[Dixielandjazz] Re: Tailgate Party

[Robert S. Ringwald]

The description of a party usually before a football game in the parking 
lot, is correct.

When I used to play in a Dixieland band outside of the coliseum for the Los 
Angeles Raiders, we would play 3 hours, from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.  You would 
not believe some of the parties that the fans would throw.

Of course, as one Listmate said, it all started, & the name came about from 
dropping down the tailgate of a pickup or station wagon to either unload the 
food & booze, or to sit on or use as a table.

Some of the fans at the Raider's games would get very elaborate, bringing 
tables, white table cloths, crystal wine glasses, grills, & hiring 
professional chefs.

We would have trouble making it all the way around the stadium to play the 
last half hour at the press gate because of all of the food & liquid 
refreshment that we would be offered.

Five minutes before the game started, as we would be playing the press gate, 
Magic Johnson would always come in with a few of his friends.  He never 
missed a game.

I remember when he got married.  It was on a Saturday, somewhere back east. 
The next day, we were taking bets as to whether Magic would show up.  Sure 
enough, at exactly five minutes to 1:00, there he was with some of his 
friends, & no wife.

Now, there's a fan!

--Bob Ringwald K6YBV
Placerville, CA USA

"There are three kinds of men:
The ones that learn by reading.
The few who learn by observation.
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for
themselves."
--William Penn Adair (Will) Rogers B: 11/4/1879 D: 8/15/1935