimmickry. He reveals their unique approach to leadership and shows how any company, no matter what size or industry, can benefit from following their examples.

Think Big, Act Small may be the most powerful management book since Good to Great and Execution.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book!.......2007-08-23

I loved this book. It's an easy, enjoyable read, and very rich in information on how companies we know and love have made it through difficult times and the habits and beliefs they live on a day-to-day basis. Very interesting and insightful. I plan to re-read it in case I missed anything the first go-round.

10 successful companies explain what makes them great........2007-05-30

The book covers the study of 10 companies that have had an increase in revenue and profit of 10%, or more, for 10 consecutive years. There are many similarities with "Good to Great", however, this book deals with smaller companies and the leader at the helm is written about in more detail than "Good to Great". Like any great book on leadership and business you will find that the key to greatness is, you guessed it, FUNDAMENTALS. I particularly enjoyed the study of Koch Industries. Mr. Charles Koch guiding principles are outlined well in this book and I believe they are worth studying and implementing. They certainly have produced incredible results for his business conglomerate. Overall this book was well written and I was able to get some great nuggets of practical information from all 10 of the companies studied. I really enjoyed it, and got enough out of it to give it the 5 stars.

Stories of Business Practices, Culture, & Philosophy of Nine Successful Companies.......2007-01-20

This is a great business practice/philosophy book. It doesn't throw numbers at you or tell you how to hit your quarterly target. Instead, the stories of nine culturally healthy and monetarily profitable companies are told. The format is interviews with the company leaders and other key players. Jennings expounds on the interviews and builds similarities among the companies. For instance, these companies don't acquire customers or clientèle, they build communities and fans.

The stories are inspiring because they truly start from the beginning. For example, Dick Cabela purchased fishing flies in Chicago for only pennies apiece. When he returned home to the Midwest, he put an ad in a sportsmen magazine and the orders started to roll in. He and his wife filled orders on the kitchen table and their first warehouse was the shed in the backyard. Today, Cabela's is one of the largest outdoors specialty merchandisers/retailers in the US, grosses more than $1.5B, and their stores are considered tourist attractions.

One more story: Charles O'Reilly and his son Chub worked at an automotive parts store for years. Charles was let go at the age of 72 and Chub was transferred out of state by some higher-ups, as I like to call them. So Charles decided to open a competing store. Chub was a cofounder and they also hired 10 employees from their competitors under one condition, "anyone joining the new company had to make an investment and become and owner."

These companies don't make big 5-10 year plans, instead they focus on today through next year and sometimes two years ahead. They claim making big plans never work because trends, business, technology, etc. change too often and you lose site of the fundamentals and current goals and neglect suppliers (partners) and customers (the community). Additionally, resources are wasted trying to achieve something that might never be. However, they do focus on being extremely adaptable; ready to refocus the entire company or invent new businesses in short notice.

Bottom line, all the stories and lessons are inspiring and invaluable. Considerable focus is placed on the cultures of these companies. Basically, they don't worry about making money and acquiring customers. They concentrate on building a healthy culture, make sure employees are happy, and provide solutions to problems; gaining wealth and customers is only an axiomatic consequence.

The nine companies interviewed are PETCO, Koch Industries, Sonic, Cabela's, Medline Industries, O'Reilly Automotive, Dot Foods, SAS Institute, Strayer Education. The companies presented have grown revenues by at least 10% for 10 consecutive years.

Great.......2007-01-10

This book reminds us to set aside our own egos when managing a business or a department. It is a quick read with a clear message. I would recommend that all senior managers and those who aspire to be a senior manager read this book.

Model Organizations, Outstanding Leadership.......2007-01-09

What stands out about this Think Big, Act Small is that the ten companies the author highlights are not only model organizations and true to their mission, they also have the benefit of outstanding leadership. What struck me, especially in light of the culture of the rock star CEO is that for the most part, those who lead these organizations wants no part of that star mystique. Instead, they are interested in building organizations that stay true to their employees, their partners, and ultimately, to their customers.

KnightofGod spoke about some of the common sense lessons, that surprisingly enough are not as common place as you would think. I think that's the crux of how these companies operate. They adopt a common sense approach to their business, placing little bets along the way, quietly go about building their reputation, and where I think most companies truly fall short, give their employees a sense of ownership, either emotionally or by giving them a piece of the company.

For the CEO's that think a part of their job is to be on CNBC, it certainly is refreshing to read about executives who to a certain extent shun the spotlight. Not only are they averse to being on stage, they also shun the trappings of CEO-life. It is in stark contrast to the stories we have all read about.

Jenning's lays out ten "Building Blocks" to think big, but act small. In each of his ten cases, to one degree or another, these building blocks were a cornerstone or some component to their success. He also provides the reader with an evaluation to determine where their companies fall in a "The Quad," or the four types of companies (TSAS, TSAB, TBAB, TBAS - See Robet Morris' excellent review for further details).

Ultimately, Think Big, Act Small, is a great book on how ten companies did things their own way, shunning the advice of investment bankers and the demands of wall street. In most cases it gave each company the liberty to do what they thought was best for them, their partners and their companies. And in each case, the beneficiary has been the client.

I highly recommend Think Big, Act Small. If you are a commuter like me, reading this book is time well spent as you wait for your stop.

How Walmart Is Destroying America And The World: And What You Can Do About It

Average customer rating:

pamphlet that accuses Wal-Mart of, well, everything BAD
Some good points made; but....
An easy read with some good points
This Book is Jerry-Built
Sometimes you just want to yell "I hate Wal-Mart"

How Walmart Is Destroying America And The World: And What You Can Do About It
Bill Quinn
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Company Profiles | Biography & History | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The United States of Wal-Mart
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Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

ASIN: 1580086683

Book Description

After carving up the once lovingly cared-for downtowns of Small Town America, Wal-Mart launched a frontal assault on mom-and-pop businesses all over the globe. With 1.5 million employees operating more than 3, 500 stores, Wal-Mart is now the world's largest private employer. In this third edition of HOW WAL-MART IS DESTROYING AMERICA (AND THE WORLD), intrepid Texas newspaperman Bill Quinn continues the fight. Featuring detailed accounts of Wal-Mart's questionable business practices and the latest information on Wal-Mart lawsuits, vendor issues, and efforts to stop expansion, Quinn shows why Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is arguably the most feared and despised corporation in the world. Whether you're a customer fed up with Wal-Mart's false claims, a vendor squeezed by strong-arm tactics, a worker pushed to increase the Waltons' bottom line, or a concerned citizen trying to save your hometown, this book will show you how to get Wal-Mart off your back and out of your backyard.

Customer Reviews:

pamphlet that accuses Wal-Mart of, well, everything BAD.......2006-01-03

This is an activists' handbook for those who want to attack Wal-Mart, which is not only the world's biggest retailer but the world's largest nongovernmental employer. The author sees Wal-Mart as bearing the principal responsibility for an awful lot of terrible things that are happening to small-town America and that are now spilling into the rest of the world as WM invests in stores overseas.

There is no denying that WM is a catalyst for a lot of distrubing trends: the use of scale economies to underbid mom&pop shops in America's rural areas, its transforming impact on communities (heavier traffic, depopulation of traditional downtown areas, etc), its heavy-handed approach to negotiations with sometimes desperate local authorities, and lastly, its use of near-minimum wage labor while crushing labor union activity in its stores.

But as a catalyst, it is much more the instrument of fundamental economic forces - globalisation and also vast integrated operational networks - than the sole or even the governing cause. In my view, that throws the questions into the political arena. Sure, you can attack WM, but what its managers are doing only makes business sense to them: expand shops that are incredibly profitable while selling at far lower prices than traditional outlets could because they lack the scale and organization of WM. That cannot be fought at the moment.

The bottom line then becomes: WM will continue to win unless there is some kind of concerted political action that changes the fundamental economic logic that is operating behind it - and that is way beyond just blocking the change of zoning laws or boycotting the company. I am not arguing that WM's impact is good or inevitable and unstoppable, but that the current economic environment favors it.

As such, I believe this book fails to look at most of the deeper problems. Instead, the reader is served up with a simplistic villain, WM, and urged to protest and buy elsewhere. The assumption is: get rid of WM and we can go a long way back to how things were. Alas, that is a strawman.

What we need to do is change the playing field. And this book will not help much in that. WM and its imitators need to be regulated and channeled into certain areas of competition that are less destructive to traditional communities and their economies, and that is as complicated and difficult to effect as it would sound. Of course, WM must also be forced to provide healthcare, allow unionization, and take the environment into consideration in its decisions.

Nonetheless, from the evidence as it appears to me, WM has not yet become a responsive corporate citizen. THe incredible size and power that it has attained is a relatively recent phenomenon, and there are many managers inside of it who are arguing that it needs to change, including CEO Lee Scott. But it needs to evolve and pay attention to what the outside world thinks of its practices, which leave a lot to be desired to put it mildly. That is where protest comes in and where books like this have a vital part to play. If WM leaders are smart, they will see that it makes business sense for them to listen to consumers and adapt their practices as far as they can while maintaining profitability.

Later, if the company has a culture that is capable of learning, the protests may become a more productive kind of negotiation, as it has with some companies such as adidas or even McDonald's. But to blame everything on just one company is as silly as holding McDonald's alone as responsible for America's obesity epidemic - they play a role to be sure, but are only cogs in a far greater economic and cultural phenomenon.

Recommended as this is a piece of the debate, but it is badly incomplete and simplistic.

Some good points made; but...........2005-12-09

This book caught my eye at a rummage sale for twenty-five cents. Many folks on my wife's side of the family are big supporters of Wal-Mart, so naturally when I brought this book home my wife wanted nothing to do with it. I'm indifferent to the large retailer, so I kept an open mind, and decided to read it anyway.

The book's biggest problem is that Quinn spends too much time ranting and raving about how horrible Wal-Mart is. It's like listening to a cantankerous old man who just got fired from his position as a Wal-Mart greeter. Sure, he raises some good points, but Wal-Mart does not need to "Burn in Hell" as it seems he wishes it would.

If the author wants to point out how Wal-Mart is destroying America, he out to provide solutions and alternatives to the problem. So you hate Wal-Mart...okay; we've established that. Now how about telling me some actual good things the retailer is doing? There are very few things in the world that are totally corrupt, and Wal-Mart is not one of them. Wal-Mart has good and bad points, and not pointing out some of it's good points is what makes this book's bias so distasteful.

While the book will give you pause, I doubt this will be a thorn in Wal-Mart's side. The book is just too personal. It reminds me of a child who was picked on by a school bully, and now he is crying to his parents instead of confronting the problem head-on.

If you don't want to shop at Wal-Mart, then don't! There's not one thing you can buy at Wal-Mart that you can't get somewhere else. You don't need a 165 page book to tell you that.

An easy read with some good points.......2005-12-08

This is a fairly simple book outlining many of the problems with Wal-Mart and the practices that they've created or improved on (many started by Sears) which have gutted America's downtown and factories.

This book isn't very deep, and doesn't have as much reference material as I'd like. I recommend The Case Against Wal-Mart by Al Norman if you're looking for more about Wal-Mart's practices.

I think Bill Quinn is very passionate about his subject, which makes him seem less reliable. Nevertheless, if he was libeling Wal-Mart, rest-assured, this book would be out of print. Wal-Mart is very litigious, and I'm sure they would not hesitate to sue the publisher.

This is a great book if you're wondering why everyone is so upset about Wal-Mart. It isn't about just cheaper prices or lower wages. Wal-Mart is a revolutionary company that has completely changed the American landscape in the last ten years.

If you haven't read this book, I recommend it.

This Book is Jerry-Built.......2005-09-03

This book was horribly written. Don't get me wrong, I loved the analogies used... describing the American consumer as Wal-Mart's whores... that was great. However, a lot of the author's claims were highly unsubstantiated. As a Wal-Mart associate, I know that a lot of what he said is untrue. We are NOT allowed to work off the clock, and we are not victims of Wal-Mart's corporate greed. I really like my job, and while I don't approve of all Wal-Mart's policies, I certainly don't think they're as bad as they are portrayed in this book. I'm sure many of the stories ARE true. However, if the author spent half as much time spotlighting GOOD things Wal-Mart did, this book would be much more balanced. I'm not impressed by his research, the book is lacking in fact, and is full of baloney. The research he did do could have been much better presented. The book was rambling, he repeated himself constantly, and it just felt like the book was slapped together last minute to be rushed out onto Target shelves...

Sometimes you just want to yell "I hate Wal-Mart".......2005-06-03

I've hardly ever been in a Wal-Mart. Despite not liking to shop at Wal-Mart myself I don't have any stronger feelings against them than against other "big box" stores such as Home Depot, Target, K-Mart or Lowe's. As far as I'm concerned they're all temples of materialism that blight the landscape and cause traffic jams.

So what's wrong with Wal-Mart in particular? Bill Quinn, the curmudgeon author of this blog-like diatribe, relies on unnamed sources, data (some of it improbable) without references and lots of anecdotes that may or may not be true. His redundant message is that the Bentonville blankety-blanks, as he repeatedly refers to Wal-Mart, possesses the (in)human characteristics of "evil" and "greed" and manages, apparently thorough some satanic process, to violate the laws of economics and simultaneously treat all employees, vendors AND customers like dirt and single handedly destroy small town America's utopia-like "mom and pop" main street commerce (whatever that meant in the 1990s after decades of Sears, K-Mart, etc.).

But every so-called shady or dirty tactic the author singles out to revile Wal-Mart with is practiced in some form by all aggressive, professional retailers. And do so-called "mom and pop" stores always provide health insurance and pay more than minimum wage? Hardly. And if vendors and service suppliers lose money selling to Wal-Mart then 1) why did they sign the deal and 2) why are they selling to Wal-Mart more than once? These complaints make no sense.

Quinn's suggestions for "fighting" Wal-Mart range from common sense (storekeepers update your business skills) to ineffective (letters to the editor) to improbable (running for political office). This moonbat even suggests such retro-60s touches as forming a protest to chant (I'm not kidding here) "one, two, three, four, we don't want your lousy store."

Quinn is a fanatic. He sums up by writing, "The long and the short of it for me is, I hate Wal-Mart." And that, in essence, is all he says in 171 pages with lots of white space that reads like it was written over a long weekend and is six years out of date.

If you're a Wal-Mart hater you might enjoy this. Otherwise save your money and fight Wal-Mart by spending the same amount on something fun at a "mom and pop" store. Or from Wal-Mart or an Internet retailer, whichever you like, because in America we're not only free to say what we want but we're free to shop where we want.

No index, no references for many key assertions, no new information since 1999.

A History of Small Business in America (Twayne's Evolution of Modern Business Series)

Average customer rating:

Good for beginners of business/economic history

A History of Small Business in America (Twayne's Evolution of Modern Business Series)
Mansel G. Blackford
Manufacturer: Twayne Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Production & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0805798242

Book Description

From the colonial era to the present day, small businesses have been an integral part of American life. First published in 1991 and now thoroughly revised and updated, A History of Small Business in America explores the central but ever-changing role played by small enterprises in the nation's economic, political, and cultural development.

Examining small businesses in manufacturing, sales, services, and farming, Mansel Blackford argues that while small firms have always been important to the nation's development, their significance has varied considerably in different time periods and in different segments of our economy. Throughout, he relates small business development to changes in America's overall business and economic systems and offers comparisons between the growth of small business in the United States to its development in other countries. He places special emphasis on the importance of small business development for women and minorities. Unique in its breadth, this book provides the only comprehensive overview of these significant topics.

Customer Reviews:

Good for beginners of business/economic history.......2006-11-10

There are so many good books and articles on the rise of big business in American history, but it is difficult to find fine books on history of small business. A HISTORY OF SMALL BUSINESS IN AMERICA, written by business historian Mansel G. Blackford, is one of such books. This concise book on American history of small business is very good for beginners of this field of study. Blackford skillfully synthesizes recent studies on American small-business history, paying attention to female, immigrant and black entrepreneurs. His insight is not limited within the border of U.S. but compares American business experiences with history of other countries such as Britain, German, France or Japan. This will be a new standard textbook of American business and economic history.

The Radical Middle Class: Populist Democracy and the Question of Capitalism in Progressive Era Portland, Oregon (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America)

Average customer rating:

The Radical Middle Class: Populist Democracy and the Question of Capitalism in Progressive Era Portland, Oregon (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America)
Robert D. Johnston
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

Democracy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

The End Of Reform: New Deal Liberalism in Recession and War
Making a New Deal: Industrial Workers in Chicago, 1919-1939
The Reconstruction of American Liberalism, 1865-1914
Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America)
A Godly Hero : The Life of William Jennings Bryan

ASIN: 0691126003

Book Description

America has a long tradition of middle-class radicalism, albeit one that intellectual orthodoxy has tended to obscure. The Radical Middle Class seeks to uncover the democratic, populist, and even anticapitalist legacy of the middle class. By examining in particular the independent small business sector or petite bourgeoisie, using Progressive Era Portland, Oregon, as a case study, Robert Johnston shows that class still matters in America. But it matters only if the politics and culture of the leading player in affairs of class, the middle class, is dramatically reconceived.

This book is a powerful combination of intellectual, business, labor, medical, and, above all, political history. Its author also humanizes the middle class by describing the lives of four small business owners: Harry Lane, Will Daly, William U'Ren, and Lora Little. Lane was Portland's reform mayor before becoming one of only six senators to vote against U.S. entry into World War I. Daly was Oregon's most prominent labor leader and a onetime Socialist. U'Ren was the national architect of the direct democracy movement. Little was a leading antivaccinationist.

The Radical Middle Class further explores the Portland Ku Klux Klan and concludes with a national overview of the American middle class from the Progressive Era to the present. With its engaging narrative, conceptual richness, and daring argumentation, it will be welcomed by all who understand that reexamining the middle class can yield not only better scholarship but firmer grounds for democratic hope.

Lion's Share: How Three Small-Town Grocers Created America's Fastest-Growing Supermarket Chain and Made Millionaires of Scores of the North Carolina

Average customer rating:

One of the best business histories Ihave read in a long time

Lion's Share: How Three Small-Town Grocers Created America's Fastest-Growing Supermarket Chain and Made Millionaires of Scores of the North Carolina
Mark Wineka , and Jason Lesley
Manufacturer: Down Home Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Shopping & Commerce | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1878086073

Customer Reviews:

One of the best business histories Ihave read in a long time.......1998-11-16

One of the best histories of small business men making it big

Where Have You Gone, Starlight Cafe?: America's Golden Era Roadside Restaurants

Average customer rating:

DINER HISTORY
re: Pete's Cafe
Excellent book, for those who love revisiting the past.
American Roadside Nostalgia at its Best!!!!!!
Mystery of Pete's Cafe

Where Have You Gone, Starlight Cafe?: America's Golden Era Roadside Restaurants
Will Anderson
Manufacturer: Anderson & Sons Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Customer Reviews:

DINER HISTORY.......2001-07-01

I am a sucker for diners, diner food and those great 1940's-1950's color postcards of diners all over the USA.

Part 1 of "Where Have You Gone...?" collects some of the best of those postcards in full page, full color reproductions and then explains the history of each place and its current(if still standing) location, staff, specialties, etc. Parts 2 and 3 examine, in photographs and text, the diners of today and the final entry celebrates the re-opening and re-vitalization of the Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine, a 70 year-old dining landmark.

The text is colorful, but verges on the mundane. However, the photographs and reproductions are first rate: We'll unfortunately never again see the beauty of the Art Deco design for the Court Cafe in Albuquerque, New Mexico or the main dining room/gas station and smaller cottages that made up the Dutch Mill Village of South Glasgow, Kentucky---They were all shaped like perfect, tiny windmills. Where but at Hick's Drive In on the Dixie Highway in Louisville, Kentucky would you find a circular building, a horseshoe shaped counter and an interior constructed entirely of glass?

My personal favorite postcard is of the Victory Cafe in Mattoon, Illinois--not that it is the most glamorous, but simply because it reminds me of my childhood, Saturday lunches at Baumgart's in Hackensack, New Jersey.

When/If you go antiquing, do you wander over to the bins of yellowing postcards? Then this book is for you.

re: Pete's Cafe.......2001-01-25

No, there's no fiction in this lovely book. Many of the illustrations are from old post card, very nicely reproduced. The Pete's Cafe illustration was from an earlier, destroyed incarnation of Pete's Cafe.

Excellent book, for those who love revisiting the past........1999-04-23

The first thing I saw in this book was Hicks Drive Inn Restaurant in surburban Louisville, Kentucky. I grew up near this restaurant have many fond memories of it. It was as wonderful as the book indicates. Next I spotted Stebbins Grill in downtown Louisville on Chestnut Street (before it was Mohammed Ali Boulevard). The author refers to it as the most upscale restaurant in the book. So upscale that I recall being able to afford only to look longingly at it from the outside! On the front cover is Pete's Cafe in Boonville, Mo, which I remember from a family vacation--one of those places advertised for miles in advance along the highway. And the pork chops were wonderful!

However, I want to tell the author that he missed the REAL Starlight Cafe--still operating, and under that name--in Terlingua, Texas (in the Big Bend area). Wonderful food--the shrimp-kabob tacos and cold beer are gifts from heaven in this beautiful remote hot and arid area. The decor is that of an ancient theatre--the original function; but it really more closely resembles a funky cave!

American Roadside Nostalgia at its Best!!!!!!.......1999-04-09

Who says you can't go back!! Read one of the restaurant descriptions;close your eyes and there's mom and pop catering to your every need. A great era of America's bygone days straight from the actual postcards of days past as well as the memories of those who were there with their own homespun rememberances. A bonus are the top ten pie recipes from the actual restaurants! Enjoy:the book and the pies. Thanks Mr. Anderson for a job well done......I remember those times........

Mystery of Pete's Cafe.......1999-02-09

I've only seen reviews in the New York Times and another magazine, but the picture of Pete's Cafe in this book doesn't resemble the Pete's Cafe I remember just off of I-70 on old US 40 in Booneville, MO. Is there some fiction in this book?

The 100 Best Spare-Time Business Opportunities in America

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The 100 Best Spare-Time Business Opportunities in America
Kevin Harrington , and Mark N. Cohen
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ASIN: 0471611336

African American Economic Development and Small Business Ownership (Studies in Entrepreneurship)

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African American Economic Development and Small Business Ownership (Studies in Entrepreneurship)
Kilolo Kijakazi
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Colonel Burton's Spiller & Burr Revolver: An Untimely Venture in Confederate Small-Arms Manufacturing (Civil War Georgia)

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Colonel Burton's Spiller & Burr Revolver: An Untimely Venture in Confederate Small-Arms Manufacturing (Civil War Georgia)
Matthew W. Norman
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