on 5/19/08 8:09 PM, Sherry and Michael wrote:


Dear Al,
 
I read with great interest the details about your Old Croak mascot. Nelson Ronsheim, you see, was my grandfather.
 
I have a small collection of these bottles and much appreciated the “parlabels” picture you posted as I don’t have an inventory or all the bottles. I found a couple of labels in the photo I wasn’t aware of and also note that this is one I have that’s not in the picture: “Old Snake Bite.”
 
There is a bit more history to Par Beverage that I find interesting, especially having grown up in the 50’s and 60’s. Par Beverage is actually the predecessor company to Kenner Toys. The founders of Kenner were Joseph Steiner, his brothers Philip and Albert, and their cousin Robert. (The name “PAR” Beverage comes from the first name initials of Philip Albert and Robert.)
 
Originally they planned to make their fortune in the soap business (Cincinnati is the home of Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest soap company) and, while researching soap bubbles, stumbled upon the idea for a toy. They patented this idea as a “Bubble Forming and Propelling Device” in 1946, patent number 2553388.

This “device” subsequently became Kenner’s first big success, the “Bubbl-Matic” toy bubble blowing gun. However, at the time, Kenner was not “Kenner,” but rather several different companies primarily established for the purpose of selling soap and home health products: Cincinnati Soap Co., Bromo-mint, Grandpa Brands, and Par Beverage.
 
The Steiner’s were customers of my grandfather. When they needed logos, packaging, promotional material, advertisements and so forth, he was the commercial artist that got the job. Once the Steiner’s hit it big in the toy business, packages containing various sorts of artwork were constantly being sent to and from my grandfather’s art studio in downtown Cincinnati to the Steiner’s office on Kenner Street by delivery person. At a certain point, rather than write out the full address of the Steiner’s office, he simply wrote “Kenner” on the package and the delivery person knew it was yet another delivery for the Steiner’s on Kenner St. The name stuck, and that’s how Kenner Toys got its name.
 
The wacky whiskey bottles were really just a hold-over from a time prior to the big success Kenner Toys became. Nelson continued to do much of the artwork and packaging for Kenner until his retirement around 1970 and remained on friendly terms with the Steiners. I’m not entirely sure what the business arrangement was behind PAR Beverage, but I know that my grandfather continued to receive small royalties from PAR until a few years before his death in the early eighties.
 
If you have an interest, you can visit flickr and see some of my grandfather’s black and white photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11046337@N07/collections/.
 
Michael G Smith
 
Al Replied:

Sherry and Michael:
Thank you for writing. I have attached what I have found (mostly by searching ebay) on the web so far. I Just saw Wet Horse Collar for the first time last week, bring the total of Par labels I've seen up to 33.
Do you have any inkling about the Honey and Maple Syrup Bottles? I'm guessing that either your Grandfather licensed the images, Par beverages printed and supplied labels/bottles or somebody simply copied them. Until the Wet Horse label showed up, the coasters  had the only copyright notice I've ever seen with "c 1972 PAR BEV. CO., CIN., OHIO 45202" printed on them,. Probably a case of locking the barn after the horses escaped if the syrup labels wern't made by Par...It's good to know that Nelson Ronsheim received royalties for his work.
When I get some time I'll add more of these amusing images to our little sidebar page. I had no idea about the connection to Kenner Toys.

Al Haug
That Fat Chance Jug Band
 
 click here for the Old Croak wacky whiskey pages


on 5/9/07  3:13 PM Papa John Kolstad wrote:
 
Don't forget the show this weekend at The Eagles 2507 East 25th St  Minneapolis.  We are very excited and hope to see you all there.  Opening act includes Cadillac Kolstad, Katey Bellville, Amanda Hand, Marilyn Hand and others.
 
Clint Hoover will sit in on harmonica and Rod Bellville will also be performing.
 
http://citypages.com/alist/detail.asp?EID=156573   City Pages has a nice write up about The Sorry Muthas
 
http://www.myspace.com/thesorrymuthas   We are trying to keep information up to date on The Sorry Muthas myspace page.
 
http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=3162   scroll down to Saturday's Hot Tickets and read about The Sorry Muthas.

on 5/7/07  7:11 PM Jay Peterson wrote:
 
My best wishes and regards to all in attendance this weekend! I just played something off the original LP on my show ( Hitchiker, and
Everything You Always Wanted To know About Sex), which I am proud to still have in good condition after more years than I care to think
about. It's times like this that grieve me to think that I'm so far away from you all. This is great news, and of course I want one.

I rest assured that Soupy will be able to hear it from wherever he is.

A big sloppy kiss to everyone whom you think deserves one.

Love
Jay Peterson

on 3/6/07  4:31 PM Elliot Silberman wrote:

Hey, thanks for the updates.   What kind of a place, environment is that?  
Spreadin jugband here in Az.  w, Jeff Cahill and others.    The timing is right for Jugband.   People are tired of sophistication and are ready for
FUNKY.   all the best and who won this year?  
Elliot
on 3/5/07  7:58 PM Arlo Leach  wrote:

Hi Al,

The Hump Night Thumpers threw a waffle party at the Old Town School last Friday, in conjunction with its monthly First Friday celebration. We served up dozens of waffles, jammed for a couple hours, and at the end of the night installed the Holliwood waffle iron in an elegant display case in the main lobby! So, the coveted waffle iron might be far from home, but it's getting fine treatment.

You can see photos here, if you scroll down and click "waffle party":

    http://www.humpnightthumpers.com/assembled/battle_2007.html

Feel free to use any of the photos from this site when you update your own site for 2008.

Cheers,
-Arlo

on 9/17/06 1:27 AM, L. M. Knudsen wrote:

 Thanks for the pictures.  Mort is looking quite saintly these days! 
 :-)   Hope all is well with you.  sincerely, Linda

That would be David Morton... see the Effie pictures here. Linda does Koerner's website.

on 9/12/06 11:28 AM, Jay Peterson wrote:

Hi Al
 Oh, do I wish I could have been there. I miss that place so much, with  its memories of a dozen Deer Lake Boogies, bar hopping between  Togo and  Big Fork, and reveling in the pleasures of my misspent thirties.
 Glad you were able to go. Maybe I'll plan better next year.
 Take care.
 Jay

Jay lives in Maine now, but makes it back here from time to time. He's had radio shows on KAXE and KFAI and formed the country western band Paradise Ranch...

From: "Marc Duitsman"
To: "fat chance jugband"
Subject: Effie Jug Band Contest Recordings
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:43:05 -0500

Hi  :
I'm editing as much of this material as I can and I will soon have a cd or two......or 3...... yea...... maybe even four to send you soon.
Some good some not so good.
Marc
 
Kris replied:
That's fast work!  "some good, some not so good" sounds like a jug band contest.

Looking forward to hearing what you end up with.

on 8/2/06 5:03 PM, Jackson Buck wrote:

People are asking, so, here it goes....
 
By now, most of you know that the Viking Bar (the staff, patrons, and musicians) poured the last beer, sang the last song, shared the last jokes, smiles, and tears last night.  Yes, our beloved home is now closed.
 
Jackson's Juke Joint is going to the 331 Club in Northeast on a trial basis.  I worked a deal with them late yesterday, but didn't announce it because we didn't want to take any of the luster off of the Viking celebration/funeral. Last night was all about that great institution, its wonderful legacy and tragic closing. 
 
We'd love to keep JJJ on the West Bank and maybe it will return there someday.  But, I'm told Palmer's doesn't have an entertainment license, another radio station has their hooks into the Nomad on Wednesday, the 400 doesn't open that early in the day.  Two other possibilities were ruled out....Kurt Obeda has an early Wed. gig at the Eagles and the Hex has a long-standing DJ night on Weds. 
 
So, to keep it going, we'll try 331. I wish we could keep the series closer to the West Bank for our core supporters - the people who really made the series a success.  But, it's not very far from the West Bank; about 5-7 minutes.  Hopefully, they'll give the 331 a chance.  It's a nice club with plenty of free parking in the rear. They even have decent food.
 
There will not be a Juke Joint this Wed. August 2.
 
On August 9, we're scheduled for Harold's 50th birthday party with 2 acts - the legendary Joe Price plus Moreland & Arbuckle (on their way to Bayfront Blues Fest).  Because of time restrictions at 331 on the 9th, we're going to be at Mayslack's for that one week only. 
 
We're going to take August 16 off and resume the Juke Joint series on August 23, the beginning of our 2 month trial-run at 331.  We'll take it from there and see what happens.
 
Also, we're looking for a place to hold the August 18 CD release party for Randy Weeks (with the Liquor Pigs).  Let me know if anyone has a venue for that date.
 
Hopefully, the Viking will reopen and we can someday return home.  Until then, we'll just try to keep Jackson's Juke Joint alive, have the bands on with Harold on KFAI's "House Party",  stay loose and see what happens.
 
I'll keep everyone posted on any new developments and/or changes.
 
Please forward this note to anyone you think may be interested.
 
Thanks,
 
Jackson Buck
 
RIP, THE FABULOUS VIKING BAR, WE ALREADY MISS YOU!!

  8/4/06 1:50 PM, Elliot Silberman wrote:
...how ya doin?? Maintaining I hope, and maybe better than that. 
Thanks for the headzup. 
What would happen if all the dirtiest dives were gone, and new clubs came up. Could dirty ol Blues play in those new, clean places?   Would they even be able to play Blues there?

Elliot runs the Duluth Battle of the Jugbands. Despite its funkiness, the Viking was never really grimey, but i don't think that's exactly what he meant by dirty...