[Dixielandjazz] Original Shakey's In Sacramento

[Robert S. Ringwald]

It's deja vu all over again!
 
Friday night, June 28th, marks the opening of the Dueling Pianos 
of "Sugar" Willie Erickson and "Barrelhouse" Burt Wilson at 57th 
and Jay Sts in Sacramento, California. 
 
No, it's not Shakey's anymore, it's the East End Bar and Grill. 
 
Wilson and Erickson will play from 8:00 PM to Midnight and sit-
ins are welcome for the third set.
 
It was back in 1955 that Wilson brought his Silver Dollar Jazz 
Band into Shakey's to begin a tradition of Dixieland jazz and 
banjo/piano teams in the famous pizza eatery. It was the first 
band to play in Shakey's back room. Wilson was a bartender and 
intermission pianist (fresh out of college) at the time and he 
convinced Shakey to let him bring in a band and he did--a nine 
piece Lu Watters-type group with two trumpets and two banjos.
 
Now Wilson and Erickson will bring their Dueling Pianos (and 
more!) act to the old 57th and Jay St. location 47 years after 
they first started there. The new owner, Biaggio, wants them to 
help bring back some of the memories of the good old days at 
Shakey's. He's revised the menu to include high quality, 
moderately-priced California cuisine and you might even get a 
pizza!
 
It would be nice if the old friends of the old Shakey's would 
show up and pack the place and let the new owner know that there 
is a market for such music and fun. In fact, that's the East End 
Bar and Grill's new slogan--"Come for the food...stay for the 
fun!"
 
Don't forget--the Dueling Pianos of "Sugar" Willie Erickson and 
"Barrelhouse" Burt Wilson this coming Friday, June 28th, 8:00 PM, 
at the East End Bar and Grill--57th and Jay Sts. In Sacramento! 
 
The phone number of the East End Bar and Grill is (916) 452-7511. 
Recommend reservations if you're eating dinner there. Willie and 
Burt will be performing in the front room.
 
If you would like to be on Sugar and Burt's mailing list, send an 
email to Burt at  futurecon@earthlink.net
 
 
Note:  Burt Wilson wrote a wonderful book titled "Shakey & Me" 
which chronicles the history of the Shakey Pizza Parlor craze 
which swept the country & eventually most of the world, in the 
50s, 60s and 70s.  
 
You may see a review of the book at http://www.mississippirag.com
 
Click on "Rag Reviews" and search for Shakey.  
 
"Shakey & Me" is published by Paloria Press and may be purchased 
thusly:
 
Send a check or money order in the amount of $13.50 which 
includes S&H, to:
 
The Burt Wilson Co., 
1731 Howe Ave.
PMB 545
Sacramento, CA 95825. 
 
It may also be purchased in the Sacramento area at Tower
Books on Watt and El Camino, or at Borders Books on Fair Oaks 
Blvd. 
 
Or from Burt himself at the East End Bar and Grill on Friday 
night, June 28, 2002.